Posted on 09/29/2004 8:06:55 PM PDT by Robert Drobot
Note: I’m copping with some difficult medical issues, and had a disastrous crash of my hard drive twice in succession (worm). This is the reason I’ve didn’t have the opportunity to address this serious issue on FR.
It remains an issue today, because the San Jose Army National Guard will be conducting another 'Open House' in November. I think we are obliged to get behind an effort to show our men and women in uniform our gratitude for their service, without their getting a glove across the face for ‘trespassing’ on private ( COSTCO ) property.
On Saturday, September 11, 2004, I was returning home after participating in a Pro-America 9-11 Remembrance at Stevens Creek Road and Winchester Boulevard, when I decided to stop at COSTCO, Santa Clara to run an errand.
As I approached the entrance, I noticed three smartly dressed uniformed members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry representing the San Jose Army National Guard. They were assigned to distribute a flyer addressing an 'Open House' at the Hedding St Armory being held that weekend. I thanked them for their service to our country, took a flyer and planned to visit them the following day.
As I entered the COSTCO facility, four or five of the COSTCO staff walked past me, surrounded our men in uniform. One of them told the Guard they must stop distributing their flyer. He said this was COSTCO policy, and further told the Guard that they were trespassing on private property.
The Guard members, wisely rejected a public confrontation, withdrawing quietly befuddled.
The following day my son and I went to the Armory. I asked those present if they were aware of the shameful action by COSTCO. They somberly responded they were aware of it, but chose to put an optimistic face on the incident by relating the positive response and welcome they received at the Great Mall in Milpitas, California.
The bottom line is San Jose Army National Guard was given the boot by COSTCO!
I’m asking you to help change this cock-eyed Un-American COSTCO policy ( if one actually exist ), and demand:
A) A letter of apology be sent to the Guard’s 185th Infantry in San Jose from the founder and chairman of COSTCO Jeffrey Brotman.
B) Take a minute to let the local print media - The San Jose Mercury News know how you feel toward the action COSTCO Santa Clara took against the men of our armed forces.
....and drop a word or two of support to:
C) Call and or write to:
COSTCO’s Corporate mailing address is: Head Office:
Jeffrey H. Brotman, Founder and Chairman COSTCO Wholesale Corp.
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah WA USA 98027
Phone: 425 313-8100
Toll Free:
Fax: 425 313-6593
Email: investor@COSTCO.com
Community Relations / Charitable Donations
Kim Cross
Community Relations & Administration
Phone: (425) 313-6182
Email: kcross@COSTCO.com
Annual Sales:
For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 29, 2004, the Company reported net sales of $47.15 billion, an increase of 13 percent from $41.69 billion during the prior fiscal year. By comparison, COSTCO's 1999 sales reached $27 billion 13% from the previous fiscal year.
COSTCO currently operates 288 warehouses, including 218 in the United States, 58 in Canada, seven in the United Kingdom, three in Korea, one in Taiwan, and a recently opened warehouse in Hisayama, Japan; and 16 additional warehouses in Mexico with a joint venture partner. The Company also operates COSTCO Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.COSTCO.com.
HAL9000, I really screwed up with my comments. I am sorry.
I ment to say "Try and find a chicken other than Tyson". "Tyson is the big DNC contributor, NOT Perdue". My big error for the year.
I stand corrected.
"The political history of Tyson Foods is a thousand times worse."
During the Klintstone years, military commissaries in Japan stocked only Tyson chicken. Since shortly after he ceased polluting the Oval Office, there has again been an alternative.
Sam's Club is Wal-mart - management contributes to Bush. Shop Wal-mart and Sam's Club.
wait aren't we supposed to boycott walmart et al for having chinese goods?
They also have it prominently posted at the entrances that they do not allow soliciting, leafleting, etc. on their property. I have never seen any such activities at any of the COSTCOs in this area, so they must enforce that policy. That includes tables of Democrats urging people to register, or deranged people sticking Lyndon LaRouche pamphlets in my face (that's happened at Target). Now, if you want to drop Costco membership because they contribute heavily to Dem's, good. I'm considering it, and will go visit the Sam's Club this weekend and check it out.
Shhhhhh! Don't throw cold water on this moment!
I suggest all Republican boycott Costco for one month -- how about October?
Count me OUT
Apparently, these soldiers did not seek permission.
Thanks for the update. Since Wal-Mart and Tysons are practically neighbors in their corporate headquarters, they have a cozy relationship.
If it's CA, you let one on, you let them all on.
That does it, no more beefareeno.
What do you suppose Brotman alleged support for RATS would change if 'the religion of peace' blew up one of his stores?
What do you call a socialist that's been mugged.....a conservative.
I'd bet money that the Salvation Army folks will fall victim to the ACLU within a decade. We'll be telling our grandchildren about how once upon a time, there would be these dudes ringing a bell by a little red pot at the front entrance of the mall or the grocery store. They will probably be replaced with Islamics asking for donations for the Holy Land Foundation, or by Hamas volunteers looking to build a children's hospital in Syria. That the ACLU would advocate for.
Don't know, I imagine they do, it's part of Wal-Mart. But Wal-Mart has been so good at supporting our troops. They furnished a HUGE cookout for wounded warriors, and they bend over backwards to help the troops.
I see no problem with Costco's policy. I do see a problem with 5 employees confronting these soldiers the way they did. That was overkill and it speaks volumes about that Costco's attitude toward our people in uniform. Store policy or not, it's the insult that bothers me.
To be fair, I don't think that I've ever seen anyone allowed to distribute handbills or do any sort of solicitation at a Costco.
did the ask for permission FIRST?
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