Recently State Rep. Scott Newcomer wrote a guest opinion in another publication which was titled:  "Wisconsin’s school systems should teach money management."  Scott used April, which is recognized as Financial Literacy Awareness Month, as the springboard highlighting the need to raise financial understanding through the school systems.

Well written, his column acknowledges the need for (and lack of)  parental advice in these matters. It goes on to state "less than half of college students polled said their parents made a conscientious effort to teach them.I find it inconceivable that such a vital topic is left out of the school system and placed solely in the hands of the public. As parents, many of us often times find ourselves puzzled by the task of assisting in our children’s math or science homework. Despite this truth, the majority of college students cite parents as their primary source of information on money management, yet less than a quarter of them feel prepared for the financial challenges awaiting them. This illustrates the fact that additional education from schools is needed in order to improve the quality of the information flowing in the public sphere."   "...I feel that each individual school district, if it is not already doing so, should strive to implement financial education requirements."

Please stop there!   Yes!  -  Yes!  -   NO!

YES - Rep. Newcomer is correct that there is a need for better understanding of financial matters for our youth. Issues grow more complex daily and the financial challenges and machinations facing this generation are significant. Simply - there is much to learn and little done about it.

YES - Rep. Newcomer is correct in calling attention to the frustrating stats which reflect that only a minority of college students feel prepared for the oncoming financial challenges. The grim realities are that parents do not have a "warm and fuzzy" when working with their own children in these areas. The best teaching tools would be a family's own finances, but many parents truly do not want their offspring delving too deep into their checkbook, investments, credit card obligations, etc.. No further explanation is needed for most parents...

 NO! - Rep. Newcomer is absolutely incorrect in his thoughts that each school district should strive  to implement financial requirements! While I totally agree on the need for basic training in finances, I challenge Rep. Newcomer on where the responsibility lies. Every news publication in this State has weekly articles, stories, letters to the editor, and more which bring into laser-like focus the core issue - The State Education System is broke! The current funding formula demands cuts and improvisations to school budgets across the State!  Waukesha has been particularly hard-hit for many years, and there are no "Bright Tomorrows" on the horizon here.

The breakdown between Scott and myself occurs because... These Districts cannot currently fund the State mandates for education! The very last thing on the agenda for most districts these days is adding curriculum at additional costs. Heck - I favor many areas where I believe education in the early years will pay dividends for our youth for years to come: Renewed second language emphasis; expanded tech-ed offerings (the building trades are worried about the coming years); basic home computer maintenance; career planning; current world politics; and the list goes on...

The chasm in thought processes between us is succinctly demonstrative of the issues we as constituents and voters face with many of our State representatives. Unfunded State mandates to school districts are a major contributing factor to many school budget dilemmas. Now we have, in a very deft pen-stroke, a local State Rep doing more of the same. His identification of the need is good: His avoidance of taking a leadership position at the State level to get it fixed is sad. And finally, his "challenge" to the Districts to implement these courses is a classic "Red Herring"  technique of misdirection...

Truly, we deserve (and desperately need) better from our local elected officials in Madison. Maybe early "Financial Literacy" classes would have helped them...

POLITICAL:

Are the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates collecting money, re-grouping, and catching a spirited 2'nd wind for the home stretch? (Or has everyone, including the press, lost complete interest because they all are starting to sound the same?)

When will someone explain why being "Tough on Crime?" is so vitally important in the Gableman vs Butler Supreme Court election? (And no..."just because" doesn't work for me)

Why has Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson (a declared Democrat) suddenly become a lightning rod for Republican criticism? (Is it possible the GOP finally added up presidential primary results in Waukesha and realized Democrat votes far outnumbered the Republican faithful?)

COMMUNITY:

Waukesha School Superintendent David Schmidt is retiring. There will be a "send-off" luncheon at the Country Springs Hotel on April 10'th. Co-sponsored by the Waukesha Education Foundation and the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce, there are more groups offering plaudits than time available for speakers. A nice tribute to a man who will be missed. Call the Chamber for details @ 262-542-4249.

Retired Waukesha North Marching Band Director Jim Doepke remains active during retirement. He has announced his desire to play the National Anthem on the trumpet at all Major League Ballparks. Commissioner Bud Selig has endorsed this and we wish Jim the very best!

Kudos to the various Departments of Public Works who kept the streets clear this winter. Let's try to remember the costs connected with this year when their budgets are blown by the end of the third quarter.

