Tag:Culver
Election Day!
Just a reminder to GET OUT AND VOTE!!! I was to my polling place just before noon and if the number of signatures I saw in the book are any indication, the turnout is going to be light. It’s a sad commentary when the news polls show Congress and the President with approval ratings in the basement, but then when citizens have a chance for input in the elections they can’t be bothered. The majority of seats up for consideration in this primary election are for State and Local positions. Not as controversial, but still important. I told you why I was supporting Francis Ellert previously here. There are many other important candidates to support on the ballot as well.
As a closing note, please make your vote an informed vote. Even at this late hour it’s not too late to find out about the candidates and vote responsibly. If you’re not going to do that, then I retract my opening request. I should have said, Get out and Vote… RESPONSIBLY!
Ellert for State Representative
Kevin Berger presenting ABC's endorsement and check to Francis Ellert at Coca-Cola Bottling in Plymouth
I had the opportunity to meet with Francis Ellert recently and present him with a check and endorsement from Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana (ABC). Easterday Construction has been a member of ABC for nearly three decades and I have served on the organization’s State Board of Directors through four terms. Francis has attended several ABC events and the organization has found him to be a like-minded individual that will fit well in representing our Free Enterprise cause. I consider Francis a personal friend and I was pleased to be able to relay our support.
This is Francis’s second run at the Indiana House District 17 position. I supported him in his first run (see here) and will do so again this time. Currently he has a primary challenger, but no Democrats have filed to run for the position in the Fall. Turnout will still be important in the primary. Since the Republican candidate for President has been decided before the Indiana primary, it’s important to make your voice heard in this local issue.
Lest you think voting isn’t important in the primary, there seems to be a real divide in the campaigning. I see very few Harman signs in the Culver area where Francis is well represented. I see mostly Harman signs in the Bremen area where Tim is well known. Culver in particularly shouldn’t be complacent and assume that Francis has it sewn up! We need to get out the vote and support him.
I can’t say anything bad about Tim Harman. From what I know of him, he is a good person, has run a clean campaign and has the best interests of District 17 at heart. But he’s not the known candidate that Francis is. Francis ran a hard campaign against Nancy Dembowski in 2010 and I think he benefited from it. Not only did it help him better define his positions, but it helped him make contacts that will be crucial when he joins the General Assembly next year. Those contacts are what have garnered the support of the Indiana Chamber, the Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.
Please consider helping me support Francis in the primary. In less than a week we’ll be making this choice. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to voting for a candidate that I can truly support rather than choosing the lesser of evils. I don’t think Francis tells election fairy tales.
Kevin
Culver Kiwanis Car Raffle
The Culver Kiwanis Club is holding a benefit Raffle with chance to win a cash prize or money towards a new car! Easterday Construction Co., Inc. is happy to help them in this endeavor.
Good Luck to the Kiwanis on a successful fundraiser and good luck to all who help them out by participating!
Kevin
Culver Garden Court Ribbon Cutting in Culver Citizen
Taken from the Culver Citizen, April 27, 2012. Article and Picture by Jeff Kenney. Thanks Jeff!
Career Day 2012
Wednesday was Career Day at Culver Middle School and I agreed to speak again this year. I think this is the third year that I have done this and I’m going to recycle my stolen Batman cartoon… just because I really like it! Ha! I didn’t have Batman to compete with this year, but Jeff Kenney was discussing the glamorous life of a journalist, so I’m guessing I was shown up. (Last year it was the police dog handler that I had to compete with. I’m sure he would have given Jeff a better run for his money!)
I spoke about my degree in Landscape Architecture and my current career in construction. I discussed the importance of math, verbal & written communication and art in my career. I discussed the changing community standards and how Landscape Architects influence them. I discussed why Landscape Architecture is a licensed profession and what that requires. I also took them through a rough site development plan, so they got a taste of how all those things come together. I tried to relate that to the various maps in the room since I was presenting in the Geography room.
It’s hard to find time for these things, particularly in the current business climate, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. I know that I didn’t know what a Landscape Architect was until I went to college. (Somehow I don’t think Rob Schneider’s show “Rob” is helping our cause any either, when he starts to describe his job as a Landscape Architect to his new mother in law and she cuts him off with, “Yeah, I get it. My daughter married a gardener.”) Hopefully my talk planted a seed in some of their minds that will help them make a decision for or against pursuing a similar career.
As usual there was a mix of interest in the room ranging from rapt attention to dozing. I gave the same (similar?) presentation to five groups and the teacher monitoring the class said it was interesting to see where I veered off from the previous presentation. After doing this the first time I figured out that having at least a rough outline was important since after three or four it gets hard to tell what I’ve said to what group.
All and all it was a good experience. I would recommend considering accepting if you’re asked to speak.
Oh, and by the way, it’s National Landscape Architecture Month! I’m sure you knew that, but if you didn’t, I’ve fulfilled an obligation to the profession as well.
