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USI Commencement back on campus after 21 years

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USI
Participation in ceremonies is up nearly 10 percent

This year, the University of Southern Indiana’s Commencement will be held on campus for the first time since 1991. Five ceremonies will be held over two days, April 27-28, in the Physical Activities Center (PAC), with a reception in University Center East following each ceremony.

“Since we have held the fall Commencement on campus, graduates and their families have responded enthusiastically to being at USI for degree conferral,” said President Linda L. M. Bennett. “With spring Commencement now on campus, more families will experience a memorable connection to the University at the time of great achievement for our graduates.”

More than 1,400 students are eligible to participate in Commencement, including 16 summa cum laude graduates, 100 magna cum laude graduates, 128 cum laude graduates, and 51 University Honors Scholars. Participation in spring 2012 Commencement is up by almost 10 percent over spring 2011.

A ceremony for graduate students will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 27.

Undergraduates will participate in four ceremonies on Saturday, April 28. The College of Business and Division of Outreach and Engagement ceremony will be held at 9 .am.; College of Liberal Arts at noon; Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education at 3 p.m.; and College of Nursing and Health Professions at 6 p.m. The doors to the PAC will open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony.

Speakers at each Commencement ceremony will be USI alumni who have excelled in their professional lives. They will come from Chicago, Evansville, Henderson, Nashville, and Princeton, New Jersey. “We celebrate our alumni and are pleased to have alumni representatives address our graduates,” Bennett said. “They are resounding models for today’s graduates.”

FRIDAY

Dr. Sheila Lynn Hauck, executive director of Professional Practice for Oncology and Palliative Care at St. Mary’s Medical Center, will deliver the Commencement address during the 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, ceremony. In 1997, she was a member of USI’s first graduating class in the master’s level nursing program when she completed a post-master’s certificate in the family nurse practitioner track. In 2011, she was among the first graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Also during the ceremony, USI President Emeritus H. Ray Hoops and his wife Linda will receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees.

SATURDAY

New Jersey resident Valerie McKinney, who earned a Master of Business Administration degree from USI in 2005, will be the speaker for the College of Business and Division of Outreach and Engagement ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 28. She is the global serialization operations lead for Bristol-Myers Squibb and directs a cross functional global team to implement pharmaceutical serialization through the company, including all third party manufacturers and logistics partners.

College of Liberal Arts graduates will hear Joycelyn Winnecke, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from USI in 1982, during the noon ceremony. Winnecke is vice president and associate editor of the Chicago Tribune and is the sister of Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. In 2004, she received USI’s Distinguished Alumni Award. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Joey V. Barnett is the vice chair and director of Graduate Studies in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from USI in 1981. Barnett will address graduates in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education at 3 p.m. Dr. Paul A. Kuban, associate professor of engineering, will receive the 2012 Distinguished Professor Award during this ceremony. The President’s Medal, the highest honor presented to a USI graduate, will be presented to Phillip H. Behrens.

J. Wayne Meriwether will be the speaker at the 6 p.m. ceremony for the College of Nursing and Health Professions. He is the chief operating officer at Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Kentucky. He earned a Master of Health Administration degree from USI in 2008.

Guests of graduates participating in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Nursing and Health Professions ceremonies will need tickets. For more information, go to www.usi.edu/commencement.

TRACE ADKINS “Songs & Stories Tour”

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Friday, July 27th 8PM

Tickets: $32.00 – $67.00 (Additional fees may apply)

Tickets go on sale FRIDAY, APRIL 27th at 10AM at the Centre box office, all Ticketmaster
outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge at 800-745-3000. The Centre is located at
715 Locust Street.

This intimate evening of powerful performance will incorporate stories, both humorous and
meaningful, that pay homage to Adkins’ working-man roots and rich musical heritage.

