Who Gets What?

David Ryan, Executive Director of the Lake Shore Chamber of Commerce (Hammond and East Chicago), describes his work today, as well as his previous experiences in communities such as Kentland, Indiana. 

John Elliott, President and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, describes his work, and the concept of food insecurity, in great detail, revealing much new information to us. For example, grandparents raising grandchildren often find themselves food insecure.  School closings not only negatively affected food delivered inside schools.  It also reduced the number of general public food banks, and those which delivered pack lunches on weekends. Gleaners delivers more than 35 million meals a year, and growing.

Attorney Tom Cobb served as counsel for The Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and, later, as administrative law judge for The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Along the way he frustratingly considered what to do with used capacitors near Bloomington, and disagreements over new telephone area codes in the northwest quadrant of our state.  

For 36 years, our guest, Jim Plump, has served as leader of The Jackson County (Indiana) Industrial Development Corporation, based in Seymour. He has worked to attract companies to this area, to build required infrastructure, and to make his communities friendly both to new companies and to residents.   And this:  he believes that having served as a high school basketball official, he learned to make decisions, and to face criticism.

(With apologies for challenging sound) we had fine conversation with Tim Eckerle, executive director of The Grant County Economic Growth Council (Marion, Indiana) for more than 35 years. The nature of work, expectations and incentives for young people, status of restaurants during the pandemic, and the challenge of interacting by Zoom, all were part of this edition.  (Zoom requires more work than in-person encounters.)  And this question:  is Indiana rooted too much in the past?

Garrett Hedeen is supervisor of The Bloomington, Indiana, emergency services system, having previously worked as a paramedic in Indianapolis for more than 17 years.   Garrett describes issue, protocols and budgeting for emergency services.   In the middle, Julia Ricci recommends a movie appropriate to our conversation.   

With a movie recommendation about 1950s sensational journalism, this conversation with Ed Breen is about the state of journalism today.  Ed is a member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, most recently having served as editor of The Chronicle-Tribune of Marion, Indiana.  His "retirement" involves production of a radio show in Marion featuring commentary and history.  (Ed was a board member of The Indiana Historical Society.)    

This conversation is for serious students of public finance.  Michael Griffin, Clerk Treasurer of Highland, Indiana, explains tax caps, financial reserves, bonds, pensions, how The Subaru Plan was financed, and, importantly, shared ethics among units of government. A movie review is included:   Harold and Lillian, A Hollywood Love Story.

During the world's largest known shut down/quarantine, what rights do we lay aside?  Jane Henegar, Executive Director of The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, provides answers with respect to all Americans, but especially to incarcerated persons, persons seeking abortions, and those held only for non payment of bail and fees.  This podcast includes a movie recommendation:  Be Natural:  The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache'  

Dr. Stephen Jay, a founder of the I.U. Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, answers the question:  What is public health?   Do autocrats utilize public health to win elections? Do domestic violence, suicide by guns, coughing in church, or arthritis, constitute public health problems?  Do they infect like a virus. Answers are here. A movie suggestion appears at the end.  

Julia Ricci is senior programmer of The Heartland International Film Festival, processing more than 4,000 submissions each year, with the help of over 100 volunteer screeners. She also loves films, starting before age 8, when even Disney films seemed scary, but "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Sound of Music" were wonderful.  She headed towards the professional side by helping to produce award winning films at Ball State University. Look for her at www.cinemacrossroads.wordpress.com.  

Who is right:  Seneca, Ken Jennings, Newton, Guy, Marcus, or Brand? Just a little philosophy here about random events, plus a few practical points about starting a new business.

Indiana's Knobstone Trail starts near Salem, Indiana, and moves northeast to Martinsville, about 160 miles.  The southern portion is rugged, largely for back packers.  More northern portions are suitable for day walkers. We learn this from Randy Pflueger, who learned to enjoy the trail while hiking with his Boy Scout son.  

A stimulating conversation (at least to them) between John and Morton, about the future, the stock market, success and luck, Ken Jennings, and school corporations.

The expansion north, followed by emphasis on downtown, and subsequent developments, are the subjects of this interview with James Lingenfelter whose professional objective is to improve Indianapolis.  

Gina Leckron, State Director for Habitat for Humanity in Indiana, explains owner commitments ("sweat equity"), her love of construction, and how Habitat builds almost 275 homes a year, some for disaster recovery, using resources of almost 75,000 volunteers.

An animation studio exists in Indianapolis.  (John and Morton did not believe it.) Tropical Squirrels Productions is managed by Producer/Animator Jarrod Moschner.  It produces motion graphics, kinetic text, cartoons and presentations, with this business philosophy: "Plan Hard; Work Smart; Play Often."

Details about the 2020 census in Indiana and requirements to respond.

Dee Thornton, running for Congress in Indiana's Fifth District, speaks charmingly about her life and goals.  Having run in 2018, and having garnered more votes than any previous Democrat candidate, she is experienced, optimistic and seriously committed to both listening and to understanding.  

Former Peace Corps Volunteer Gabriella Guy (Costa Rica) describes how skills learned apply to her role as a social worker in elementary schools. (Yes.  She is a granddaughter.)