YWCA Seeking Nominations for its “100 Years, 100 Women” Honors

(Evansville, IN) The YWCA of Evansville today announced that it is seeking nominations from the
community for its 100 Years, 100 Women honors.

The YWCA of Evansville was founded on March 3, 1911. Next spring the YWCA will celebrate 100 years
of service to women and children in the Evansville community. To commemorate this historic
milestone, the YWCA will honor 100 women who, over the past 100 years, have made significant
contributions to the community in the areas of Women’s Empowerment, Social/Racial Justice, Arts,
Education, Business/Professions, Philanthropy/Volunteerism, Education, and Government/Public Service.
This special recognition will be the cornerstone of the YWCA’s annual Tribute to Achievement dinner in
2011. The YWCA invites the community to nominate a woman whose contributions to the community
have made a lasting impact in her field.

“There are so many incredible women whose hard work, passion, and generosity have created and
supported institutions, reforms and social services that have molded Evansville into the great city that it
is today,” says Erika Taylor, CEO of the YWCA.

Forms are available at www.ywcaevansville.org and at the YWCA. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 100 Years, 100 Women honors is February 1, 2011. Posthumous nominations are welcomed.

To inaugurate its centennial celebration, the YWCA is also inviting 100 women to join the Women
Empowering Women giving level by contributing $100 towards the YWCA’s mission of eliminating
racism and empowering women.

Attorney Gayle Gerling Pettinga was so inspired by Women Empowering Women that she offered to
match the first 100 women who donate $100 by January 31, 2011. These gifts combined with Gayle
Gerling Pettinga’s match will help the YWCA continue to empower women for another 100 years.
“When I heard about the YWCA’s novel fundraising challenge to celebrate its 100 year anniversary, I
knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it. 100 women each giving $100 to celebrate 100 years of
women empowering women is more than fundraising, it is symbolic of what the YWCA stands for – a
solid block of women giving the gift of opportunity to other women, ” says Gayle Gerling Pettinga.
Donations may be sent payable to the YWCA at 118 Vine St., Evansville, IN 47708.

The YWCA is also looking for YWCA photos, memorabilia and stories from the past 100 years. Those
who wish to share a special story about the impact the YWCA has made in their lives or the lives of
others may send their stories to 118 Vine St., Evansville, IN 47708 or via email to
etaylor@ywcaevansville.org.

The YWCA is planning several events to celebrate its 100th Birthday and is proud to announce that Old
National Bank will be its lead centennial sponsor.

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice,
freedom and dignity for all. The YWCA has been serving the Evansville area since 1911 and from its
inception has provided housing and services for women and girls. The Evansville YWCA is a member of
the YWCA of the U.S.A., the oldest and largest women’s membership movement in the country.
Over the years, YWCA programs have changed to meet the evolving needs of women and girls. In
1979, the YWCA opened the first domestic violence shelter in Evansville. Other current programs
include a Transition Housing Program for women in recovery, Emergency Shelter for homeless women
and children, an after‐school and mentoring program, called Live Y’ers, for at‐risk girls in grades three
through 12, Summer Fun day camp for school‐aged children, a Food Pantry station, and a warm water
swim program for those coping with arthritis and other physical difficulties. Special programs and
events for the general public are also offered. Visit www.ywcaevansville.org for more information

Stark Differences in City and County Exposed along with the Myth that Evansville is Keeping Pace with Other Places

The census data is out an we found a wonderful interactive map that is on the New York Times website. To access Evansville information first type an Evansville zip code in the box provided then click on the word “go”. After that you can resize the map to suit your own purposes by adjusting the scroll bar to the right of the zip code input box. You can then click on the “view more maps” pull down and study economic, educational, housing and race data as much as you like.

This is quite captivating but also terrifying from a perspective of the educational and economic condition of in particular the City of Evansville. Of the over 30 census tracts in the City of Evansville only 5 saw income gains from 2000 to 2009 and those were in very low income areas. One census tract registers ZERO for college graduates and ten others have less than 10% college graduates living in them. The housing data is typically flat over the 10 year period with the exception of tract 17 where the new Evansville Arena is that saw a 22% drop in values and the historic district that has seen much reclamation work that enjoyed a 38% increase.

The most sobering statistic that jumps out after looking over all of the maps is the stark differences between the state of the City of Evansville as compared to the state unincorporated Vanderburgh County. The County has sharply higher incomes, housing values, and levels of education. The County added a couple of thousand people while the City of Evansville continued to experience declines in population in spite of a couple of annexations.

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer?hp?hp

IS IT TRUE that the City of Louisville held a planning session in 1997 to set goals for the first decade of the new millennium?….that there was a written goal for the University of Louisville to increase the graduation rate?….that the graduation rate increased from 32% to 49% during that time?…that there was a written goal to increase the Research Funding at UL?…that the goal was exceeded?….that there was a written goal to raise the high school graduation rate to national levels?…that the goal was achieved?…that the written goal of expanding the job base in the healthcare and logistics fields was achieved?

