May Flowers

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I'm having fun making these videos. This is my way of Creating Something. I don't even know what the video is going to look like in the end. That's what makes it so much fun. It's kind of a mystery until you are done with it. I hope you enjoy this one.

Happy Mother's Day

 I wanted to capture some of the beautiful memories of my Mom and growing up.

The beginning of this video starts off with some of my favorites pictures of my Mom holding me up back in 1945 when I was born. She took her life when I was 17 years old, but I never stop loving her. There is a saying that I heard one time that is one of my favorite: "If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever." I feel that Mom is still holding me up and watching over me.

 I am extremely proud of this video and the opportunity to be able to put it on Oprah's site so all can get a glimpse of my Mom here on Mother's Day.

Senate Bill 173 Defeated!

There was a reason why I posted my article about myself and about Schaumburg Township on my blog: Disabled in Schaumburg, "A Township You Should Know About"

At the last minute, I found out from Schaumburg Disabled Services that Senator Terry Link sponsored a bill; Senate Bill 173 down in Springfield Illinois. He tried to sneak it in without anybody knowing about it here in Schaumburg. This legislation would have created an appointed commission with extraordinary authority to abolish potentially thousands of local government entities. In other words they could have abolished Schaumburg Township where I live. We could not let that happen. So I did my part and wrote up my story about my plight and how the Schaumburg Township has helped me out through all the hard times since I moved here in 1985. I couldn't have survived without them.

Well, yesterday while I was at my Disabled meeting at the Schaumburg Township, they told me that the "Senate Bill 173 was DEFEATED" by 14 to 30 not in favor of the bill.

I was thrilled that it had failed in the Senate. Now I don't have to think about losing my great Township, not for a while anyway. I will always be there to defend my township. Just say the word and I'll be there.

William Kaufman

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Today Was No Ordinary Day for Me

Let me explain.


I had an appointment with my doctor at the Hines Veterans Hospital here in Illinois this morning. It was just a routine follow up. As I entered the grounds, I noticed all these American flags on each side of the road leading to the Hospital. There must have been over a hundred of these flags. "They must be celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, " I thought to myself. I parked and went to get a blood test first. Everything checked out OK. Then I went up and saw the doctor. That too went well.

After my checkup I asked my doctor where the medical records department was. I needed a copies of my V.A.medical records for my outside doctor that I also see. He told me where it was and I went down to get them. This woman came up to me and asked if she could help. I said yes and I told her what I needed. As I was filling out this form she noticed my name. With a smile on her face she said, "This is as close to seeing another "Kaufman" as I ever will. I didn't know what she meant at first but then she said that her last name was "Kaufman" too. We both were smiling by then and we got to talking.

After I was through getting copies of my medical records, she told me about "The Flag Stitching Ceremony" that they had going on in the Auditorium just down the hall. Her eyes were all lit up and she seemed excited while telling me about it. I didn't know what she was talking about but I had to go check it out. There were signs all over pointing the way to the Flag Sewing. When I got there, I saw this huge old American flag draped across the stage. It was the remnants of the 30-foot American flag that was found hung, torn, tattered, and blowing in the wind on Sept 11th 2001 at 90 West Street across from Ground Zero. WOW!!!

There were people standing there waiting in line. I found out that this flag has been going around the country. They are repairing this flag. Each person standing in line got to put one stitch in the Flag. As I stood there waiting for my turn to put my stitch in the 9/11 Flag, I couldn't help thinking what a perfect way to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden. I was proud of myself when I took that needle and put my stitch in Our Flag. It was only one stitch but I was proud.

They must be keeping a record of everybody that is participating because they made me fill out a card with my name and address. And then when they gave me the needle to put my stitch in the flag they took my picture. They did that to everybody that helped sew the 9/11 Flag.

Once the flag is restored and made whole again. The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center. What a privilege it was for me to put my stitch in the 9/11 Flag.

http://national911flag.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/N9F-Press-Release-Illinois.pdf

http://national911flag.org/
http://national911flag.org/?page_id=44

A Proud American
William Kaufman




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Easter Sunday at the Nursery

I went over to the Nursery in Schaumburg to see if the flowers had come in yet.. He was just closing up but let me stay a few minutes longer so I could take some pictures. That was nice of him because nobody was there and I got to take some pretty pictures.

Flowers are Like Natures Fireworks

Disabled in Schaumburg

A Township You Should Know About



My name is Bill Kaufman, I moved to an apartment in Schaumburg after my divorce in 1985. At the time I knew something was wrong with me but I didn't know what. So I went to the Veterans Hospital were I stayed for a month and a half. The doctors told me I had multiple sclerosis. I didn't have any money and my rent was due. I couldn't work anymore. If it wasn't for the help of the Schaumburg Township and Gerry Bartnicke in Disabled Services and the people in her office, I would have never made it. I would be dead by now.




They have helped me out so many times that I will never be able to repay them for all the help they have given me over the past 26 years. I'm still in the same apartment after all these years.

They have helped me get my Social Security Disability and Sec 8 to pay for my housing, I use the food pantry once in a while when my doctor bills start piling up and I don't have enough money for food. They helped me get into Adult Day Care center when I first got out of the hospital. I was all alone and I needed help with my depression. I stayed at the day care center for 4 years. The township even helped me get an electric scooter so that I could get around in. The Schaumburg Township has helped me with LIHEAP and since my hearing is bad they got me a phone for the hearing impaired.

Then when the State of Illinois pass the law for Mandatory car insurance, they got Rep. Kay Wojcik to sponsor a House Bill 4214 to help disabled people that couldn't afford car insurance.









After I got out of the adult Day Care Center Gerry Bartnicke of Disabled Services started up a support group for the disabled. It was held at the old township school building on Illinois Blvd in Hoffman Estates. That's when I started going to every meeting. Now they have a new township building and they still hold the disabled meeting once a week on Tuesday which I still attend.






I went to the Larry King Show that was held in a Bowling Alley in Schaumburg immediately following the speech by President Clinton on Health Care Reform in September of 1993. I found out about the Show from the Schaumburg Township. So I went and they let me in and I submitted my question to Larry King so he could ask his guests.




Question to Larry King

"If the government can't afford to provide Health Care for all the Veterans as we were promised when we joined the military, how can the government provide Heath Care for ALL Americans?"

William Kaufman

PS And the Veterans Health Care is rated poor in my opinion.



In 1995 I had a heart attack. When I got out of the hospital they came over and opened my bottle of pills. I couldn't open it because my rid cage was still sawed in half because of the open heart surgery they did on me. They told me how to get help from the hospital in order to pay my bills. Gerry found someone who donated a hospital bed. Well guess who brought it over to my apartment? Yes, it was Gerry Bartnicke and her husband. It was there day off. That's what kind of people we have at the Schaumburg Township

Schaumburg Township always makes sure that I don't go hungry on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

As I get older my teeth started falling out. So I went over to Gerry Bartnicke at the Schaumburg Township and she referred me to this organization that helps disabled people get the proper dental care. I got new teeth. Then my hearing got worse so I talked to Gerry at the Schuamburg Township and she got a hold of the Lions Club and they got me a hearing aid.

That kind of gives you an idea how much help the Schaumburg Township has given me. But I'm not the only person they help out. They work tirelessly helping others. I really can't imagine the Schaumburg Township not being there. It would be one of the worst things that could ever happen.




William Kaufman

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