You may have seen that The Ledger reported today, on a potential veto for the USF School of Pharmacy.  It is scary that the Governor chooses a fully vetted state priority to try to make an example of.

Obviously as an employee of USF Polytechnic, this matter is close to my heart. Though you can read my letter to the Governor below as to how else I view his fork in the road.

I would like to ask each of you reading to join with me in asking the Governor to support the budget for construction and operation of USF Polytechnic, including the USF School of Pharmacy. USFP wants to make sure your voice is heard. I am attaching a template you can use to ensure it is addressed correctly and includes the important points of support for USF Polytechnic.

Dear Governor Crist,

My name is Aaron J. Bates. I am resident and registered voter in Lakeland, Florida, as well as a

husband,father of 3, serial optimist and entrepreneur. Also, I am an alum, current employee and future grad student of the University of South Florida Polytechnic campus. At USFP, I am the Business Development Manager for the Blue Sky Business Incubation program. The Blue Sky program is eminently becoming the heart of USFP because it embodies the applied learning tenants that are critical to the polytechnic model.

With the signing of the bill in 2008, you created USFP as Florida’s first and only public polytechnic university, you successful ignited the opportunity for the greatest economic development project our region has seen in a generation. What you have set in motion has developed into a unique model of economic development and education; and so it is with great conviction that I ask you to fully support the legislative budget allocations, for operations and construction of the new buildings, for the University of South Florida Polytechnic campus and the USF School of Pharmacy.

As a fourth generation Polk County Citizen, I understand the opportunities and threats for the children who have grown up here. For many, they are unable to see past the lure of simple high school graduation and do

not even consider going to college. We must raise the bar of expectation, so they can raise their own bar of motivation. This regional priority will literal change the game for our communities and enable us to be a great example of the “New Florida” agenda. This new campus will allow our region to prepare itself for its piece of the state puzzle so that our citizens can compete in the global economy.

My mother, whom I deeply respect, often says, “Without consequence there is no action!” Whether good or bad, there are always consequences. I hope you truly consider all consequences surrounding this vetted priority and ask  you to ensure the prosperity of my children’s and their children’s generations, by signing the budgeted items of USF Polytechnic and the USF School of Pharmacy.

Thank you for your time and genuine consideration. I hope that we can count on you. Good luck, may God bless you and GO BULLS!

Most sincerely,

Aaron J. Bates

Husband, Father, Entrepreneur

USFP Alum, Staff and Prospective Grad Student

Special thanks to the following organizations for supporting USFP in this endeavor:

Lakeland Chamber

Freedom Development Group

Email me and I’ll post you or your company too.

James Louis Howell, 87, loving husband and father, decorated war veteran of the United States Army, and ordained preacher, went to be with the Lord on April 29 due to heart failure.

His family will receive friends on Saturday, May 2 at the Lakeland Funeral Home with an 11 a.m. visitation, followed by an interment at the Oak Hill Burial Park.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, on May 16, 1921, Rev. Howell moved to Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 3. In 10th grade a bright young James had to leave school, and a potential college scholarship, in order to care for his ailing mother.

Rev. Howell proudly served in the 89th signal Company of the US. Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He was one of the first troops to tour the concentration camps in Germany after they were liberated. He said that he would never forget the atrocities that he saw there. The photographs and experiences he obtained there stayed with him for a lifetime and deeply affected his faith. Among his many memories of the war was a rare visit to the private estate of Adolf Hitler, after the dictator’s death, where he viewed the many countries Hitler could see from a picture window of the home and had vowed one day to conquer. Rev. Howell’s war medals include the Victory Metal and the Bronze Star. It was during his time in the service that he first felt the call to go into the ministry.

Upon returning from the war, he married his lovely wife, Madge, a resident of Maud, Texas; on his birthday in 1948. He then settled into the position of Postmaster in Eaton Park, Florida. He held the position for 38 years. During that time he began courses through the Baptist Bible Institute. The couple had five children and celebrated nearly 61 years together.

In January, 1958, Rev. Howell was ordained a Baptist minister, serving mainly as an interim minister for 50 years, including positions at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Polk City and Dixieland Baptist Church in Lakeland. Highlights of serving the Lord in this capacity include a missionary trip to India where he traveled from village to village preaching the word of the Lord and baptized 125 people. He also had the opportunity to twice open sessions of the Florida Senate in prayer.

Horticulture was a big part of Rev. Howell’s life and became a lifelong hobby.

Rev. Howell was preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Francis Howell, his brother, Robert C Howell and his daughter-in-law, Kathy Howell. He is survived by his wife, Madge Howell of Lakeland, his children James Louis Howell (Cindy), Robert B. Howell, William David Howell, Cynthia Bates (Virgil), and Deborah K. Howell, all of Lakeland; his sister, Mary Black of Lakeland; his brother Frank Howell of Auburndale; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to: First Baptist Church School, #1251 Fector -44B, Chan-digarh, India 160047.

I also had the privaledge of being interviewed by Melissa Sogegian, discussing the use of Twitter. You can see the piece that ran here: Agencies Twitter.

Hope you like the pieces. Spread the word about social media. Until next time.

( ASIDE )

I use a Google Apps account, which lets you use your own domain for things like Gmail, G Calendar, G Docs. I started doing it, well, because I am a nerd, though I have come to realize what kind of power that Google can bring to a small business. It would allow a small business to have free web based email, calendar and online document sharing without the hassle and overhead of an Exchange Server.  

(End ASIDE)

Recently on the Google Blog, they posted Power to the People. In it the say:

Google’s mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” and we believe consumers have a right to detailed information about their home electricity use.

They also introduce  Google PowerMeter, which will enable real time information of home energy usage. They quote a statistic that:

studies show that access to home energy information results in savings between 5-15% on monthly electricity bills.

I know that my family would really appreciate the use of such a device and the information, to enable us to better use the resources we have, as would many other families and small businesses, who are struggling with the current economic environment. 

With that in mind I would ask that our local electric company stay informed about this great new innovation from Google, and even potentially work on testing it for them. I believe that it would be a a great move for a company (Yes it is a company, owned by the the residents of Lakeland), who has had issues in the past. (*Cough* Satellite Dishes *Cough*)

Check it out my quick photos and enjoy. Special thanks to Bruce Todd, for his quick pose for the camera.

    

The 2nd reason was because of a couple of colleagues gave me a journal that they had designed that really spoke to me. It wasn’t complicated but a simple idea that you can get at least one great idea out of 150 ideas. So the journal came with 150 pages to jot ideas down in. This blog is #2. Thanks Rex & Michelle. I am going to ask there permission to post the actual copy, but i wanted to give them a heads up first. So look for it, and i will have pics too.

I hope to post about a variety of issues, concerns, and a variety of other awesomeness. All the way from Lakeland, FL. I hope to engage the local community about the way I see my community and how I plan to ‘Keep Moving Forward’.

I hope that I will begin to organize the many crazy thoughts that run through my brain and I ask we try to take this journey together. Much love to my wife, who will probably be the only one to read this.  Love to you all.