You can see I'm trying to raise my phone up to include all the
runners in the background of this selfie. The guy I'm with is the reason I was
at this Saturday morning run...and one of the reasons I am
alive today. This man, Dr. Kirk Ludwig, is my surgeon, who had the
challenge of cutting the cancer out of my guts 6 years ago. I know its
sounds gross; that's why I don't miss an opportunity to sing this man's
praises. So when he asked me to support the well-named “Get Your Rear in Gear
5K,” a run/walk to support colon cancer research, of course I said
"yes".
We
then drove to Operation Dream, which the state is supporting with a grant to
help young men from the inner city learn financial management and
entrepreneurship. From there we hit Precision Plus to celebrate National
Manufacturing Day – they are aptly named because I’m actually holding a mortar
pin in my fingers in this picture...it looked like it belonged in a doll
house!
Since
the Governor was on the road, I ran the Cabinet meeting that morning. From
there I led a discussion with German ministers and parliamentarians who are
visiting Wisconsin to see a battleground state in action a few weeks before a
national election. Thanks to my friend, former Congressman Tom Petri for
showing our distinguished guests signature Wisconsin hospitality! From
there I headed to Germantown to help Graphics System Corp. (GSC) move in to
20,000 feet of new space. They grew their staff by 27% last year and
their CEO is hoping that Wisconsin will continue as a business friendly state
so they can keep up the momentum and fill their new space with new people
serving new customers.
Tuesday started in Hartford talking exports
with small and medium-sized companies; you know how strongly I believe in
diversifying our customer base to keep our economy on a firm footing whatever
the global trends. From there we headed to Kessler’s Diamond Center in
Germantown (I can't stay away!) to celebrate Employee Ownership Month
– when employees own a company,
they will never vote to ship their own jobs overseas! Employee owners are
also quite astute managers, well-informed workers and form great collaborative
leadership teams. I think ESOPS (Employee Stock Option Plans) are super
contributors to the stability of Wisconsin's economy. Next-- on to
Appleton to discuss growing our state’s financial services industry, then
Manitowoc for the ground breaking on the new Wisconsin Agriculture Education
Center. When finished, the WAEC will be great for educating our next
generation of Wisconsinites about the farm-to-table movement in food production
and a major ag-tourism attraction.
I
answered questions and listened to suggestions at a roundtable with the
Manufacturing Diversity Institute, which is made up of manufacturers of diverse
ethnic descent. You know my passion for manufacturing, which represents
about 19% of our Gross State Product, and these employers are building wealth
in neighborhoods and communities that need long-term prosperity.
I
also was preparing to send a letter to our UN Ambassador. As the Chairman of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association,
you'll remember I led a group of Lt Govs to Israel earlier this year. UNESCO,
the United Nations' "heritage and history" arm, had a resolution that
essentially declared that Jerusalem was historically significant to only the
Muslim faith. Because both Jews and Christians consider this site to be the
most significant in their own faiths, I obviously had a problem with UNESCO's
denial of facts. My colleagues joined me in my plea, signing the
letter urging recognition of all the monotheistic religions that hold
Jerusalem dear but the UN saw things through a different lens.
After
lunch with my friend Scott Neitzel, our Secretary of Administration, I drove
over to the UW Carbone Cancer Center to join with a number of colon cancer
advocates on a research tour. I shared some of my story as a survivor and
applauded the amazing research UW is conducting to find a cure to this ugly,
awful disease.
It’s
mid-morning Friday,
and I’m writing you from the back of the car as we leave another event.
We all know the old joke about two seasons in Wisconsin: winter and road
construction. I’ve been living it as they’ve redone Highway 67 here in
Oconomowoc. That project finished today, and I’m sure my neighbors will
be very happy with the new roads free from orange barrels.
You
might say I’m ready for a weekend, but as soon as the official duties end, my
mom job begins. This weekend Ella has closes on Saturday night playing young Violet
in VIOLET at
the Skylight in Milwaukee. Seeing her on stage reminds me why I do what I
do the rest of the week – I know politicians say it all the time, but for me
it’s true. I ran for this office, and I run across Wisconsin every week,
because I want to leave this state as prosperous as possible for my girls to
live their American dream some day. Thanks for reading!
Forward,
Rebecca Kleefisch Lt. Governor
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