IS IT TRUE that Louisville did not meet all of its goals?…that the written goal that called for 10% population growth in 10 years was not achieved?…that the written goal of raising the percentage of college graduates in the general population to national averages was not achieved?…that raising the average wage to a level that exceeds the national average by 10% was not achieved?….that it has been cited that Louisville’s failure to expand the number of college educated workers as it planned to do is the biggest impediment to achieving the last decades goals?….that the gap in educated professionals with respect to peer cities is seen as the biggest hurdle faced by Louisville in the coming decade.

IS IT TRUE that the City of Louisville spent the money and took the time to develop goals for the decade?….that only by setting goals and using continuous feedback can progress be planned and measured?….that Evansville should be taking the opportunity of the new decade to do some real, measurable, and transformational planning and goal setting?….that the Downtown Evansville Master Plan still includes a baseball stadium where The District now stands?…that there has been no continuous feed back with respect to that plan?….that many things have happened downtown with some in the plan and some not?….that a downtown plan neglects the 98% of the population that does not live downtown?….that there are no publicized goals to achieve for the entire City of Evansville for the next decade?…that if there ever was a plan for the decade ending now, that it was not given a second thought and is gathering dust on a shelf somewhere?

IS IT TRUE that data from the new census is just becoming available?….that the 2010 census will show that the City of Evansville has once again lost people with a population drop of about 4%?….that educational attainment has seen little change in the last 10 years?….that the median earnings adjusted for inflation have decreased slightly?….that the poverty rate has increased by 20%?…that a male with a professional degree in Evansville earns 22% more than a female with a professional degree?…that when all wage earners are considered males over 25 with earnings are paid 42% more than females in Evansville?….that Evansville should follow Louisville’s example of setting goals that lead to proactive actions to increase our population, increase our earnings, attract or retain more educated professionals, establish some venture capital fund, and reward our female wage earners as we do our male ones?…that having a 42% gap between the average earnings of males and females just seems wrong?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,313 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,168 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that there are now 697 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE that this is a link to Louisville’s report card on its goals?
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101213/BUSINESS/312130013/-1/extras10/Louisville+area+lost+24+600+jobs+from+2000-2009+as+plans+for+prosperity+falter

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer will look further into what Evansville’s performance has been relative to the nation?….that we will be soliciting goals for Evansville for the next decade?

Goal Setting Exercise Leads to Measurable Accomplishment

The United States has set a goal of acquiring twenty percent of energy needs from wind power by the year 2030. More intensive aims have the United States obtaining twenty percent of the Eastern grid (or nearly half the country) energy by the year 2024. Whether or not the country as a whole will meet these goals is yet unknown, however, the State of Texas has already exceeded their energy targets.
The State of Texas aimed to have 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2009. By 2015 the state intended to have 5,000 megawatts of energy from renewable sources. Finally, by the year 2025, Texas aimed to have 10,000 megawatts of energy from renewable sources. The state has managed to exceed each and every goal early.

The original goal of 2,000 megawatts for the year 2009 was actually met by the year 2006. The 2025 goal was reached in 2010, fifteen years earlier than aimed for. Today, Texas has more than 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. The majority of this energy capacity has been met through wind power which will enable the country as a whole to meet their target by 2030 if growth continues.

Overall, wind power contributed 9,915 megawatts of energy as of 2009. Other renewable sources also contributed, including hydropower which added 33 megawatts of energy. Biomass sources also contributed, including 80 megawatts from landfill gas projects and 40 megawatts from assorted other projects. Solar power contributed the least with only 1 megawatt of energy coming from solar facilities.

The renewable sector in Texas continues to expand and will be a pivotal player in the nation’s renewable energy progress.

IS IT TRUE that David Dunn reported to the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau yesterday that $306,000 has been spent on the Roberts Stadium Ballfield complex?…that when the City County Observer visited the offices of the ECVB in August to examine the minutes of the board of directors meetings that we found that “through October of 2010, a total of $1.6 Million has been authorized to be spent on The Park and $765,000 has been either spent or committed”? ….that we are quite curious as to which number is actually correct?….that we are curious to find out the answer on how much was really spent on the Roberts Stadium Ballfields project before it was repudiated by the public?….we also wonder how much of the work that was done may have value when other locations are considered?

IS IT TRUE that Senator Evan Bayh’s announcement that he is not running for Governor of Indiana has really gotten the chattering class of Indiana into speculation mode?…that the names of Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and Evansville resident Congressman Brad Ellsworth are some of the first names to roll off of the lips of the talking heads statewide?….that these statewide prognosticators need to do a little research into the archives of the Evansville media before anointing Mayor Weinzapfel as the Democratic nominee for Governor of Indiana in waiting?…that a simple search of the terms “Homestead Tax Credit”, “McCurdy”, “Executive Inn Dilemma”, and “Gage+Barnett” may just turn their affections and attention to Congressman Ellsworth or some other worthy candidate?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville has never before been the home of the top two mentioned candidates for either party’s nomination for Governor of Indiana?…that the last Governor of Indiana from the Evansville area was Robert Orr who left office in 1989 after two terms and handed the keys to the office over to Senator Evan Bayh?….that out of 49 Governors of Indiana that Governor Robert Orr is the only Governor of Indiana since 1873 to have called Evansville home?…that it is about time we had another Governor from Southwest Indiana?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,312 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,167 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that there are now 698 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

A Report on the December Monthly Meeting

By Don Counts

The Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit agency that works on projects they believe will benefit Evansville, as well as to help support other non-profit agencies in the area.
The bureau voted to help support the Soccer Clubs in the amount of $5,000.00. The City has an investment of 1.5 to 1.6 Million for Soccer.

