Archive for July, 2010
Revitalizing Rural Communities via Brain Gain
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
[This is the third in a series of blogs on how to reverse rural brain drain referencing the book, Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America, by Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas.]
The first blog shared the rising education gap being created as the Achievers leave and few High Flyers return. The educational attainment gap has almost tripled over the last 40 years. This is a rural America threat, not just southwest Indiana.
The last blog discussed the types of young people: Achievers (top students who leave upon graduation for college, are encouraged by their teachers and others to explore careers elsewhere, and they do), Stayers (typically don’t attend college; take on factory and other jobs in the community), Seekers (want to leave for the excitement elsewhere; often join the military), Boomerangs (leave initially, but return relatively soon as college or job away doesn’t work out or family brings them back), and High Flyers (Achievers who choose to make their careers in our small towns).
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Young Iraqi Leaders Visit Dubois and Spencer Counties
Monday, July 26th, 2010
It was my pleasure Saturday to host in our home 23 young Iraqi college students visiting USI on a four week leadership exchange trip. These impressive young adults are pharmacy, medicine, engineering and dentistry majors. Each has a story to tell about the hardships they and their families’ endured during the Saddam and war years. On the outside, they looked like typical college students in jeans and t-shirts. However, in conversation you could see how much more mature they are.
Their weekend in Dubois and Spencer County included the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial, St. Meinrad Archabbey, Holiday World and Ferdinand. We hosted a family-style barbeque demonstrating how families and friends “cook out”: burgers and chicken on the grill, corn on the cob, baked beans, watermelon, and other favorites. We conducted an informal “town hall” meeting in our basement with Ferdinand town leaders, Marc Steczyk and Ken Sicard, president of the Tri-County YMCA, Tonya Brothers-Bridge, and editor of the Ferdinand News, Kathy Tretter. A primary focus of these students is community health, so the visit to Ferdinand included a tour of the Tri-County YMCA, a tremendous community asset to Dubois, Spencer and Perry counties. (more…)
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Letter to the Editor(s)
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
[The following letter was sent to the Editors of local newspapers.]
To the Editor,
Advanced educational opportunities are paramount to growing southwest Indiana. A thriving economy must be undergirded with high skill, high intellect jobs: advanced manufacturing, medical, engineering, and research.
Less than 20% of residents in District 74 have a bachelor’s degree. Research shows that individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, $1 million more in their lifetime than a high school graduate. Not to suggest that everyone needs a college degree, but the more highly educated our citizens, the closer we will be to achieving the thriving economy and vibrant communities we seek. Companies grow in and are attracted to places with a talented workforce. (more…)
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Why Young People Leave Rural Communities
Friday, July 16th, 2010
[This is the second in a series of blogs on how to reverse rural brain drain referencing the book, Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America, by Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas.]
The flight of young people from rural America is not new; it is, however, more pronounced as we no longer have the large families of a predominantly farm economy of the past. We have always encouraged the best and brightest to go out into the world and “make us proud”. However, this very behavior is quietly killing our hometowns.
Carr and Kefalas classified young people into groups. Interestingly, teachers and administrators know by junior high which students will be the Achievers, based on standardized test scores and classroom achievement. Achievers are sometimes treated preferentially in their rural schools as teachers and counselors encourage them more and, sometimes, even cut them breaks. Teachers, parents and community leaders encourage Achievers to pursue a challenging field at a research university, move far away, and make a difference with no expectation of them returning home. And, with this set of expectations under their belt, they never do return home. Our rural communities and families willing give away our best and brightest. We think it is our duty to the young person and our country. Consider this: as taxpayers we have invested nearly $150,000 in the education of the young person who graduates from IU or Purdue which, when they move away, nets no return to the community that raised them. Yet, one Achiever staying could boost the local economy by over $1M in their lifetime. (more…)
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Young Republicans for Sue Ellspermann Victorious
Friday, July 16th, 2010
YR4SE Hog Wrestling Team wins with a time of 7.6 seconds!
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Reversing Rural Brain Drain
Sunday, July 11th, 2010
The recently published book, Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America, is the result of research by Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas who studied the flight of young adults from rural communities and offered some remedies already being considered by other states and new options as well. This is the first in a series of blogs describing first the significant challenge we have and how we got there, followed by a review of some of the 18 ideas discussed in the book. I highly recommend this read for all state and local leaders and educators as we are both the problem and the solution to the problem. (more…)
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Host a House Party for Sue!
Sunday, July 11th, 2010
Sue would like to meet you, your friends and your neighbors… and you can help her. Invite Sue into your community; invite her into your neighborhood; invite her into your home.
By hosting a small house party one evening, you allow your friends and neighbors the opportunity to meet Sue in a casual one-on-one setting. Invite Sue to a card party. Invite Sue to your book club. The choice is up to you. House parties are easy and we can help.
For more information, please contact Martha at Martha@SueEllspermann.com.
If you are interested in hosting, please click here.
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July 4th Victory!
Monday, July 5th, 2010
The Dubois County Bombers beat the Terre Haute Rex with a late inning rally Sunday night followed by a breathtaking fireworks display at the famous “League of Their Own” Huntingburg Stadium. Our campaign sponsored the game and it was my pleasure to throw out the opening pitch. And, yes, the pitch did make it into the catcher’s mitt – much to my relief. It’s tough being married to a former baseball player and coach.
The evening was picture perfect all-American baseball. Boomer, the Bomber’s mascot, entertained the crowd including tossing Sue blue-shirts into the crowd. Music, rally cheers, water balloon tosses for the kids and much more made the entire experience family friendly and the perfect July 4th activity. (more…)
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A Celebration of Freedom
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Our country’s founders fought hard and carefully debated what the structure of our fledgling country would be to provide civil society balanced with the freedoms so many were denied in their native country. The decision on July 2, 1776 to seek independence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence just two days later on July 4 placed the United States on an unchartered path as a nation founded on unalienable rights endowed by our Creator and a government of the people.
As we celebrate Independence Day, let us also recognize the need to remain vigilant to our forefathers’ efforts. In November we will elect a new state Legislature and Congress; let’s elect men and women who will uphold our constitutional rights and establish effective governance to enable Americans to be emboldened by these freedoms and to achieve all that we can, individually and collectively. (more…)
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