SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 24, 2024
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/26/24
In this edition:
*Rosh Hashanah
*Shelter House BBQ
*Wright House of Fashion
*Thought Provoking Quotes
*Childcare Stats
*Minnette Doderer
*Differing Impressions
*Did You Know?
*Rosh Hashanah
Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends! Sunset on Wednesday, October 2 marks Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of year 5784 in the Jewish calendar.
Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion. Shanah Tovah!
*Shelter House BBQ
The annual Shelter House BBQ Bash is Friday, September 27 from 5-7 pm at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Cost is $50 for adults, and $17.50 for children. All proceeds go toward supporting the wonderful work of Shelter House! I hope to see you there!
*Wright House of Fashion
The Wright House of Fashion is having an event celebrating 10 years of fashion at Graduate Hotel on Thursday, October 3, from 5-7pm.
Andre Wright, the Executive Director, will talk about the last 10 years of fashion in Iowa City and show off a new book they have published with amazing pictures. This event is a fundraiser and proceeds will support programing that allows young people of color explore their creative selves and provides skills in fashion design and navigating the fashion industry.
For those gifting $1,000 or more, a signed copy of the book will be provided. Donations of all sizes are welcomed (and needed!).
*Thought Provoking Quotes
We had two very thought-provoking quotes presented at church recently. I have really enjoyed trying to consider all the possible interpretations of these profound thoughts.
The first is from Rumi, a famous Muslim scholar and poet who lived in 13th century Iran.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
I love that! The second is from St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic Fryar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
I love this, too! I hope you enjoy thinking about these as much as I have!
*Childcare Stats
Laurie Nash is the Children and Families Services Manager at Johnson County Social Services, and I happen to believe she is a local treasure! We are VERY lucky to have Laurie! The following stats come from a presentation she gave on some of the challenges facing the childcare industry here in Johnson County.
*Johnson County has 23,000 children 0-6. Johnson County has 9,307 childcare slots.
*All caregivers work in 76% of the Johnson County families with children between 0-6.
*The number of childcare programs in Johnson County has decreased by 19% over the past 5 years.
*Childcare in Johnson County pays an average of $12.22/hour – the lowest hourly wage of any position.
*People in Johnson County who earn the median area income pay 15% of their annual income on childcare. To be considered affordable, that number is supposed to be less than 7%.
*A Johnson County family with two children in care will pay an average of $28,000 annually. That is more than a year’s tuition at the UI.
*State child care assistance pays only 79% of the cost of a quality rated childcare center.
*Johnson County has partnered with Better Together 2030, The Greater IC Business Alliance, Iowa City, and others to fund a wage enhancement program. This program gave an extra $2/hour to 174 childcare workers who work full time at centers that accept State childcare assistance. The problem will be sustainability.
Childcare is a tough business, as you can see. What is the answer? I think it is simple – the state and federal governments need to make huge investments in our various systems of caring for the young, the old, and people with disabilities. It is the only way.
*Minnette Doderer
I was chatting with some folks the other day, and the name Minnette Doderer came up. I realized that LOTS of Johnson County residents do not know the history of this amazing woman. So I went to the UI Archives, from which I copied the following:
Minnette Frerichs Doderer was born on May 16, 1923 near Holland, Iowa. Her parents later moved the family to Waterloo where Minnette graduated from East High School in 1941. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) and, in 1948, received a BA in economics from the University of Iowa. In 1944, she married Fred Doderer. They raised two children, Dennis and Kay Lynn, in Iowa City.
Doderer was active in the Democratic Party beginning in the 1950s, serving as vice-chair of the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee from 1956 to 1959 and acting as chair and co-chair of many county, district, and state Democratic conventions. One of the main issues she worked on was reapportionment. She co-chaired Hubert Humphrey's Iowa presidential campaign, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and 1984.
Doderer was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1964 in a special election. She served in the House from 1964 to 1968. She served in the State Senate from 1968 to 1978. Doderer was House minority whip from 1967 to 1968 and was the first woman to act as president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate from 1975 to 1976. In 1970 and 1978, she ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. In 1981, she was again elected to the House, where she continued to serve until her retirement in 2000.
Doderer's committee work and the legislation she sponsored in the Iowa General Assembly relate to a wide variety of issues. In particular, Doderer was active in promoting legislation relating to women's issues, such as the elimination of sexist language in the Iowa Code, gender balance in state commissions and gubernatorial appointments, comparable worth, gender equitable insurance, reproductive rights, and the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She also worked on issues such as public health, prison reform, benefits for the elderly, child and spouse abuse, juvenile justice, collective bargaining rights for public employees, and the treatment of alcoholics.
Doderer was involved in many organizations including the League of Women Voters, the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, and the National Organization for Women. In 1977, she chaired the Iowa delegation to the International Women's Year conference in Houston. She was one of the organizers and charter members of the Iowa Women's Political Caucus. In 1979 she was elected to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame and in 1989 (at the Hall of Fame ceremony of that year), she received the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice. After her retirement, Doderer moved to Oaknoll Retirement Center in Iowa City, where she passed away in 2005.
I hope you found that informative. I served as the Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party while Minnette was still in the Legislature. I am so lucky to have had that experience!
*Differing Impressions
I always find it interesting when I have formed an opinion of someone, then hear something different from a trusted source.
For example, it is not unusual for me to decide that I really like someone, only to have a friend later inform me that they believe said person is dishonest, rude, etc. This always gives me pause.
On the other hand, I’ll sometimes form a negative opinion of someone only to find out later that we have dozens of mutual friends. Again, this always gives me pause.
This just goes to show that we are all complex, multi-faceted people. I am trying really hard to recognize that we all have both good and bad characteristics.
*DID YOU KNOW? St. Francis of Assisi is the Patron Saint of Italy. He is also the Patron Saint of animals and ecology.
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 @ 2:41 PM
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