Melodymoments

Home Coming!

Lots of tears, claps and cheers over the past week for all the service men who have come home.  Two weeks ago, I was there when three soldiers came home. Two were in uniform and one was home for good.  It was great to see other people who were on the flight stop and clap for the heroes.  Last Saturday, 2.15, I had the pleasure of welcoming five soldiers home.  I went to welcome Jeff Moody home but when we arrived there was another soldier's family waiting.  There were banners and balloons and great t-shirts. While standing there waiting, we discovered that there were three other heroes on that flight. So at the same time, we cheered for five of them. It was great to shake their hands and thank them for what they are doing.

On Sunday, February 24, the Blue Star Mothers, Capital Region Chapter #2 is holding their First Annual Blue Jean Ball.  It will be a great event for them and a wonderful way to celebrate their one year anniversary.  They started last year in early February with five members and now are over 100 members strong.  They will be giving out their Patriot Awards and the Freedom Awards.  I have the honor of being a recipient of one of the three Freedom Awards.  I should be giving each of them an award for what they are doing for us! 

Here's a picture of Mom, Dad and wife greeting their soldier!

Next week I will be my first meeting as Chair of the Bethlehem Republican Committee. I'm looking forward to rebuilding the committee and getting us ready for a  big year in 2009.  One of our first projects is completing our bylaws and hosting a fund raiser on May 15. We have two speakers scheduled for that event and they will be great. It will be an exciting year for the Bethlehem GOP!

January Mixer

The January Mixer was a big hit!  Lots of new faces and great contacts.  We had 93 people registered,(not that many showed up) for the event so it was a packed house at Panera Bread in Glenmont. Cathy Blanch did a great job playing all that smooth jazz.  Hats off to my co-sponsor Lisa Giruzzi, Transformational Conversations.  Lisa kept the 30 second commercials moving through the raffle drawing. That seems to be the best part - people doing their 30 second commercial with their raffle item and the winner getting the opportunity to talk about their business.  Congratulations to Terry Quigley for winning the big gift - $750 worth of airtime on Talk 1300 Am.  Thanks to Pat Ryan for donating that great gift! If you haven't listened to Talk 1300 Am, give it a try, great station. Later this month, you'll be hearing me on that great station.  I'm busy working on a new brochure and website.  I want to do everything at once, launch and print.  I have a crack team of experts working on it so I know it will be great when completed. On February 29th, Lisa and I are happy to share the sponsorship with First Niagara Bank.  They are offering great small business loans this month and will be promoting those at the Mixer.  The mixer is on the last Friday of the month at Panera Bread, 9W Glenmont, 7:45 am - 9:00 am.  Looking ahead to March, Alan Baker will be joining us to show some of the  great new promotional ideas. 

The month of February looks to be a busy one.  Once every four years - so it better be busy.  I hope to open the month with a new nephew, if he decides to show his adorable little face.  Been a long time since a baby was in the family!   A few good meetings coming up in the month, Rensselaer County Chamber has their economic development lunch, a mixer with Bethlehem Chamber and a number of events at the Albany Colonie Chamber.  On the 24th, I have the honor of receiving the Freedom Award from the Blue Star Mothers of America, Chapter #2-NY.  They are hosting their first Blue Jean Ball at the Rensselaer Elks Club. Then our mixer closes the month on the 29th.  Looking forward to new discoveries and challenges.

M

Business Mixer

Friday, January 25th at 7:45 am is the January Mixer at Panera Bread. Lisa Giruzzi, Transformational Conversations is the co-sponsor. So far there are almost 90 people registerd for the event. It should be a great palce to meet new contacts and find new business.  Cathy Blanch is prepared to jazz it up.  The next Mixer is scheudled for Friday, February 29th, same place. The co-sponsor will be First Niagara Bank.

been a long time

Wow, hard to beleive it has been months since I posted but it has!  Fall came and I lost the election by under 1,000 votes, the holidays came and went and now January is almost gone.  Today I had a rewarding experience...I attended the home coming of a young man who has been in Iraq for a few months.  Jeff is home for a few weeks to spend time with his Mom and family.  What a proud moment it was for all of them as he walked through the gate - in his camos.  I shook his hand and thanked him for serving.  He said thank you to me for being there. This is not the first arrival I've attended, but each time I go, there is the same feeling of excitment.  Great to see the family unit back in shape and everyone happy.  I like to listen to the remarks of other passenagers who walk in front of the soldier.  They make sure to tell us that he/she is coming.  I guess because they too want to be a part of the excitment. I wish Jeff and his family the best and hope he has a great two weeks home.  He is heading back for a few months and is proud of what he has accomplished so far. 

Losing Sunlight

Now that the end of summer is here, sort of, we have noticed how quickly we are losing sunlight while walking.  During June, July and August, we were out until 9:00 pm meeting our neighbors.  Now by 7:30 we need a small flashlight to read the house numbers. Maybe we'll change our attire to miner's hats so we can light our way.

