I told a member of Lynn’s staff that my grandson is being abused, a wedge put between us by Mr. Cornwell who has a bar in his house that he invited my daughter and grandson to live in after only knowing my kindred for three months. This staff member encouraged me to contact child services and an orginization called ALCOHOL JUSTICE, they possibly championing my cause to see my and communicate with my grandson, something that has not happened since we were in Bullhead City last June. This morning, I googled Alcohol Justice and was blown away. AJ is funded by the Buck Trust that is managed by the grandson of Leonard Buck, Robert Buck, who founded the law firn of Heisinger, Buck, and Morris who were appointed by Judge Richard M. Silver to handle the probate of Christine Rosamond Benton.
Filed in the Superior Court of Monterey are my pleas to Mr. Morris to not sell my Family Recovery to outsiders because it is and will be a Life Preserver to our children for generations to come – because it is guaranteed we will pass down the genetic personality for alcoholism. I told Morris that my famous sister’s funeral fell on her first sober birthday in Alcoholics Anonymous. I was ignored. The legal battle between the two heirs, Shannon and Drew, went on for years and wasted their monetary legacy, while the outsider, Stacey Pierrot, made a name for herself in the art world mishandling the Rosamond Brand.
Shortly after my sixteen year old daughter came into my life, and after I talked she and her mother into attending a Ala-Non, all contact with Heather ended, my minor child disappeared from my life. Patrice Hanson had contacted my sister, Vicki Presco, and said they wanted to see her. Vicki was going to the Bay Area, and they met there. My daughter formed a secret bond with my sister in hope she would be in the biography Pierrot hired a ghost writer to author. In my daughter’s eyes, I was a BIG LOSER. I had fourteen years of sobriety. Pierrot’s biographer pretended he was in a twelfth step program, and tried to complete Christines steps for her. This biography ‘When You Close Your Eyes’ was a disaster, a real flop. Sydney Morris blessed this lying testimony, and bid Pierrot to turn it into a movie. Carrie Fisher wrote a script as did Julie Lynch. Lynch claimed the famous film director, Ronald Schwary, bought the option for this script!
The Buck Trust is over $750 million dollars due to the largest takeover of a company in the history of the world. What is truly astounding, is, that all these attorneys and Judges – along with the Buck Trust – could not prevent a drunk from toasting my grandson in a bar. Above is a photo of Flip, the boyfriend of Linda Comstock, Heather’s aunt, who lives in Bullhead City. Bill and Heather have taken the rental car, paid for by the Rice Trust, and driven it to a famous gold rush town. On the way home, Linda peed in the back seat while sitting next to my grandson, who later said;
“Linda peed her pants and made a funny joke!”
This destruction of other people’s property was concealed by Heather and Bill, and led to the falling out that has taken my grandson from my life. Bill Cornwell went on the attack and called me a “parasite”. He and his father are Tea Baggers. As fate would have it, Lynn Woolsey was on welfare, she one of two Congressman who would be titled “parasites” by Bill Cornwell who told me he was breaking my grandson of the bad habbit of asking for things from his mother, he going so far to tell me Tyler was faking being carsick just to get attention. Bill, the racecar driver, took us for a harrowing ride to the Grand Canyon, he going way over the speed limit the whole way.
This is child endangerment that I am sure continues this very day.
Heather prepared Bill, Flip, and Linda – whom I never met – to the truth I had 24 years of sobriety, and would not be happy to learn my daughter had close bonds with drunks. Flip refused to tell me his name when I met him. No one told me they were going into business together, it their desire to open a Bar & Grill. When I told Linda there would be no alcohol at my family dinner, Flip – flipped!
“You got to have beer. It get’s real hot here, and were going to get thirsty!”
“John’s in AA.” Linda said, to Flip’s dismay.
Flip suffers from what many alcoholic suffer from, dehydration and puffiness around the eyes, due to the consumption of alcohol, and not water.
