John T

That is some interesting info. As hyped up as I can get my resting heart rate is always in the hi 50's to around 60-62. I had my blood work done just last week and my heart rate there was 60 and blood pressure was right at the end of normal range(monster drinks...can that add to blood pressure?) everything was good but my left knee has never seemed to heal right.. It swells every day. Except for sleep meds which my Doc is helping me get off(29yrs of shift to mostly night work and 17 yrs PW caused that problem) the knee swelling is a mystery. Interesting topic..so it really helps inflammation.... I'll probably step on a nail with luck going barefoot--DOH

Puke!! So what's the good news??

Great attitude Ron:cool: These bb's expression isn't there on the typed words so hopefully this comes out right. Above your remark is in line with the way I approach things.. "Failure is not an option--Period". So the question then is it worth it...and if it is..I'm all in. This is mostly on my work life and what I get involved in or just work in general. When over the years we see people we know come and go and then there selling there equipment because things didn't work out for them and they tell you so... You kind of feel bad for them as if you could do something but you really can't. If there is ever a piece of advice I could give anyone because I came close myself a few times due to taking to much of a risk would be this--- Just refused to Fail!! Things are bleak then work Smarter which trumps Harder which is important also. Find a way to Just not fail. Refuse to fail...but it has to be worth it and once that is figured out like a newbie starting a business or whatever it maybe.. You have to take the bull by the horns and just refused to fail.. Sounds crazy but it works--- all this I get out of your quote above(I know long post once again:smile:

and a couple of more things we did pretty good at. As for the Jim Gamble Picture I asked Jim along with some other guys to come to the ***** Convention and he did. Since Jim wasn't accepted to be on a bulletin board no less I asked him along with some others to get involved with the PWNA and he did... We don't have to all like each other but for those couple of days in Orlando with that ***** Convention we pulled off was exciting as heck. Everyone to this day that I speak to and that Convention comes up they loved it. The cart didnt go before the horse on that one. It was well thought out way in advance and yes some rookie mistakes were made... That is something that the newjacks should learn from. Don't over reach when money is involved because it could bite you in the azz and if I got on a little sooner because of past experiences I think I could have saved them a few $$$ with the room block totals... but all in all if your a ***** member today or yesteryear and you were at that convention I'd be willing to bet you enjoyed it. I think the new Board can top that Convention and I hope they do but ours came out the way it did because we planned and planned and planned some more and if a few of us myself included didnt get caught up in something that could have been fixed I have no doubt in my mind we could have doubled at the very least the membership total back then and the next convention would have also doubled in size. It was all there in the workings but............ well now its on you guys and hopefully your day will come where you can plan this rewarding event and pull it off... there to me always a great time all the way around. Good luck

If and when you have another ***** Convention if you can pull this off you did alright. The Guys I worked with did a heck of a job pulling this convention off... we didnt do everything wrong:surprise:

Can't argue with that Guy. I'm looking at something else that's not a convention thing but your right..hopefully history the way things ended up does not repeat itself:star:

Good one :beguiled: maybe next time Chris you'll want to get involved...maybe:wink:

Love it... Just when I thought I was out I get dragged right back in:devilish:

Excellent..point taken.

:cool-new::cool-new::cool-new::cool-new::cool-new::cool-new::cool-new::cool-new:

