"If I’m asking the people of Hawaii to go all in with their faith, and their trust, and their votes for me, the least I can do is go all in and campaign full-time for that job so we’re ready to go," Abercrombie noted during a Sunday press conference. He is expected to announce his departure date soon but it is expected that he will resign in the next few weeks. A special election will be held to fill his seat.

Members contributing to M.E.B.A’s Political Action Fund might want to make sure to get their donations in by the end of the year in order to qualify for the M.E.B.A. rewards program. Special keepsake gifts are available to those who help strengthen the P.A.F. during calendar year 2009. Three different levels of specially-produced challenge coins are given to $100 and above, $250 and above and $500 and above contributors. Those who contribute over $1,000 receive all three coins and have their choice of a his or hers M.E.B.A. watch, a Meat Lover’s steak knife set, or a great M.E.B.A. multi-tool/mag-lite set. There will likely be additional rewards available for 2009 contributors including all-new challenge coins.

Every dollar helps. To help guarantee the future of your Union, please contribute to the M.E.B.A.’s Political Action Fund!

The seasonal winter monsoon season, occurring from mid-December through March, is expected to cause a decrease in pirate activity within the Somali Basin west of the Seychelles as weather conditions will not be as conducive for small boat operations. The decrease observed from 2008 in successful Gulf of Aden attacks is not expected to change during the winter monsoon season. In the Gulf of Aden, successful hijackings have decreased as a combined result of the increased coalition warship presence, patrols escorting merchant ships through the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC) as well as improved shipping industry counter-piracy practices. While the monsoon season had a marginal impact as a deterrent for pirate activity in 2008, it is difficult to determine the degree to which the affected pirate activity in 2009 will be due to the heavy coalition presence in the Gulf of Aden. Traditionally, the winter monsoon has had a significant impact on pirate operations in the Indian Ocean. However, now that pirates have expanded operations further east of the Seychelles and east of Tanzania toward Madagascar, the degree to which weather will impact piracy operations in these areas remains to be seen. In the past, these sea states have not been affected by weather conditions to the same extent as in the pirates' traditional operating areas. Mariners are advised to continue to proceed with caution while transiting these areas during the coming monsoon months.

The M.E.B.A. reserves final right of placement over all ads but will consider placement requests. In addition, we reserve the right to reject any advertisement for any reason whatsoever or no reason at all. Finally, the M.E.B.A. will not accept political advertisements relating to either internal or external politics.

Full page ads cost $1,200 for a one-time placement and $995 (per ad) if you commit to three or more ads. A 1/2 page costs $700 or $580 (per ad) for a three or more commitment. A 1/3 page ad costs $500 with a $415 (per ad) price for three or more.

M.E.B.A. is asking you to contact the two U.S. Senators in your state and insist that they dispense with this proposal that harms the health plans of hardworking men and women. M.E.B.A. has a feature on our website to better help you connect with your State’s legislative delegation. Go to our homepage (www.mebaunion.org) and click on "Write To Congress" located both under the "Political" tab at top, as well as all the way at the bottom of the homepage.

The U.S. House recently passed a critical bill to assist the country’s struggling economy and create jobs. By a 217-212 vote, the House passed a package that would extend unemployment insurance, aid state governments and fund important infrastructure projects. Some of these initiatives are renewals of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. The House’s bill would help state and local governments retain teachers and firefighters and maintain services critical in this time of economic hardship. It also would create jobs by funding public works projects like school construction, rail, transit, water systems and highways. And by extending unemployment insurance and COBRA health care coverage, it gives critical help to those suffering from the jobs crisis at a time when the economy needs consumer demand. The House bill is paid for out of bank bailout funds, so it will not impact the deficit.

The bill must next be approved by the U.S. Senate. But the AFL-CIO says, "Unless we light a fire under that august body, nothing will move before the end of the year and the unemployment insurance for millions of jobless workers will expire. Tell senators to pass the Jobs for Main Street Act (H.R. 2847), which invests $154 billion to create and save jobs. The bill invests in highway and mass transit projects, building and repairing schools and low-income housing, creating and saving jobs for teachers, police and firefighters and additional hiring and training programs. The bill also extends recovery act initiatives to help small businesses create jobs, lifeline unemployment, health care and food aid to people who have lost their jobs and cuts taxes for 16 million families through the Child Tax Credit. And it’s totally paid for with leftover bank bailout funds."

Beginning January 4, 2010, the Coast Guard will begin accepting credential applications at the 17 Regional Examination Centers using e-mail. E-mail only complete application packages that meet the Coast Guard’s Application Acceptance Checklist requirements. More information is available at the National Maritime Center’s website at www.uscg.mil/nmc.

Questions regarding this new submission process should be directed to the NMC Mariner Information Call Center at 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662).

M.E.B.A. promotional products are now easier for active and retired members to obtain with the addition of our new online shop. You can access it from our webpage www.mebaunion.org and click on the "Union Store" icon at top right.

To start, seven items are being offered for sale, including the "Pirates Beware – M.E.B.A. Onboard" T-shirt, logo hats and a steak knife set. The prices were set not to make a profit, but to help cover the cost of the item and offset online store expenses. The main goal of the store is to allow our members to obtain logo merchandise and display it proudly.

User feedback will help shape the future direction of the online store. Those offering constructive input and suggestions for future items offered can e-mail mebahq@mebaunion.org.  Obviously, higher selling items will become mainstays on the site while poorly selling items will be discontinued.

Apply for Vacation and Port Relief Benefits early to avoid the year-end rush.

Any member who requires that his/her check be dated in 2009 must file before this deadline. Remember, December 25, 2009 and January 1, 2010 are holidays and the outports and the Plan Office will be closed. It is always wise to plan ahead, so you may want to verify your specific outport holiday schedule with the plan office representative.

Monday, Jan. 4 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Jan. 5 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Jan. 6 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Jan. 7 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Jan. 8 – Honolulu.