Recently State Rep. Scott Newcomer wrote a guest opinion in another publication which was titled:  "Wisconsin’s school systems should teach money management."  Scott used April, which is recognized as Financial Literacy Awareness Month, as the springboard highlighting the need to raise financial understanding through the school systems.

Well written, his column acknowledges the need for (and lack of)  parental advice in these matters. It goes on to state "less than half of college students polled said their parents made a conscientious effort to teach them.I find it inconceivable that such a vital topic is left out of the school system and placed solely in the hands of the public. As parents, many of us often times find ourselves puzzled by the task of assisting in our children’s math or science homework. Despite this truth, the majority of college students cite parents as their primary source of information on money management, yet less than a quarter of them feel prepared for the financial challenges awaiting them. This illustrates the fact that additional education from schools is needed in order to improve the quality of the information flowing in the public sphere."   "...I feel that each individual school district, if it is not already doing so, should strive to implement financial education requirements."

Please stop there!   Yes!  -  Yes!  -   NO!

YES - Rep. Newcomer is correct that there is a need for better understanding of financial matters for our youth. Issues grow more complex daily and the financial challenges and machinations facing this generation are significant. Simply - there is much to learn and little done about it.

YES - Rep. Newcomer is correct in calling attention to the frustrating stats which reflect that only a minority of college students feel prepared for the oncoming financial challenges. The grim realities are that parents do not have a "warm and fuzzy" when working with their own children in these areas. The best teaching tools would be a family's own finances, but many parents truly do not want their offspring delving too deep into their checkbook, investments, credit card obligations, etc.. No further explanation is needed for most parents...

 NO! - Rep. Newcomer is absolutely incorrect in his thoughts that each school district should strive  to implement financial requirements! While I totally agree on the need for basic training in finances, I challenge Rep. Newcomer on where the responsibility lies. Every news publication in this State has weekly articles, stories, letters to the editor, and more which bring into laser-like focus the core issue - The State Education System is broke! The current funding formula demands cuts and improvisations to school budgets across the State!  Waukesha has been particularly hard-hit for many years, and there are no "Bright Tomorrows" on the horizon here.

The breakdown between Scott and myself occurs because... These Districts cannot currently fund the State mandates for education! The very last thing on the agenda for most districts these days is adding curriculum at additional costs. Heck - I favor many areas where I believe education in the early years will pay dividends for our youth for years to come: Renewed second language emphasis; expanded tech-ed offerings (the building trades are worried about the coming years); basic home computer maintenance; career planning; current world politics; and the list goes on...

The chasm in thought processes between us is succinctly demonstrative of the issues we as constituents and voters face with many of our State representatives. Unfunded State mandates to school districts are a major contributing factor to many school budget dilemmas. Now we have, in a very deft pen-stroke, a local State Rep doing more of the same. His identification of the need is good: His avoidance of taking a leadership position at the State level to get it fixed is sad. And finally, his "challenge" to the Districts to implement these courses is a classic "Red Herring"  technique of misdirection...

Truly, we deserve (and desperately need) better from our local elected officials in Madison. Maybe early "Financial Literacy" classes would have helped them...

POLITICAL:

Are the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates collecting money, re-grouping, and catching a spirited 2'nd wind for the home stretch? (Or has everyone, including the press, lost complete interest because they all are starting to sound the same?)

When will someone explain why being "Tough on Crime?" is so vitally important in the Gableman vs Butler Supreme Court election? (And no..."just because" doesn't work for me)

Why has Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson (a declared Democrat) suddenly become a lightning rod for Republican criticism? (Is it possible the GOP finally added up presidential primary results in Waukesha and realized Democrat votes far outnumbered the Republican faithful?)

COMMUNITY:

Waukesha School Superintendent David Schmidt is retiring. There will be a "send-off" luncheon at the Country Springs Hotel on April 10'th. Co-sponsored by the Waukesha Education Foundation and the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce, there are more groups offering plaudits than time available for speakers. A nice tribute to a man who will be missed. Call the Chamber for details @ 262-542-4249.

Retired Waukesha North Marching Band Director Jim Doepke remains active during retirement. He has announced his desire to play the National Anthem on the trumpet at all Major League Ballparks. Commissioner Bud Selig has endorsed this and we wish Jim the very best!

Kudos to the various Departments of Public Works who kept the streets clear this winter. Let's try to remember the costs connected with this year when their budgets are blown by the end of the third quarter.

We in Waukesha will all feel the loss of Senior Journal Sentinel Editor Bruce Gill who passed away at the young age of 56. He was instrumental in bringing the Waukesha Bureau the resources to showcase the goings-on in our Community. He will be remembered as a class act.

FAMILY:   

Upcoming trip to Mexico with four families holds promise of relaxation, sun, warmth, friendship, and many memories for the upcoming year. (Why do "Dirty Monkeys" and "Miami Vice" beverages only taste good in warm climates?)

Spring Fever has gripped our family. How long before the ice is gone from Okauchee Lake??

