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WARRICK COUNTY DEMOCRATS BLOCK SATELLITE VOTING FOR THE 2010 GENERAL ELECTION

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Warrick County Republicans

Boonville – The Warrick County Election Board met last night to address several issues pertaining to the upcoming general election, including a resolution to provide Satellite Voting locations in Newburgh and Lynnville. The resolution, which required unanimous approval of the board, was defeated when Don Lee, the representative for the Warrick County Democrat Party, voted against the resolution. Board President Bernie Montgomery, a Republican appointee to the board, and Clerk Sarah Topper vote in favor of the resolution. The resolution, if passed, would have made the Ohio Township Central Library and the Lynnville Community Center available for voters to cast their ballots at those locations on October 19,21, 26 & 28 from noon until 6:00pm. One person, Bob Gober, appeared before the election board to voice opposition to the resolution, and expressed concern over the cost to operate the satellite locations. Several individuals supportive of the resolution, including Warrick County Republican Chairman Rick Martin, appeared at the meeting and addressed the board. Martin countered Gober’s cost concerns by pointing out that, in the Spring, the Clerk had advised that the cost to operate the Lynnville Satellite Office would amount to less than $1,000 and the cost to operate the Newburgh Satellite Office would be similar. Martin said that “[w]e need to be smart with our spending and cut wasteful items such as the duplication of poll workers on election day, so that we can spend taxpayer dollars on things like satellite voting that truly benefit the taxpayer.” After the meeting, Chairman Martin expressed his disappointment in the decision of the election board. “It seems like the Warrick County Democrats don’t want the voter’s to come to the polls and vote this fall. It’s a shame that the Democrat Party chooses to stand in the way of progress and is denying the voters of Warrick County access to satellite voting that was wildly successful in 2008 and will be available to voters in Vanderburgh County this fall.” Chairman Martin also indicated that we may not have heard the last of this issue yet: “After this setback, we are looking at our options, including the option of appealing the decision to the Warrick Circuit Court. In any event, I hope that the voters of Warrick County will not be deterred by the efforts of the Democrats and will come out and vote on Election Day.”

The Robert’s Stadium Ball Field Questions

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Should Evansville Bet the Farm on Youth Baseball and Softball?

By: Joe J. Wallace, Hadannah Business Solutions

My friend Steve Lowell Smith, Candidate for State Representative from District 78 and I attended the public forum together regarding the proposal to construct 8 baseball fields on the Robert’s Stadium site. We stuck it out to the end of what turned out to be a 6 1/2 hour meeting that was at times torturous and at other times the best entertainment in Downtown Evansville on a Wednesday night. I can’t speak for Steve but I learned many things about the project and the people who showed up to share their opinions.

I was pleased at the level of transparency that David Dunn and his experts gave when questions were asked. Many times the answers were “I don’t know”, “no, we did not consider that”, or even “no, but thank you for the suggestion”. This was not back room politics in action as we have become accustomed to and even as this particular project is reported to have been for the past year. This was an interactive community forum and people were for the most part attentive and respectful.

Act One: David Dunn and the Scientists

The show was opened up by David Dunn’s PowerPoint presentation that has been posted on the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau (ECVB) website for some time now. After his well rehearsed presentation, Mr. Dunn called upon a battery of seasoned engineers from the Evansville engineering firm of Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates (BLA) to instruct the assembly of citizens on the environmental concerns that have been expressed with respect to the effects that the ball fields may have on Wesselman Park. I hold a Master’s in Engineering and completely understood the presentations that included tutorials on sound pressure measurement, decibels, logarithms, attenuation, light pollution, drainage, plants that survive in rain gardens and suppress fertilizer migration, and high tech synthetic turf. I gave me flashbacks of Dr. Hartsaw’s classes at UE and Dr. Pauling’s lectures at Stanford. It also reminded me of why I slept in a class or two and took much liberty when it came to class attendance.

Engineering is a dry subject even to engineers. Most of the attendees did not come to this meeting for the purpose of being lectured on how to measure sound pressure and add logarithms. Many of the attendees were annoyed by the nature and length of the presentations and became agitated and restless. There was even an outburst or two to spice things up. The people were fully justified in their restlessness. It is important to prepare for the audience that one will be addressing and there was no reason to expect that many of the attendees would have either an interest or an understanding of advanced engineering details. Some recordings and a few pictures could have made the point sufficiently to the residents and environmentalists who came for a much different purpose.

I am convinced at this point that the noise, light, traffic, etc. will not be made worse at Wesselman Park due to this project. The staff of BLS was both comprehensive and detailed in presenting their findings. With the last logarithmic graph, act one was concluded and it was time for the citizens of Evansville to have their say. Thirty five people including myself signed up to speak.

Act Two: The Citizens Speak

There were two distinct and separate types of speakers with opinions and esoteric information that they could not wait to share. On the left were the people mostly from the neighborhoods around Roberts who were there to oppose the proposed ball fields. On the right were representatives of groups that have endorsed the proposal, the most notable of which was Dr. Vince Bertrum, Superintendent of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation who along with a posse of EVSC administrators and some youth sports coaches expressed support for the proposed ball fields. Let the games begin.

