Daniel Westrick's Look at Things

Phil's Ride Across America Fort Wayne Stop (Pictures and Video)

2009-04-27T16:34:00.007-04:00

Daniel Westrick with Phil Keoghan

Daniel Westrick with Phil's Father

Phil's Bike

Over 100 Bikers to join Phil

Phil with Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry

Phil Arriving in Fort Wayne

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yuLAbhvOVA (Mayor's Comments)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfQmX4SWUQ (Phil explains the Amazing Race and the Bike Ride)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mO6maIes-A (Phil explained why MS was selected for this ride)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDujeN1-3Vw (Phil Takes questions from the Public)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdXkLb5uFCY (The SHOUT-OUT)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HVDiHoPZBA (THE SEND-OFF)

October 10, 2008 was a great Day

2008-10-11T17:42:00.003-04:00

I just went to the Walgreens Board and this is what the headline read

Walgreen CEO retires after failed Longs bid

YES FOLKS! JEFF REIN THE WORST CEO EVER AND ONE OF THE FOUR REASONS WHY I HATE WALGREENS, EXITED STAGE LEFT ON FRIDAY.

This was two days after Walgreens had humble pie served to them by LONGS and the America Public

I think that I played some role in his ouster or retirement. Because on September 29, I submitted a Letter to the Board of Directors of Longs Drug Stores outlining why CVS should buy them

Here is what I outlined

Walgreens has not been a good corporate citizen since 2002 when David W Bernauer took over the operations and when Jeff Rein took over in 2006. Here are the reasons why they have not been a good corporate citizen

- Walgreens had to settle two lawsuits totaling $55 Million with the government. $20 million when the EEOC charged that Walgreens were discriminating against African-Americans in the area of promotions or going to better stores and $35 million for overcharging Medicare on Pills and Capsules.
- Walgreens has an inane policy of having their photo-lab specialist not be in the photo lab and instead when being short-staff protect $100,000 worth of cosmetics no matter the gender. CVS has their specialists in the photo lab, so does Wal-Mart and Target, BUT NOT WALGREENS. They worry about protecting lipstick than developing a customer’s role of film. Now, Walgreens will counter that you work for the company. IF you work for any company and work in a call center for them by the same token, are you expected to head a store and work there in case the store is minus a couple of people. ANSWER NO, you work in the call center.
- Walgreens has promoted bad employees, fire great employees and exhibit poor customer service. Go to ripoffreport.com or complaints.com and search Walgreens and you will find that customers are complaining about the service and employees using foul language and racial slurs. As a former employee, I warned upper management about the poor customer service one store’s manager was giving. Upper management not only refused to listen to me, THEY BLAME ME for it. Many customers were coming up to me about my customer service and told me I WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. Therefore, after that another customer complained about that manager, I decided to speak out and be honest. I lost my job 5 days before Christmas in 2005.
- In addition, I went on to the Yahoo Message Board to tell the stockholders of Walgreens and the public about my experience. Walgreens Supporters have gone on the board and basically called me a crybaby, posted lies about me, stated that I was washed out and that my current job that I am scum and have posted my address and phone number on the message board. The Walgreens Supporters have been using tactics that Brown and Williamson employed on Dr. Jeffrey Wigand when he spoke out against them. We all know what happened to Brown and Williamson after that, RJ Reynolds brought them out.
- The town of Fairfield, CT in the neighborhood of Stratfield Village did not want Walgreens in their backyard because they had standards that Walgreens had to be conformed too. Instead of following the rules, WALGREENS sued this small neighborhood twice. Go to this website http://www.stratfieldvillageassociation.org/Walgreensmainpage.html and you will see the battle
- Walgreens did not want to buy you in the first place. The only reason why they want to buy your now is prevent CVS from getting you and trim tens of thousands of jobs.

Walgreens would have lost. They would blame the current economic conditions. I say that is not the only reason. It is their conduct of their employees and supporters is the reason why Jeff Rein is out the job.

CUBS CLINCH THE DIVISION

2008-09-20T19:09:00.004-04:00

The Cubs Just Clinch the 2008 NL Central Divison Championship

Here is DAnbert Celebrated that

SIMPLE STONE COLD STYLE AND WITH PEPSI

Time to Kiss the Grill Master And another lesson for Walgreens

2008-07-10T19:04:00.005-04:00

Today (July 10,2008) was our BBQ and yours truly helped out with feeding over 300 people.

I know that it is dark but it was sunny and hot outside. And I was not the only one grilling either. Various other departments helped out either by grilling, running the food into the break room and serving the food.

This was my first attempt at grilling. Ended up grilling about 30 hamburgers, 4 steaks and 6 hot dogs. Everyone loved the food.

