| Start Date: | 1/10/2012 | | | | End Date: | 1/10/2012 | | |
It’s a new year and everything is new, including a new mindset. Hopefully, each of us has taken stock of our life and we have resolved to improve our station and responses to the challenges we encounter. I’m convinced that a positive attitude can improve the outcomes each of us experience.
On Sunday, we attended a birthday party for my Aunt Mildred. She celebrated her 97th birthday with an open house at Miller’s Merry Manor in Peru, Ind. Mildred is the oldest sister of my father. She has the most remarkable memory of anyone I have ever known. Even though her physical health may be failing a bit, she can remember everything. Mildred was born in 1915 and has seen mules plowing fields, cows milked by hand, electricity coming to rural areas, automobiles, airplanes, space travel, computers, cell phones and a great deal more. It is truly hard to imagine. She had a great party with many people coming to visit. Our family wishes her many more happy birthdays!
When I arrived home Friday evening I discovered that my longtime friend and mentor, Clint Fisher, had passed away. Clint was our hog buyer on the farm many years ago. He counseled me for years before I became involved in elective office. After I was elected to the County Council in 1985, Clint advised me that the work of a meeting should be completed before the meeting occurred. He taught me that we should not govern from the headline of the newspaper and that good governance is best when all can agree and vote to concur. I have tried to practice Clint’s advice and teachings in my public service. Clint was my best example of service. He was sincere, straightforward, and most of all, right. Clint told me once that he had heard some of the employees called him the “gripper,” meaning that he clutched a dollar till it choked. He was proud of that description. I will miss Clint and his counsel. He helped many areas of our community and he will be missed by all.
This legislative session began in discord over the right to work bill. The bill confronts unemployment head-on and allows workers the freedom to choose whether they want to join a union or not. Current unemployment figures are stubbornly sticking around 9 percent statewide. In fact in some counties, including my own (Miami County), it is higher than 11 percent; that is not acceptable. Action is necessary to help create jobs, and the right to work provision can do that without damaging the employment of people who are currently working. Right to work will hopefully be a solution that we will enact to put more Hoosiers back to work.
More later,
Bill Friend
-30- Friend Report, Back to work for the 2012 Legislative Session, 1-9-12.docx |