If I thought that the engineering lectures were a challenge, I was certainly not prepared for what followed. The citizens of Evansville who spoke were for the most part well prepared with arguments of many types including one gentleman who delivered a lecture on the far reaching effects of the extinction of the Dodo Bird on the plant life of the Mauritius Islands. The lesson he taught was that messing with Mother Nature can sometimes have catastrophic unintended consequences. One elderly lady delivered a long lecture on the history of how Wesselman Park and Woods came to be. She started in the late 1700’s and ended on Wednesday night. Perhaps the most entertaining speaker from the opposition was a spirited lady who had a shirt that had “It’s a Dunn Deal” written on the back. She approached Mr. Dunn from the lectern and let him know that she had immortalized him with that shirt before delivering an unexpectedly entertaining lecture on how a mother hawk controlled pigeons in Downtown Evansville until the hawk’s habitat was destroyed. This lady was a master communicator and taught with humor and enthusiasm. She closed with an innovative solution on how to save money on tearing down Robert’s Stadium by putting pictures of hated people on the walls and letting people wail away with sledge hammers.

It would be easy for some to be dismissive of the 25 plus people who spoke in opposition to the proposal and some did speak in a dismissive tone. That was a mistake. These are people who love their homes, their neighborhood, Wesselman Park, and the City of Evansville. They took the time to prepare, endured the science lectures, and delivered their positions with passion and common sense. Flaunting the fruits of noble birth and rubbing the salt into the earth has no place in community forums. These people deserve respect most of them earned mine.

Act Three: The Finances

I see at this point how what has been widely characterized as “just 8 ball fields” can be enhanced enough to cost $18 Million. The story boards and renderings look first class. If built, this Park will be quite pleasant. I can see where it would cost $18 Million to construct what has been proposed.

If Evansville ever becomes a wealthy city and $18 million is simply pocket change, I will be on board to support this proposal. Evansville however is not affluent and nothing is on the economic horizon to change that status, so financially I am still among the bearish skeptics. If Evansville proceeds with this, all of our eggs and all of our future eggs from a tourism attraction perspective will be in the youth baseball and softball basket.

That financial reality came out during questioning when it was revealed that $18 million is essentially the maximum amount of money that the ECVB is capable of borrowing based on the $1.5 million per year that is projected to be available from the innkeeper’s tax. The proposal is to max the ECVB credit card out to do this project. No funds will be available for other projects for many years if the choice to proceed with this proposal is made. One may ask exactly what opportunities we may miss out on if we do this. The answer is all of them.

Further questioning with respect to security features, number of bleachers, etc. lead to the obvious conclusion that this Park is not yet designed to the point that a believable quote is in anyone’s hand. Knowing that, what happens if there are cost overruns? What happens if the $18 million is not enough money to complete the project and the project is not finished when credit limit is reached and the next charge gets declined. That is a real concern with a higher than acceptable probability of occurring.
There needs to be a substantive quote on the renderings with the not yet designed safety features, bleachers, etc. in place. We do not want to be sold on a first class park only to have the rug pulled out from under us after construction has begun and settle for a ho-hum park. We have been down that path already this year with the Executive Inn’s disappearing stars and the failure of the financing. It has been over two years since we were seduced by beautiful renderings of a 4-Star hotel costing $35 Million fully financed by private money. We learned last month that the renderings and announcements of 2008 were about as realizable as the promises of the Wizard of OZ. At this point, the City of Evansville is soliciting a cast of developers to metaphorically bring them the broomstick of the Witch of the West. The broomstick of course is a fully financed Convention Hotel.

My second concern is just how solid the $1.5 million per year innkeeper’s tax is? The historical data includes years when the Executive Inn was in operation and conventions were more abundant. That cash cow from a tax perspective is currently out to pasture and not giving any milk. The danger of course is that if the $1.5 million becomes $1 million because of the loss of room nights and the economy stays depressed, someone has to pay for the shortage. The ECVB will not have the capacity to pay so who will backstop the debt service? All fingers pointed to David Dunn as the head of the ECVB at Wednesday’s meeting. It is easier to point fingers now that it will be to make up the shortage if the revenue from the innkeepers tax is even slightly disrupted.

The Value Proposition: A Derivative by any other name is still a Derivative

Mr. Dunn was asked if he had to invest the $18 Million himself, would it be a worthwhile investment. He responded enthusiastically “yes because it will yield $10 Million per year”. I think he must have misunderstood the question. Mr. Dunn, in his presentation projected that 100,000 visitors will come to the ball fields per year and spend $10 Million in Evansville businesses. That does not go into the coffers of government or into the ECVB; it is projected to go into the cash registers of local businesses. Government will “derive” income from this economic activity, thus the value to government or the ECVB is determined by derived income. That makes this a derivative play as far as the direct ROI is concerned.

If $10M is spent then $700,000 is collected in sales taxes and shipped off to Indianapolis. If $3Million of that is spent on lodging then an additional $240,000 is collected in innkeeper’s taxes. If Evansville businesses make profits of $1M (10%) on those sales then $34,000 of income tax is sent off to Indianapolis and $10,000 is collected by Vanderburgh County in County Option Income Tax (COIT).

Now, if all of this comes true as the PowerPoint states and 100,000 people really materialize (Owensboro draws about 40,000 per year to their parks), Evansville business benefits and the bond payments will be covered. The value while indirect may justify the investment but the direct “value” to the ECVB will not. The sustainability and maintenance of these ball fields will need to be derived from external sources like the innkeeper’s tax and facilities use fees.

What Next?

