Roach To Lead Taiwan Delegation

Sen. Roach tabbed for leadership role with National Foundation for Women Legislators

Enumclaw Courier Herald
May 05 2011, 11:39 AM


State Sen. Pam Roach has been appointed to key leadership roles with the National Foundation for Women Legislators, both here and abroad.

Nominated by colleagues from states within the region during the 2010 NFWL annual conference, Roach will serve as state director for Washington.

“I am honored to represent women legislators at a national level and welcome the new challenge,” Roach said.

As state director, Roach will serve as the organization’s contact for elected women in the state and will work to support NFWL’s mission within Washington.

Roach also is chair of the organization’s International Relations Committee. Her appointment to the two posts led to her recent selection to lead a national delegation on an upcoming mission to Taiwan.

The trip takes place Saturday through May 21 and includes 20 members from various governmental organizations from around the United States. The mission is sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, based in Washington, D.C.

Roach, a longtime member of the state Senate, represents the 31st Legislative District, which includes Enumclaw, Buckley, Wilkeson, Bonney Lake and Sumner.

My Honduran Friends Shot

The Guardados were here last Halloween. The good doctor, you may remember, is also the mayor of a town in Honduras. A month after returning to Honduras his clinic and car were sprayed with bullets! There were rumors that the former chief of police had put out a hit on Dr. Guardado. The doctor had called for the resignation of all law enforcement when he took office. He rehired only those that he felt were not corrupt.

A body guard was hired.

The doctor changed cars with his wife who needed the family pickup to get an air conditioner for an orphanage.

Jessie had Sophia in the truck with her. The bodyguard was riding in the back. Jessie pulled up to the store and went inside with Sophia, leaving the guard outside. Then two other trucks pulled up and three armed men jumped from each of the vehicles and opened fire. The bodyguard was killed.

Sophia was shot in the back and grazed in the head. Jessie was shot in the back with a flesh wound. It was a miracle that both survived. Jessie thought Sophia, on the ground, bleeding, and not moving...had been killed. They were taken to the hospital in La Cieba and survived. Sophia has no memory of what happened.

Turns out it wasn't the former police chief. More on the story when the bad guys are caught.

Two Keynote Addresses

From Jim Beal, "Rally was awesome and the Senator rocked... I had more folks saying "we have to move to her district so we can vote for her" ... the count was about 370 when it kicked off.... her speech was so excellent and nothing but good reviews... she was the perfect choice to start things off."

Saturday morning ... it was back to Olympia for a Second Amendment rally. I was the keynote speaker. I recapped legislation and reminded the listeners of the need to be vigilant in the protection of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Saturday evening ... I was in Seattle to keynote for the Vietnamese community's memorial of the Fall of Saigon. The yellow flag with three red stripes was a centerpiece of the podium. It symbolizes freedom and is the flag under which the South Vietnamese fought. Col. Sahn Pham has been a friend for almost 20 years and I was again honored to have been invited to speak. I also read a letter from Governor Gregoire which she provided at my request.

The evening was pretty cold. But, I was happy to be there and among friends who are a reminder of what some have had to endure to have freedom.

On Sunday, Jim and I hosted the Castellars and the Guradados here at the farm.