We in Waukesha will all feel the loss of Senior Journal Sentinel Editor Bruce Gill who passed away at the young age of 56. He was instrumental in bringing the Waukesha Bureau the resources to showcase the goings-on in our Community. He will be remembered as a class act.

FAMILY:   

Upcoming trip to Mexico with four families holds promise of relaxation, sun, warmth, friendship, and many memories for the upcoming year. (Why do "Dirty Monkeys" and "Miami Vice" beverages only taste good in warm climates?)

Spring Fever has gripped our family. How long before the ice is gone from Okauchee Lake??

 

HELP WANTED – VOLUNTEER BOARD POSITIONS

Where are our next Waukesha Community board members going to come from? What will motivate them to run for various Board positions? And…Are they the “right” people for the positions open?

Volunteerism and Board participation can be a rewarding experience. My wife and I have met many tremendous people in our endeavors, and we have experienced the personal fulfillment which can accompany giving-back to the Community. In fact, we are also now (proudly) seeing our children mirror these efforts with their own participation in a host of activities.

Board membership, be it a School Board, City Common Council, County Board, Non-profit Board, or one of the legions of opportunities out there, takes time, dedication, and demands sacrifices. These 3 requirements immediately rule-out most who feel their lives are already overloaded. The remaining “potentials” must now sense they have something to offer, something to give back… something to make a difference. Translating one’s personal thoughts into actions often requires a kismet-like intervention. “Hey – your professional work experience would really help us out on our local Plan Commission…” or “You really should, given your knowledge and expertise, consider serving on such-and-such Board…” or the most common “I spoke with so-and-so and they are looking for someone to get involved and I think you would be great at that…”

At that point, most pass, but many “take the plunge” and get involved. If the opportunity is a good match-up between their personal skill set and expectations, people will stay involved and eventually realize the satisfaction from their efforts. If the person and Board position are a bad fit, for whatever reason, resentment and negativity can follow. These situations do occur and should not necessarily reflect poorly on either the person or the position – It just might not have been the “right” fit. Also, the person should not be dissuaded from considering future, different opportunities.

Sidebar: The “wrong” fit can and does happen when the “wrong” person jumps in. Negative, disrespectful, non-compromising, closed-minded individuals who only get involved because of a single-issue often poison the effectiveness of an entire group. Unfortunately, these few can taint the experiences of many. Remember, anyone can be a critic - not everyone can be a leader…

This is where the “Right Person” aspect enters. Regardless of what anyone tells or promises you, volunteerism is spelled “T-I-M-E”. Nowadays local Boards don’t need people who attend monthly meetings, offer comments, and leave saying “See you next month”. Boards desperately need “Doers” willing to offer time, energy, and fresh perspectives. Assuredly, if you volunteer in a personally meaningful area, you will magically find the time to make significant contributions. …And you will volunteer again!

Why? …Why write this column? …Why reach-out? Because too many of the same people are being repetitively asked for their time and monetary donations; Because too many Waukesha-area volunteers are (OK - only mildly) showing their age and starting to look to look forward for other life-opportunities; Because the area’s many needs for new, fresh volunteers is ongoing; And finally, because the lifeblood and spirit of our Communities is a direct reflection of the people behind the scenes making it all happen.

”Help Wanted – Apply now! Full benefits!

The Waukesha Symphony Orchestra (WSO), The Waukesha Civic Theatre, and The Waukesha County Historical Museum joined forces for unquestionably one of the most memorable Friday nights in this Community’s past. The Country Springs Hotel outdoor pavilion was the pastoral setting for ”The Fabulous '50s: Hits from the Shows”.

By my estimates, 1200 – 1400 people packed picnic baskets and their folding chairs for a concert “under the stars”. On this weather-perfect, cool Waukesha evening, the WSO offered a presentation which would be near-impossible to forget. My wife leaned over several times repeating over and over ”This is great!”.…And she was right!

Alexander Platt energized the Symphony through suites of music from “West Side Story”, “My Fair Lady”, “The King and I”, and “The Sound of Music”. John and Kelly Cramer performed a tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford which perfectly captured the spirit and essence of these wonderful performers. Bartolotta Fireworks ultimately accompanied a rousing “Victory at Sea” suite which sent all in attendance feeling “that much better” for being a part of something very special.

Ask any 10 people from that evening and they would have their own favorite memory. I particularly enjoyed the 3-4 minute intros of each suite from the WSO Music Director and Conductor Alexander Platt. His background depth of the music and the songwriters rivals (and at times resembled) the best of Hollywood gossip columnists. His disclosure at the end of the Les Paul/Mary Ford tribute candidly exposed his deeply-concealed yearning to be more like…Xavier Cugat! “A one..A two, a One, two, three, four – Let’s GO!...”