The Park as it is called is a wonderful project for an affluent town with a well endowed CVB that does not have to max out its credit card to make it happen. The citizens in opposition expressed discontentment with the fact that they perceive that this project and other local projects are just crammed down their throats. I must say I see why they feel that way from the tone of the meeting. I also have to wonder if Evansville can attract $10 Million in outside spending in a way that costs less than $18 Million to realize. I am interested if a real quote done at another site like the Goebel Soccer Complex would be less expensive or if a phased approach would defer some of the cost to a later date when some success has been proven.

The next step really should be to get a handle on the real cost. Much money has already been spent on engineering studies (hearsay is about $400,000) that are specific to this site. More will need to be done. Getting a handle on any further actions should be imperative before proceeding. Evansville cannot afford another Executive Inn style ready, fire, aim situation. The ECVB and the majority of the citizens of Evansville who spoke on Wednesday night are at an impasse. I am not sure what the real majority of the citizens of Evansville are thinking about this ball field project. I am not even sure which way the 3rd Ward City Council member Wendy Bredhold , the other members of the City Council, the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and County Council, or even Mayor Weinzapfel are leaning with respect to this project. I do not recall any published opinions from any of them.

What I am sure of is that projects like this need and deserve the support of the citizens to be successful and that the only way to really get a handle on that is through further discussions. Dr. Vince Bertram made the right decision last year by calling for a referendum prior to commencing the construction of the new North High School. It is clear that the majority of citizens support the new North High School. The Arena on the other hand is something that even though it is nearing completion it still does not enjoy verified majority support of the citizenry of Evansville. That mystery will never be resolved and there will always be those who argue both sides. A referendum would have put this question to rest.

As the decision to go forward with the ball fields will consume all of the funding that is available for brick and mortar tourism projects for the foreseeable future, establishing majority support of the citizens would not only be advisable but it would aid the success of the project. Of course there are those who will never be convinced and they are vocal. There are those like Dr. Bertram who are fully supportive. It would be best for us all if there was a clear quantifiable majority in support of this project before proceeding. After all, Evansville will be “all in” if the decision is made to proceed.

There were some discussions regarding favorable bonding opportunities that expire this year creating a sense of hurry to issue the bonds. In all reality, rushing to borrow money to meet a deadline for a project that is not completely thought out is not much different that taking advantage of a 0% credit card deal to do something that you will regret later. There is really no urgency to rush this and there is another year to enjoy Robert’s Stadium’s.

Is it really worth maxing out Evansville CVB’s credit card to do this project? Can’t we do this without breaking the ECVB’s bonding capacity to do so? With a little innovation, I say we can, and we can do it with majority public support.

Public Testing of the voting equipment

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Notice is hereby given that the Public Test of the automatic tabulating equipment and the electronic voting systems to be used at the Vanderburgh, Indiana General Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, will be conducted in the Election Office, Room 214, Civic Center Complex, 1 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., on Friday, September 24th at 2:00 PM. The Public Test is open to the General Public. Indiana Code (IC 3-11-13-22) and (IC 3-11-14.5)

Supporting the Rule of Law in Mexico

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Greg Zoeller


Lee H. Hamilton
By Greg Zoeller and Lee H. Hamilton

When blessed with the justice system we are privileged to enjoy in Indiana and the United States, it is easy to take for granted the freedoms, rights and protections embodied in our founding principles such as our Constitution. One only need look south to our neighbors in Mexico to see the serious problems that occur when a system of justice is in crisis, under attack by criminals and undermined from within.

In recent months, it has been disturbing to watch the horrific violence and bloodshed in Mexico as the war escalates between organized, well-funded drug cartels and the Mexican federal government. Law-abiding civilians who want only to lead quiet lives free of violence often become victims of this drug war. After a summer of grisly killings in Northern Mexico near the U.S. border, last month 72 migrant workers were found executed in Tamaulipas, victims of the drug-war slaughter. Mayors, political candidates and investigators have been assassinated, and the Mexican news media often self-censors, out of fear of retaliation if it reports the details of killings.

Amid this loss of basic order, Mexico’s police agencies, under great stress, have fallen short and its criminal court system is unable to fully cope with the violence, meaning the guilty too often escape justice and the innocent are wrongly accused.

In light of the economic ties of trade and the concerns about illegal immigration, drug trafficking and human smuggling into our country, it is clear that Mexico’s problems are Indiana’s problems as well. It seems to us that as attorneys and public servants, we have a duty to assist our beleaguered neighbors.

To that end, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has agreed to participate in a program Congress funded that will provide training assistance to legal professionals in Mexico who want to fundamentally reform their justice system. This comes as Mexico transitions from a Spanish inquisitional style of justice to an American-style legal system of oral argument under a 2008 amendment to the Mexican Constitution.

Under an agreement signed by Indiana’s Attorney General, Greg Zoeller, and the Attorney General of the Mexican state of Baja California, Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, officials from Mexico will be brought to Indiana the week of September 26 to learn more about criminal justice in our state and federal systems. During this “Rule of Law” program, 40 prosecutors and 40 police investigators from Mexico will be trained by deputy attorneys general, prosecutors, judges, and lawyers from throughout Indiana about the workings of our courts and our legal procedures.

This training is funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development and not through state tax dollars, but the benefit to Hoosiers is that it will provide for our Mexican visitors a concrete example of a legal system that enjoys public legitimacy and stability. Our experience inside and outside of Congress has convinced us that such exchanges can encourage reform.

