56572 at a fork in the road

Some days ago I left a message on this page for Doug Brown, working for the United Nations in Sudan, to call home. He did. His final sentence seemed to have relevance to 56572 today.

"Yes, I did see the mention of my name in the 56572 blog. I will get around to a response next week, and send some photos.I am in Khartoum right now, but returning to El Fashir tomorrow. Big changes are in store for us as the project is expanding froma focus just on the Darfur region to coverage of the entire country. Unforunately there will be no increase in human resources, so that means a very different role for those of us who are here now--lots more travel in my future, I would suspect. Well, life is change; stasis is death!"

There is a new business waiting in the wings in 56572, one we need, one that will involve considerable investment. The investors are waiting to pour cement. What they are waiting for is today's vote and verdict on the future of 56572. My first guess was that if the bond issues passes they will shelve plans due to the increase in real estate taxes. This sounds like what the Concerned Taxpayers Group is saying. I was wrong. If the vote is negative they will shelve the project. 56572 will be going nowhere fast, without them. Ponder that as you stand in the polling booth.

No pain is no gain.
Life is change, stasis is death.

Once again, tell me, where is the joy in a no vote? You haven't answered that yet to my satisfaction.

Assistant Principal vacancy at PRHS
This needs to be reported before the vote this afternoon. Assistant Principal and Activities Director Becky Woessner will start a new position as Dean of Lakeville North High School on July 1st. She has been in her alma mater the past two years. I wish Becky the best of luck with her new challenge in Lakeville.

I was so impressed with the ISD194 website. It is all a school website should be. You can even translate the entire page into other languages with one click! Could we get their webmaster to help us with our's Becky?

Anybody out there want to work in a multi-cultural high school in a multi-cultural town with great staff and students? Line up. Website is http://www.pelicanrapids.k12.mn.us/Default.html

In the air right now: Destination 56572
As I write this three people are sitting on an airplane looking out at their new homeland below. Their final destination is 56572. They will arrive in Fargo this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. For the first time in about four years Pelican Rapids will receive refugees off the plane. Federal financial assistance for refugees is given almost exclusively for new arrivals. No state tax dollars go towards refugees (Concerned Taxpayers). Our new neighbors are coming from the Ukraine to join family members here and start over.
Welcome to America.
Welcome to Minnesota.
Welcome to 56572.
No, it does not always snow here in May.
Yes, the sun will shine again in a few days.
No, we don't always look this grumpy, it's the weather and the fact that today we are practicing democracy and democracy is hard work.

Perhaps Jeff could take some photos of their arrival for me to post here??

POTD (word/phrase of the day)
I found out yesterday that the local who wrote this to me is in Hawaii this week, so this phrase can be blogged as he/she won't see it.

"escalate the issue"

I am a thorn in the side of many. I have been called many things: loose cannon - boat rocker - finger pointer. When businesses I deal with, especially large corporations, do not meet my expectations I sometimes let them know about it. I had an issue with a local company which is part of a larger corporation. The locals took care of my problem. Then the corps sent me a followup letter, not knowing/caring how it would make me feel. I vented to the locals who said I raised a valid point and promised to "escalate the issue." First time I had ever heard that Corpspeak. Think of ways to promulgate this phrase. What is the antonym?



About a dozen years ago I lived in Senegal, a Muslim country at the point of West Africa, for a month. One night a Marabout came to town. Great excitement, throngs of people following him. What's the deal I asked. Marabout so and so is here. And? He takes money from people, who are only too willing to give it. Why? He escalates their issues to Allah. Now I know.