 

This is bordering on the absurd...

I am already tired of the snow and the weather prognosticators this winter!

Truly I enjoy winter and the typical "fun" snowfalls - Who doesn't? You get a couple inches, shovel it, and the drab grey landscape is replaced with a brilliant white blanket on the lawns, roofs and trees. You can drive on it with some confidence until the plows clear it out. And you don't have a weather-forecaster induced nervous breakdown awaiting "certain death and destruction!"

However...Is there another profession where you can be so very, very wrong so very, very often? Imagine - you absolutely "blow" that big sales presentation...You either lose the sale or you miss something in your bid making it the biggest "loser" in your company's history. No problem - the next day you come in all cheery and, instead of getting on your knees and begging to keep your job, you smile and cheerfully explain-away your gaffe! In the real world, this just doesn't happen. In the world of weather, this is the norm.

Fast-forward to the entertainment-driven world of meteorologists (with style and fashion consultants in tow), where being wrong in your forecast is just another thing to smile and talk about the next day. Six-figure salaries, consultants who couldn't make it "on the air", millions of dollars in officious-sounding equipment (Storm-Tracking, Doppler-sensing, fall colour, morning rain projecting radars), and more time in a 1/2 hour telecast than the news...we truly are a shallow society.

How many seniors suffer angst worrying they will be without power until Spring? How many house-bound people are concerned they will run out of food before they get dug out in February? How many parents spend hours on the phones working out alternate plans of baby-sitting because "the big one" is around the corner? How many businesses suffer financially because people aren't shopping (they're cowering in their homes peeking skyward every 3-5 minutes), yet the business owner is staffed for a typical day? Or the employees take a "hit" because they have been told to stay home in anticipation of pending doom from the sky?  

And yet we will be glued to the 10:00 news waiting to hear "what happened" while eagerly awaiting our favorite weatherperson/meteorologists' next dose of drivel. We will be watching them stand outside in storms to tell us "There's snow coming down as we speak..."  I guess they feel we won't believe them if they just tell us..

What's left? Not much...The National Weather Service discontinued their usually reliable phone forecasts...The Farmer's Almanac is correct every 23'rd day...Gout warnings don't work for snow...

It's absurd.

Mothers - Tell your kids to forget medicine and the law. Instruct them to practice forensics and get their degree in meteorology!

   

    

Ooops!

That’s right – Ooops!

There are times in both our personal and professional lives where we have had to suck it up and say “Ooops - I blew it!”

That time is right now for the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Board. Between cryptic phrases and “restrained” compliments, it is woefully obvious to even the most casual observer that there was a clash between factions of the Board and it’s former Executive Director – Sue Baker. As often happens, stilted comments with tinges of hollow praise from Board members followed her exit.

Today, a full page was purchased and paid for, privately, in a local Waukesha newspaper. The content of this page was a letter of gratitude and thanks to Sue Baker for all she has done for Waukesha County. It was signed by over 180 of the most giving and influential people in the Waukesha area! It contains an all-too-brief-bio of Sue’s contributions and accomplishments. More importantly – It clearly and definitively states: “…Sue Baker is the heart of the Waukesha County Museum.”

And I agree! I have had the good fortune to know Sue through various interactions over the past 8 years. She is personable, professional, responsible, diligent, and she would “bleed Waukesha” if cut. The Museum grew because of her untiring efforts to build support and awareness at every level. She grew at every level and the Waukesha Community is a far better place as a result of her efforts.

Following is a possible simple summary for the series of complex events leading to her departure:

Everyone, Board and Director alike, agree the potential for a coveted Les Paul Exhibit is great. Ideas, concepts, and budgets are refined and Les Paul himself endorses it. Full-Speed ahead! …Except for the fatal flaw in the plan – Who was going to raise the millions of dollars needed to produce the exhibit? Did the Board recognize the crucial need to maintain the status quo with its director while adding a proven, experienced fund-raiser and a budget for this accordingly? The answers are self-evident – no!

Sue was now adding the Herculean task of raising $4,000,000.00 to her already full-time director duties. After a couple years and only $1,000,000.00 pledged, everyone was nervous. Now the Board hires a paid consultant to assess Museum operations, and Sue Baker is gone… Interestingly, the Board has still not recognized the fine line they are walking: If the Museum needed a full-time director “pre Les Paul”, how did they rationalize adding fund-raising responsibilities of millions of dollars to an already full-time job? Better to move on than say “Ooops – we blew it?”

Let’s now add another very critical caveat to this discussion – This is Waukesha! And the giving, generous nature of Waukesha has stepped to the plate for numerous worthwhile past causes. Today’s full-page ad of support shows a sizable group of these notable locals still support Sue Baker. Will they continue their wholesale financial support of the Museum and its Board moving forward? Time will tell… (Refrain: “Ooops – we blew it!”)

