From the News Hound at Dispatch Monthly (Gallen's epaper)

[Guest guest]

With Yahoo down I didn't see if this got on the list or not and I don't know

how many members get DISPATCH Monthly Magazine News Hound

....... so just in case, I'm posting this cause it made me mad.....not that

it was printed, what is happening:

<<<<<<The Hound saw this one coming: San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark

Simon reports that NYPD has pretty much pulled the plug on their

dispatchers attending any type of honors ceremonies, saying it would

amount to a gratuity--which is forbidden. >>>>>>>

But their officers can go allllllllllllll over the country and on TV doing

fund raisers and its not. We had two at the Chinese New Years parade and 2

(or 3) for St. 's day.....officers.....but I guess that isn't a

gratuity.

<<<<So only FDNY and Washington (DC) area dispatchers will attend a San Mateo

County (Calif.) dispatchers banquet honoring them next month. Simon was

sympathetic to the lack of attention paid to the dispatchers for their role

in

the terrorist attack aftermath. " Honoring the dispatchers who handled

the nation's greatest emergency is a way for (the San Mateo County

dispatchers) to recognize that what they do is important and vital, "

he wrote.

>>>>>

Anyone from San Mateo here? Are you selling tickets? I'm in the Bay Area,

I'd like to attend. And if this isn't too tacky, are you doing door prizes

in case some of us would like to donate one? Any details?