In our major falling out, Heather told me am crazy and make up stuff about people, thus, i am to blame for all the family discord. Below is Lynch’s account of Vic raping a teenage girl, a lie made-up to sell a movie and art to yet another outsider. The truth is, Vic Presco raped my niece, Shannon Rosamond, in his home where she was living. Vic admitted they ended up in bed together, but, it was she who came on to him. Shannon was – 25?
“We were drinking together!” says Vic who shares the same birthday with Bill Cornwell.
I tried to file a police report but was told ony the victim could do that. Shannon did not file, and this crime of rape began to destroy our family – completely! It is the cover-up that does all the damage. Look at Penn State. I fear my grandson is being told to keep his mouth shut, and, blame everything on The Messenger.
“Kill the messenger!”
I will author a letter to Child Sevices and send a copy to Congressman Woosley – along with this post. I am going to apply fro a grant from the Buck Trust, because millions need to know that toasting a child in a bar is setting that child up to be an alcoholic. I will make the top photo a famous poster child – a banner for my cause!
In my next post I will talk about getting three UofO stundents evicted from my building near the campus. They had been binge drinking for a week, and left a note on my door bidding me not to call the police, again, and check into a motel the next time they party. I took the note to my first suspect and asked him if he left this note on everyone’s door. He said he only selected those they judged might be a cop-caller, because it cost them a $250 dollar fine.
“Are you going to pay for my stay in a hotel?” I asked, then added;
“I did not call the police on you! I don’t like to be singled out as a prospective – FINK! You should have left this note on everyone’s door. Big mistake!”
“Kill all the prospective messengers!”
Jon Presco
Copyright 2012
Robert B. Buck, President and Principal Owner
Bob Buck is the President and principal owner of Del Monte Aviation. Mr. Buck acquired and redeveloped Monterey’s fifty year old Del Monte Aviation in early 1996, using his more than five thousand pilot hours as a guide.
Mr. Buck’s development of Del Monte Aviation followed many years of activity in real estate development, agribusiness and oil production. He is a founding partner of the Carmel law firm of Heisinger, Buck and Morris. Mr. Buck is active in charitable endeavors, now serving as Vice Chairman of the Buck Institute in Marin County, California, a medical research facility specializing in the problems of aging.
He was the founding president of the Frank and Eva Buck Foundation, which grants college scholarships in Northern California and has been on the Board of the Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel for many years.
The Buck Institute is America’s first independent research facility focusing solely on understanding the connection between aging and chronic disease. “Our mission is to increase the healthy years of one’s life,” says its president and CEO, Brian Kennedy, Ph.D. “At a time when people over 65 will soon outnumber children under five, finding a way to slow age-related diseases and disorders and extend productivity must become a priority,” he adds.
Drinking alcohol. Alcohol can cause puffy eyes because it lowers anti-diuretic hormones (ADH) in the body, but the levels will normalize and the puffiness will usually subside at about the same time your hangover subsides. Remember that alcohol causes dehydration, so drink plenty of water.
Though Christine had stopped the meditations, Garth continued to encourage her to dig into her subconscious. He believed that there was unexamined trauma that needed her attention. As if on cue, the universe cooperated and Christine’s father, Vic, who had left the family when Christine was eleven years old, returned to reacquaint himself with his daughter. Within months, Vic molested a teenage girl. The moment that Christine heard of the attack, she knew that this was not the first time Vic had transgressed. Childhood memories of being violated came flooding back to her.
FREEDOM & DESPAIR: Encino, California
In a moment of vulnerability, Christine reconnected with Rosemary and allowed her mother to introduce her to actor Rick Partlow. Rick was attentive and charming and soon Christine was swept off her feet. Galletea and The Ascent reflect this dreamy, romantic energy. Not long after their wedding, Rick tired of Christine’s rigid schedule and persuaded her to leave Ira Kaplan and let him manage her career. After four years of strict deadlines, Christine was so exhausted, she agreed. However, without a rudder to keep her steady, she soon found herself in the undertow of Rick’s never ending parties, drinking and cocaine use.