Maybe the time has come for a heady dose of reality and common sense decision-making. First – The Board must look inward and ask themselves if they are happy with their recent decisions (hindsight is 20/20). They must then look at each other with a critical eye, and a Board of forward-thinking individuals must emerge form this review. Second: Re-think “the plan”. You raised a million, but where are the next three million coming from? The signers of the ad? I think not…How about the Museum Board taking a deep breath and finally saying “Ooops – we blew it?”

It’s now time to reduce the Les Paul Exhibit in scope and dollars; hire a temporary fund-development director to raise this money; re-hire Sue Baker as the Museum Director; and finally come back to the Community with the simple “Ooops – we blew it…but we are working to fix it!”

The United Way in Waukesha plays an important role in helping with funds and advice to an almost countless number of area agencies within our Community. These agencies often can and do make a “life or death” difference for many “in-need” people every year.

…Last Summer, my oldest, Kelly, served marketing internships at the Potawatomi Area Council Boy Scouts of America and at the United Way. Her experiences were positive and her “mentors” worked to offer her a broader Community perspective beyond basic marketing skills. Michelle DuBord worked with Kelly on United Way’s ”Days of Caring” which this year is taking place September 17 – 21’st. This year’s focus is to increase awareness of an invaluable asset, potentially for many of us, 2-1-1.

Michelle offered:”What is 2-1-1? 2-1-1 is a 24-hour confidential helpline that offers supportive services and connections to the social services you need. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember three-digit phone number that makes critical, immediate connections to community resources for individuals and families.”

Their information states; ”At different points in our lives, we can all use a little help, whether it is caring for aging parents, talking to our children, putting food on the table or simply making ends meet. Do you sometimes feel like you can’t cope? Looking for community resources? Need someone to talk to? Wondering where you can turn for help? Call 2-1-1 and you will be directed to one of the area’s social agencies.” (Calls are anonymous…)

OK…Other than using this blog as a simplistic, informational vehicle for 2-1-1 and United Way, where is the “Hey – that really resonates with me… part?

The “hook” for me was recognizing, again, how much good occurs here in the Waukesha area “under the radar…” Kelly helped in the planning for the 2006 Days of Caring, and yet I had only a faint awareness of a smoke detector and/or battery replacement program to a targeted area. Having now read and re-read all about the 2-1-1 program, I was initially quite casual to it. Upon reflection, this is a program which could help thousands of people in our own Waukesha Community! Obviously we are very fortunate to have the Michelle DuBords, the “United Ways”, the Potawatomi Boy Scouts (and Connie Bielinski), and the dozens of other active Community organizations working for all of us daily. Just because “I” don’t always notice doesn’t mean the needs and the corresponding benefits are not out there…

“Click” on one the preceding links above (and below) and consider if you could or would like to help. If not this particular program, ponder one of the myriad of other support agencies at work right here. Every one of us has something to offer another…

2-1-1 and ”Days of Caring” - Great examples of why our Waukesha remains one of the “Greatest places to live!”

Much is written about the burgeoning night-life in Waukesha. Little is written about the early morning risers who also inhabit the same ground.

Specifically, I’m talking about the morning crew at the Wisconsin Athletic Club – Waukesha (WAC). This is a real cross-section sampling of the best (and “not so best”) people you will find prowling Waukesha streets at say…4:30 – 5:00AM !

Start with your stop at the front desk. This has been a real breeding ground for unusual characters: Assuredly you might be slightly “off” if you enjoy getting to work at 3:00AM and being chipper and polite at 4:30AM to customers. Indelible, not-so-pretty images remain of “Rabbit”, Chris, and now Tommy. Unfortunately, their sense of humor towards the “early risers” in designating locker locations includes an all-too-close proximity to one another…

Over the years, the cast has changed often in the early mornings. My workout “partner”, Jim, and I have been going there for over 17 years. The “Gentleman’s Gentleman” – Mr. Dick Price, has been there for most if not all of that time (He was probably already retired when they built the club…) . Dick perpetuates his long-suffering, “working too hard” role while eliciting sympathy form the considerably younger females. Mike, a rookie with “only" a dozen or so years in, joins Jim and myself in pursuit of bad humor and derogatory comments towards other, more “healthy-looking” individuals. Along with John, we were all founding members of the “Fat Boys Club”. Assuredly not one of us has ever appeared in, much less ever been asked to be in a WAC Club promotional ad…

The personalities truly gain diversity when you include Dale, Ron, Ken, Don, Patty, and Kay. Affectionately known as the “Kaffee-Klatschers”, these individuals provide a backdrop for much of the back-biting, sarcastic, judgmental, and light-hearted humor which permeates the “workout” area. Dale often wears earplugs (unwired to any devices that we can see) while smiling and pretending to enjoy the others. Ron and Don always raise the bar of “bad jokes” when least expected. Nurse Patty, who works-out harder than anyone, tries to maintain a sensible air while we “not quite as fit as Patty” types sit on the sidelines and throw jabs at her. Kay, a friend of Patty and recent addition to the club, has her moments of absolutely brilliant sophomoric humor sandwiched between long stretches of “not so brilliant” looks of bewilderment towards the comments surrounding her. And Ken…

Ken is in a league of his own. While structurally sound, Ken maintains a workout pace readily interrupted by even the most casual of glances or comments. Ken has examined every piece of workout equipment to find the best “leaning” spot. He finds no conversation is too trivial; no tee shirt marking too obscure; and no joke too oft-repeated. Ken remains the poster child for "workoutus interruptus” for others.