There are many great opportunities for entertainment right here in Waukesha. Last week – a very successful “Fiesta Waukesha! A few weeks ago - ”A Taste of Summer Music Festival. Not to mention the recurring weekly events in Downtown Waukesha…And all of this is available without traversing the downtown Milwaukee interchange and traffic.

Thanks to all for one professionally done and fabulously entertaining evening. (and here’s something you don’t often see in a review of the Waukesha Symphony…)

”WAUKESHA - YOU ROCK!!”

I just can’t take the political “non-speak” coming from some of “our” local elected officials much more at this time…

State Representative Rich Zipperer comes to a Town of Brookfield Annual Meeting; addresses the attendees; extols his day of toils including “pushing” through legislation which is later found to have no chance of success in the Senate…Great – nice day’s work…And he seems like a nice guy. He then welcomes comments and questions.

When asked about the issue of education right here in Waukesha, he offers – “We’re perceived by the rest of the State as already getting more than our share…” When asked again for a direct answer on what he is doing for his Waukesha area, he replied “you needed everybody on board before the process could start!” HUH ?!? A consensus before you start?? That smacks of back-room deals at the State level! He never answered the question! …Period!

State Senator Mary Lazich recently produced a guest editorial in a local competing Waukesha paper which ran probably 800 words or so. She gave a compelling fact-filled recitation of how much money is given to education in Wisconsin and how much more funding schools get here than elsewhere.
And that was it!!! No plan of review; no desire to get further involved; no cognizance of the Waukesha District’s plight right now; not even a glimmer that other Districts are in trouble right behind Waukesha. I kid you not! Pull the article and you can almost hear her near-tears plight that the State is not responsible – “they give education a lot of money”!

Have some fun with this particular Senator – Go back a month or so ago when seniors were (ridiculously) barred from Bingo at Southridge…Follow her riding in on a white stallion to save her seniors while she pounced on the State Bureaucrats (her own…) to fix this ridiculous law!! And she was certainly not publicity-shy as she trumpeted her every move, effort, and comment to any and every available press outlet.
The results:
Bingo (a strong senior voting bloc) – She will move mountains to “right this misapplied miscarriage of common sense and justice”!
Education (students, our future, taxes) – She will adamantly hide behind “The State gives a ton of money to education – it’s not my problem…”

Enough – I will state my true beliefs: Taxes are high enough; there is a lot of money given to education funding; and there are other needs at both the local and State levels.” And I continue…”And our State leadership is desperately needed to revamp their own State mandates while getting together in a non-partisan effort to save the long-term quality of education!”

PSSSSTTT - Here’s a tip…Try getting all education shareholders together and start a dialogue towards problem-solving this issue right now.

…It’s really starting to resemble the Scott Jensen era of “non-involvement” for the Waukesha constituents again…

Watch a “Miracle” in the making!

The new Marcus Majestic Theatres on Springdale Rd. are to open the beginning of May. Many of us drive by without a sideways glance except to see if they are open yet. Others – tradespeople by the boatload – turn on-site early and leave late. The aggressive schedule set by the Marcus Corp. demands daily 110% efforts as the clock ticks down.

Will they finish on-time? Of course! Many of us have noticed the same frenetic activity around the Parade of Homes models just before opening, and they somehow find a way to make it happen!

Nonetheless…Watch the Majestic and follow how close to the wire this one is coming down to…And then go see movies in the most state-of-the-art theatre in America when it opens.


On another note Congratulations to Milwaukee County’s corporate counsel Mr. Bill Domina. Milwaukee’s gain was Waukesha’s loss when Bill left Waukesha to join Scott Walker’s cabinet. His Waukesha school Board leadership along with his countless charity works are even more appreciated in hindsight. Bill was, along with Sue Black, recognized by this paper as the type of quality people you build your leadership team on. Congratulations.

I agree.

Good luck Marcus, and we miss you Bill!

A Saturday, January 27’th article in another news publication reveals one unfortunate set of circumstances which, in turn, resulted in another foreseeable set of reactions.
 
Last year, an Arrowhead basketball player was suspended for 90% of the season for disciplinary reasons. Ironically this student, Charlie Chapman, found his suspension lifted exactly in time for the sectional playoffs. Extremely talented on the court, he literally helped carry an already strong Arrowhead team deep in the State Tournament. Imagine – a suspension for your star player which penalizes him so severely that it results in him only being able to play in the biggest showcase of the year! 
 