After giving Rick more than a year to build the business, Christine saw that he still had no viable way to distribute her work. She also saw that he was draining her bank accounts and, if she didn’t leave him, she and Shannon would soon be bankrupt. As her frustration with the relationship climaxed, Christine created Crescendo: a woman who’s been so twisted and manipulated she’s ready to break.
4.Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5.Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6.Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7.Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8.Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9.Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10.Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Woolsey was an outspoken opponent of the War in Iraq. On October 10, 2002, she was among 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq.[4] She has taken an active role in calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from that country. She led 15 members of Congress in writing a letter to President George W. Bush dated January 12, 2005, calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq.[5] She also was the first Member of Congress to call for a troop withdrawal, when she introduced H.Con. Res. 35 on January 26, 2005. Woolsey gave war protestor Cindy Sheehan a guest pass to attend Bush’s 2006 State of the Union speech. Sheehan’s attendance at the speech became noted when she was arrested for wearing a T-shirt with a political message.[6]
Lynn C. Woolsey (born November 3, 1937) is the U.S. Representative for California’s 6th congressional district, serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and as of 2010[update] its co-chair. Woolsey, who described herself as “the first former welfare mother to serve in Congress,”[1] is one of two members of the House to have been on welfare; the other is Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI).[2]
On June 28, 2011, Woolsey announced that she would not run for re-election in the 2012 election.[3]
Health care
Woolsey introduced a bill to revive the public option on July 22, 2010.[11] The Congressional Budget Office projected that the legislation would save $68 billion between 2014 and 2020.[12]
She was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which prevents private health insurance plans from covering abortion if the plan is subsidized by tax breaks in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act.[13]
[edit] Controversies
[edit] Darfur protest arrest
Woolsey was arrested April 27, 2009, outside the embassy of Sudan in Washington, D.C., during a protest against genocide in Darfur.[14] Woolsey and four other U.S. lawmakers were protesting the blocking of aid to victims. They were arrested on a charge of trespass after they crossed a police line.
Other Democratic House members arrested were Jim McGovern, Donna Edwards, Keith Ellison and John Lewis.
Alcohol Justice is a San Rafael, California-based non-profit advocacy, research and policy organization, describing itself as “the industry watchdog.” The Marin Institute was renamed and re-branded as Alcohol Justice in 2011; it was originally named The Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems .[1]
In 2006, Alcohol Justice shifted it focus to the practices of alcohol corporations who produce, distribute, retail and advertise alcoholic beverages. Until 2006, Alcohol Justice focused strictly on alcohol harms and environmental prevention strategies. These strategies included reducing the hours during which time alcohol can be sold, increasing the size of warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers, requiring warnings on all alcohol advertisements, restricting the content and placement of alcohol ads, and prohibiting alcohol sponsorship of athletic events.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Campaigns and Programs
2.1 Alcohol Taxes and Fees: Charge for Harm
2.2 Stop Alcopops
2.3 Watchdogging Alcohol Advertising
2.3.1 Removing Alcohol Ads from Government Property
2.3.2 Challenges to Industry Self-Regulation of Alcohol Advertising
2.3.3 Ad Campaign Debates
2.4 Alcoholic Energy Drinks
2.5 State Control
2.6 Free The Bowl Counter-Beer Advertising Contest
2.7 Environmental Prevention Role
3 References
4 External links
[edit] History
Alcohol Justice was established in 1987 as one of three Major Projects funded by the Leonard and Beryl H. Buck Trust at the same time the Marin Community Foundation was formed. The Marin Institute reported in 2006 that “countering the alcohol industry has always been a high priority for the Marin Institute, but we now want to make it the central focus of our efforts. That means we’ll put 100% of our energy into stopping the alcohol industry from harming public health.”[2]
In July 2011, the Marin Institute changed it name to Alcohol Justice to better align the organization’s name with the national reach of its network.[3]
[edit] Campaigns and Programs
Alcohol Justice, although based in San Rafael, California, plays a research and advocacy role in other cities and counties of California, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, and has led numerous campaigns for legislation and regulatory reform in Sacramento, California. Nonetheless, it is a national organization that has conducted national and international research projects, conducted hundreds of trainings of youth, community leaders and public health advocates throughout the United States, and participated in international activities as well in Canada, Europe, Africa and Thailand.
