SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 21, 2023
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/27/23
In this edition:
*RIP John Schneider
*Loneliness
*Jonathon Jordahl
*Jo Hogarty
*Giving to Democrats
*Did You Know?
*RIP John Schneider
I was very sorry to hear of the passing of my friend John Schneider of Iowa City.
John had a 40-year career as an executive at NCS/Pearson. John was active in the Iowa City community, serving on several nonprofit boards including Community Foundation of Johnson County, Iowa City Community School District Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Elder Services, and Goodwill of the Heartland. He was also a member of Noon Rotary of Iowa City.
John and I met through working together in the early days of the Community Foundation. Because we would sit around and talk through philosophies on things like need, charity, giving, wealth, etc. I feel John and I got to know each other in a very meaningful way. And based on what I learned, I can assure you he was a good man. RIP, my friend.
*Loneliness
This ran just a few weeks ago in the May 16 edition of Salvos. But I think it is important enough to revisit.
I am an extrovert. I enjoy talking to people. I can go to a party where I do not know anyone and have a marvelous time. Obviously, some people are introverts, and feel exactly the opposite. But in both cases, Americans are much lonelier than in the past. What is going on?
Like SO many of our problems, this has multiple pieces. The pandemic obviously made things worse. But statistics show the loneliness epidemic started before that. Cell phones? Undoubtedly part of the problem. Social media? Yep. Lack of time? Yes. This only scratches the surface.
So what can we do about it? Experts do offer several tips. These are from Scientific American:
1.) Be the friend you’d like to have. Say yes to invitations, be reliable, respond to texts, e-mails and voicemail messages in a timely way. Consider volunteering your time for worthy causes, which will position you to help others who may also struggle with loneliness. Provide instrumental and emotional support and give your friends your full attention. Celebrate their accomplishments. Remember their birthdays and other important events. Listen to their troubles and provide a shoulder to cry on, when needed.
2.) Make yourself vulnerable and be the first to show trust. Share something personal about yourself and be courageous enough to extend the first invitation to an event or social outing (know that you might get turned down, just like when pursuing a romantic relationship).
3.) Be compassionate with yourself. Expect to make a few mistakes when trying to establish new friendships. No matter how hard you try, you’ll eventually say or do the wrong thing. Keeping that in mind can help you to stop being your own worst critic. Try to be as understanding of your own missteps as you are of others’ minor blunders. If appropriate, apologize. Then, move on. A little self-compassion will make the whole process easier, especially when a budding friendship fizzles (you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay).
Please allow me to just add a couple things. If you are reading this, I’d be happy to chat with you. On the phone or in person. We can have coffee, play catch, sit on my porch, whatever. Reach out. I am game.
Look for me to be reaching out to you as well. I am going to fight this loneliness epidemic. I will not go quietly into this good night!
Finally, please seek out help if you need it. All you need to do is pick up any phone and dial 988. Professionals will pick up, ready and willing to help. There is help out there!
*Jonathon Jordahl
On a recent Friday afternoon, a box of papers and books showed up on my desk. I inspected the attached note, and discovered that it was from former Johnson County Supervisor Jonathon Jordahl. He was back in Johnson County for the first time in a long time, and had cleaned out a storage unit. I’m really sorry that I missed him!
I always liked former Supervisor Jordahl. He is a tremendously intelligent man, who took public input and feedback very seriously. Jonathon was also an environmentalist, and ran primarily on issues of water quality and transparency.
Jordahl was elected in 1996, and in concert with fellow Supervisors Joe Bolkcom and Sally Stutsman, made several important changes in the way County government functions. Jordahl served just one term, choosing not to run again in 2000. But that single term was significant!
Jonathon ended up teaching in South Korea for several years before retiring to Portugal. We would occasionally communicate through Facebook Messenger, so I have been able to keep him up to date on a few things.
So what was in the box? I still have to wade through it all, but some pretty cool stuff! There is a signed copy of a book by Randall Arendt, the father of “conservation design.” Jordahl had travelled to see Arendt in the early ‘90s, and helped Johnson County to be the first county in Iowa to use principles of conservation design in land use planning. I look forward to seeing what other treasures are in the box!
When you take a new job, there is a tendency to identify an issue and think, “Why didn’t my predecessors address that? They must not have cared.” That is why it is important to know our history. Knowing Jonathon, he tried!
Thanks, Jonathon Jordahl, for your public service, and for continuing to think about the people of Johnson County.
*Jo Hogarty
In another “homecoming” type of moment, we were visited by former Board secretary Jo Hogarty. Jo retired in 2013 after a long career with Johnson County, and the position she held has really changed over that time.
Jo started in the Courthouse, before there was a County Administration Building. Back then, there were many more phone calls and visitors. Not only has the volume of contact with the public gone down, it has almost entirely migrated online. Jo used to tell me stories of taking dictation from Dick Myers – that sounds so long ago!
It was great to see you, Jo. Thanks for stopping in!
*Giving to Democrats
I want to talk to any of you Johnson County Democrats out there who donate money to the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP), Iowa Senate, or any other non-Johnson County political entity.
Things have changed. A while ago, the Iowa Democratic Party made the decision that Johnson County was going to have to be on its own. I actually agree with this decision. Johnson County is one of five or so counties (Polk, Linn, Blackhawk, Story, and us) that can probably be entrusted to handle their own fundraising, staffing, and GOTV. We can suck it up and do it. That leaves resources for the micropolitan places that up until recently, made up a big piece of the Democratic Party base in Iowa. We are talking Mason City, Ottumwa, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Muscatine, Clinton, Burlington, Lee County, etc. So the plan is a good one. The problem has been what comes next.
With the ouster of Senate Leader Zach Wahls, Johnson County is now unrepresented on the IDP Steering Committee. The committee has 9 members – none from Johnson County, the most Democratic County in Iowa. Frankly, I see the IDP treating Johnson County the way a coal company treats West Virginia – extractive. We are going to take their money and their votes, but the people left behind get nothing. I am not going to stand back and let that happen to the place I love.
So what to do? I say we stop the flow of all money from Johnson County to Des Moines until we are represented on the Steering Committee. Stop your automatic withdrawls. Stop writing checks. Stop attending fundraisers. We need to make a stand.
Besides, the JC Dems are going to need every dollar you have. Remember, all the money you send to Des Moines? This year, ZERO of it comes back. ZERO. So if we do not give locally, local results will suffer significantly.
The IDP can fix this. Just add someone from Johnson County to the Steering Committee.
The Iowa Senate? I am not giving ANYTHING to anyone in the Iowa Senate except Zach Wahls. And I’m giving him more than ever. We need to teach the rest of the Democrats in the Iowa Senate who is boss. Most of the Democrats in the Iowa Senate and much of their staff need to go. They CLEARLY do not give a shit about Johnson County. They will take Zach’s money, and that’s it. Well, I refuse to give them a single dollar. Our money is our power. It needs to stay locally or go to Zach. Those are the only acceptable choices.
Iowa House? With all due respect to our wonderful House delegation, I think we need to send a signal. No money until we are taken seriously. House members need to push to get Johnson County represented on the committee.
To summarize: give locally, and nowhere else, until we see results.
*DID YOU KNOW? When Jordahl won election in 1996, he had the second-highest vote total behind incumbent Joe Bolkcom. Jordahl outpolled two incumbent Supervisors – Charlie Duffy and Don Sehr. There were three seats available, so Bolkcom, Jordahl, and Duffy formed the next Board with Sally Stutsman and Steve Lacina. 1996 is a unique election - it is very difficult to beat one incumbent, let alone two!
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 6:46 PM
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