For sure, there are others rich in personality (while small of brain) who contribute to the wacky spirit of the WAC Early Risers. The only criteria for joining is a complete disregard for common sense while getting-up at a ridiculous hour to enjoy the camaraderie and good cheer of other like-minded individuals. Oh…And the workouts are probably healthy for us…

HELP WANTED – VOLUNTEER BOARD POSITIONS

Where are our next Waukesha Community board members going to come from? What will motivate them to run for various Board positions? And…Are they the “right” people for the positions open?

Volunteerism and Board participation can be a rewarding experience. My wife and I have met many tremendous people in our endeavors, and we have experienced the personal fulfillment which can accompany giving-back to the Community. In fact, we are also now (proudly) seeing our children mirror these efforts with their own participation in a host of activities.

Board membership, be it a School Board, City Common Council, County Board, Non-profit Board, or one of the legions of opportunities out there, takes time, dedication, and demands sacrifices. These 3 requirements immediately rule-out most who feel their lives are already overloaded. The remaining “potentials” must now sense they have something to offer, something to give back… something to make a difference. Translating one’s personal thoughts into actions often requires a kismet-like intervention. “Hey – your professional work experience would really help us out on our local Plan Commission…” or “You really should, given your knowledge and expertise, consider serving on such-and-such Board…” or the most common “I spoke with so-and-so and they are looking for someone to get involved and I think you would be great at that…”

At that point, most pass, but many “take the plunge” and get involved. If the opportunity is a good match-up between their personal skill set and expectations, people will stay involved and eventually realize the satisfaction from their efforts. If the person and Board position are a bad fit, for whatever reason, resentment and negativity can follow. These situations do occur and should not necessarily reflect poorly on either the person or the position – It just might not have been the “right” fit. Also, the person should not be dissuaded from considering future, different opportunities.

Sidebar: The “wrong” fit can and does happen when the “wrong” person jumps in. Negative, disrespectful, non-compromising, closed-minded individuals who only get involved because of a single-issue often poison the effectiveness of an entire group. Unfortunately, these few can taint the experiences of many. Remember, anyone can be a critic - not everyone can be a leader…

This is where the “Right Person” aspect enters. Regardless of what anyone tells or promises you, volunteerism is spelled “T-I-M-E”. Nowadays local Boards don’t need people who attend monthly meetings, offer comments, and leave saying “See you next month”. Boards desperately need “Doers” willing to offer time, energy, and fresh perspectives. Assuredly, if you volunteer in a personally meaningful area, you will magically find the time to make significant contributions. …And you will volunteer again!

Why? …Why write this column? …Why reach-out? Because too many of the same people are being repetitively asked for their time and monetary donations; Because too many Waukesha-area volunteers are (OK - only mildly) showing their age and starting to look to look forward for other life-opportunities; Because the area’s many needs for new, fresh volunteers is ongoing; And finally, because the lifeblood and spirit of our Communities is a direct reflection of the people behind the scenes making it all happen.

”Help Wanted – Apply now! Full benefits!

The Waukesha Symphony Orchestra (WSO), The Waukesha Civic Theatre, and The Waukesha County Historical Museum joined forces for unquestionably one of the most memorable Friday nights in this Community’s past. The Country Springs Hotel outdoor pavilion was the pastoral setting for ”The Fabulous '50s: Hits from the Shows”.

By my estimates, 1200 – 1400 people packed picnic baskets and their folding chairs for a concert “under the stars”. On this weather-perfect, cool Waukesha evening, the WSO offered a presentation which would be near-impossible to forget. My wife leaned over several times repeating over and over ”This is great!”.…And she was right!

Alexander Platt energized the Symphony through suites of music from “West Side Story”, “My Fair Lady”, “The King and I”, and “The Sound of Music”. John and Kelly Cramer performed a tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford which perfectly captured the spirit and essence of these wonderful performers. Bartolotta Fireworks ultimately accompanied a rousing “Victory at Sea” suite which sent all in attendance feeling “that much better” for being a part of something very special.

Ask any 10 people from that evening and they would have their own favorite memory. I particularly enjoyed the 3-4 minute intros of each suite from the WSO Music Director and Conductor Alexander Platt. His background depth of the music and the songwriters rivals (and at times resembled) the best of Hollywood gossip columnists. His disclosure at the end of the Les Paul/Mary Ford tribute candidly exposed his deeply-concealed yearning to be more like…Xavier Cugat! “A one..A two, a One, two, three, four – Let’s GO!...”