[edit] Alcohol Taxes and Fees: Charge for Harm
This section does not cite any references or sources. (January 2012)
The Marin Institute participated in a flurry of alcohol tax increase campaigns in the early 1990s, which resulted in small increases in beer excise taxes in California at the U.S. federal level in 1991 and 1992. From December 2006 to November 2010, The Marin Institute convened and organized a California coalition to promote proposals for nickel or dime a drink excise taxes or mitigation fees, including AB 1019 (Assm. Jim Beall, Dem-Santa Clara) supported in a testimonial video by John O. Whitaker, Jr.[4]
The Charge for Harm campaign supported various bills in Sacramento and the San Francisco “Alcohol Cost Recovery Fee” ultimately vetoed by PlumpJack wine-distributorship owning Mayor Gavin Newsom in September 2010.[5][6][7](More info at San Francisco Alcohol Cost Recovery database.
Ultimately the California campaign ground to a halt in November 2010 with the passage of Proposition 26 with 51.4% of the vote, supported by the Wine Institute, the California Chamber of Commerce, Chevron, and collectively oil, tobacco, and alcohol corporations. Proposition 26 now requires in California a 2/3 vote of both legislative houses to pass impact or mitigation fees to charge industries for the harm caused by production or consumption, and requires a 2/3 vote of the electorate to pass such fees at the municipal or county level.[8][9]
[edit] Stop Alcopops
[edit] Watchdogging Alcohol Advertising
[edit] Removing Alcohol Ads from Government Property
[edit] Challenges to Industry Self-Regulation of Alcohol Advertising
[edit] Ad Campaign Debates
[edit] Alcoholic Energy Drinks
[edit] State Control
[edit] Free The Bowl Counter-Beer Advertising Contest
[edit] Environmental Prevention Role
Bill Cornwell – Trophy Drinker
I coined the phrase ‘Trophy Drinker’ to describe Bill Cornwell’s drinking problem because I never met an alcoholic who was so proud of his drinking bouts and his subsequent hangovers that he publicizes them on his Facebook – and encourages my daughter to do the same! Indeed, my six year old grandson, Tyler Hunt, has become Billy Boy’s ‘Poster Boy’, this child used to advertize the lie that drinking and hangovers are good for you – and make you a man!
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2012 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, Ed.D. joined The Century Council on Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their top staffers. Dr. O’Neal spoke about The Century Council’s effort to address college binge drinking across the country and highlighted new research completed by Morgan State University on binge drinking among Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students.
Morgan State University, funded by a grant from The Century Council, conducted and compiled research which revealed that consumption and attitudes about alcohol among HBCU students are different that the national college sample:
Two-thirds of HBCU students like to pre-game versus thirty-six percent of the national sample.
Eighty-two percent of HBCU students have a good grasp on their drinking limits and maintain them versus seventy-eight percent of the national sample.
One-third of HBCU students don’t always realize how drunk they are until later compared to 39% of the national sample.
One-half of HBCU students who drink and go out socially report binge drinking on a weekly basis while two-thirds reported binging in the national sample.
Using the results of this recent research, The Century Council plans to pair Shaq and Morehouse College to create a new communications campaign to fight binge drinking among African American students. The Century Council’s research on college binge drinking shows an important aspect of a successful campaign to fight college binge drinking is the students’ own voices. This new initiative will be in addition to The Century Council’s student-generated college binge drinking initiatives presently on various campuses across the country.
“The Century Council has made a considerable commitment to developing impactful initiatives to combat dangerous overconsumption on college campuses across the country,” said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of The Century Council. “We wanted to understand the differences, if any, in binge drinking behaviors among students on HBCU campuses versus other colleges and universities, and we found some. With the new insights that we gained from the recent research into binge drinking on HBCU campuses and the creativity of Shaquille O’Neal, we know we can make an impact.”
