Stop Arnold Weblog

Nurses Say Vote No in November RN RV Tour-Salinas

Never Miss a Moment
November 3
Starbucks,Salinas, Ca

Diane Foxen RN, San Jose

The last three weeks I've been trying to not miss a moment to tell someone about stopping Arnold.  Here we were the morning of Nov 3rd, our last RN RV hospital visit. Chris and Trish head to Winchells for donuts and Helen, Michelle, and I headed to Starbucks. At 8:30 am the Salinas Starbucks is crowded with around 20 people. Four of them happen to be cops. Two of which are motorcycle cops. As we exit Helen knowing my ex-military background said, "Diane I can't believe you missed your moment to tell the cops to vote no."

I did an about face, after all I've got my scrubs on. I opened the door and politely announced: "Support a nurse and her patients, vote NO on the 8th." As I started to walk away a lady came out and said, "Good Job in there. I'm a nurse at Salinas Memorial and we are all voting NO." We talked briefly then headed to Salinas Memorial. It's a big world but somehow we are all connected. If you feel strong about something share it with others. You will be surprised how many people feel the same way as you do.
 

Nurses say “Vote No” in November RN RV Tour:

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo

Trish Gonzalez, RN, Oakland

UC Santa Barbara Student Health Center
Tuesday November 1, 2005

Young students on their way to and from class. We get lots of honks and waves from the maintenance workers passing by in their UCSB trucks. Very tanned bunch all with a cell phone or I-pod in their ear.  They asked great questions!  The future is certainly safe…  The local press asked great questions and we, the nurses, looked them in the eye and spoke of our commitment to the citizens of California and the need for the strong political voice of the working people of this state to continue to be heard! 

Off to Santa Maria

As day becomes dusk we arrive at the California Teachers Association office in Santa Maria to assist in their phone bank. All the calls were confirmation that the working people of this state will turn out and vote NO on all Arnold’s propositions! The press shoots some film and interviews our San Jose nurse Diane.  Arrival at our hotel finds us in the lobby with no other than Al Franken in town to do his show from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.(SLO)

Early morning Wednesday- Sierra Vista Hospital SLO

Greeting nurses finishing their nightshift is a tough gig. Standing at the parking lot exit handing out information a nurse tells me that she recognizes me from the night news she saw before starting her shift!  She says she is a new graduate and gushes about how proud she is to be a part of CNA …..she goes on and on about how excited she is that we’re out shaking things up  She takes lawn signs, bumper stickers and informational Get-out-the vote cards to distribute to her friends and family.

11:00 am-French Hospital, SLO
We are being chase down by a handsome middle-aged man in a Beemer, he seems too know of our rock-star status!!  He beats on our windows until we grant him a private audience.  He explains that he is a retired nurse and has been following us for miles in hope of  souvenir signs to post in his yard.  His neighbors will now know he’s a nurse groupie and as well as a  retiree! On to Templeton -NURSES ROCK!!!!!
 

Nurses Say "Vote No" in November Road Tour

Welcome to Hollywood and Happy Halloween

On Halloween day CNA nurses handed out 5,000 masks of Arnold Schwarzenegger to locals in need of a last-minute costume in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, and  of course on his star of fame in Hollywood. The masks are stamped with a bar-code and marked “Property of” one of the major corporate donors—such as ChevronTexaco, FOX News, or Ameriquest—that are funding Schwarzenegger’s special election this November 8th.  The masks are part of a broad-based campaign by the nurses to let the public know just how scary Schwarzenegger’s initiatives really are and to encourage all voters to vote NO this November 8.

The following entry is from an RN who took part in the Hollywood give-away.

Diane Foxen,RN,San Jose 10/31/05

The perfect place for Arnold's star, in front of the wax museum. Fake is the idea here. Unbelievable were the three Arnold warriors there to protect Arnolds star from us scary nurses. Honey we heal and advocate not desecrate. They even accused me of not being a nurse. Well I just got off a three night stretch of 12 hours shifts at Good Samaritan, San Jose neonatal intensive care unit and flew out as soon as I got off work. My time card can vouch for me. When was the last time one of them took someone's pulse?