There are many great opportunities for entertainment right here in Waukesha. Last week – a very successful “Fiesta Waukesha! A few weeks ago - ”A Taste of Summer Music Festival. Not to mention the recurring weekly events in Downtown Waukesha…And all of this is available without traversing the downtown Milwaukee interchange and traffic.

Thanks to all for one professionally done and fabulously entertaining evening. (and here’s something you don’t often see in a review of the Waukesha Symphony…)

”WAUKESHA - YOU ROCK!!”

I just can’t take the political “non-speak” coming from some of “our” local elected officials much more at this time…

State Representative Rich Zipperer comes to a Town of Brookfield Annual Meeting; addresses the attendees; extols his day of toils including “pushing” through legislation which is later found to have no chance of success in the Senate…Great – nice day’s work…And he seems like a nice guy. He then welcomes comments and questions.

When asked about the issue of education right here in Waukesha, he offers – “We’re perceived by the rest of the State as already getting more than our share…” When asked again for a direct answer on what he is doing for his Waukesha area, he replied “you needed everybody on board before the process could start!” HUH ?!? A consensus before you start?? That smacks of back-room deals at the State level! He never answered the question! …Period!

State Senator Mary Lazich recently produced a guest editorial in a local competing Waukesha paper which ran probably 800 words or so. She gave a compelling fact-filled recitation of how much money is given to education in Wisconsin and how much more funding schools get here than elsewhere.
And that was it!!! No plan of review; no desire to get further involved; no cognizance of the Waukesha District’s plight right now; not even a glimmer that other Districts are in trouble right behind Waukesha. I kid you not! Pull the article and you can almost hear her near-tears plight that the State is not responsible – “they give education a lot of money”!

Have some fun with this particular Senator – Go back a month or so ago when seniors were (ridiculously) barred from Bingo at Southridge…Follow her riding in on a white stallion to save her seniors while she pounced on the State Bureaucrats (her own…) to fix this ridiculous law!! And she was certainly not publicity-shy as she trumpeted her every move, effort, and comment to any and every available press outlet.
The results:
Bingo (a strong senior voting bloc) – She will move mountains to “right this misapplied miscarriage of common sense and justice”!
Education (students, our future, taxes) – She will adamantly hide behind “The State gives a ton of money to education – it’s not my problem…”

Enough – I will state my true beliefs: Taxes are high enough; there is a lot of money given to education funding; and there are other needs at both the local and State levels.” And I continue…”And our State leadership is desperately needed to revamp their own State mandates while getting together in a non-partisan effort to save the long-term quality of education!”

PSSSSTTT - Here’s a tip…Try getting all education shareholders together and start a dialogue towards problem-solving this issue right now.

…It’s really starting to resemble the Scott Jensen era of “non-involvement” for the Waukesha constituents again…

Watch a “Miracle” in the making!

The new Marcus Majestic Theatres on Springdale Rd. are to open the beginning of May. Many of us drive by without a sideways glance except to see if they are open yet. Others – tradespeople by the boatload – turn on-site early and leave late. The aggressive schedule set by the Marcus Corp. demands daily 110% efforts as the clock ticks down.

Will they finish on-time? Of course! Many of us have noticed the same frenetic activity around the Parade of Homes models just before opening, and they somehow find a way to make it happen!

Nonetheless…Watch the Majestic and follow how close to the wire this one is coming down to…And then go see movies in the most state-of-the-art theatre in America when it opens.


On another note Congratulations to Milwaukee County’s corporate counsel Mr. Bill Domina. Milwaukee’s gain was Waukesha’s loss when Bill left Waukesha to join Scott Walker’s cabinet. His Waukesha school Board leadership along with his countless charity works are even more appreciated in hindsight. Bill was, along with Sue Black, recognized by this paper as the type of quality people you build your leadership team on. Congratulations.

I agree.

Good luck Marcus, and we miss you Bill!

A Saturday, January 27’th article in another news publication reveals one unfortunate set of circumstances which, in turn, resulted in another foreseeable set of reactions.
 
Last year, an Arrowhead basketball player was suspended for 90% of the season for disciplinary reasons. Ironically this student, Charlie Chapman, found his suspension lifted exactly in time for the sectional playoffs. Extremely talented on the court, he literally helped carry an already strong Arrowhead team deep in the State Tournament. Imagine – a suspension for your star player which penalizes him so severely that it results in him only being able to play in the biggest showcase of the year! 
 
Last week, the Arrowhead basketball team, minus Charlie (he is not on the team this year), played Waukesha North. Several students were wearing self-created “Where’s Charlie” T-shirts with prison bars over the name. They obviously were still smarting from the knowledge that Charlie’s suspension had ended “just in time” for him to dominate last years’ playoff game resulting in a North loss.
 
The shirts? Obviously in bad taste. The high school years help kids hopefully understand differences between good and bad judgment. Two tee-shirt wearing North students were ejected (suspended?) from the game and that’s where the story should end.
 