I signed up to help grilling. I ACTUALLY GOT TO GRILL. I was telling our head of the call center that when I was working for Walgreens, I signed up to help out opening a new store (IE stock and face the new store). But on the day that I suppose to go to the new store and help out ... YEP, YOU GUESS IT, LYNN REED DECIDED TO DENY THE REQUEST AND HAD ME AT THE CURRENT STORE AGAIN!

SO, once again folks here is another comparison.

At Centennial Wireless - When you signed up to help out with something, YOU ARE ACTUALLY HELPPING OUT

At Walgreens - When you sign up to help out opening a new store, YOU WILL END UP WORKING AT YOUR CURRENT STORE.

And to those that say that I am a crybaby and that Walgreens can do whatever they want to someone ... DID YOU GUYS SAY THAT I WORK FOR THE COMPANY?

And if you want to use that logic, that would mean that I would have to go to Mississippi on a call and work at the store! I WORK IN THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT AT A CALL CENTER.

They have the logic CORRECT. WALGREENS LOGIC, INCORRECT! And because of your logic combined with shelling out over $55 million to settle two lawsuits, poor sales and lot of other things, IN 10 months you went from $48 a share to $31 a share!

And if you Walgreen's Lovers still do not get it, I have four letters for you W E M L!

Saying Good Bye To Tim Russert

2008-06-14T08:43:00.002-04:00

In this Nov. 14, 2007, file photo NBC's Meet the Press host Tim Russert speaks at the 60th anniversary celebration of NBC's Meet the Press at the Newseum in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

I was finishing up training with someone when I look up at the TV screen. It was flashing some information when it said the following

TIM RUSSERT, HOST OF NBC'S MEET THE PRESS AND WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF DIES

It was a total shock to me and to everyone.

I would like to think my role model when I was at IPFW and College Cable Access Center was Tim Russert. I try to model my Public Affairs show IPSGA Update like MEET THE PRESS. I think I did a great job and I would always end my interviews with these words, "AND THAT HAS TO BE THE LAST WORD."

And he would sign off, IF it's Sunday, IT'S MEET THE PRESS

I am wondering what this Sunday will be like?

Numbers tell the big story

2008-06-08T17:06:00.002-04:00

I decided to do some research and post some numbers as to where everything stands in the Stock and It is posted on the Walgreens Yahoo Finance Board

These numbers are at where they closed on that day.

Centennial Wireless (A Regional Cell Phone Company)
Date of Hire (3/28/06): 7.17 a Share
As of June 6: 8.70 a Share
Change: +1.53 or 17% increase since starting to work for the company

WALGREENS: Former Employer
Date of Dismissal for telling the truth (12/20/05): 45.30 a Share
As of June 6: 36.03 a Share Change: -9.27 or 20% decrease since being dismissed from Walgreens

Now, what about the competition, where were their stocks during this three points in time Walmart:
12/20/05 : 48.60
03/28/06: 47.75
6/6/08: 58.37
Change: 9.77 or 17% increase since being fired, 10.62 or 18% increase since being hired

Target:
12/20/05: 54.03
3/28/06: 53.25
06/06/08: 54.63
Change: .60 or 1% Increase since being fired, 1.38 or 3% increase since being hired

CVS:
12/20/05: 27.72
3/28/06: 29.68
06/06/08: 42.64
Change: 14.92 or 35% increase since being fired, 12.96 or 30% increase since being hired

Since March 2006, CVS, Wal-Mart and Centennial Wireless ALL HAD DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASE in the price of their shares

Target has held steady

WALGREENS had DOUBLE DIGIT DECREASE IN THE PRICE SINCE FIRING ME!

I am wondering given what has occured

- $55 Million shelled out to settle two FEDERAL LAWSUITS
- Bad Customer Service FROM RIPOFFREPORT.COM and Planetfeedback.com
- Protect $100,000 Worth of cosmetics rather than help out a customer in photo
- Promote Bad Employees who use Racial Slurs and Foul Language
- Fire Great Employees
- Try to take a small town to court just to build there Stratfield Village Association in Fairfield, CT
- Support of the Gay Games

Now add on top of that

- Walgreens Supporters labeling me as a crybaby for telling everyone the real deal about the company (I am not a crybaby)
- Saying that I am now work for a 2nd-rate company (Would a 2nd rate company be expanding their call center in the UNITED STATES and customers are prefering Centennial over say Verizon, Sprint or AT&T)
- That I was not a team player (Eventhough I lead a team of people winning a department contest and now train people on the process within the department)
- That my job is "low-life scum" (Although many customers would disagree with that, saying that we help out customers)
- Walgreens Supporters labeling those that post FACTS as being insane (Or that Yank is Danbert or that I am Yank or Jim Newbauer does not exist, which are all false)

GIVEN ALL OF THAT ... Do you think that for 1 second that the Joe Q. Public believes the Walgreens Supporters OR the one that present facts and experiences ABOUT WALGREENS?

