Dear Indiana business: 
 
I am writing to alert you of a continuing scam being perpetrated on Indiana businesses. Several businesses have reported receiving a deceptive letter that would appear to come from an official government source. The letter solicits an annual fee of $125 or $150 and claims it will be used for record keeping and processing of a company's annual minutes. It gives the appearance of coming from a legitimate government agency and cites fictitious state law. 
 
Specifically, copies of the letter that have been forwarded to my office appear to come from the "Indiana Corporate Compliance Business Division." They include a return by date to give the false impression that action is necessary on your part. 
 
This letter is NOT an official correspondence from my Business Services Division or any other Indiana state agency. Investigators from my office are working with federal law enforcement to determine who is responsible for these letters and ensure they are stopped. If you received one of these solicitations, ignore it!  If you have already responded to such a letters and believe you are a victim of this scam, please call the Business Services Division at (317) 232-6576. 
 
Please also remember you can securely comply with your legitimate business entity reporting requirements to the state securely online through the INBiz portal found on my Web page at www.sos.in.gov/business . As always, my office will provide you with a courtesy reminder when your report is due to be filed. Legitimate notices from my office include the state seal of Indiana and my name.  
 
Best Regards,

Todd Rokita
Indiana Secretary of State

Whether you’re watching network news, reading a hometown newspaper or visiting with a colleague at the proverbial water cooler, one topic trumps all others these days—THE ECONOMY. And more times than not, the tone skews toward the negative.

Here’s a positive twist to “the topic of the day.” It’s not going to save our automakers or reverse the direction of the NYSE. But it is a practical way for you and your family to enjoy an evening of entertainment at a price most families can afford, even in today’s coupon-clipping world.

This Friday or Saturday night, take your family to a boys’ or girls’ high school basketball game. Tickets at most Indiana high schools are only $5.00 each. Parking is free. And the hot, freshly popped popcorn costs about a dollar a bag.

So a family of four can enjoy an entertaining night out for less than $30.00, depending on the choices you make at the concession stand.

There are other positives, too. In most cases you’ll be able to sit in unreserved, floor level seats on a first-come, first-served basis. The kind of front row seats that usually sell for hundreds of dollars at most professional sports venues. There’s nothing as much fun or engaging as being close to the action, especially if you have children in your family.

You won’t have to wonder if you are attending a G, PG, or NC17-rated event. High school basketball in Indiana is pure, unadulterated, wholesome family entertainment.

And for most of us, the high school in our community is located just minutes from home. So it won’t take much time or cost much money to get there.

In reality, the modest sum of money your family spends to attend a high school sporting event is more of an investment than an expense. That’s because high school ticket revenue is used to pay for team uniforms, upgrade equipment and help support sports like cross country, swimming & diving, tennis and track & field; sports that do not typically generate enough revenue to be self-sustaining.

It’s also an investment in the young men and women who are learning that being a representative of their school means they also are representatives of their community. By supporting them now, we are affirming the importance of citizenship, sportsmanship and community service in years to come.

Most importantly, attending a high school sporting event is an investment in the children in your own family. They will see firsthand how attributes such as dedication, hard work, persistence and teamwork have their just reward. And their role models are likely to become the high school players they watch perform; young men and women who are physically fit and mentally prepared.

These are tough times for many of us living in Indiana. But as it’s been said, with adversity comes opportunity. And the opportunity to introduce your family to Indiana high school basketball (or any other high school sport) not only will be welcome from an entertainment standpoint, it also will prove to be a wise investment in your family, your high school and your community,

In short, buying a ticket to an Indiana high school basketball game is the best $5.00 you could possibly spend.

(Blake Ress is a former high school teacher, coach, referee, athletic director and principal. He currently is the commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association.)

We are living in difficult, and for far too many, desperate economic times. With each new day, my concern for the health of our community and our people grows. I see businesses stretched to the limits. I see people losing jobs, homes, tuition for college, retirement savings – and with each of those challenges, some of our hopes and dreams for the future vanish as well.

We’re worried about the basics: staying employed, keeping warm, feeding our families, paying the mortgage, finding health care – all the things that add up to basic security for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

On top of this, the City anticipates a sizable budget shortfall next year, worsened by the economic meltdown, but due in large part to changes made by state government.

We are living in uncertain, unsettled economic times. As your Mayor, I look around and ask: What can I do to strengthen our community? How can I help the citizens of Fort Wayne? How can I ensure a hometown that’s an attractive, vibrant place to live? How can I bolster revenue without adding to taxpayer burdens?

The residents of Fort Wayne have always been able to rely upon the City to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services -- no matter what the economic climate. It is a promise we have always kept. We’ve succeeded because of sound fiscal management coupled with innovation. I am committed to both.

Our green initiatives. Our applications of new technologies, like 311. Our use of proven management techniques to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Each of these is building a more robust and more responsive, but leaner City government.

Nevertheless, running the City better on less requires us to be proactive, to constantly seek new ideas and new ways of doing things.

Recently, several groups have come to us. They are exploring the potential for gaming in our community. Once again the City is doing what it should be doing.

Step one: We’re listening and talking to those with the ideas. We’ve made it clear that we’re open to meeting with anyone who wants to bring a viable proposal to the table.


