SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 17, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/12/24
In this edition:
*RIP Pat Caswell
*RIP Larry Gullett
*RIP Rose Marie Friedrich
*United Way and Iowa Shares
*Wilson’s Orchard
*Harkin in IC
*Yes, and…
*Did You Know?
*RIP Pat Caswell
I lost a very dear aunt this week. My father’s younger sister Pat served as real inspiration for me. Pat always looked for the good in every person and every situation. She was a feisty little redhead (gone white-haired early) who liked to have fun, and simply felt that there was no use in crying over spilled milk.
She was very accomplished – she was a successful realtor for over 40 years, and was actually the first woman in Iowa to own a bar completely in her own name (no husband involved to pass it down to a widow or co-own it). We used to exchange cards every St. Patrick’s Day. It always brought a wide smile to my face. I regret that I failed to maintain that tradition.
Pat and my dad were born in a farmhouse with a dirt floor, no electricity, and no running water. They moved to Cedar Rapids and things got much better, but they never forgot where they came from. RIP, Pat. I love you.
*RIP Larry Gullett
I am saddened to report on the death of Johnson County Conservation Director Larry Gullett. Larry grew up in Newton, got a BS at Iowa State, and served as a Conservation Director in Jones and Dallas counties before coming to Johnson County in 2013.
Larry was a true conservationist, visiting National Parks whenever he could. He truly loved exploring the many Johnson County Conservation properties, and he had a great eye for detail. He always pointed out small things that I would never have noticed.
Tell you what – nothing would honor Larry’s memory more than the passage of the Conservation Bond in November. He was so excited about this campaign – let’s win it for Larry!
*RIP Rose Marie Friedrich
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Rose Marie Friedrich of Iowa City. I met Rose Marie over 30 years ago through her work for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Rose Marie was a real mover and shaker when it came to services for people with mental illnesses. She was a psych nurse, and that background helped her to bridge the gaps between funders, bureaucrats, providers of services, and the families with whom they work. Rose Marie was a cofounder of the Melrose Ridge Apartments, and was actually the *national* volunteer of the year for NAMI in the early 2000s!
More than anything, I will remember her as a person who was unfailingly kind, always had a smile to share, and always showed genuine concern for me no matter what was going on in her own life. RIP, Rose Marie!
*United Way and Iowa Shares
The United Way and Iowa Shares campaigns are underway. I hope you will choose to be a supporter. Melissa and I are big supporters of the United Way and the United Way affiliated agencies. We give generously, I think. We also volunteer when and where we can.
So United Way is in our blood. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be in the blood of enough Johnson County residents.
I just heard a statistic that only 4% of all adults in Johnson County contribute to the United Way. Only 4%! And I’m sure it isn’t any better for Iowa Shares! That is simply too low, folks.
One in three families in Johnson County uses a United Way service. Let’s get at least one in three contributing to the United Way and/or Iowa Shares!
*Wilson’s Orchard
I’d like to encourage you to visit my friend Paul Rasch at Wilson’s Orchard. Paul is a great guy doing great things with a great place!
Located just a few miles north of Iowa City, just off Highway 1, Wilson’s Orchard has been around a long time. If you have never been there, go! There are 120 types of apples, but much, much more. It really is a local treasure, and people of all ages should visit! It is particularly a “must-do” for the kids and grandkids!
For more information, see: http://www.wilsonsorchard.com.
*Harkin in IC
Event: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - 6:00pm, at the Iowa City Public Library.
Ruth Harkin will talk about her new book, “When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories.” She will be joined in conversation by fellow former Iowa Board of Regents member Bob Downer.
Ruth Harkin, attorney, was one of the first female prosecutors elected in the United States and was elected county attorney of Story County, Iowa, where she served from 1973-1979. She has served as a deputy counsel for the United States Department of Agriculture and was appointed Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) by President Bill Clinton. A member of the Iowa Board of Regents from 2005 to 2015, she was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2018. She is a partner with her husband, Former US Senator Tom Harkin, in founding and operating the Harkin Institute in Des Moines.
*Yes, and…
I have been on a kick lately, and I imagine you will hear me say this again: I am a big believer in the concept of “yes, and.” What do I mean by that? We have a tendency to attempt to figure out complicated situations by finding a single, specific cause of said situation. This typically results in arguments. I think the cause is A. You think the cause is B. So we argue. In reality, both A and B can be correct.
Complex situations almost always have multiple causes. There are several correct reasons why. But we have a tendency to dismiss the other person’s opinion rather than saying, “Yes, and…”
Let me give you a classic example. The Iowa Football team had a lousy offense last year. It was the talk of the town. I view myself as a relatively knowledgeable fan. So I was always amazed to hear people argue, “It’s the quarterback’s fault!” “No, it’s the Coach’s fault!”
Reality? Yes, quarterback play was a problem. And coaching was a problem. And the offensive line was a problem. And to a lesser extent, the receivers were a problem. That is a lot of “yes, and!” It demonstrates why the offense was pretty bad!
Here is another famous example: Why did Hilary Clinton lose the 2016 Presidential election? Misogyny. Her husband’s record. She was not likeable. She ran a poor campaign. She ignored battleground states. Unfair media coverage. Russian interference. James Comey. Jill Stein.
I just listed 9 completely different reasons for Clinton losing to Trump. There are undoubtedly even more than that. You may think one was bigger than the others, and that is your prerogative. Bottom line? Each of these reasons is true, to some extent. They added up to an election loss. Any one of these deserves a “yes, and.”
A final example: Lots of folks wish they could drop a few pounds. Why have they added some weight? A slowing metabolism. Eating the wrong foods. Eating when you aren’t hungry. Overeating. Failure to get enough exercise. Drinking too much alcohol. Genetics. Every one of these might be true. Odds are, more than one is true.
Since we deal with many complex issues at Johnson County, I am trying very hard to emphasize this idea of “yes, and.” We need to make certain that we recognize there are no silver bullets. We need to be thorough when we diagnose a problem, and understand that no single solution will solve it. We may need to take multiple steps.
I hope you will join me in viewing the world through a “yes, and” lens!
*DID YOU KNOW? 68 of Iowa’s 99 counties lost population per the 2020 census. None of the ten most populous counties lost population.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"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 rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
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 @ 12:22 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home