I had the honor of participating in the First Annual Freedom Walk sponsored by the Capital Region #2 Chapter Blue Star Mothers of America. It was  cloudy, dreary day but the walkers and speakers were ready to move.  We walked over the pedestrian bridge in Albany in a show of support for those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and all of those who continue to serve.  By "those", I include the fireman, police, and all the service men and women who are fighting for freedom.   The event included the signing of a very large yellow ribbon that is going to be sent to the troops in Iraq.  As I was reading those messages I noticed that many were notes to a loved one who is serving but the others were from people who just wanted to say "Thanks for serving - we support you".  There was a speaker there who spoke about his recent tours and the effect they had on his life and family.  He was a member of the airborne so he spoke about being a paratrooper and jumping out of planes.  During the course of his talk,  he told us that while he was in a fox hole in Afghanistan, his wife told him they were getting a divorce.  He said he had to cut the call short as the bullets and mortar fire were coming in fast and furious. He told the group that what is seen on the daily media is not what is really going on over there.  Yes, there are people dieing and gun fire, but the outcome - a new school , electricity for a village, fresh water or a hospital is their purpose there and he is proud to be able to accomplish those tasks.  He reminded all of us that everyone there, is a volunteer - they signed up for the job.   I think he left many of the mothers feeling much better after listening to his message.  They could see their son or daughter in him and seemed to understand better why their child chose to serve this great country.  One of the most moving parts of the ceremony was Erin Frank signing, "I'm proud to be an American."  She started the song be herself but by the time she reached the chorus, most of the group was singing along with her.  She does have a fantastic voice!   

Besides walking - we are back at the soccer games greeting parents as they come to the field with their children.  Just a nice, "Hi" is our goal - certainly don't want to hold them up as they are scrambling to get to the field on time. It is funny to see so many of the people we have already spoken to at their homes.  You can't beat the old door-to-door method.

Until next time - see you out there on the trail!

Still meeting people!

Sorry for the delay in getting back to the blog. The past few weeks have flown by.  I'm excited about reaching the 2,800 mark for homes and thrilled that I was able to take a few hours off and venture to the land of the mighty St. Lawrence.  It was great to see my son, Mom,Dad,  brothers and sisters.  I also had the pleasure of seeing nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, close friends and those crazy great nephews who have more energy that everyone put together.

In addition to walking and walking, I was back at the Fireman's Fair making cones and helping in the Hole in One booth. I am amazed at the number of children who  could get a hole in one.  Many prizes were given out and lots of smiles were seen. It was a fun event.  I also attended the thank you party with the volunteers and was impressed with age range of those that donated their time to make the event such a success.  Volunteers are truly special people.

I had a very moving experience helping out at the Wall that Heals when it visited our town park.  I had met with the organizers a few months before to see what I could do to help but had no idea how moved I would be.  I stood with the Blue Star Mothers during the opening ceremonies and wondered how they felt about the words that were being spoken.  Most of the speakers seemed to give great thought to their words and understood the impact they would have on the crowd present. I had to wonder about a few comments I heard from a speaker when he mentioned how great public service was. Clearly he did not understand that comparing public service - going to a meeting and making decisions that don't really impact life or death - to serving your country and being in harm's way constantly, was not appropriate.  Sometimes politicians just don't get it. It is not all about them.  While standing with the Mothers, I noticed one of them was having a difficult time with the ceremony. I gently reached over and touched her shoulder. She was crying and was having a hard time listening to the words of the speaker. Being there, touching her, brought the tragedy of the moment event more alive for me.  As I started my hour of reading the names of those on the wall, I often stopped and glanced at the wall and thought about the number of lives it represented.  Not only the 58,249, but each family member or loved one who was connected to that name.  After reading for a little over an hour, I helped locate names on the wall for visitors so they could touch the name of their loved one.  Maybe what made it more moving to me was that I was reading with a Blue Star Mother. She took great pride in pronouncing each name and read them ever so carefully - to give each person the same level of respect.  Once you read a name, the wall no longer represented numbers, it represented people.  I left the Wall and traveled north to be with my family.  As I passed through Fort Drum, I wondered how many from there will be placed on a wall so a Mother can grieve.  When I returned, I again read at the wall and there was another Blue Star Mother there, this time volunteering as a walker. Those women are just amazing, I respect their dedication to all members serving our country.

So the walking continues...new streets, new neighbors and new friends. There never seems to be a dull  moment on the campaign trail.  If I'm not walking, I'm at a planning board meeting, (now there is a story there!), town board meeting, budget workshop, CACC meeting, chamber meeting, community event or 9W Study meeting.  In between that, I'm busy working for my clients or attending a Rotary meeting somewhere in the capital district.  I have a few lawn signs left so I still need homes for them.  I'll learning about the issues that matter most to my neighbors and covering as much of the Town as I can - at least with this pair of shoes.  I'll be home on November 7 Vic - keep an eye on Auggie and Woody, don't forget to give them special treats from time to time.  (Having two standard poodles is like having two kindergartners!)  Thanks to that special dance instructor for his melodic idea!

