SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 12, 2012
Sullivan’s Salvos 5/15/12 In this edition: *Jordan’s High School Graduation *Commencement *Good Job Mr. President! *Bike to Work Week *Steel Drum Concert *Free CPR Course *Did You Know? *Jordan’s High School Graduation My daughter Jordan graduates from City High on Memorial Day weekend. All graduations are special occasions. And I am a big softie – Pomp and Circumstance alone can bring a tear to my eye! But I am particularly moved by this event. Please allow me to take a moment to explain why this moment means so much to me. In case you did not know, Jordan was adopted. She first came to our house as a 5-year-old little girl – but those first 5 years were eventful. She dealt with problems that most of us can never dream of. Her bravery in the face of danger inspired me. At age 5, Jordan took it upon herself to protect her brother and herself. She demonstrated more courage as a little girl than most adults I have ever met. Our time together has not always been easy. Jordan has had to work, and work hard. We have been through a lot. She has done what she needed to do, and the results are fantastic! As time went on, Jordan grew into a wonderful young lady. She is bright, hard working, and believes strongly in fairness and justice. She is honest, trustworthy, and follows the rules. She really cares about those who are less fortunate. She is a good girl! Jordan has had a great career at City High. She has served as a mentor for CCIA; she has participated in basketball and track; she has been a member of the Spirit Club; she works two jobs; she attends church and church youth groups; and her grades are solid. Next year she will move on to Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, where she earned a scholarship to study psychology and participate in Division I track. We fight – sometimes loud and long! But I cannot imagine loving someone more. And I admire her – so deeply. I am so very proud. I really don’t have the words. It is really neat to be able to say that the person I admire the most is my own daughter. I am a very lucky man! Congratulations on your graduation, Honey! I love you! *Commencement As I stated earlier, all graduations are special occasions! Congratulations to everyone who has a personal connection this graduation season! Upon further reflection, I actually prefer the term “commencement”. While acknowledging that a big segment of our lives have been completed, the event symbolizes a move forward in the continuum of life. The word “commencement” really sums up the event. Congratulations again to all the graduates, their friends, and families! *Good Job Mr. President! I was extremely pleased to see President Obama come out in favor of gay marriage. I only wish he had done so several years earlier! The big question has been political – does this help or hurt the President in the 2012 election? Frankly, I think there is a much more important question: do you want to be on the right side of history? Barack Obama (and every politician) wants to be compared to Abe Lincoln. Yet until last week, he was pursuing the course of Steven Douglass. Now his legacy is set, win or lose. Politics are politics. Sometimes, you have to refer to the old Grantland Rice quote: “Ask not whether he won or lost, but how he played the game.” Barack Obama can sleep at night knowing he chose to help a group of people rather than vilify them. That should be worth more than any election victory. *Bike to Work Week May 14-18 is Bike to Work Week in Johnson County, and there are numerous special events designed to get you on your bike. I am particularly excited about two events: first, I am once again participating in the Bike/Bus/Car Race, sponsored by the MPO of Johnson County. I have done this a couple times previously, and it is always fun. This year’s race begins at 11:33 a.m. at the Coralville Public Library and ends at the Iowa City Public Library. This year’s race features Councilor Gerry Kuhl of North Liberty on the bus, Councilor Rosanne Hopson from University Heights on the bike, and me driving the car. Another exciting event is the Bike Commuter Breakfast, sponsored by Johnson County and the Johnson County Trails Foundation. This free breakfast will be provided at the Johnson County Administration Building, 913 South Dubuque Street, in Iowa City. It is truly amazing how many things are going on around biking in May! For a complete list, please see: http://www.thinkbicycles.org/bike-to-work-week/ *Steel Drum Concert The Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) will welcome the Pan American Steel Drum Band for an energizing outdoor concert at F.W. Kent Park’s Whip-Poor-Will Shelter Thursday, May 17th at 6:30 p.m. The Pan American Steel Drum Band takes audiences on a delightful tour of percussion-based music with instruments from around the world. From Africa, Trinidad, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and the US, this performance gives valuable insight and appreciation of music from other cultures. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and come to Whip-Poor-Will Shelter for an outdoor band concert you are sure to enjoy. A great free, fun, family event! For more information about this event, please contact the Johnson County Conservation Department office at 645-2315. *Free CPR Course In honor of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week, May 20-26, the Johnson County Ambulance Service is offering free CPR training for the public. If you give a person CPR right away they are much more likely to survive. Most cardiac arrests happen at home with family members. You can help a loved one survive by learning CPR. The American Heart Association’s Family and Friends CPR course will be offered on Sunday, May 20th at 12:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 23rd at 12:00 p.m. Call the Johnson County Ambulance Service at 356-6013 to register for the free course. *DID YOU KNOW? The design of the graduation headgear, or mortarboard, was inspired by headgear worn by church dignitaries in the 16th century. The caps are called mortarboards because of their resemblance to a masonry tool of the same name. The tassel was added in the 19th century. Protocol requires the tassel to be worn on the right side of the mortarboard until the candidate receives his/her degree, then it's moved to the left. Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website- www.johnson-county.com. "Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents. These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned. If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you! ---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 2:22 PM
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