Rolling Around Heaven all Day: Colleen Hill on her 43rd Birthday

I'm re-posting my tribute to Colleen after her death in October 2008.  The lesson and the teaching of Colleen Hill being in this world, is that the individual is powerful; and that a small group of people can move mountains even when it seems all odds (and money) are against them. Happy birthday Colleen, like that Lucky Ole Sun you get to roll around heaven all day.

Colleen Hill

Parents in Washington State lost a voice this week with the death of Colleen Hill (born September 11, 1968 and died October 29, 2009) in Snohomish, Washington.

There are people because of their hearts and integrity are compelled to respond to those devious and underhanded.

Unable to let Washington State parents' children be used to fill the coffers of a former Pennsylvania social service state bureaucratic worker, Andy Stern, the autocratic, dictator president of SEIU, an organization claiming to be a union of the people and for the people (but is not) Colleen spoke up and organized.

Andy Stern learned from being that former state government worker what a cash cow state government was and has been bringing in the taxpayers' money ever since.

Colleen Hill, small business entrepreneur, child care center owner, past president of the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce became the most articulate, most from the heart activist and the most dynamic listened-to-speaker at the Capitol in Olympia to educate the legislature on what an out-of-state union in name only was doing and further planning to do using your children to fill Andy Stern's SEIU coffers with your money.

Because Colleen truly put children first, her passion, vitality was evident to everyone including the Washington State legislature. With heart, passion and humor Colleen did what was right. Colleen didn't let an organization like SEIU with millions and millions of dollars at Andy Stern's disposal frighten or stop Colleen from doing what was right.

David vs Goliath. Colleen Hill went to Capitol Hill in Olympia and faced down the growing behemoth that had been SEIU.

Because of Colleen, Candi Doran, Ginger Still, Senators Hatfield and Hobbs, a small band of child care centers and others including Washington Parents for Safe Child Care and Child Care Consulting in Washington State (and others), the in-name-only, so-called union, SEIU for the first time in Washington State history was defeated in 2007 and then again in 2008 from using your children and taking your money.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)

Colleen Hill will be remembered, missed and yet she leaves a striking image, a ready smile, a spunky-kind-truth-teller, a role model who continues to inspire others as we craft Colleen Hill truth-telling-moments to come.

We miss, honor and appreciate. Colleen Hill will not be forgotten.