We must support the efforts of other countries who hope to model their efforts upon our own judicial system, which although not perfect, has stood the test of time and has been a beacon of hope to many. And we should have a greater appreciation for our own law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges who work hard every day to provide for Indiana’s system of justice.

Greg Zoeller is attorney general of Indiana. Lee H. Hamilton is a former U.S. representative from Indiana who recently retired as president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and who is currently the director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University

Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana has several exciting events planned

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The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana has several exciting events planned in the near future. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us at one or all of these excellent networking opportunities!

Annual Meeting & Dinner – Tuesday, October 12
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana hosts its Annual Meeting & Dinner in order to communicate the issues and initiatives that The Chamber has undertaken or supported over the past year.

The Chamber also presents its Annual Awards at this gathering in order to recognize Chamber members for their valuable service and leadership.

This is truly the networking event of the year with over 1,000 people expected to attend!

Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will serve as the Keynote Speaker and Governor Mitch Daniels will serve as the Guest Speaker.

Annual Meeting & Dinner
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Centre, Downtown Evansville
5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception with Cash Bar
6:30 p.m. Annual Meeting & Dinner Program
The cost is $75 per Chamber member; $750 per table of 10; and $150 per non-member.

For more information and/or to reserve your seat for this important gathering, please contact Carly Griffin, events manager, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at cgriffin@ccswin.com.

Last minute registration available for Wind Supply Chain Workshop!

The Wind Supply Chain Workshop will be held this Thursday, September 16 from 7:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at The Centre in Downtown Evansville.

The workshop will explain:
Market opportunities, trends and resources;
Anatomy of a wind turbine;
Structure of the supply chain;
Challenges for manufacturers;
How to connect with the industry.
Click here for more information and a full agenda.

What Can The Chamber Do For You? (FREE LUNCH!) – Wednesday, October 6

Join your fellow Chamber members for a FREE monthly luncheon called What Can The Chamber Do For You?

This luncheon is held on the first Wednesday of each month and explains benefits of Chamber membership that you may not even know about! The next lunch will be held on Wednesday, October 6 at 11:30 a.m. at The Chamber office.

Members are encouraged to attend one session per year to learn about the many benefits of Chamber membership, including the following:

Member Discount Programs
Advertising Opportunities
Networking Opportunities
Chamber iPhone Application
Miscellaneous Benefits

Seating is limited to the first 45 registrants per month and LUNCH IS FREE! For more information or to register for this event, please contact Carly Griffin, events manager, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at cgriffin@ccswin.com.

Posey County Committee Golf Scramble – October 6

You are invited to the 2010 Posey County Committee Golf Scramble! Join your fellow Chamber members for a beautiful, Fall day on the golf course! The day includes 18 holes of golf, dinner, prizes and awards.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Western Hills Country Club
1725 Country Club Road, Mt. Vernon, Indiana

Foursome plus hole sponsorship………………………….$410
Foursome ………………………………………………………..$320
Individual ………………………………………………………..$80

Noon Shotgun Start
5:00 p.m. Social Hour
6:00 p.m. Dinner/Prizes/Awards

Space sells quickly, so make your reservation today!

Not a golfer? Sponsorship opportunities are available. If you are interested in donating a door prize, a giveaway bag item or sponsoring a hole, please contact the Posey County office at 812.838.3639.

To reserve your foursome or to be a hole sponsor, please contact Tiffani Weatherford, Posey County administrative director, at 812.838.3639 or via e-mail at tweatherford@ccswin.com, no later than Friday, October 1.

Business Exchange – Thursday, October 7

Join over 75 of your fellow Chamber members at next month’s Business Exchange.

Business Exchanges are the perfect way to meet new business contacts in a relaxed atmosphere. Join us at Fox & Hound on Thursday, October 7 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for FREE food, a cash bar and networking.

SBDC Event Calendar

Business Writing Skills Workshop

Patti Ladato – How to Present Your Ideas Professionally…and Get Results!
Date: 09/22/2010
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Mead Johnson Nutrition, Bldg 35 Conference Center 2400 West Lloyd Expressway Evansville, IN 47721
Price: NACM MEMBER $39.00, 3 or MORE attendees, same company, $29.00 each NON-MEMBERS $49.00, 3 or MORE attendees, same company, $39.00 each

EHRA Seminar – Workplace Violence & the New Gun Laws

Workplace violence can strike anywhere and no workplace is immune. This seminar gives insight into legal factors including the new Indiana IC 34-28-7 law, signs of potential violence and preventive actions employers may take to assist in protecting their workplace.
Date: 9/23/2010
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana/Southwestern Indiana SBDC 318 Main Street, Suite 401 – Training Room (Innovation Pointe) Downtown Evansville
Price: $20.00

Internet Marketing 101 –

How to get the most bang for your buck using the Internet
As a local business, how can you use the internet to grow your business, attract new prospective buyers that are in the market for your products & services, build strong relationships with those in your customer base, spread your company message to build brand awareness and improve your company image. It’s a deep and complex digital age we live and work in.
Date: 9/28/2010
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana – Southwestern Indiana SBDC
Price: FREE

For more information and or to reserve a seat for any of these gatherings, please contact Debbie Albin, SBDC administrative assistant/training coordinator, at 812.425.7232 or via e-mail at dalbin@ccswin.com.