Thanks for the opportunity Ron and I really mean that. I'm itching to do something and I think you can see it. I can't keep myself mentally still. The one thing I couldn't do is go back to any group that I was involved with under any type of probationary status or "second hand" citizen type membership packed with warnings. I would accept a free and clear membership because I did probably more then 90% of what most members do when they joined one of these org's and I think my record on that stands for itself. My drawbacks is I can push the envelope to far and rarely I do that but unfortunately I did do just that to the ***** a couple of years ago and I fixed that as best I could on my own to mend those fences. If you needed references I've been told that in my time as Union president in my last job I was the best they ever had and still told that to this day(I took on a lot then but the best thing i did was as a VP was to be able to find the loop hole to village law where we can't solicit money and now every year my job raises 30-50grand a year just thru mailers). The PWNA I would get the support of the ones who know me because they know I have a labor type mentality that's not afraid to work. The one thing I have to add here is no matter what a moderator of a bulletin board that belongs to an org should "not" be allowed to moderate a board member of his own or another org. Publically. If there is a something perceived wrong they can tell the person via email of what there doing is in violation of the bulletin board and if there is nor change there then it should be reported to another MOD on that board and he or she can either do something or let it go. If this doesn't happen it will continuously cause a fundamental breakdown of the organization system on the net. Two examples of this was myself having the ability to moderate Doug ********** who is a VP and other org members moderating Jim Gamble who has a chair slot. Non org members that are moderators should handle anything they see wrong.. This one is just one of my opinions I see that hurt the two orgs in question.. So in closing if you feel I can come back in with a clean slate then I'll rescind my resignation thru a letter.. If you think I need to get like a probationary status I'll pass. I saw that happened to a few others and I know I don't deserve that just like I didn't think I deserved a ban I was given because of how it was given recently.. And battling is not what I really do nor do I like it.. It's getting something done that is positive is what I like to do or just enjoy my membership like everyone else hopefully can.. Man I can type long post:excitement: so long I'm starting to get less and less views while my spelling and grammar look worse because my post are to long to recheck--DOH!!!!

Forget about my I-pad spell disasters above such as Ethic commitee chair zapping in as Ethnic committee chair. The downfall of using an I-pad.. Of course there is so much so much more then just what I said. Much much more.. But stagnation is a terrible thing. People loose interest so much faster today because of there attention spans are shorten with all the availability of everything that's out there.. I keep In touch still with some prominent ***** members from time to time. The typical remark I get is "John what did you hear, Are they really doing anything??" I know some might not believe me on this but it's true. An org is not just about the convention alone but it's a huge part of it because it gives members the opportunity to go to a nice event staged by the org. They belong to. I know what it's like to get an org. to succeed because I've been part of that process twice within this industry and it worked pretty well. When I was a board member of the PWNA I think I was excused out of 2 calls in 3 yrs. The membership went up not as fast as some BOD members would have liked but it went up by a couple of hundred. The ***** I knew I didn't have the time to be a TT member and I really didn't want to get involved at all. Just wanted to enjoy my membership like most people do. The only reason I got involved was because Scott Millen couldn't make the Convention Committee calls so I got asked to fill in for him. The only call I can think of I missed there my wife Kathy filled in. That Convention was a success if you ask most people that went to it.. So I think I have a very good idea on how to get an org. To work.. I also understand that org's are a "Long" thought out process that move at the speed of molasses. This part is frustrating to me because there are so many things that can be done in a very little amount of time... Either way most things I've seen from being on the inside should not be to hard to make happen. And this is where I would differ with most of these orgs and it's based on my business model-- just make it happen. I did it last year by making the necessary calls and getting proper approvals. So it can be done. Hopefully the ***** does have a convention again and when and if they do they have a good one to gauge it to which was the one we did in 2009. Good luck.

just another reason to stay off of Facebook for jabbering. I heard I was going to get sued, accusations are flying from other people twards eac other yada yada yada.. All a pile of horse phooey . Big deal. If you think some people are bad dudes then keep them close so you know there every move.. Personally get off the stupid "pimple face book" and do something constructive and quit the *****in. These aimed out many on "CRAP BOOK. errrr I mean Facebook. Which is the universal dummying down of the American society. I hope Zeckerface gets thrown in the slammer for stealing his idea's, being such a NEGATIVE influence on society, allowing just the very rich to by shares first over says for penny's to the dollar and basically screwing the middle class.. He needs to meet BRUTIS the Horney man lover in any USA prison. fuc*erman is a disgrace for his own self gain--garbage in my book.