Inspiration for the SONGS & STORIES TOUR came as Trace released his 10th studio album, Proud To Be Here, last summer with
a CMT Invitation Only special. The special featured new hits “Just Fishin’” and “Million Dollar View,” a Q&A session and the
most-loved songs from Adkins’ twenty year career. The taping was so fun for Trace and his guests that he began laying plans for a
tour. “I’ve had many narrow escapes and blessings in my life. The right song at the right time has been my saving grace and that’s
something I have in common with the audience. Sharing meaningful songs, stories and some laughs ‘around the campfire’ is the
Country music tradition and I’m looking forward to it.” Fans can share their own stories, questions and the songs that have inspired
or shaped their lives on the Songs & Stories page at www.traceadkins.com. From humble beginnings as a small-town Louisiana
roughneck, to a Country super star with a twenty year career of hits, to his recent roles as outspoken author and actor, Adkins’ life
parallels the songs he sings. His albums showcase a range of earnest tributes and party anthems with humor and depth – the Songs &
Stories Tour promises to offer the same.

See the CMT performance that inspired the SONGS & STORIES TOUR:
http://www.cmt.com/videos/invitation-only-trace-adkins/1671287/full-episode.jhtml

Trace Adkins is one of Country music’s most versatile and accomplished entertainers. His instantly recognizable baritone has
earned 30 charted singles and 15 Top Ten hits gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums with total sales surpassing 10 million.
He is the author of A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck. He was a finalist on NBC’s The
Celebrity Apprentice, where he charmed millions while his recent role in The Lincoln Lawyer put him in the company of Matthew
McConaughey, Ryan Phillipe, Jon Leguiazamo and William H. Macy in the box-office topping theatrical release. A member of the
Grand Ole Opry, Adkins was raised on Country and Gospel and is known as a traditionalist who speaks his mind and honors the past.
The 6’6″ star is a father of five daughters and a family man to the core. He is a former oil rigger who still works his farm himself.
His “gruff” demeanor hides a self-deprecating, humble man with the coolness that comes from defeating death (more than once) and
realizing everything else is small stuff. When a fire claimed his home in June 2011 in Tennessee, Trace first made sure his family was
unharmed, then immediately redirected his fans’ offers of support to the Red Cross. Trace Adkins’ tenth studio album, PROUD TO BE
HERE, features the Top Ten hit, “Just Fishin'” and latest single, “Million Dollar View.” The album was released on August 2, 2011 on
Show Dog – Universal Music and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart.

What the IRS says about 501c(3) Organizations

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Exemption Requirements – Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.

The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization’s net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.

Link to more info and other links:

http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html

Is GAGE really a Private Entity and not subject to the Freedom of Information Act?

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From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press:

Private and Quasi-Private Entities: Private entities are generally not subject to federal FOIA. A quasi-private entity is one that, while private, conducts government business. For example, in 2000, the Colorado Court of Appeals determined that a nonprofit corporation was subject to the state open records law in Denver Post Corp. v. Stapleton Development Corp. The company, while private, had been created by the city of Denver and tasked by to redevelop a former airport through the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. The court held the private corporation was subject to the state open records act because the project was of a public nature, on publicly owned land and because the city had significant control over the project and the corporation.”

“A federal court may also find private or quasi-private activities subject to FOIA if it is determined that the government retains custody and control of the records. No matter how much federal money an entity receives, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Forsham v. Harris that to determine whether an entity’s records are public is a question of control. It is not clear, however, how much control over an outside entity is needed to satisfy that test, as the Court in Forsham determined that a mere right to possess and control the records is not enough to subject the entity to FOIA. Records must “have been, in fact, obtained,” according to the Court.

States often follow similar rules as the federal government, but many tend to follow a “functional equivalent” test to determine if the records of private or quasi-private entity should be disclosable. That test involves determining whether the entity has become essentially a branch of the government either through financial support or whether the entity performs a task that is traditionally one conducted by government.

In Memorial Hospital-West Volusia, Inc. v. News-Journal Corp., a private company was found subject to the Florida open records act after the West Volusia Hospital Authority transferred to it its duties to operate and maintain local hospitals. “[I]n performing pursuant to the Agreement transferring the authorized function, West Volusia, Inc. was ‘acting on behalf of’ the Authority.”‘ When “acting on the behalf of” an agency, the Florida Supreme Court held that private entities are subject to the state open records act.