The Southwestern Indiana Small Business Development Center is hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

ATHENA Awards to be held on Friday, Oct. 22

The 21st Annual ATHENA Awards program will be held on Friday, October 22 at The Centre. The ATHENA Award will be presented in conjunction with the Evansville Women’s Conference.

The ATHENA Award Luncheon, presented by the ATHENA Award Committee, A Network of Evansville Women (ANEW), Evansville Courier & Press and The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, honors both women and men who have achieved excellence in their profession or life’s work, devoted time and effort in their communities to improve the quality of life for others, and actively helped women realize their full leadership potential.

Past ATHENA nominees have included business people, government employees, police, health care professionals and members of the academic community.

Tickets are $35 per person or $350 per table of 10. To purchase tickets, please contact Carly Griffin, events manager, at The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail cgriffin@ccswin.com.

Chamber Trip to Ireland – Spring 2011

FREE Pre-Tour Briefing on Thursday, October 14 at The Chamber!

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, in partnership with Collette Vacations and Ambassador Travel, will host a Chamber Trip to Ireland in 2011. This 10 day trip will depart on March 26 and return on April 4.

Highlights include:
Dublin · Irish Evening · Kilkenny · Waterford Crystal · Blarney Castle Jaunting Car Ride · Ring of Kerry · Killarney · Farm Visit · Limerick Cliffs of Moher · Galway Castle Stay
Cost:
Per Person Rates: Double $2,949; Single $3,399; Triple $2,919

What’s Included:
· Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $100 (subject to increase until paid in full)
· Round Trip Airfare from Evansville Regional Airport
· Hotel stays
· 13 Meals (8 Breakfasts & 5 Dinners)

Posey County Voter’s Forum

Hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana and the Mt. Vernon Democrat

When: Thursday, October 14, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Posey County Community Center, 111 Harmony Township Road, New Harmony, IN

Candidates from various parties and races will speak and answer questions before an audience of voters. Posey County Circuit Court Judge James Redwine will serve as the event’s moderator and questions will be asked by Mount Vernon Democrat Community Editor Sara Manifold. Candidates in opposed races will be given 90 seconds for an opening statement. Each candidate will then be given two minutes to answer each question. Unopposed candidates will be given two minutes to address the audience.

If you would like to submit a question for a candidate, please do so by Monday, October 2, 2010.

This event is FREE!

For more information or to submit questions, contact Tiffani Weatherford, Posey County administrative director, at 812.838.3639 or via e-mail at tweatherford@ccswin.com.
TSWTN Event – “Winning the Intellectual Property Game in Foreign Markets: How to Use International IP Rules to Your Advantage”
Has your company adopted an appropriate game plan to protect its trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights abroad?

The Tri-State World Trade Network (TSWTN) is pleased to announce its upcoming fourth quarter seminar, “Winning the Intellectual Property Game in Foreign Markets: How to Use International IP Rules to Your Advantage”, featuring Luz Aurora Lettiere. During this informative seminar, you will learn about various types of intellectual property rights and gain a working knowledge of the kinds of IP issues that you should consider and resolve prior to conducting business in foreign countries.

Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana (4th Floor, Innovation Pointe)
Cost: $35
Program includes a continental breakfast.

To register, contact Julie Ko, manager of business services, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at jko@ccswin.com.

Tri-State Manufacturers’ Alliance (TSMA) Fourth Quarter Event
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ivy Tech Auditorium
7:30 am – 9:30 am
Cost: FREE to TSMA members; $40/person for non-TSMA members

TSMA is pleased to host national automotive experts from the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) to discuss the state of the industry. Mr. Kim Hill is CAR’s Director of the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP), and he, along with several colleagues, will speak about the importance of communities embarking on a common course to bring new investment to the region. The Great Lakes-based ACP helps communities understand an automotive industry facing the many challenges of global competition, and its expert staff can help teach our region’s businesses how to adapt and respond to the challenges and opportunities that currently exist in the industry.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Julie Ko, business services manager, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at jko@ccswin.com.

Sobriety Checkpoint September 17, 2010

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Sobriety Checkpoint

Evansville Police Department Developing Diversity Management Plan

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Evansville Police Department
Woodard & Associates, Inc. contracted to guide plan development and implementation

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – September 16, 2010 – The Evansville Police Department (EPD) has contracted with the consulting firm of Woodard & Associates, Inc. to guide the EPD in developing and implementing a comprehensive diversity initiative. The EPD Diversity Management Plan (DMP) will result in a transformation in terms of the way in which workforce and community diversity is valued throughout EPD.

“The EPD and its personnel are committed to fulfilling our mission, which, in partnership with the community, is to improve the quality of life by reducing the fear and incidence of crime, to recognize and resolve problems, and to fulfill the law enforcement needs of the citizens of Evansville, Indiana,” said Evansville Police Chief Brad Hill. “As with any quality business or organization, there is always room for growth and improvement. This initiative is about identifying opportunities to modify the way we conduct our daily business to most effectively serve our community and fulfill our mission,” Hill added.

Among other steps, the EPD DMP calls for a series of community forums to hear first-hand from Evansville citizens what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of how EPD provides services throughout the community. Woodard & Associates plans to begin the community forums in October of this year. Specific dates, times and locations are yet to be finalized. The DMP also calls for an evaluation of the EPD work environment, an evaluation of hiring, promotion, and mentoring practices, the establishment of an EPD Diversity Action Council to lead the diversity movement within EPD, and diversity skills-training for all EPD personnel.