I'm surprised that no one took an interest in this type of question. It makes you wonder at times that the industry as a whole just doesn't care enough to be united most of the way through. Lobbying for work for this industry is 0 to none unless a different mindset comes into play with a strong charismatic leader comes along and he can unite 1000's. Not hundreds.. Maybe some people should start stepping up.. Maybe I should step it up also and just go for it.. If I can get Jim Grady, Everett, and a few other guys to Run for a position the PWNA can move along at a more rapid pace. This is about the whole and not the some of the parts. Perception is everything in this business and I would look to make a sudden move that will be a good news story.. Jump right thru history and make a very determine woman who will this time not let anyone or any outside factors to deter her, she has to be a valedictorian type person who you know is smart by just talking to her.. And what she has accomplished.. This is the time to go for it all and I know she will tell me to take a hike.. But an org needs her to really succed. And when she was a past exec. Board member she was one of the strongest reasons the PWNA had a strong membership base. This can't be denied because I was there. I would take the slot that Everett wanted me to take before he said he had enough-- Chair of the ethnic committee. Heck I already know Peter King whose the chair of the house for Homeland Security.. Whatever it is something has to be done.. If it's the ***** who even though I terminated my membership there until next year possibly(I probably got a 5 yr banned for doing whats in my rights with membership there) if there ready to rock and roll let them start coming out with there ideas. First thing I would do with the ***** is getting them to an event ASAP. Make it a little RT.. Something to get the juices flowing.. Hey here's one for ya.. Just do a convention.. GO FOR THE JUGULAR. And plan fast and forget the baby steps. I could call right now and block off a few rooms in about 15 minutes if you gave me a time frame. Do it where planes land cheap. Go cheap but bring some of the wives who can spruce up a place in a matter of minutes. Example being an American Legion Hall. Have all types of banners and ribbons hanging off the ceilings. That hall will cost you around $300 a day. Then cater it for probably $15 a day for some real good food. Have a roving bar in there where 2 drinks can be paid thru a raffle for each member there then the rest is on them. Do this with all the machinery around. Make this room do it all "Steve Jobs style" have all the equipment in the room on one end and also a drop down large movie screen. Do this like planteriam with that futuristic music(no subliminal messages allowed like the PWNA suck --sorry Tony **************.. But makes this cutting egde. Blow the people away there with excitement, dreams and realities. Bring some industry motivator speakers and also bring in a celeb with the idea you tell the Celeb that this model is setup to get guys to join there industry orgs who in turn will teach them over and over on how to market their business, classes for doing there business and machinery for them to look at that can be used for there business. Have an opening and closing remarks by the President who has to be well informed and very practiced to lay it al out ther And anyone else who feels compelled to say something positive. This my friend is a way to jump start and move things fast "With a plan" I could set this up in 2 weeks most. Someone in the ***** refuse my termination or shorten it and get me on my 3rd convention committee and since The other two I did were enormous successes.. And knowing most volunteers Peter out, I grow stronger.. I would offer this service back to the ***** because now this is against the norm in here but I actually believe Robert and his visions and this org he started it so the man would get the proper respect he deserves which doesn't mean hes to be a chair of anything. If you want to be nice you make him a chair Emeritis where he will always be labeled as the chair emeritus which is more of a retired position but he's given the proper respect he deserves because for the very least he invented the *****. The chairs can call upon Robert as he can them. He will remain influential and that is important. So as Michael Jordan says -- just do it!! With a little speed ball behind it to really get into motion so we can have others beat down our ever move.. But at least where moving and determine to get to the end goal where Carlos Gonzalez got us to.. But this time I think us guys learned from that.. This can be done.. I've been there before and yes there's work involved but....JUST DO IT....NOW!