States use differing language and look to different factors, but the Florida case is relatively typical. West Volusia, Inc. was receiving benefits normally reserved for the government — it was able to exercise the government’s right to eminent domain and received tax money to fund its operations. In addition, the company was performing a function that had been previously tasked to a government authority. These factors added up, in the eyes of the court, to the company “acting on behalf of” the government and, therefore, subject to the open records law.

GAGE Executive Committee List to Accommodate Readers Requests

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Carrie Ellspermann, Old National Bank
President, Old National Wealth Management
Chairman, GAGE Board

DAN ARENS, Business Developer
Vice Chairman, GAGE Board

DANIEL C. BUGHER, Vectren Corporation
Vice President of Performance Management
Past GAGE Chairman

Dr. Ed Jones, University of Southern Indiana
Former Vice Provost for Outreach & Dean of Extended Services

W.D. “Turk” Walton, Jr.
Keep Evansville Beautiful Board
Public Education Foundation Board
Secretary, GAGE Board

ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR LLOYD WINNECKE
Mayor, City of Evansville

STEPHEN MELCHER
Commissioner, Vanderburgh County

TOM SHETLER, JR.
President, County Council

IS IT TRUE April 20, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE April 20, 2012

IS IT TRUE that the six opportunities that have floated to the top of the Roberts Stadium committee are scheduled to be released today?…that whatever these six end up being and whatever the end result for Roberts Stadium turns out to be it seems to have gone through a time tested VETTING process that was carried out in public so that the people of Evansville know the process, will have seen the opportunities, the costs, and the benefits associate with each of the opportunities?…that the forthcoming report is a result of a collaborative community effort that has had sufficient time to do both discovery and due diligence?…that in today’s Courier and Press Mayor Winnecke is quoted as saying the following:

“I said this during the campaign, I want to make a good, data driven decision,” Winnecke said. “I still think that, and I think it should be what’s best for the city financially.”

IS IT TRUE that the reported costs to operate Roberts Stadium so far in 2012 was reported to be $55,754 that is well below the budget for the year of $127,235 according to City Controller Russell Lloyd Jr.?…at this rate of spending and assuming the numbers were for the first quarter that on about August 1st Roberts will reach the point that its budget has all been spent?…that gives any eventual implementation 14 weeks to make the transition from study to action whereby some new budget or hopefully some private entity can take this asset off of the City of Evansville’s balance sheet?…that it seems as though the drum beating of Roberts costing well over $400,000 per year to mothball were off by nearly 100% when this year’s actual costs are used?…that was another Mayor’s assertion at another time and that we are not surprised that the legacy operational costs were overstated?

IS IT TRUE that when Mayor Winnecke stated during his campaign that he wanted to make good data driven decisions that lead to what is best for the city financially that we assumed he was talking about all of his executive decisions and not just the dispensation of Roberts Stadium?…that we have to ask where the data and the transparency are with respect to the Earthcare Energy deal?…that we are also interested in what Evansville City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. who has diligently counted the pennies over at Roberts Stadium thinks about the quality of the investment summary of Earthcare Energy?…that we wonder if a team of 15 private citizens were convened to collaborate for three months with the charge to VET the investment summary, the market prospects, the management team, and the technology that Earthcare Energy is proposing would come back with an affirmative recommendation?

IS IT TRUE that if the surrogates of the City of Evansville like GAGE and the Evansville City Council will not take the time to do proper VETTING or insist on hiding behind a corporate veil of a separate non-profit to negotiate on behalf of the City that a blue ribbon committee is probably the only way that a data driven decision that is best financially for the City of Evansville that is conducted in a transparent process will happen?…that we are shocked that the City of Evansville obsesses and allocates the resources to VET and manage an aging facility that costs less than $250,000 per year to operate take a secretive and cavalier approach to approving a $4.8 Million loan to an unproven company to build a product that has yet to see a single installed unit paid for by a customer?