“This is one of the most comprehensive initiatives ever undertaken to ensure that the Evansville Police Department provides the law enforcement services the Evansville community both desires and deserves,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

Established in 1990, Woodard & Associates, Inc. is a social science research firm based in Washington, DC. The firm specializes in diversity management, equal employment opportunity (EEO) compliance and program evaluation, and was founded by Evansville native Michael D. Woodard, Ph.D. Dr. Woodard is an alumnus of the University of Evansville and the University of Chicago, from which he earned Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Sociology. Prior to establishing Woodard & Associates, Dr. Woodard was a professor teaching graduate and undergraduate sociology courses on race and ethnic relations and labor force analysis at Governors State University-Chicago, the University of Maryland-College Park, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and UCLA. He is well-published and has been interviewed and quoted on diversity issues by CNN, the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS…TO PROVIDE OR NOT TO PROVIDE?

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By Virginia L. Beach

Back in 1989, I served on an advisory committee to offer my expertise in the drafting of a bill which would help to improve the lives of persons with disabilities here in the United States.

A year later, I joined with my colleagues in celebrating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.

As a Deaf person and an Advocate, I was pleased to see the law become reality.

But twenty years later, I’m forced to wonder how effective the ADA has truly been. A lot of people are still unaware of this law, and even those who have heard of it often are still in noncompliance with it.

This noncompliance especially seems to impact on the deaf and hard of hearing community, whose communication needs frequently go ignored.

Part of the problem stems from a lack of full understanding about those communication needs, and how to best go about meeting them.

For many Deaf people, communication means sign language, and sign language means interpreters – a service many people know little about and most balk at having to provide.

Contrary to popular opinion, the Americans with Disabilities Act does not mandate that sign language interpreters must be hired when dealing with Deaf people. What it does mandate is that auxiliary aids and services must be provided to assure effective communication. Such aids and services can include the provision of sign language interpreters.
So this begs the question…when are interpreters required?

This is not an easy question. The answer is…it depends. There’s just no easy cut-and-dried solution. Every individual will be different, every situation will be different, and every communication need will be different. The result being that every solution will be different. What works for me might not work for my friend David. What works for me today for my one-on-one meeting with my attorney might not work next week when I have to go into the courtroom and stand before a judge and jury.

Every situation has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and discussed with the deaf or hard of hearing individual to determine what the needs are and how to assure that effective communication is indeed taking place.

And yes…in some cases that effective communication does require providing a qualified sign language interpreter.

Not all people with hearing loss know sign language or use interpreters. But if American Sign Language is indeed their primary language and/or communication mode, most likely the deaf person will request an interpreter. If the individual does in fact request a sign language interpreter, your best bet is to honor that request. Most people with disabilities are the experts on what their needs are. Don’t presume that you know better than they do. Most likely you will be wrong, and you’ll be opening yourself up to the potential of a lawsuit… which will probably cost thousands of dollars more than the original interpreting request did.

Yet in spite of this fact, every year the Department of Justice and/or the National Association for the Deaf’s Law and Advocacy Center (not mention local deaf agencies around the country) receive hundreds if not thousands of complaints from Deaf individuals regarding the denial of interpreting services. Such refusals are spread across the board – from employers to city/state government offices to courtrooms to hospitals to businesses to nonprofit agencies…all of which are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. All of which are supposed to be in compliance with the law, but which after twenty years, still have yet to develop a written policy on how to secure and provide interpreting services.

One area of frustration I have noticed when doing research on the issue of providing interpreters and assuring effective communication is the woefully limited information pertaining to such, which often tends to only discuss specific topics and touch on certain areas.

For example, much of the information focuses on Title III related to Public Accommodations – a private entity that owns, operates, leases, or leases to, a place of public accommodation. Places of public accommodation include a wide range of entities, such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ and lawyers’ offices, banks, pharmacies, retail stores, auto dealerships, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers. I suspect this is because the greatest numbers of complaints or lawsuits filed are in fact against public accommodations.

However, the problem is equally if not more prevalent amongst employers. We just don’t learn about it as often. Especially in today’s economy with its high unemployment rate, Deaf people don’t want to make waves in the workplace…so they suffer in silence even as their civil rights go unmet. The result is that they end up being denied interpreters (and thus effective communication), and the employers get away with noncompliance.

As a general rule, if a person needs an auxiliary aid or service in order to assure effective communication, they need to request such in advance (although some types of aids and services should be readily available – such as captioning of videos and other media, visual means of providing information given via audio announcements, visual alert systems, etc.) If I need a sign language interpreter, I have to say so and request such from the employer, public accommodation, or public/governmental entity.

This can become problematic, because it forces Deaf individuals such as myself to become clairvoyants, able to predict that on such and such a day I am going to need interpreting services at such and such a place at such and such a time. Thus we have to plan our life and schedule accordingly, and pray we don’t get the 24-hour bug twelve hours beforehand. It reduces the option of last minute planning or the level of spontaneity.

This “must request in advance” requirement can become a real sore spot when a Deaf person wants to participate in an open public event that s/he may have just learned about earlier than same day. An example could be an open “free to the public” theatrical performance in the park, or an open public meeting.