It doesn’t…
 
The following in the same news story:
 “I absolutely refuse to talk about something like this. It’s ridiculous to talk about,” said Geoff Steinbach, Arrowhead’s athletic director (AD). “If you got a problem with that, you can just call the (expletive) superintendent.” This - the same AD who handed down the 90% suspension. The Arrowhead Superintendent was unavailable for comment (probably not real happy with being referred to by one of his employees as the “expletive” superintendent)…
 
With Geoff’s politically astute statement in mind, the following, from the article: .,.” Chapman was sentenced in September to serve a term of probation after taking a girl’s car in November 2005 without her permission and crashing it. He was found later that day with a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent. He also was ordered jailed for 30 days after being found drunk in a park while his case was pending. 

He was suspended for 90 percent of the 2005-06 basketball season but returned to lead the Warhawks to a berth in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 finals. He was then suspended from the team for one year – essentially ending the junior’s high school athletics career – last spring after testing positive for marijuana as part of a court-ordered drug test…”
 

????   90% Suspension??? You are (expletive - it worked for Mr. Steinbach) kidding me?? What do you have to do to get a 100% or a 96.5% or a 92% suspension with the preceding as a benchmark for a 90%??? This is so transparent that all politically-correctness leaves

Do people really read the non-headline grabbing, run-of-the-mill, feel good, non-controversial stories concerning education in Waukesha?

This question begs for a different answer then the one I will presumably receive. My work as a Board member with the Waukesha Education Foundation as well as numerous other volunteer positions within organizations supporting our School District obviously makes me a target for criticism when things go awry. It sometimes feels as if some people experience a joyful glee in verbally “piling-on” to missteps by our School Board and District Administration. Yes, these human beings can be occasionally guilty of mistakes and errors in judgment. They would admit to this. But do they deserve the nasty headlines and public scorn when often, but not always, they are juggling the needs of the students against the need for a responsible tax rate?

Well sit up and heap praise upon the School District, the Board, and one very talented Waukesha South high school principal, Mr. Mark Hansen. Mark has recently been named a finalist for National Principal of the Year!

Hats off to our School Board whose policies empower the District Administration to make critical placements like a high school principal without meddling and micro-managing!

Kudos to the District Administration that recognized Mark’s burgeoning talents and matched him (at a very young age) to an environment where they would best serve the students and our Community!

And please join me in roundly congratulating Mr. Mark Hansen. He would graciously accept “congrats”, but he would also immediately follow that with – “there’s still a lot more we can do for the kids.” And his graciousness is totally sincere. Mark Hansen’s ”Glass of Water” is eternally full with the next progressive program, the next student recognition, the next motivational tool for his staff, the next concept where student, teacher, and community all benefit.

My own District experiences have brought me into contact with literally hundreds of teachers as well as the Administration. The closer I worked with them, the more I realized the great majority really care and are impassioned to educate our children well.
Given my first-hand, personal experiences, it is particularly gratifying to see Mark’s work recognized on a much larger stage. Earlier this year, he was named a State Principal of the Year. His selection as a National Finalist now validates the phenomenal efforts Mark has put forth on behalf of South High. Mark’s selection has also brought well-deserved attention to the Waukesha District which has served as an incubator for his many initiatives. He is an overachiever’s overachiever!

Thanks, Mr. Mark Hansen, and good luck when the final votes are tallied! You are deserving of the plaudits and we all congratulate you and your ever-growing family (Are you planning your next child already?). So much good work in such a short time…Truly, your story is one deserving of a blaring, feel-good headline.

“Can’t we just all get along?”

The recent announcement that Aurora, Oconomowoc, and Summit were resolving a 5-year dispute immediately brought these words to mind. I don’t know who first uttered this phrase, but rest assured the sentiment will be echoed countless times in the coming years as development continues its’ inexorable movement westward.

Without taking sides and with respect to everyone’s position, including that of ProHealth, doesn’t it now appear that cooler heads didn’t prevail? It’s painfully obvious that “a big money development” forced compromise where no common ground could be found prior. The elected officials, lawyers, and business executives had reached an impasse where the public perceived everyone was suing someone; neighbors were turned against neighbors; and no one was winning except for the lawyers.

BANG! In comes a proposal for 1,000,000 sq. ft. of retail space and everyone finds “common ground” to make room for the new development. Amazing – all the pent-up bad feelings evaporate within weeks after years of battle-scarring when there is enough money on the table. Well, experience should and does tell us this is not the last (witness the Delafield Lang development) time bad-blood over development will come to the surface. Face it – “We’re not in Kansas anymore” and development west of Waukesha is inevitable, but sorely needing guidance and control. Accept the fact that there will be new subdivisions, apartments, condos, roads, infrastructures, gas convenience stores and more needed for the ever-growing number of employees needed for the ever-growing number of retailers and ever-growing groups of now-needed health-care providers. And does every new sign of development (which in many cases is inevitable) have to become headline fodder and divisive to a community?