If I am Joe Q. Public, I am going with those that present Numbers and Experiences

The Bad and the Good

2008-06-05T12:02:00.003-04:00

Folks, the Bad News

I was interviewed to get promoted in the company, but I did not get the promotion.

At least I am still in the same position and still have the respect of my co-workers and management.

THE GOOD NEWS

Walgreens had to settle yet another lawsuit, this time against the Federal Government over payments made by Medicaid.

AS cited by Yahoo - "the company dispensed one form of each of the generic drugs instead of another form of the same drug. Federal and state regulators investigated to determine whether this resulted in higher Medicaid reimbursement to the company."

RESPONSE FROM WALGREENS ACCORDING TO YAHOO: "Walgreens said it felt the reimbursements it received from Medicaid were consistent with applicable regulations."

NOW, because of 2 federal lawsuits, Walgreens is now out $55 million! And now the Walgreen Supports are bashing me because I am "a Crybaby", that I have an ax to grind, that I am not a team player.

Here is my challenge to everyone. Go on the Walgreens Message Board at Yahoo Finance and look at what the other side is saying.

If you want to post message on there, go for it. http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/WAG

Also, do your research, look at RipOffReport.com and Planetfeedback.com. Then make your judgement.

Danbert Throws More Pies

2008-05-29T17:05:00.005-04:00

Guys, if you we thinking that Danbert stop throwing pies at his supervisors ...

THINK AGAIN!

Here is me finishing throwing a pie at my direct boss Tara (Sorry for the fuzziness of the picture.

I earned this shot because I sold 100 features to customers during the contest.

BUT IT DID NOT END WITH TARA.

Two more supervisors were willing to take more pies to their face. But, it cost some money. The money would be donated to the MISS VIRGINIA HOUSE in FORT WAYNE.

Rather than just one picture, how about a video. And you know that Danbert would offer his advice. EMPLOYERS, LISTEN UP

This is me throwing a pie at Tyrone (Credit Anaylist Senior and Theresa Collections Senior) Thanks to Cariamah for shooting the video while Danbert was throwing the pies!

I wonder if this would end up on YOUTUBE?

The Election and Lake County Dragging everyone's night

2008-05-07T07:42:00.006-04:00

Folks, the county shaded in red is Lake County. And if people want someone to thank for ending Hillary Clinton shot at the White House and denied Jim Schellinger a chance to face Mitch Daniels in November in Indianapolis, can thank LAKE COUNTY!

Lake County was not going to report any numbers until around midnight eastern time.

I was watching the returns Tuesday Night. North Carolina went for Obama and Jill Long Thompson had a good lead, watching both Fox News Channel and MSNBC, along with WTHR website for the governors race.

Then as the nights was going on, Schellinger pulled closer to Long-Thompson and Obama was closing the gap to Clinton in Indiana.

THEN 9pm things changed - Schellinger took the lead over Long Thompson and Obama was pulling closer. CBS called the race to Clinton during this time. But no one else, because Lake County was having a problem and they were not going to report the numbers until about 11pm at first.

10pm - Schellinger still leading, Clinton spoke to hear supporters. Now, Lake County was not going to report until Midnight.

Just Before 11pm Clinton was leading 52-48 and Jill Long-Thompson was speaking to her supporters here in Fort Wayne.

At this point, I decided to hit the shack.

Around 1:45am Clinton was called the winner for Indiana, but it was only 51-49. Seems like at those that Long Thompson caught Schellinger and won the election (By 4800 votes)

Lake County could have save the drama, reported their numbers like normal and ended at 11pm last night. BUt thanks to them, a lot of people stayed up until 2am.

Possible Recount ... We shall see!

Indiana's Historical Moment And Danbert wanted to be a part of it

2008-05-06T06:51:00.005-04:00

(Disclaimer) Before we begin, these pictures were looked over by the voting place inspector, because the last thing Danbert wants is to have every single vote, including mine, THROWN OUT by the Election Board. So, if a picture even had a slight objection, it was not going to get posted to this blog. So, this one past the snuff test having NO OBJECTIONS!

So with that in mind.

Folks, for the first time in 40 years, people in Indiana will have a voice in deciding a party nominee. And this is a historical moment for Indiana. There was a lot of early voting. This morning, I went to my voting place and it was BUSY! But there was not a real long line as many people believed. Here I am signing in, I had already presented by State ID Card (YES, in the state of Indiana, if you want to vote, you have to show a government ID), signed my name, ask for a ballot (Either Republican or Democrat), after that went to the voting machine, voted, talked to a couple of people and left walking home.