There has been a lot of debate about the question of interpreter provision for open public meetings, etc… the type of event where people can just show up. It’s easy to request an interpreter for a doctor’s appointment or similar type of situation that is scheduled in advance, generally involves services being provided which are billed to a specific party (not interpreting services, but medical services or legal services or the like), or when you’re on the job and something is scheduled (a staff meeting, job training, etc.)

But what happens when it’s an open meeting for the general public, and people can just attend without having to make an appointment, buy a ticket, RSVP or whatever? Then the lines are more blurred. This issue has been brought up a number of times by Deaf organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf – should the “must request in advance” rule still come into play? The argument that has been made is that if the meeting planners are required to make an effort to assure that the meeting is accessible to that portion of the general public that has a disability (such as assuring that the meeting is held in an accessible location), should not such efforts include the scheduling of an interpreter…regardless of whether such services have actually been requested? (Interestingly the Blind Community has made a similar point in regards to whether large print and braille transcripts of printed materials should also be made available).

This is a challenging issue, and it’s never been resolved. The Department of Justice basically states that each situation must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, for reasons as explained earlier in this article. From a legal perspective, DOJ needs to say “the services have to be requested.” The rationale for this is fairly simple… the Department and others who have to take on these complaints of discrimination can’t build a case if they can’t show that the services were denied (or were not effective). And they can’t prove denial if the services were not requested in the first place.

As I said…there’s no easy answer. This is the type of situation where everyone is kind of caught between a rock and a hard place.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that the experts don’t have their own views on the whole interpreter issue and their own advice on such matters. Many Deaf professionals and/or ADA legal experts will say that if you’re holding a public meeting where there is reasonable cause for believing that Deaf individuals may attend – such as a disability meeting, budget cuts for a program which serves deaf/hoh people, or something along similar lines, you would be wise to go ahead and schedule an interpreter.

In some cities, all governmental meetings open to the public are automatically interpreted – Deaf people present or not. (Admittedly, that may have changed recently due to the economy.) Granted, there is no guarantee a Deaf person will show up…but the entity has still covered all bases and assured that the meeting is accessible. One can look at it this way – installing ramps and accessible bathrooms is no guarantee a wheelchair user will show up either.

Bear in mind that ADA does not cover the federal government or federal funding – that’s covered under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (almost twice as old as the ADA). This law does not pertain merely to the federal government itself… but also to federal financial assistance. Thus if an organization receives federal dollars, including Medicare or grants from a federal agency (such as the Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Justice or Department of Health and Human Services), then you have to make your programs and services accessible to persons with disabilities. If an employer receives a federal contract to build equipment for the federal government, then that employer has to provide reasonable accommodations – not just under ADA, but under Section 504. If a city government receives a federal grant to fund a program to provide services for its population…then it must comply with Section 504 in employment, public meetings and hearings, and program/service provision.

This includes the provision of auxiliary aids and services to assure effective communication.

But getting back to that “upon request” clause… it has been a real millstone around the Deaf Community’s necks, and the loophole that folks use to try and get out of having to provide interpreters. That one, and the whole “well, we can communicate effectively via writing notes” argument – where the employer, public entity, or public accommodation tries to argue that the client can understand just fine without a sign language interpreter… while said Deaf person sits there blankly, wondering what the heck is being said.

The truth is…neither 504 nor the ADA are effective laws for the Deaf Community. It’s one thing to build wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms which will always be there when you need them…whether you request such or not. It’s a whole different ballgame to have to contract to hire interpreters to assure effective communication.

That’s the problem – these laws were written as disability laws… not as language access laws. Deaf people don’t really see themselves as being disabled so much as being culturally different, including the utilization of a separate language. Deaf people have more in common with the foreigner from Vietnam who only speaks Hmong than with the wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy, or the war veteran with traumatic brain injury.

It’s not that we can’t be sympathetic to the issues of access faced by persons with disabilities…we can and we are. But our perspectives are different, and our needs are different.

And getting those needs met is not so simple.

Virginia L. Beach was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana and attended Harrison High School. After graduating from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Virginia began a life-long career as a Deaf client services specialist, program administrator, community educator, and advocate. Her philosophy is “yes…I’m different from you, but our differences don’t have to make any difference.” Virginia has recently relocated to the Louisville area, but still calls Southwestern Indiana home.

IS IT TRUE? SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

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City County Observer Mole
IS IT TRUE On August 7th, the Courier and Press reported that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission agreed to pay $1,108 dollars per month to rent an office for Arena Project manager John Kish? …..That this office was located in Innovation Pointe, leased from the Evansville Redevelopment Commission by GAGE? …. that the ERC is renting from itself in that transaction?….at the August 25th budget hearing Evansville City Councilmen, Dan McGinn asked Rose Young (Deputy Mayor) to have Mr. Kish at the next City Council meeting because he wanted to know why he needed an office since he did not need one for the previous year? …. Mr. McGinn also wanted to know the financial arrangements for the Administrative Assistant as well as the Media person? …. at this week’s City Council meeting Mr. Kish told Evansville City Council that the Evansville-Vanderburgh School System had agreed to provide him with FREE office space in a building they own located close to Innovation Pointe and that NO RENT will be paid. ….that Councilman McGinn also asked him for the contract between the Redevelopment Commission and a company called Cripe?