The lessons learned from the Aurora, Summit, Oconomowoc controversy are that future thoughtful, planned developments (and developers) should pay respect to the input from all parties; that additional development will be forthcoming; and that Communities’ positive energies would be far better served planning for controlled growth instead of fighting over it when it’s upon them. Quality projects like Pabst Farms should serve as a model for other developers (Delafield Lang development) in taking a measured, planned approach (even if it takes years) respectful of their community's input.

The Waukesha area should also pay heed to what's happening west of our borders. Our area will continue facing re-development, and it would be prudent to now, more then ever, re-emphasize working "with" businesses approaching our local Community. Competition has emerged, and Waukesha has to continue its' efforts to retain and attract quality projects. Compelling reasons for investment such as quality schools, a ready-made workforce, top-notch municipal services, a responsible tax rate, and cooperative local government must be vocalized. The urgency to proactively plan and respond quickly and right here/right now must be understood to ensure Waukesha does not lose traction over the next decade. Don't wait and expect development will automatically just come to this area!

And when and should everything else break down, be careful out west and remember – “Big money heals a lot of wounds.”

The Waukesha area is home to an amazing array of businesses whose impacts extend far beyond WI. ITT Flygt Corporation is a prime example. They are the Country’s largest industrial pump manufacturing company for movement of water and other fluids. And if you like “big” pieces of equipment, ITT Flygt ranks with the biggest for big-boy toys.

Jim Peterson, Manager of Project Engineering, travels the world for ITT Flygt performing inspections, providing technical assistance, and negotiating local partnerships. Jim’s history with the company goes all the way back to when ITT Flygt was known as the Allis Chalmers Pump Company. He related the company’s ongoing work with the New Orleans area in maintaining the critically-needed current pumping capacity while looking to the area’s future needs. ITT pumps currently provide daily fluid control for over 29 billion gallons in the New Orleans area!

And how cool is it to have your own indoor company “pool”? A pool 30 feet deep with over 440,000 gallons of water! The ITT Flygt plant/office on Roundy’s Drive has the Country’s largest water-flow test pit which has a pump capacity of 300,000 gallons a minute. Pumps are final-assembled, tested and certified here, and then shipped to far-flung locations such as Brazil, Korea, China, Chicago, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

NOTE:No ITT pumps are in use in the Milwaukee Deep Tunnel Project!

The pumps themselves are the real stars. They start at a 4”diameter, 50 HP municipal sewage pump. The “big boy” pumps similar to the New Orleans installations have an 11’ diameter, a 3000HP motor, and weigh in excess of 140,00 pounds.

ITT Flygt has a daily worldwide impact on fluid handling. The expertise to engineer and manufacture for the most-demanding fluid-handling environments starts here.



Please let me know if you have recommendations or suggestions for blog topics.

Chip Martin - Waukesha Area businessman, celebrity, and 1/2 of local Ventriloquist Duo Brown & Martin:
“Every summer I make it a point to revisit my Martin Family Tree in New Jersey. It’s an Ash… In addition, Dale Brown (my business partner) and I are leaving for the International Ventriloquists Convention in Ft. Mitchell, KY, and we supposedly will have an interview with CNN when we get there. Can’t wait to spend 6 ½ hours in a car with 9 puppets, Dale, and his wife Leslie…While rehearsing last night, I confided in Leslie (I don’t usually tell her too much) that the highlight of last year’s convention was being interviewed by Candice Bergen - the daughter of the late, great Edgar Bergen. She interviewed me (us) for a “60 Minutes II” segment. During part of that interview, Candice held my hand - I told Dale he was to never paint that hand again!

When we get back to our Waukesha-area motivational/keynote speaker business, Dale-Brown Inc., (www.dale-brown.com) Dale and I will map out our next itinerary of motivational speeches. Dale (being married to Leslie) needs additional income and spends the balance of his free time acting as president of Brown & Martin, Inc., (www.bmpr.com) a multi-faceted marketing/public relations firm.

I’ve got a good life and it‘s going to be a great summer; interviews, travel, the perfect Minwax blend, first class hotel accommodations, people to attend to my every need, and my partner to “carry” the act wherever we go.”


If you would like to have your summer plans posted, email them and we’ll get them up for the world to see.

If you are like me, you spend a fair amount of your winter time planning and thinking of ways to maximize your summer. Travel, parties, vacations, and a host of other activities then make the summer months fly by far too quickly.

But what about the “other people”? How do our local officials truly get away from the public eye and enjoy their summer fun? Are they at all different from the rest of us?
In search of these answers, following are random responses from some “local notables”:

Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson:
“Of course I must start with how exciting my new Mayoral duties are, and how every day brings fresh opportunities for summer fun right here in Waukesha. In addition, this summer my wife Dawn and I are looking forward to Spring Green to see plays at American Players Theatre. In my opinion, it's the best outdoor theatre in the country (while indoors, our Waukesha Civic Theatre is a close second), and we also recommend the Spring Green General Store for brunch. We are also looking forward to a short trip to New York to see 91-year-old Les Paul perform, see the Tony award winning play, "The History Boys," and revisit the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we were engaged in 2003. At the end of August, we're headed to Seattle, a city I've always wanted to visit. I love visiting different cities to come up with creative ideas I can bring back to Waukesha.”