The Tennis group didn’t have anything else to report and again thanked the bureau for their support.
Joe Vezzoso recognized and acknowledged Marsha Abell, welcoming her back into the political area as a new County Commissioner.

New business concerned Visa Card with points on it and if they should be donated to other non-profit organizations. Joe Vezzoso stated that the Bureau is a non-profit and that he felt the money should be used for the Bureau’s travel and other expenses. The members agreed.
Joe Vezzoso was asked about other possible baseball field development in Evansville and/or Vanderburgh County. He said that they are looking at several areas, but can’t say where they are at this time. He said some of the money spent could be salvaged once another site is selected concerning design and other costs previously spent. He said nothing will be done until after the first of the year.

Dave Dunn said they have spent about $306,000 on the Roberts Stadium Baseball Field complex. This includes the latest bills that they have received. He estimates there could be about $50,000.00 plus or minus in outstanding bills. He too agreed that some of the money will be saved at a new site because the basic design would not change and may not have to do an environmental study at another site, like they did at Roberts. Dunn said they are presently looking at four areas, but cannot release the locations, because they are privately held and negotiations have not begun. The locations will need to be 75 acres or more. Dunn said that he felt that the bureau had overcome all the objections of the neighbors to have the complex at the Roberts Stadium area.

The City-County Observer will continue to follow the developments of this story.

The Louisville Courier Journal is reporting that the $238 Million Yum Center, Louisville’s Downtown Arena is expecting to make a profit in its first full year of operation. Included in the projection is a $6.5 Million payment from the City of Louisville to apply toward the debt on the bonds issued to finance the construction of Yum Center.

The Yum Center also includes sponsorships of nearly $5 Million per year lead by Yum Brands that signed a 10 year naming agreement for $1.3 Million per year. Yum Center is the home of the Louisville Cardinals basketball team that sells out all of its home games and the Lady Cardinals who have leveraged their 2009 national runner up status to average over 11,000 people per game. The Lady Cardinals recently sold out the 22,000 seat Yum Center for a game with arch rival Kentucky.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2010312130063

IS IT TRUE that Downtown Evansville’s image, its economic development potential, and safety would improve if the sidewalks were cleaned off when it snows?…that City of Evansville officials must be intentionally trying to ruin the image of Downtown Evansville due to their lack of simple attention to sidewalk maintenance?…that downtown Evansville has no sidewalk maintenance program at all?…that if someone falls and hurts themselves on the ice that the City of Evansville will be sued?…that no one ignorant enough to let ice stay on sidewalks should be allowed to hold public office?…that complaints have been registered for three years now and nothing has happened?…that the head of DMD is on record as saying “it’s not the city’s job” to do that?…that this kind of failure on the part of leadership is why Evansville does not ever seem to move forward?…that any government entity that can afford to build a $128 Million stadium yet cries “POOR” when it comes to picking up paper or shoveling ice and snow has no business holding the purse strings to anything?

The CCO asked the following question to State Representative Gail Riecken about her election stance on the Vectren rate increases. “The issue of Vectren and the request for an increase in the electric rate was one of your issues in this past election. Do you feel the Vectren rate increase proposal is still an issue?”

Following is her response:

Yes. The issue is the rate increase but the issue presents more challenges to us as ratepayers. Yes, it is how the increase affects homeowners and how the increase affects economic development, business and industry. I continue to advocate for those who contact me getting answers to their concerns about their Vectren bills. But, this rate increase is also a red flag where we, as citizens, had better get more involved.

So much of this process is complicated and we need to be sure professionals on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are committed to being accountable to the public. That is why I have two bills I will propose for legislative approval in the 2011 session.

One bill provides for transparency in the selection process of appointees to the Indiana utility regulatory commission to the extent of legislative authority. The bill calls for the Indiana Regulatory Commission to hold public hearings on nominees proposed by the governor. I wish the legislature could approve nominees of the governor but that is beyond legislative authority by State constitution.

The other bill removes the one year waiver option. In other words, the employee that went from the Indiana utility regulatory commission straight to the energy company regulated by the commission would have to wait a year – no waiver.

As legislators , we are going to be challenged by many critical issues this year. None can be more important that making sure the cost of living and running a business in southwestern Indiana remain competitive. I call on other legislators to join me and co-author these important bills and local chambers and economic development organizations to support our efforts.