IS IT TRUE that the year-long nationwide search for Joe Wallace’s replacement as president of GAGE has ended? …. that the newly hired president has been living just across the money saving bridge in Henderson all along? …..that she has a background in engineering and business? ….that those are the qualifications for a person whose job is to refocus GAGE back to business support and away from hula hoop lessons and belly dancing?….. that the Chairman of GAGE is a high ranking official at Vectren? …..that the new president of GAGE has experience with economic development as it relates to utilities?…..That the new chairman and the new GAGE president should make a good team since they have similar work experiences?

IS IT TRUE that it has been suggested that PRINCE POPPYCOCK, from “America’s Got Talent” move to Evansville and run for an Evansville City Council Seat in 2011? …..that PRINCE POPPYCOCK ends Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody with “NOTHING REALLY MATTERS BUT MEEE”? …… that such a statement will make his move to run for Evansville City Council Seat seamless to the citizens of Evansville as they are already accustomed to PRINCE POPPYCOCK’S attitude? …that this youtube clip of Prince Poppycock will fit right in the City Council Chambers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhI3VTC-YUU

IS IT TRUE that we wonder what the final figure that GAGE lost putting on the 2009 Freedom Festival? …..we wonder if the real figure was $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 or even over $600,000? ….. GAGE’s Board of Directors should give thanks to County Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke, County Councilman Joe Kiefer, and County Commissioner Troy Tornatta for convincing the Vanderburgh County Council to continue GAGE’s funding of $150,000 for 2011?

IS IT TRUE we congratulate the GAGE Board of Directors for selecting someone that seemly has the background and experience to bring that organization back to its core mission of assisting business? ….we at the CCO have a wait and see attitude to see how she going to handle the GAGE-Barnett-Bond Bank salary deal, addressing the problems cited in the soon to be release audits by the Indiana State Board of Accounts and a local accounting firm and how she plans to repay the Vanderburgh County taxpayers back the $280,000 interest free and unsecured loan made to GAGE last year? ….we can’t stress any more that all eyes are on the newly appointed president of GAGE, Debbie Davis Dewey to see if she can salvage this politically and financially embattled organization?

IS IT TRUE we wonder why the Evansville School Board approved a resolution endorsing the proposed baseball field complex located on the Robert’s Stadium property? ….we think the school board has enough challenges selling our soon to be vacant school owned properties, overseeing a new capital construction project, and most of all teaching our students how to read, write and solve math problems?…..that this resolution didn’t change one person’s mind concerning this subject?

IS IT TRUE we congratulate Evansville Police detective, Mike Evans, Sgt. Lonnie Rahn and Officer Matt Hastings for their rescue efforts. ….that these 3 outstanding public servants rescue efforts were performed while off duty? ….the Evansville Police Merit Commission was correct in rewarding them with bronze medals for their actions?

IS IT TRUE we still wonder why The Knight Township Legislative Board (advisory board) reviewed and approved the annual financial report for 2009 without questions or objections? ….that this report stated that thousands of taxpayer’s dollars were being used to pay credit card charges? …..that at least one member of this board should have caught this problem from day one, since he was the Chief Deputy to the past Knight Township Trustee, Jim Price for 14 years? …we hope that individuals running against him will take him to task in the upcoming political forums?

Entertainment for the Whole Family! Farmers’ Market, Cruise‐In and Battle for Downtown

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Evans fests a division of GAGE

This weekend, Downtown Evansville will be full of things to do for the entire family! The festivities kick off Friday morning with the Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau Farmers’ Market from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Several local farmers and vendors will be selling produce, flowers and baked goods at the corner of 2nd and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Evansville. EvansFests thanks its Farmers’ Market sponsors Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau and Deaconess Hospital.

At 4:00 p.m. on Friday, classic cars will take‐over Main and surrounding streets as car enthusiasts from all over the Tri‐State flock to Downtown Evansville to check out the hot rods, muscle cars and custom masterpieces. This is the last Cruise‐In of the season, and EvansFests would like to thank D‐Patrick for sponsoring this treasured Downtown event!

After checking out the classic cars, it’s time for Downtown Evansville to party like a rock star! Thanks to the generous sponsorships of Old National Bank and TownSquare Media, EvansFests will present the first ever Battle for Downtown competition from 6 p.m. ‐ 10:30 p.m. Seven local bands, ranging from high school to college ages, will compete on an outdoor stage in Downtown Evansville for a cash prize, recording time, music gear and more; but the bands will need attendees’ votes to win! Prizes have been donated by The Guitar Lab, Moore Music and The Room Studio. Don’t miss this rockin’ concert featuring The Willows, Stereo Shoutout, For All It’s Worth, Submerged, Naked and The Stockholm Robot. Admission is only $5 and the doors open at 5:30 p.m. Battle for Downtown will be located at 4th and Main Streets!

Saturday morning, the Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau Farmers’ Market, located on the corner of 2nd and Sycamore Streets, will be back in action with a Market Fest full of entertainment for the entire family! In addition to the local farmers and vendors selling their items, various organizations will be in attendance. Purdue Extension plans to educate the public on compost and garden clean‐up, while the Vanderburgh County Humane Society and Caring Paws Shelter will bring out rescued animals. A musical performance by the University of Southern Indiana Jazz Band begins at 9 a.m., and the Boom Squad, Inc. will showcase their talents at 10:30 a.m. These events and much more will run from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., the market vendors open their booths at 7 a.m.

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