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/14/4820445/shaquille-oneal-speaks-to-members.html#storylink=cpy
Billy Baby likes to drive all vehicles real fast because he is a dirt-track race car driver. On the way to the Grand Canyon in the car my sister rented for us, Tyler got car-sick due to being bounced around in the back seat in the harrowing ride on Route 66. This was something Billy Baby had longed to do, his dream come true, and I believe we were air born for a second. Yeeehaw!
Wherever Lil Billy goes, he demands that he have a ball. This is his primary objective. And Boy, does this guy got toys!
Anyway, while Heather was outside the car attending to the little cry-baby who was trying to throw-up. Billy Baby turns to me and says;
“He’s faking it just to get attention. I’m trying to change his girly ways, toughen him up, make a man out him!”
The first hours I spent with Baby Billy, were wasted tending to his awesome hangover he got in Vegas at a three day bachelor party. In a store, Mommy Heather urgently looked for a slice of greasy pizza, she telling me that was the remedy for all his hangovers. In the five days I was in his presence, Billy was nursing a hangover, and so were we all. Poor Little Billy has a tummy-ache, and was no fun to be around until late in the evening when he joined the other Trophy Drinker in my offspring’s life, Flip and Linda. Linda is Heather’s aunt who is a childless champion drinker who has waged a tug-of-war with her sister over Heather since she was a girl. Heather described her aunt as a Gold Digger who married an old millionaire, who died. Flip was looking forward to bonding with Heather and Tyler, but I got in the way because I have twenty four years of sobriety.
After having a confrontation at the Grand Canyon with Bill about his dangerous driving, I had Bill drop me off at my sister’s house. In the morning I had a bad feeling and called my daughter. She called me back twenty minutes later and said she and the Trophy Hunters were on the way to Ottman to pet donkeys – and were driving Linda’s car! Well, this was a lie Baby Billy and Linda encouraged my daughter to tell, because there was almost a full tank of gas in that rental car. Having to pay for gas would have added up to one less huge pitcher of beer. See the Hallmark moments below – that could not happen in my presence. I was NO FUN!
On the way back from Ottman, Linda had an accident. She had forgotten to empty her bladder, and there were no gas stations between Ottman and home. I assume Baby Billy drove as fast as he could, but, that more then likely scared the piss our of Linda, and she went with the flow, wet her pants while sitting in the back seat next to my grandson – who told me later;
“Aunt Linda wet her pants and made a funny joke!”
Heather and her Lover Boy quickly changed the subject before I got to hear the punch line. Was it about forgetting to wear your diapers?
Big Baby Billy managed to avoid my sober sister in the seven days he was in Bullhead city. He came over to Vicki’s house to pick me up for our return to Vegas and home. He politely let me sit up front seat with my daughter who I had not seen in a year, while he sat where I was regulated to sit – in the back seat! What a change of heart!
Heather had to do the driving for Billy Boy had a warrant out for failing to pay a speeding ticket he got two years earlier. After a ride on the monorail, and with no time to spare, I bid Bill set in front and give directions to my daughter on how to get to the airport. When I got in the backseat I spotted a huge water, beer-stain on the seat. It was ruined. I said nothing because I did not want to get into a fight with Heather’s Big Baby Boy and be forced to make a man out him for not manning up, for not taking responsibility- after all – he was behind the wheel of the car my sister rented for us. And now, she was going to be stuck with the BILL after Bill got out of Dodge?
Heather and Bill encouraged my grandson to wish Big Baby a happy Father’s Day. For lying to me and my sister, I disown my daughter, however, I will fight for Tyler Hunt – not because he is my flesh and blood – but because this poor boy is being abused by alleged grown-ups who act like terrible two year olds in diapers!
Baby Billy can have my daughter as another trophy, but, I am sending this post to Child Protection Services, who will come to my grandson’s rescue, keep Baby Billy from showing off this child as his trophy!
Vacation time. Terrys wedding tomarrow then vegas then bull head city. So stoked
Kimberly J Ridge
LOL u were SO funny last night, good to see someone who really makes Billy Happy!!! Hope u dont have to bad of a hangover this am. 😉
May 11 at 6:50am •LikeUnlike • • See Friendship
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o Bill Cornwell likes this.
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Heather Hanson Lol! I just had a good buzz. No hang over for me. Billy and beer make for an extra happy time!!!!
May 11 at 5:55pm • LikeUnlike
Bill Cornwell don’t forget 2 lemon drops
May 12 at 9:52am • LikeUnlike
• Drinkin beer n waitin for the races to start. — with Jessica Hahn and 2 other peopleKimberly J Ridge
Bill Cornwell at Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga Ca.
Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga Ca
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100001535086266
• Bill Cornwell
Bump drafting on 101 south with anthony
Jim Watson hey bill, try doing it at 80~90 mph in my old Tow truck behind a BMW.down in San Mateo. Haha THATS FUN
May 28 at 10:22am via Facebook Mobile • LikeUnlike
Bill Cornwell lol we were doing bout 80 in a s10 and a geo
May 28 at 12:31pm via Facebook Mobile • LikeUnlike
Heather Hanson We did have a blast. Tyler fell asleep in the grand stands during the modifieds but didn’t miss much. They got 11 laps in before they were red flagged for like the fifth time. Then curfew hit and they threw up the checkered flag and the race was over.
Bill Cornwell
were at the vegas airport had a helluv a trip don’t wana leave but hell let’s go watch some bikes in petaluma
Top of Form
16 hours ago via Mobile Web •LikeUnlike •
Kimberly J Ridge Dude its a full house here we did save u seats. They just finished heat races
Bill Cornwell Yeah that’s awesome were exhausted
Bill Cornwell
Road trip today. Route 66 to the grand canyon
Top of Form
Linda Comstock How close are you to Vegas now?
19 hours ago • LikeUnlike
Bill Cornwell
I’m in bullhead city its hotter then africa I’m still recovering from vegas were bout to cross the colorado river to laughlin hit up a casino chill by the pool with some drinks and a beautiful girl. Its a rough life but somones gotta do it
Top of Form
June 14 at 12:42pm via Mobile Web •LikeUnlike •
5 people like this.
Jessica Young McCrary awww. how fun!!!
June 14 at 1:15pm • LikeUnlike
Judy Hansen Hope you guys are having a lot of fun. Stay cool and have a nice little cocktail for me. Make it a margarita, poolside.
June 14 at 11:46pm • LikeUnlike
Debra Valencia Oh you lucky duck!
June 15 at 1:21am • LikeUnlike
• Bill Cornwell
Today was a first for me in a long line of firsts I’ve been experiancing since you and tyler have come into my life and I love every moment of it. Today was the first mothers day we spent as a family and it was such a fun day as it always is when we are together. You mean so much to me I hope you had the best mothers day ever 🙂
May 8 at 9:38pm •LikeUnlike • • See Friendship
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o 2 people like this.
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Heather Hanson It sure was the best Mothers Day ever!!! You really made it so special with all the surprises. You created some wonderful memories for us today and Tyler was extremely impressed with everything you showed us. I am grateful for all you have done. Thank you for being so awesome.
• Heather Hanson
Eating pizza and drinkin beer. — with Bill Cornwell at Russian River Brewing Co.
Russian River Brewing Co
May 7 at 1:05pm via iPhone •LikeUnlike •
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o 2 people like this.
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Melissa Westerman Wish I had a beer while standing her in the line to recycle cans, lol
May 7 at 1:21pm • LikeUnlike
Heather Hanson You probably had nothing but empty beers. Sad.
May 7 at 2:46pm • LikeUnlike
Melissa Westerman Sad but so true, haha!!
