Howdy, y'all, it is the New Year and filled with a lot of promise, great candy, and a lot of some of the idiotic things that you just have to get past it and go HHHHMMMMMmmmm.  I am pumped for this year.

Forgot to mention that our area is getting wiser, or religion, or it is a whole lot better with a new Newspaper editor that really does understand the importance of this Delta Queen issue.  He rocks.  He is great. 

In the tourism edition that they help put together each year, published by the Evansville Courier Publishing Co, with the great help of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau, you will be truely amazed as I was and proud....its a start.  On one of the pages there is a picture of the Delta Queen infront of our pretty river front steaming that smokestack.  It is a neat picture.   This is a Free publication that is passed out at the Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Evansville, IN, and in Henderson, Ky, guest centers, in area Hotels, in our Evansville Regional Airport, in other packets or information centers to tourists, business folks, and others.  It is a Free full color large publication.

The Article does state the dates the Queen series boats had been in the area showcasing Henderson, Kentucky.  This doesn't mention any other stops made.   Even the title of it "Visit nostalgic riverboats in Henderson".  We are so LUCKY to have Henderson, Ky, next to us that can more than capably greet and help water and provide trash bins for the Queen series when they come.   The city of Henderson folks are great hosts.  In Evansville, Indiana, we get the passengers by motor coach to visit some museums and other great things.  Yep, there are a few of us that will be working to get some great docking for the Queen series.  We do it behind the scenes to insure that it will happen.  If not, I do know that the other cities up and down our Ohio River region are all working to be a part of any of her dockings. 

More river towns are working to secure them coming and working to provide the best service to the passengers.  But, that is what we're about in this part of the country, anyway.  SO, sometime this spring, the season of the Queen series river treks start again.  We'll be ready for all of her passengers.  Our citizens love the river boats.  We love the grandeur and grace of the beloved vessels.  We love the history behind these beauties.

For our American Heritage, we want to keep the history stories alive and what these boats meant to our country.  Our Ohio River region keeps at it.  With river front renovations, upgrades, and additions, we'll be a more vibrant river area.  Keep watching.  You'll be amazed.  Developments along the river are already starting and already in the planning stage.

You can find the photo and the article in the Southern Indiana*Western Kentucky*Southern Illinois editioin of our DISCOVER  2007-2008 edition, Evansville-Henderon.  It is the two cities as Scripps Howard does the newspapers in Evansville, Indiana and in Henderson, Ky. 

Make this New Year a Great One.  It is fresh, it is there for making your life better, and there to help others when you can. 

Happy New Year!!!    Mary

Howdy, and a Happy New Year!! to all.  A subject that I usually keep away from is about Labor Unions.  The sector of folks that band together for what their message is for workers.  Religion and one's politics you usullay want to stray from.  I've not ever been a member nor any of my family, to my knowledge.  But, acutely aware of them, even know a few local Union Presidents and even earlier in life interviewed on radio a United Mine Workers Union President, Richard Trumpka.  Now, he was an interesting guy.  The current UMWU President I've covered also.

Well, an article in the December 24, 2007, issue of Business Week caught my eye.  Entitled "Labor's New Roll of the Dice" states that nationally, Labor unions are losing ground in the auto industry.  SO, guess what, they are reaching out to the Casinos and trying to garner dealers as members.  Making up for lost membership.  Infact, even the Transport Workers Union of America is working to get membership in some Las Vegas Casinos for dealers. 

Bottom line is that the auto industry unions are less membership and they are doing what they can to increase membership.  SO, this may be the deluge on river boats that company owners are feeling that dig into their companies.  I don't know.  True, owners may not want to pay as much on insurance, pension, or other concessions, but they may not want another entity to horn in on their workers and have any input on the business also.

I can see that, as a business owner.

Casinos are now working on robots to lessen the human impact on card dealing......and, they won't have to deal with unions coming.  Seems like a vicious circle to me.   The biggest casino sector is the one owned by Indians that the unions are after, also.

I don't know the Delta Queen union situation, but evidently unions all over are scrambling for membership.  SO, possibly the Delta Queen is in the middle of a union squabble for or against any exemption.  I don't know.

It seems a pity if the boat is held hostage by some for their agenda rather than what is best for the Delta Queen and its loyal fan base.   Mary