IS IT TRUE that Mayor Winnecke is talking out of both sides of his mouth with this whole transparency and data driven decision speech unless he applies the same logic to all decisions?…that Mayor Winnecke’s campaign broke new ground with campaign promises of a deliberative approach to things like tech transfer and angel investing?…that since taking office when it comes to investing that the due diligence that angel investors apply has been thrown to the wind in favor of a secretive and populist anti-vetting process that has divided the Evansville City Council and raised stern questions within the investment community?…that this deal has the potential to take down the self proclaimed Great Collaborator’s administration for failing to collaborate?

IS IT TRUE that it will soon be time to start asking the four members of the City Council who opposed this loan what their reasons for opposition were?…that maybe some information is available now that was either hidden or suppressed prior to the vote that would have made a difference in the outcome?…once again the people who are paid or appointed to VET have failed to do so and private VETTING efforts are making up for those failures and for the veil of secrecy hiding them?

GAGE Rejects Freedom of Information Act Request from CCO

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GAGE

Only 48 hours after filing a Freedom of Information Act request with GAGE, the office of Mayor Winnecke, and the Evansville Controllers office, GAGE has rejected the FOIA request through attorney Krista Lockyear. The letter to Tim Eckels, the Publisher of the CCO from GAGE asserted that GAGE in not a public entity and is completely separate from any government entity and therefor is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

There has been no response to the identical requests that were served upon Mayor Winnecke’s office and the office of City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr.

The request was for information gathered in the vetting process by GAGE which lead to president Debbie Dewey’s recommendation that the Evansville City Council should approve a loan of $4.8 Million to Earthcare Energy. All of the proceeds for such a loan to be made by the City of Evansville to Earthcare Energy will be from taxpayer dollars. GAGE reportedly receives a total of $375,000 per year in financial support from the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County. It is not known at this time what percentage of GAGE’s overall funding is from public funds. GAGE also derives income by leasing out space in the Innovation Pointe Building. It has been reported that GAGE pays the Evansville Redevelopment Commission $10 per year in lease payments. The extent of GAGE support from private sources has not been disclosed.

GAGE’s Letter to Publisher of CCO:

Eckels_letter_4-19-12

Early Childhood Education Summit

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Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and Ed Hafer of the Evansville Regional Business Committee
will host a Summit on the Economic Benefits of Early Childhood Education on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Culver Family Learning Center, 1301 Judson Street. The Summit will bring
together community business leaders, government leaders and other key community leaders to learn
and discuss the economic benefit of Early Childhood Education.

The Summit will feature national speakers Rob Grunewald, Associate Economist with the Federal
Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Tanny Crane, President and CEO of the Crane Group and Co-Chair of
the Ohio Business Roundtable Early Learning Initiative.

Crane serves as the Board Chair of the Columbus City Schools Education Foundation and is the past
Board Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Grunewald is the co-author of “Early Childhood
Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return,” an economic policy paper which has
been featured in the media, legislative hearings and seminars throughout the United States.

The summit will conclude with a question and answer session, and speakers will be available for one-
on-one interviews at 11 a.m. The media is welcome to attend the entire session to learn why early
childhood education is one of the most cost-effective and potent economic development tools available.

Enthusiastic Sell-Out Crowd Welcomes Eric Church to the Ford Center

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Headliner Eric Church with special guests Brantley Gilbert and Blackberry Smoke brought their special
brand of southern-fried country rock to the Ford Center on April 19. Church proclaims in “How Bout You,” one of his
most popular hits, “Give me a crowd that’s redneck and loud, and we’ll raise the roof.” This sold out audience was eager
to comply as voices and lighted cell phones alike were often raised during the entirety of the three and a half hour show.
“Evansville continues to show great support for top country acts such as Eric Church,” said Executive Director Scott
Schoenike. “This will continue to attract elite country performers to the Ford Center in the future,” stated Schoenike.

Ford Center continues to stay active with a strong list of upcoming performance such as; All Time Low & Gentlemen Hall
April 20, Guns and Hoses April 21, Cirque Du Soleil presents Quidam April 26-29, Staind & Godsmack May 6, Hank
Williams Jr. May 11, WWE SmackDown on June 26 and James Taylor July 11.

Ford Center is managed by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC