|
Click on Photo for
Larger Image
A
message to Wayne Laufenburg, DBR District Lodge 134.
After five years of hard work
creating this eagle for you.
And after five years of you having to wait,
I finally completed your eagle and was going to present it to you with all
the fan fare at the Iowa State Council of Machinists meeting that our lodge
is hosting in Sioux City, Iowa, May 18, and 19, 2002
I won't be able to attend the State
Council meeting because I have to work. I took the eagle to our lodge
meeting Saturday 5/11/02 with the hopes that Russ Leigh would do me the
favor of making sure you receive it.
Well, and this is the sad part, I was
cornered by Bob Connett, DBR, District Lodge 7 and the Executive Board of my
lodge and the eagle was KIDNAPPED!
I want you to know that I put up a
struggle you wouldn't believe. The bodily injury that could have been
administered to me was, in my mind, trivial. But the damage that could have
been imposed on the eagle was a different issue. After five years of
creating this eagle and after five years of you waiting for
it...........well, you get my drift.
I finally surrendered the eagle to
this ruthless crowd of heartless, but yet well meaning individuals.
I have been informed that they are
holding it hostage until the Iowa State Council Meeting.
There is now a ransom on the eagle.
When you make a $50.00 donation, in my name, to Guide Dogs of America, which
will help with the kennel renovation project, the
eagle will be freed and you will then have custody of it and can give it
it's rightful place of honor in your collection of memorabilia. Proof of
this $50.00
ransom (donation) must be presented by the end of business at the State Council
meeting, Sunday 5/19/02.
IN SOLIDARITY,
Milt Jenkins
UPDATE
05/20/02
EDDIE THE WAYWARD EAGLE
I
received the following letter from John Herrig, Secretary/Treasurer of
Siouxland Lodge 1426 on the status of Wayne's eagle.
The ransom was paid.
The kidnapped eagle (which is now called Eddie) was returned to Wayne.
The matter was settled.
OR WAS IT?
READ ON!
Milt,
In case you haven't already heard, the eagle dominated the Iowa State Council of Machinists this weekend
in Sioux City. After a distraught Wayne Laufenberg coughed up $50.00, (made to the Guide Dogs in the
name of Milt Jenkins), to ransom his eagle from the clutches of the "evil ones" - all seemed well - the eagle
was secure in Brother Laufenberg's locked room.
Or was it?
As luck would have it, an unknown person (or persons) broke into Brother Wayne's room (AKA "Wayne's
World) and absconded with the prized bird of prey. This time the ransom was a hefty $100.00 (earmarked
for MNPL). This, of course, sent Brother Wayne into a "tail-spin" since he claimed that he was almost
completely depleted of funds. (Rumor has it that he drove his Harley through the ditches of Iowa all the
way to Sioux City collecting pop cans to come up with the original $50.00).
Accusations were flying, names were being named and fingers were being pointed (and yes, certain fingers
were being raised). Brother Connett's honor was questioned, the trustworthiness of Lodge 1426's entire
E-Board was scrutinized, and there was talk that the ringleader may very well be a former Lodge 1426
Secretary-Treasurer and past-president of District 7 who had an ax to grind with Brother Wayne.
But it didn't stop there! Everyone was a suspect! It was like the red scare of the Joe McCarthy years, the
Salem witch hunts and "Where's Waldo" all rolled into one big conspiracy.
So who was the guilty party? Perhaps we will never know the answer to this mystery. Perhaps it's best
that we don't know. What's really important is that the Brother's and Sister's all came to Brother Wayne's
aid and ponied-up the $100.00 ransom. Which, in this machinist's mind, is clear and unmitigated proof
that anyone associated with this organization or it's affiliates could not have possibly had anything to do
with this larcenous act. We're all just happy that the whole ordeal has drawn to a happy conclusion.
Or has it?
Brother Wayne was heard to "vow vengeance in Waterloo".
To be continued...
|