May 7 at 2:59pm • LikeUnlike
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Bill Cornwell
so I just landed in vegas and l just landed and listened to a message from joey. “Hey bill its joey its like 411 am which would be about 211 your time” hahahaha yep that really happend
June 11 at 9:04pm via Mobile Web •LikeUnlike •
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o 5 people like this.
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Chris Patterson Legit go to ip or bills for the cheap pitchers
June 11 at 9:10pm • LikeUnlike
Editorial: Marin’s Buck Trust may not need a ‘special master,’ but more input is welcome
Marin Independent Journal Editorialmarinij.com
Posted: 08/26/2012 05:26:00 AM PDT
THERE WAS A TIME when a court-appointed watchdog for the Buck Trust made sense. In 1986, the Marin Community Foundation and three “major projects” were created by the court-ordered transfer of Leonard and Beryl Buck’s trust to a Marin-based stewardship.
Today, it is hard to justify both the need and cost of a “special master” keeping an eye on how the trust is managed. The $240,000 annual cost for the special master, an administrative aide and office space in Corte Madera could be better spent on local programs and projects.
Former state Appellate Court Judge Gary Strankman, the special master appointed by the court to monitor distribution of trust proceeds, has suggested that the time has come to eliminate his job.
He says the Marin Community Foundation has “matured dramatically” and doesn’t need a probate babysitter to keep an eye on its stewardship of the trust, which is now about $750 million.
When the foundation was created, the trust was worth $420 million.
In addition to the Marin Community Foundation, the state Supreme Court created three “special projects” — the Buck Center for Age Research, the Buck Institute for Education and what is now called Alcohol Justice — that receive major funding from the Buck Trust.
After a quarter century of existence, a yearly accounting to the state Supreme Court would seem to be sufficient.
Strankman is inviting Marin residents
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and agencies to share their views on his proposal by writing his office at 200 Tamal Plaza, Suite 130, Corte Madera, 94925. He said the decision could take 18 months or longer to reach and implement.
We commend him for seeking public comment.
The first special master was assigned in 1986 to make sure the wishes of the Buck family were followed, in investing the trust’s assets and the distribution of grants.
The family also has a representative on the 15-member Marin Community Foundation board to help assure that the grants are made in line with the intent of Dr. Leonard and Beryl Buck, the Ross couple whose philanthropy has resulted in $800 million in grants since the foundation was entrusted with carrying out their bequest.
Over the years, the special master has operated in the background, except for presenting a public report to the presiding judge at the annual trust hearing, usually held in September. Those reports have typically been fairly perfunctory.
Should the Supreme Court decide to eliminate Strankman’s post, it should consider opening the doors much wider for public participation in the annual accounting. By posting the yearly reports to the court online, Marin residents and agencies can see the documents for themselves and, in writing, express their opinions and recommendations for the judge’s perusal and consideration.
The Bucks’ descendants should be heard as well.
That outreach could prove helpful for a justice who has the responsibility for making sure the foundation abides by the Bucks’ wishes, but who isn’t close enough to the process to see whether or not needs are being addressed and the impact of the grants.
Strankman says it’s “highly likely” that he will recommend that his job is no longer needed and be eliminated. That is an expression of confidence in the foundation’s stewardship and performance.
The court also should consider more fully engaging the community in its annual process of reviewing the Marin Community Foundation’s performance by asking for comments and observations from those the Buck Trust was intended to help and benefit.
Rosamond Press 
Reblogged this on Rosamond Press and commented:
This morning I became a member of Alcohol Justice. I will share my story of how family members who hated Christine’s and my Twelve Step Program, and our sobriety, approved the publishing of a book by an outsider, that demonized us – for profit! I sent an e-mail to Gavin Newsom back in 1998, imploring him to help save our family Recovery. 2007-02-05 17:49:00 PST SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said today that he will seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
“Upon reflection with friends and family this weekend, I have come to the conclusion that I will be a better person without alcohol in my life,” Newsom said in a written statement. “I take full responsibility for my personal mistakes and my problems with alcohol are not an excuse for my personal lapses in judgment.”