Last week, the Arrowhead basketball team, minus Charlie (he is not on the team this year), played Waukesha North. Several students were wearing self-created “Where’s Charlie” T-shirts with prison bars over the name. They obviously were still smarting from the knowledge that Charlie’s suspension had ended “just in time” for him to dominate last years’ playoff game resulting in a North loss.
 
The shirts? Obviously in bad taste. The high school years help kids hopefully understand differences between good and bad judgment. Two tee-shirt wearing North students were ejected (suspended?) from the game and that’s where the story should end.
 
It doesn’t…
 
The following in the same news story:
 “I absolutely refuse to talk about something like this. It’s ridiculous to talk about,” said Geoff Steinbach, Arrowhead’s athletic director (AD). “If you got a problem with that, you can just call the (expletive) superintendent.” This - the same AD who handed down the 90% suspension. The Arrowhead Superintendent was unavailable for comment (probably not real happy with being referred to by one of his employees as the “expletive” superintendent)…
 
With Geoff’s politically astute statement in mind, the following, from the article: .,.” Chapman was sentenced in September to serve a term of probation after taking a girl’s car in November 2005 without her permission and crashing it. He was found later that day with a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent. He also was ordered jailed for 30 days after being found drunk in a park while his case was pending. 

He was suspended for 90 percent of the 2005-06 basketball season but returned to lead the Warhawks to a berth in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 finals. He was then suspended from the team for one year – essentially ending the junior’s high school athletics career – last spring after testing positive for marijuana as part of a court-ordered drug test…”
 

????   90% Suspension??? You are (expletive - it worked for Mr. Steinbach) kidding me?? What do you have to do to get a 100% or a 96.5% or a 92% suspension with the preceding as a benchmark for a 90%??? This is so transparent that all politically-correctness leaves

The Waukesha area is home to an amazing array of businesses whose impacts extend far beyond WI. ITT Flygt Corporation is a prime example. They are the Country’s largest industrial pump manufacturing company for movement of water and other fluids. And if you like “big” pieces of equipment, ITT Flygt ranks with the biggest for big-boy toys.

Jim Peterson, Manager of Project Engineering, travels the world for ITT Flygt performing inspections, providing technical assistance, and negotiating local partnerships. Jim’s history with the company goes all the way back to when ITT Flygt was known as the Allis Chalmers Pump Company. He related the company’s ongoing work with the New Orleans area in maintaining the critically-needed current pumping capacity while looking to the area’s future needs. ITT pumps currently provide daily fluid control for over 29 billion gallons in the New Orleans area!

And how cool is it to have your own indoor company “pool”? A pool 30 feet deep with over 440,000 gallons of water! The ITT Flygt plant/office on Roundy’s Drive has the Country’s largest water-flow test pit which has a pump capacity of 300,000 gallons a minute. Pumps are final-assembled, tested and certified here, and then shipped to far-flung locations such as Brazil, Korea, China, Chicago, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

NOTE:No ITT pumps are in use in the Milwaukee Deep Tunnel Project!

The pumps themselves are the real stars. They start at a 4”diameter, 50 HP municipal sewage pump. The “big boy” pumps similar to the New Orleans installations have an 11’ diameter, a 3000HP motor, and weigh in excess of 140,00 pounds.

ITT Flygt has a daily worldwide impact on fluid handling. The expertise to engineer and manufacture for the most-demanding fluid-handling environments starts here.



Please let me know if you have recommendations or suggestions for blog topics.

Chip Martin - Waukesha Area businessman, celebrity, and 1/2 of local Ventriloquist Duo Brown & Martin:
“Every summer I make it a point to revisit my Martin Family Tree in New Jersey. It’s an Ash… In addition, Dale Brown (my business partner) and I are leaving for the International Ventriloquists Convention in Ft. Mitchell, KY, and we supposedly will have an interview with CNN when we get there. Can’t wait to spend 6 ½ hours in a car with 9 puppets, Dale, and his wife Leslie…While rehearsing last night, I confided in Leslie (I don’t usually tell her too much) that the highlight of last year’s convention was being interviewed by Candice Bergen - the daughter of the late, great Edgar Bergen. She interviewed me (us) for a “60 Minutes II” segment. During part of that interview, Candice held my hand - I told Dale he was to never paint that hand again!

