SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
January 3, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 1/4/24
In this edition:
*Welcome to 2024!
*Serving As Chair
*Committee Assignments
*January 6
*Yes, Virginia…
*Congressman Jim and Deba Leach
*Soft Skills
*Remember Phone Numbers and Addresses?
*Did You Know?
*Welcome to 2024!
Happy New Year! Here’s to a better and brighter year ahead! I have never been big on New Year’s resolutions – you can see that by my weight! But I certainly welcome the “fresh start” feel of the New Year. I hope 2024 is good to you and yours!
*Serving As Chair
I am serving as the Board Chair for 2020. I am looking forward to serving in that capacity, and I am happy to take your suggestions for improving Board meetings.
People are often under the misconception that the Board Chair has some special powers. They really don’t. The role is very ceremonial. It is true that the Chair and Vice Chair help set the agendas, but if the process is working as it should, no Board member ever feels shut out.
To me, the two biggest jobs of the Chair are 1) managing what gets on the agendas and when, and 2) ensuring that meetings run smoothly. The public deserves efficiency and effectiveness. A well-run meeting can also save hours of staff time – and that means money!
Supervisor Jon Green was elected Vice Chair, by the way. Congrats to him!
*Committee Assignments
The Board of Supervisors tries to rotate the committees upon which its members serve. We typically serve on any given committee for 2-4 years, then move on. This ensures that all members get a certain amount of exposure to everything we do. It also ensures that a fresh set of eyes gets involved every so often. Sometimes it is more complicated than this, but that is generally how things work.
We have not been rotating much lately. Unfortunately, there are a few committees no one really wants to serve on, and others that everyone would like to do. In trying to negotiate this, nothing changes. I hope we can figure out a way forward.
This rotation (if it happens) takes place in January every year, so we are all taking on some new and different challenges. I will be serving in the following roles for 2024:
I will be returning to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) of Johnson County Board and the East Central Mental Health Region (ECR). I am looking forward to working with each of those groups.
There are many, many other boards, committees, and commissions of which I am a part. But this gives you a sense of a couple of my assignments.
*January 6
Saturday marks the 3rd anniversary of one of the lowest points in US history. The defeated former President riled up a bunch of insurrectionists who then broke into the US Capitol, killing cops along the way. It remains the only coup attempt in American history (unless you include succession.) January 6 is the most shameful day in American history.
Has there been any accountability? Some. Hundreds of people have been charged, and 378 individuals have been convicted thus far. But no one has been sentenced harshly. None of the US Congresspeople nor US Senators who conspired have been charged. And most importantly, Trump himself has thus far avoided all accountability.
Please – do not treat January 6 as yesterday’s news! We still can and must demand accountability! Traitors attempted to overthrow the US government on that day. They killed cops. We must not let this go! Acknowledge what happened this January 6 and every January 6 until the end of time!
*Yes, Virginia…
Over Christmas I was reading the story of Francis Church’s 1897 masterpiece editorial, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”
I can be overly sentimental. But this is one of the finest pieces of writing in the history of the English language. And he wrote it for a daily paper! There was no opportunity for lots of rewrites and editing.
Please take a moment and read it again. Especially in these times, it will really warm your heart!
*Congressman Jim and Deba Leach
A fun thing happened right before Christmas – Melissa, Zuri, and I were grabbing supper at the Hamburg Inn, and former Congressman Jim Leach and his wife Deba walked in and sat next to us.
It was cute - Deba wanted Jim to sit in the booth next to his photo on the wall. I said hello and introduced myself, but he surprised me by knowing who I was.
I did not want to bother them, but they were quite interested in knowing what challenges the County faces. Deba is a donor and volunteer at the Coralville Community Food Pantry, and is very concerned about poverty in our community.
Then we talked some politics. It was interesting and enlightening, and frankly, a bit surreal. I spent almost 30 years supporting his opponents. Now we are on the same side. It was really very surreal.
Jim and Deba Leach are just good people. I am glad we have them in our community, and I was honored to have a little chat with them.
*Soft Skills
I speak to lots of people who are involved in workforce development issues. A topic that keeps coming up is the idea of “soft skills” – in other words, customer service skills. They always bring this up. I think it is worth noting that “workforce development” didn’t even exist until the 70s. Why is that? I would argue it is because big employers used to spend the time and money necessary to train their employees. Now they expect the government to do it for them.
Don’t kid yourself – these issues are related! Young workers do not learn soft skills because their parents have been underemployed for decades. Our current state of affairs is a side effect of businesses that not only no longer care for employees, but now actively try to hurt them.
If you pay less than $20/hour, you cannot complain about employees lacking “soft skills”. Soft skills are gained when parents have time to spend with their kids rather than working two jobs. Soft skills are gained when parents can afford books for their children. Soft skills are gained when parents can afford fruits and vegetables for their kids, along with the time to cook them. Soft skills are gained when parents can afford health insurance and are less sick. Soft skills are gained when parents can afford quality childcare. Soft skills are gained when parents send their kids to good schools. Soft skills are gained when parents have access to necessary social services.
Does screen time matter? Of course. Did the pandemic matter? Of course. But NOBODY talks about the pressure parents are under in today’s world.
Do employees lack soft skills now as compared to the 50s and 60s? Probably so. But let’s be very clear as to the reasons!
*Remember Phone Numbers and Addresses?
I worry that sometimes Salvos sounds like a weekly dose of Andy Rooney. I know I am getting old, but certain things really bother me.
One is the availability of addresses and phone numbers. In the good old days, we had phone books. You looked people up by name, and it gave you their address and phone number. (People could opt out if they wished.) Easy, right?
Now, in the so-called “information age,” I cannot get a phone number or address to save my life! Sure, there are 20+ sites on the internet, each hoping to sell me the little bits of the info I seek. Each one requires me to spend a couple minutes, only then explaining that they want to charge me.
Look, I respect the fact that some people want additional privacy. They should go for it. That should be available to them. But most Americans feel much the same way they did in the 70s – that being, sure, make my info available. I want to find and be found by others.
It is truly maddening! In 1970, I could have the info I need in under 90 seconds. In 2023, I am simply SOL. How is this progress?
*DID YOU KNOW? According to Forbes Magazine, the “soft skills” include -communication, leadership, teamwork, creativity, time management, adaptability, problem-solving, work ethic, critical thinking, conflict management, and emotional intelligence.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 1:46 PM
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