So, to all those in MICHIGAN, FLORIDA and those that moved their primary election to FEB for a MEGA Tuesday Primary... Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are making you look SO STUPID!

To Hillary and Obama, thank you for making Indiana so important now and for spending a couple of million here.

So - Who did I vote for ... As one person would say, THAT IS FOR ME TO KNOW AND FOR YOU TO FIND OUT!

Tune in on Wednesday for my views on the election

Danbert is on Vacation and why all of the hate

2008-05-05T12:42:00.002-04:00

First, A little side note before we begin my blog

YES, they got the court repaved and done. Now they will get the lines down, reopen the court and get the cars back in the court.

Now, why all of the hate for Walgreens from Danbert? It is not just that Walgreens fired me 5 days before Christmas. IT is more than that

Remember the big EEOC suit against Walgreens over minority hiring or promotions. It was only a slight problem under Dan Jordt. BUt it became a BIG Problem under David Brunner and Jeff Rein. As a result WALGREENS had to pay $20 Million.

The Walgreens defense: That was their choice and they are not at fault because of this.
I SAY BULL! The problem was there, but if it took a manager to write TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY OF THIS PROBLEM, folks the problem went for being small to HUGE! And the people who should be at fault for making this problem BIG ... DAVID BRUENNER AND JEFF REIN

Another issue - Walgreens fired 4 pharmacists because they decided NOT to fill an abortion drug because of their religion. Not one of these 4 pharmacists have been hired back to Walgreens or found another job
Walgreens Defense - They are complying with State Law and that the drug is approved by the FDA.
I SAY BULL. The Pharmacists did the right thing and Walgreens could have found someone else to fill that drug

That, plus Walgreens firing more great people, promoting bad people, not offering great service, treating people rudely and instead of processing film, they decided that it is better to protect $100K worth of cosmetics.

So, until these people are gone, I will NOT STOP SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS COMPANY. So, folks, if you think about shopping at WALGREENS DON'T! Spend your money elsewhere. If you are thinking about working for WALGREENS, DON'T! There are companies out there that treat their employees a lot better, like CVS or even WAL-MART.

To those that want to unionize Wal-mart or even Target, YOU WILL BENEFIT BETTER BY TRYING TO UNIONIZE WALGREENS!

If Walgreens want to get this person back as a customer, here is what must be done
- JEFF REIN GONE
- DAVID BRUNNER GONE
- EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPLACED
- VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES GONE (He is not hiring great people)
- NEW OWNERSHIP
- An Apology to every single person fired for making a bad decision and pay up for every single day that person lost (Plus, Holiday, Vacation, Sick, Stock Options if before 2006, unemployment benefits)

Once everything is done, THEN AND ONLY THEN, will I come back to Walgreens

New Things from Danbert

2008-05-01T10:19:00.005-04:00

Yes, the crew is out repairing our court. It has been in disrepair for the past couple of years. There was this pothole about 4 inches deep and at least a foot long.

Thank Goodness my vacation is next week

Anyway, here is me "throwing" a pie at our department head, recently. Actually I did not throw a pie, I just went up to her, took pie insert into face and REALLY RUBBED IT IN.

Thanks to my fellow Elmhurst Trojan Brook Porter (Class of 1994) for taking one for the team!

This was a reward because I have been selling features out the wazoo for the past couple of weeks. Also was named Top Performer for the 3rd time this year.

MEMO TO ANY BOSS LOOKING TO BOOST MORALE - Show apprentication to your employees and have the guts to take a pie or 4 in the face. (Can't say 4 because the other 2 actually threw a pie)

MEMO TO WALGREENS: How are you feeling now?! You decided back in December 2005 to fire me and this picutre must be your jealously that you could let this person say pie Jeff Rein. But Jeff Rein nor David Breunner would have the guts to get pied!

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?

OOPS! He did it again (Well, actually this is the first time)

2008-04-25T20:25:00.003-04:00

This is a picture of me with my brother taken while he was here for the funeral of my grandfather.

This was taken March 22, 2008

This is me one month later

What Happened? ABout every couple of weeks, my mother cuts my hair and during the summer I want it short. Well, the guard was not in the clippers when the process started. So, we decided to go for it.

I have been wanting to just have no hair on my head and see how that would look and feel.

The Good News, At least my aero-dymanics will improve! The Bad News, about everyone will be shocked

First Entry

2008-03-16T20:11:00.001-04:00

Look here for my throughts on a couple of things