When we get back to our Waukesha-area motivational/keynote speaker business, Dale-Brown Inc., (www.dale-brown.com) Dale and I will map out our next itinerary of motivational speeches. Dale (being married to Leslie) needs additional income and spends the balance of his free time acting as president of Brown & Martin, Inc., (www.bmpr.com) a multi-faceted marketing/public relations firm.

I’ve got a good life and it‘s going to be a great summer; interviews, travel, the perfect Minwax blend, first class hotel accommodations, people to attend to my every need, and my partner to “carry” the act wherever we go.”


If you would like to have your summer plans posted, email them and we’ll get them up for the world to see.

If you are like me, you spend a fair amount of your winter time planning and thinking of ways to maximize your summer. Travel, parties, vacations, and a host of other activities then make the summer months fly by far too quickly.

But what about the “other people”? How do our local officials truly get away from the public eye and enjoy their summer fun? Are they at all different from the rest of us?
In search of these answers, following are random responses from some “local notables”:

Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson:
“Of course I must start with how exciting my new Mayoral duties are, and how every day brings fresh opportunities for summer fun right here in Waukesha. In addition, this summer my wife Dawn and I are looking forward to Spring Green to see plays at American Players Theatre. In my opinion, it's the best outdoor theatre in the country (while indoors, our Waukesha Civic Theatre is a close second), and we also recommend the Spring Green General Store for brunch. We are also looking forward to a short trip to New York to see 91-year-old Les Paul perform, see the Tony award winning play, "The History Boys," and revisit the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we were engaged in 2003. At the end of August, we're headed to Seattle, a city I've always wanted to visit. I love visiting different cities to come up with creative ideas I can bring back to Waukesha.”

Waukesha School Superintendent David Schmidt:
“My summer plans are quite normal…
I plan to work most of the summer to plan for the upcoming year. Our administrators and board continue to meet and work (while using some of their vacation time) and prepare for the coming school year. There will be a vacation with my family for one week in July and playing new dad to two new ten week old kittens. I will also continue to take out my frustrations and stress on yard work which I truly enjoy, especially the ever changing colors of new flower beds (this includes mulching, deadheading, weeding, watering, watching).
My goals include getting out on the golf course once every weekend and trying to keep a high handicap from growing too much. I also hope to spend as much time as possible with Bobbie. She has four weeks of vacation this summer and will spend some of this time in Waukesha. And no summer vacation would be complete without my faithful iPOD bringing me every Bob Dylan song recorded. Beyond this, my plans are small for the summer and, like every year, summer is way too short to prepare for another school year and get some R+R. “

Waukesha County Manager of Public Works Betsy Crossewaite:
Keeping up with an active family of husband and two teenage boys sometimes doesn’t leave time for relaxation. So, prior to the start up of summer activities and the hectic season of developing the $25 million Department of Public Works budget for the County, I took time over Memorial Day weekend to relax at a quilt retreat with friends at a 100 year old mansion in Mineral Point. While there, a trip to Spring Green not only brought the discovery of a new quilt shop, but also put me right in the middle of Spring Green’s Annual “Bob Fest”, a tribute to Bob Dylan and his music. Dave Schmidt, you’ve got to check this out!
I like to try new things, and since last summer’s endeavor was my first ever Triathlon competition (of which I had to learn to swim to compete in it!), I had to try something new this summer. My 15-year-old son and I spent a week in Juarez, Mexico with the Episcopal Church youth group building a house for a family of four. The group of 24 built a 450 square foot house that more than quadrupled their current living conditions. Two months ago I was excited about a new adventure with my son. Today, I can tell you that working in 108 degree, blazing sun with 14 high school kids was more than an adventure and it was more than just building a house. It was about creating a home and security for a family and it was about seeing 14 of our community’s youth mature into young adults before my eyes. My week in Juarez has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Hard to know how I’ll top this one, but I’ll try next summer!


Town of Brookfield Administrator Rick Czopp:
“Having recently purchased a home in the Town, I have joined the ranks of home landscapers. After exhaustive research from my couch via HGTV, a plan was selected and plantings commenced. While doing all this outside work, it struck me that there could be more pet dogs then residents in my Community. And the dogs have created a great way to meet people with opening lines like “What’s your dog’s name?”. After conferring with my wife, I now find additional summer plans encompass mulching, weed-whacking, crack-filling and many other too-exciting-to-talk-about home activities.
In addition, there are always new opportunities for growth and development within Town government. The Board and myself continue exploring methods of providing fi