I suspect that the Culver Administration thinks that this will help them buy votes next year, but based on the conversations I have with my fellow citizens, it will likely backfire.  The people of Iowa simply do not want more debt.  They are frustrated with exploding deficits at the federal level and concerned about runaway spending here in Iowa.

Amanda pointed out that there used to be a sign near this job site that said “Your Tax Dollars at Work” (or something similar).  This new one ought to instead read “Your Children’s Tax Dollars at Work.”  I hope Owen gets his money’s worth.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the 11th annual Iowa Christian Academy Celebration.  A very special thank you to Charles Croyle and his wife Lisa, who invited me to attend as their guest.  The evening featured several wonderful presentations by ICA students, a dramatic presentation by Mr. Michael Ernst as Charles Carroll (the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence), and capped off by a speech by Bryan English of the Iowa Family Policy Center.

Iowa Christian Academy an independent Christian school in West Des Moines.  Their mission statement reads:  “Founded in 1999, Iowa Christian Academy (ICA) is an independent, interdenominational school meeting the educational needs of preschool through 12th grade students. ICA is an accredited college-preparatory school that provides academic excellence in a nurturing Christian environment. ICA works in partnership with families to help students become all that God intended them to be.” It was clear from the evening’s celebration that they executing this mission well.

The central theme of the evening’s program was on American history, government and civic responsibility.  It was encouraging to see future leaders of our country who understand the proper role of government in society.  Three students stood together to recite the Gettysburg Address from memory, while others presented portions of the Declaration of Independence.   It was a challenge to me that I need to go back and re-read some of our founding documents again.

I particularly enjoyed Mr. Ernst’s dramatic interpretation of Charles Carroll.  Mr. Ernst’s organizaion called “His Men Revealed” .  From their website:

His Men Revealed is the drama ministry of Michael J. Ernst, which includes a series of presentations, programs and workshops. Mike makes characters come alive to present Christian messages and reveal men who have shaped our faith.  His Men Revealed offers personalized programs for churches, schools and community organizations.

Mr. Ernst treated us to a history of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding principles upon which our country was built.  Mr. Ernst’s work was very much appreciated, and I look forward to seeing him again in the near future.

The evening was capped off by Bryan English’s speech.  Through his work with IFPC, Bryan has become a leader in the movement to allow the people of Iowa the right to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage in Iowa.  Bryan understands very well that our state and our country are at a crossroads, and that our country needs great young people like the students at ICA.  The students at ICA are clearly going to be future leaders in our country, and that is a very good thing.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service organization, with over 1.3 million members in 45,000 clubs. Not only do the individual clubs support their local communities, but work to fight blindness and fight eye disease. It is an organization of which I am proud to be a member.

Tickets for the chili supper are $5 in advance, please contact me if you’re interested. I look forward to seeing you there!

This was my first experience with Smashburger, and it was some good eatin’, for sure. I had a classic Smashburger and Smashfries and Owen had a grilled cheese. Owen licked all the cheese off his sandwich, then started in on my burger. Since I didn’t get the full enjoyment of my burger, I guess I’ll have to go back.

Smashburger is located at 1821 22nd St. (corner of 22nd and University in the former spot of Hungry Hobo). The official opening date is this Wednesday, September 16th.

Not only am I excited about another place to get a great burger and fries, it’s also very encouraging to see new businesses choosing to locate in our area.

Photo Courtesy Mike Sansone

At dinner, I was joined by fellow Iowans, Representative Peter Cownie, Representative Tyler Olson, State Senator Jeff Danielson, Des Moines attorney David Adelman and ACYPL State Chairman Joseph Jones. We had the opportunity to hear from each of the Taiwanese delegates about their background. It was fascinating to compare our professional experiences and learn more about their political system.

One of the most interesting conversations of the evening was with Mr. Eric J. Huang, Consul on Home Assignment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We struck up a conversation on the Taiwanese perspective on the North Korean situation. Mr. Huang was very knowledgeable on the regional implications of North Korea’s nuclear program, and his thoughts on possible solutions.

I also have had the honor to be nominated for a future delegation of leaders from the United States to participate in a future overseas delegation. I believe that these types of exchange programs are very valuable in developing not only a broader understand of other political systems, but also in developing more effective leadership here at home.

Before today, the city of Windsor Heights was covered by three different Zip Codes, which was the source of frequent confusion. For example, my old zip code, 50322, was the same number used for Urbandale. It was awkward to tell someone that their store computer was wrong and that I did in fact know the correct name of my city.

(*Colby Park is in the final stages of a complete redesign, which has dramatically changed the city’s primary community gathering space. The final phase, which is the new Community Center, should be complete in June of 2010.)

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the Clive YMCA Healthy Living Center Grand Opening reception. This is an amazing facility that is going to be a tremendous addition to our community. The YMCA Healthy Living Center is a partnership between the YMCA of Greater Des Moines and Mercy Medical Center is a facility that offers an integrated approach to wellness, bringing medical and fitness professionals under the same roof.

Opening: Monday, June 15th.
Address: 12493 University Avenue, Clive, IA
Phone: (515) 226-YMCA (9622)

Thanks to my friend Dr. Chad Carlson from Stadia Sports Medicine for showing me around and introducing me to community leaders who made this project possible.

Saturday morning was the Windsor Heights Fire Department’s annual pancake breakfast. Amanda and I look forward to this every year because we like to visit with our neighbors and eat pancakes. Owen likes it because the fire trucks are really cool. I was impressed by the number of people that attended, it seemed like a higher turnout than last year.

Our thanks go out to Chief Christopher Cross and the rest of the members for a great breakfast!

From their website:

Ruth Harbor is a 6-8 resident home located in Des Moines. It provides young women who are alone and facing unplanned pregnancies a truly viable option — a safe harbor — by providing housing, education, counseling, health care, parenting training or adoption assistance, spiritual support and more for the duration of their pregnancies.

We would love to see you there to support this great cause.

Date: Saturday May 9, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Meredith Trail (near Principal Baseball Park, Des Moines)

The Windsor Heights Police Department is currently gathering contact information for area residents who may be interested in participating in a women’s education and self defense course called Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.). Dates of the course have not been determined yet as we are still measuring interest, but prospective students could expect the course to be offered sometime this summer: one night a week for four consecutive weeks from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Attendance at all classes will be required to complete the program successfully. There will also be a one-time registration fee of $25 due prior to beginning the first class.

The RAD program for women’s basic self defense is the largest nationally recognized women’s self defense organization in the world. Classes encompass twelve hours of education and awareness topics mixed with hands-on, active self defense techniques and strategies. The last class in the series is a culmination of the material presented where three separate, active simulation scenarios are given to students to apply what they have learned in the classroom. Participation in this course does encourage a moderate level of activity; however, women of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The philosophy of RAD instructors is that this program should be easy to learn, easy to retain, and relatively easy to employ during real confrontational situations. Captain Dennis McDaniel of the Windsor Heights Police Department, and long-time certified RAD instructor states, “The objective of the basic RAD program is to develop and enhance the options of self defense so that they become viable options for a woman who is attacked. We work with our students to educate them on general awareness issues and also work to create confidence in the application of some basic self defense techniques.”

Interested women, high school age and above, may contact the Windsor Heights Police Department during normal business hours at (515) 277-4453 to be placed on a contact list for the next available class. Prospective students may also contact Captain McDaniel via e-mail at dmcdaniel@windsorheights.org.