Waukesha School Superintendent David Schmidt:
“My summer plans are quite normal…
I plan to work most of the summer to plan for the upcoming year. Our administrators and board continue to meet and work (while using some of their vacation time) and prepare for the coming school year. There will be a vacation with my family for one week in July and playing new dad to two new ten week old kittens. I will also continue to take out my frustrations and stress on yard work which I truly enjoy, especially the ever changing colors of new flower beds (this includes mulching, deadheading, weeding, watering, watching).
My goals include getting out on the golf course once every weekend and trying to keep a high handicap from growing too much. I also hope to spend as much time as possible with Bobbie. She has four weeks of vacation this summer and will spend some of this time in Waukesha. And no summer vacation would be complete without my faithful iPOD bringing me every Bob Dylan song recorded. Beyond this, my plans are small for the summer and, like every year, summer is way too short to prepare for another school year and get some R+R. “

Waukesha County Manager of Public Works Betsy Crossewaite:
Keeping up with an active family of husband and two teenage boys sometimes doesn’t leave time for relaxation. So, prior to the start up of summer activities and the hectic season of developing the $25 million Department of Public Works budget for the County, I took time over Memorial Day weekend to relax at a quilt retreat with friends at a 100 year old mansion in Mineral Point. While there, a trip to Spring Green not only brought the discovery of a new quilt shop, but also put me right in the middle of Spring Green’s Annual “Bob Fest”, a tribute to Bob Dylan and his music. Dave Schmidt, you’ve got to check this out!
I like to try new things, and since last summer’s endeavor was my first ever Triathlon competition (of which I had to learn to swim to compete in it!), I had to try something new this summer. My 15-year-old son and I spent a week in Juarez, Mexico with the Episcopal Church youth group building a house for a family of four. The group of 24 built a 450 square foot house that more than quadrupled their current living conditions. Two months ago I was excited about a new adventure with my son. Today, I can tell you that working in 108 degree, blazing sun with 14 high school kids was more than an adventure and it was more than just building a house. It was about creating a home and security for a family and it was about seeing 14 of our community’s youth mature into young adults before my eyes. My week in Juarez has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Hard to know how I’ll top this one, but I’ll try next summer!


Town of Brookfield Administrator Rick Czopp:
“Having recently purchased a home in the Town, I have joined the ranks of home landscapers. After exhaustive research from my couch via HGTV, a plan was selected and plantings commenced. While doing all this outside work, it struck me that there could be more pet dogs then residents in my Community. And the dogs have created a great way to meet people with opening lines like “What’s your dog’s name?”. After conferring with my wife, I now find additional summer plans encompass mulching, weed-whacking, crack-filling and many other too-exciting-to-talk-about home activities.
In addition, there are always new opportunities for growth and development within Town government. The Board and myself continue exploring methods of providing fi

On Thursday, June 22nd, the Waukesha County Community Foundation (WCCF) hosted its Sixth Anniversary “Celebration of Giving”. And while my blog area is supposed to be limited to the Waukesha proper area, this broader gathering of Waukesha County residents demands recognition.

The WCCF was formed to provide avenues for financial support with a specific focus on the Waukesha area. A wide variety of funds exist which match donor wishes with specific areas of needs. Assuredly, the WCCF is a tremendous asset to this area. Over $600,000 in grants were awarded to nonprofit, Waukesha area organizations in the last year.

What struck me as the attendees “mingled” before and after the program was how truly generous this group is. These are not people networking or trolling for business contacts; these are not people whose egos need public stroking; and these are not people who are only there due to peer group pressure. By and large, they are people who appreciate their good fortune without losing sight of the needs of many others. This group willingly comes forward with their time and money to make this a better Community.

Now before you adopt the “Well, they should, they’re rich!” position, take a second to realize that there were many, many people of means and great potential from this Waukesha area who were not there. It’s entirely possible many have their favorite charities and support them well. It’s also possible many were home that evening without a consideration towards philanthropic areas.

This blog is intended as a show of respect for people like Robert D. and Patricia Kern from Generac. The Kerns provide financial support for dozens of programs which impact literally thousands of students and individuals every year. This is about the spirit of Tony and Andrea Bryant. The Bryants support countless Community organizations with time and money because they truly care. Please acknowledge Bryce and Anne Styza; Peter and Kay Lettenberger; Don and Judi Stephens; Don and Bev Chappie, and the many, many others who have the compassion and desire to “give back”. My hat is off to all of you! The WCCF is making a difference for all of us.

And to top off the evening, Mr. Robert Kern left us with the following which has been replayed several times;

“When a person succeeds at accomplishing what they set out to do in their life – they should realize their goals were not set high enough”.

Thank you Mr. Kern.