Hey Ron...whatever it is... Just do it. The clocks ticking and I think of guys like Jeff LeCours who believe in not rushing to get things done but to get it done do it right.. I always admired what guys like him said and it makes sense. My motto is just do it.. Get the people you need to support it and if it works....it works. I just got back tonight from having the top floor in a restaurant closed off because of what I am planning on doing. I have the owner of this Restaurant and some friends involved. I'm still trying to close the door on last year stuff...and sure as shizz while where there going over stuff the Mets throw there first No hitter in the 51 yrs of there existence. I'm doing something yet I am a true blue Met fan.. Trivia question.. Top two All time highest percentage to ever get in the baseball Hall of fame are ex-Mets.. Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan. Where busy. I do what I do and no one can stop it unless I just stop.. And the clock is ticking. Like you I'm not in this forever.. So you got something--just do it and if it works great.. If it sucks then try something else. You'll know soon enough if it works or not. Good luck.

Of course I would put Everett Abrams in there also. The reason why I did t mention Everett and a few other is because I'm not sure what your looking for and I'll explain. Rod and Beth lead a crew but there involved with some really cool projects that have been on the cover of mags and there also doing some of the "Artist work" as does Jim Foley etc. I can't answer for Everett but I haven't done wood in at least 5 yrs. My guys have. They do probably at least one wood project a week such as decks, fences, etc.. Maybe every other week but I don't do any of that work anymore. So I wouldn't consider myself.. Everett may still be out there doing it some like Beth and Rod but last check he had his crews doing the wood restoration. He was a teacher and still is on wood restoration.. Myself I had a couple of projects in CT etc that showed a wood house we did.. And we do still some high end homes in the Hamptons because of the Money"" but I would never in my right mind put myself anywhere near the above mention people....cause the artist. My guys are pretty good but nothing like the above list. Quick question are you looking for guys who actually today do the wood themselves with a crew or by themselves etc.? Or is it there business your looking at?? Still either way I shouldn't be in there class. Beth/Rod,Everett and Jim Foley showed me how to do it..because years ago I never used any chemicals.. These masters showed me how...and there still masters-- and still are above in quality to most I know...,including myself.

I just re-read the rest of Rons post that we may be called upon as to why we picked who we did. There are some more names I can add to this list and some of these people I know well. Because of that I have to respectfully decline to be a part of this story outside the bulletin boards. -Thanks-

Beth & Rod,Jim Foley and Rich Petry are the first three who come to mind. Whenever I talk wood restoration with anyone there the first three who stand out. Out of those 3, all three are absolutely great with decks. I never seen better pictures in a continous bases with those 3 on the beautiful restoration job they do with them. They're true wood restoration "Artist" But the two who do the full spectrum of wood restoration for a homeowner which includes the house , time and time again continuously show high quality work and they also have done volunteer work with wood restoration would be in no specific order because I consider them equals are Beth/Rod and Jim Foley. For the full package I haven't seen better. Shane who hasn't been around in awhile and Adrian would also rank very high on my list.

Knock em out "Bull"Dozer:eagerness: Your off on the right track. Whatever you do, do NOT use Behr stain. The stuff is garbage. As far as there strippers go I have never used them but if there working OK for you that's fine. Keep researching what other professionals use here thru the search function. Always feel free to ask questions here or offer some insight and advice yourself. From the look of thing your definitely off on the right track. Best of Luck.

I'm very close to a lot of my family members including my brother-inlaw Mick DuRussel who's married to my sister JoAnn and who's daughter SherriAnn is my God Daughter.. Mick is very special when it comes to his passions. He can be seen here where he interviewed celebs such as Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull An Interview with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson | Spot on Long Island Mick does his passions for nothing and him and I clicked because we believe in giving back where ever we can. Like me for many years, Mick still works two jobs, Printer during the day and runs a small office cleaning business at night and weekends. I lasted 17 yrs doing two jobs and thats nothing compared to Mick. He's over over 30 yrs doing both. Mick was my go to guy to track the Ruth family down and he instantly got me both families phone numbers and he also recommended which one to call... which was the blood related side which was Linda. This Video on here shows the begining of this day long event back in April. ALS Video on Vimeo For a $20/fee you got some rocking music and also a hot dinner included for 8 hrs of pure relaxed fun. Darn can Billy Joel's sax Richie Cannata can jam. All Booze you paid for at the bar. Mick raised over $6000 after cost and as the night progress that bar had easy over 300 people in there. The PWNA also was kind enough to send a donation which Kath and I matched. The PWNA T-shirts my family put together for the organization. None of those shirts were authorized as any kind of official shirts from the PWNA but it was just a give back to the PWNA for letting Linda and Myself last year explain to the ones at the PWNA Convention how we connected the dots for this Industry. This was all special to me that I hope others enjoyed it as well.. More importantly so much good came back to Linda, My Brother in-law with his fundraiser and me having a front row seat to potential history in the making. I'll attached the flyer and also enjoy the pics of the Industry related shots. John Tornabene