These shoes are made for walking!

Balloons, confetti and bubbles!  We have reached our 2,000 home!!!  Now with only 99 days left until the election, we need to step up our efforts and get the lead out!  The goal is to reach 7,000 more homes by the end of October.

Last week we picked up our lawn signs and started distributing them all over town. What a flurry of activity those signs have caused. People are calling asking for their own sign to display on their lawn.  At this rate, I'll go through all the signs ordered and will have to place a second order before they mysteriously disappear. Being an optimist and only thinking positive thoughts, I know I will only have to replace those signs that actually grow legs and wonder off.  I would hope the old strategy of "borrowing" an opposing party member's sign is dead.  To me, taking someone's sign is like stealing their property - you wouldn't "take" their car from the lawn, so why would you "take" their sign?   

In addition to walking, we had the most fun making ice cream cones and shakes on Friday evening for the Glenmont Fireman's Fair. They had a great turnout.  The rain held off until most people were able to get their meals so the ice cream window slowed down early.  But we'll be back this Friday mixing and dishing again.  Volunteering for the fair is fun and easy.  I encourage everyone to get involved with a local organization and help make a difference.  This is the second year we have volunteered at this fair and look forward to many more.

We attended a few more meetings and listened to our neighbors discuss the issues they feel are most important to them.  As an elected official - it is important to actively listen to all the concerns and issues and help find the right solutions to those issues.  Most importantly, every neighbor needs to be treated with respect when they come before you with a concern.  It is imperative for the representative to find a solution and let the neighbor know the outcome.  Common business sense, right?  If a customer has a problem, you actively listen, determine what it is you can do to find a solution and respond to the customer quickly. I can assure you - as a Town Board Member - finding solutions and responding quickly will be first on the agenda. if the neighbor took the time to bring the problem to my attention, then it is important enough for me to find a solution.

This week, we are back out there, walking and talking. Looking forward to meeting new neighbors and sharing some solutions with them.  Always ready to listen - burns4townboard@yahoo.com.

Mel

The Howl of the Weather

The last week on the campaign trail reminds me of the great oil on canvas by non other than Frederic Remington, "The Howl of the Weather".   The painting was completed in 1906 and depicts three men in a canoe, rowing against the waves of the mighty St. Lawrence.  His brush strokes and use of color really give you the feeling that the water is extremely rough and not a very friendly place.  But in fact, that body of water is a great place for swimming, boating and enjoying a jet ski ride. In the winter, it tends to rear it's ugly head, but most of the time it is rather friendly and inviting.  Despite the weather we had last week in Bethlehem, every home we visited and resident we met, were friendly and eager to learn more about the campaign.  There seems to be an overwhelming feeling that it is definitely time for some change in our community.  I should point out that not only did we visit the homes of neighbors who are registered in this party but all of the neighbors on the street!  It doesn't matter what party you belong to, this is our community and I will be representing every neighbor. If I can't knock on the neighbors door who is not in the same party and listen to what they have to tell me, then I should not be running for a community-wide position. I should be running for my political party leadership.

In addition to walking the neighborhoods, standing at the Post Office, supporting the VFW campaign to bring "The Wall That Heals" to the Elm Avenue Park in August by attending their benefit dinner, to attending a rousing interfaith service at the Delmar Reform Church, to meeting with the Blue Star Mothers, to hosting the Bethlehem Chamber Women's Business Council Pot Luck Dinner, (had to relocate due to torrential downpours to my home), to attending the CACC Meeting, to attending the Planning Board Meeting, to meeting the volunteers at the Fire Station on Glenmont Road, to enjoying lunch with a group of women business owners from all over the capital region, the grand total of neighbors we have met is now over 1,600.  This week is well on the way of putting us over the 2,000 mark!

If you have a question or a particular topic you would like to discuss with me, call me at 518-475-0942 or email at burns4townboard@yahoo.com.

being part of a team

Download intro_flyer.pdf

Download the file to learn about the Bethlehem Team! It is a large file so it may take a few seconds to download.

Coffee, water and Me!

Another day at the sports field is in the books for this campaign.  I had a good morning passing out coffee, water and munchkins.  Four different games so eight sets of parents.  Some of the parents had recognized me from two weeks ago when I stood out in the rain and passed out water.  While meeting and greeting, I encountered one man who was almost frightened to touch the brochure that listed our team.  When he saw the name of the party, he said, "oh no, I'm from the other side",  and almost ran in the other direction.  He could not get away from me fast enough.  Is he that closed that he could not even read about someone from the other party? Perhaps that person is better qualified than the individual who is running for "his party."  It didn't matter, I did not represent his party so he was not going to waste his time even holding the brochure.  I guess some people will vote for the party and not the person, no matter what the circumstance.