OK now for the PWNA shots. I also am missing the best shot with Linda wearing the shirt by herself.. She's going to resend it to me...

This is my sisters husband. He is a printer by day and owns a small office cleaning business at night. He's been doing both business as long as I have done mine if not longer. He also runs charitable events for free and does for free celebrity interviews because he is probably the most passionate guy I know. Here's some of his interviews he's done with some well known celebrities. The Legendary JOHNNY MATHIS | Spot on Long Island For Jethro Tulls fans here's and interview with There lead singer Ian Anderson An Interview with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson | Spot on Long Island A live chat with ex cop turned rock star Eddie Money (take me home tonight) Long Island Music Hall of Fame Red Carpet | Spot on Long Island And so much more Mick has done such as hold and Art show for Tony Curtis family who entrusted Mick tony Curtis's paintings and any painting sold micks portion went to the Lou Gehrig foundation ALS. He does this because his step brother died from Lou Gehrigs disease. For any of you rock fans check out the show he is doing next month. This one is going to be a blast especially if Sean Young who got booted out of the academy awards shows up. This place is 15 minutes from my house.. Mick is the brother I never had. If you remember the graduate movie with Dustin Huffman Mick bought that jacket suit jacket that Dustin wore and since Mick is short like Dustin Mick wore that jacket for years. He bought it for $15 and sold it around the early eighties for $1500. Besides that Mick hardly sells his valuable collections he's been collecting since child hood. He does his own shows and he is also an artist and calls radio stations all the time to answer there quiz questions. I seen the Who for free thru Mick winning answers and many other things. My sister goes nuts because he does what he does but he is a good Christian man who believes in helping others all the time and rarely takes money for that because it's a hobby for him to do this. How do you think I got Linda Ruth Tosetti's home number, George Bush Contacts, Willem Dafoe now for a favor for Linda and on and on he is my pal. This is his latest show and it's not done yet.. Party times. Hey John, Heres the info on my benefit; The 5th Annual **Sound Success For ALS Benefit Show Sat. Apr 14, 2012 3-11PM Napper **Tandys in Smithtown Doors open at 3PM Music starts at 3:30. Bands **coming are. The Street Survivors (Lynyrd Skynyrd band) The Raves (The **Rainbows from Randy and the Rainbows) The Stevie Marshall Band-NYC's **wildest party band featuring some of NY top musicians. Nelson Klondike- **featuring Lex Marchesi from Fotomaker The In Crowd Band- 60s-70s-80s **songs..great band! Celebrities expected to come are Richard Pryor Jr., **CJ Ramone from the Ramones, Ms senior America Gail King, and very possible **actress Sean Young. Others will be announced as they confirm. Proceeds **from admision and raffles goes entirely to the ALS Research Center at Columbia **University in NYC

Here's the Video that I forgot to post here of my Brother in laws fund raiser. ALS Video on Vimeo I'll put some PWNA pics in the PWNA forum. This was a fun event.

Thanks. I forgot what day it was.

Isn't that the truth. Mental I feel great, chronological is the way it is and physically I need to do something about.. But coming from the mental area---thanks for the belated B-day Dave:listening_headphone