Step two. We’re taking action. I’ve directed my staff to study the issue. As a community, we need to be informed and prepared. As your Mayor, I want to be in the best position possible to represent the community’s interests. It is a responsibility I take very seriously – and knowledge is the key. We all know you can’t negotiate well, shape plans or make informed decisions, without solid, objective information.

As our work unfolds, we may need specialized counsel and expert assistance. If we do, we will determine how best to secure that help. The Fort Wayne City Council will be our partner is this endeavor.

You may be wondering why all of this is happening now. The answer: The upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly. The legislative calendar is driving the actions of various private business interests, and in turn our need to delve into this matter.

As Mayor, I am keenly aware that others look to me for guidance. That is why research and analysis are imperative. I could not take a position on an issue of this magnitude – for or against, or ask the people of Fort Wayne to consider it, without having completely examined it or knowing what its impact on our community might be.

I certainly could not ask members of City Council, our state legislators or other civic leaders to take a stand on an idea without a careful investigation of it – and confidence in it myself. It wouldn’t be good business. And it wouldn’t be good public stewardship. For me, leadership demands responsibility, carried through with thoughtfulness and thoroughness.

To date, we have not been presented with any specific proposals. We look forward to seeing them, as we welcome plans for any new business venture that creates jobs, grows our economy and enhances our community. You can be sure that any specific proposal received will be given its own comprehensive evaluation.

We are living in painful economic times. It would be irresponsible for the City not to talk to individuals interested in gaming because of the potential revenue it could create to help us provide the level of services expected by our residents and necessary to keep us competitive.

It would be equally irresponsible for us not to be doing our homework. We are doing our homework. And we are doing it thoughtfully and thoroughly.

Working together, we will sustain one another through these tough times. Working together, we are all partners in building a brighter, stronger future for our community.

Thank you.

Mayor Tom Henry

I’ve been fascinated by words for as long as I can remember. The ability to pair one with another, and before you know it, find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. Similes. Metaphors. Poetry; the art of storytelling. But what I like most about words is their ability to paint pictures. And just like art, the same words can create so many different images with so many different people.

That theory opened my eyes to a previously known unknown, when I began working at Easter Seals Arc, ironically, as the PR guy. It’s as simple as A, B, C; yet as clear as mud at the same time … people with disabilities are people first. Yes, disabilities are part of their lives, but disabilities do not define people.

People with disabilities are part of the landscape in a diverse American portrait. The more than 55 million Americans with disabilities usually fall into the categories of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, neighbors, friends, classmates and co-workers. People. Did I forget anyone?

Over the past decade, changes in laws, technology, public policies and attitudes have opened opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue education, recreation and employment in the mainstream of community life. Like other Americans, people with disabilities live, work, attend school, play, worship and volunteer in their communities.

However, lately I have been hearing more and more people refer to people with disabilities as handicapped, or referring to their person second. “Handicapped man confined to wheelchair … ” “Girl stricken with cerebral palsy … ” These words and phrases only shape inaccurate perceptions of people with disabilities. Negative attitudes are often the greatest barrier for people with disabilities to overcome. Even the word ‘handicapped’ itself is considered insulting by many because it was a term coined by people who were not.

Throughout the year, especially the holidays, I urge people to be a little more careful, or sensitive when choosing words. The reality is that people with disabilities succeed not in spite of their disabilities but in spite of an inaccessible and discriminatory society. They do not overcome their disabilities, so much as they overcome prejudice.

When you sit and think about it, it’s really a clear picture, but unfortunately it's one of those things that everybody knows, but nobody really knows. Food, er, words for thought.

Tony Belton
Community Relations Coordinator
Easter Seals Arc

On the day Colin Powell announced his support for Barack Obama, he said to a reporter, “Those images going out on Al Jazeera are killing us around the world. And we have got to say to the world, it doesn't make any difference who you are or what you are, if you're an American, you're an American.” Powell was referring to an exchange between John McCain and a supporter at a rally, in which McCain corrected a woman who started to tell him she does not trust Obama because he is an "Arab." He said, "No, ma'am, he's a decent family man." Ouch.  Last night Sarah Palin was in Fort Wayne abetting followers with more fear tactics and terrorist claims toward Senator Obama. Slow learning curve?

Indeed, Al Jazeera, like other news outlets across the Arab World, strongly denounced the deafening silence that followed the incident. “McCain's crowds have displayed an ugly side of the American electorate – a group who are afraid of people who are different. Maybe it is entrenched racism mixed with fear mongering and a couple of decade’s worth of Arab-bashing,” posted Al Jazeera on its website the next day. Powell’s comments were not only visionary; they also are accurate.

Hours after Al Jazeera’s quoted article, dozens of comments about the incident appeared on its website, coming, literally, from the all corners of the globe, including the US, Canada, Afghanistan, Angola, Ireland, Argentina, UK, New Zealand, Pakistan, Brazil, and Australia. All expressed outrage and disaffection with the GOP and with America.

There is an opportunity in the horizon. In one week, we will decide to either continue on the righteous, ultra-patriotic path of the Bush administration or choose Barack Obama for President and give the American people the chance to portray to the world their true values of tolerance and inclusiveness.

Trish Hardt
Fort Wayne

Senator McCain’s age shouldn't be, as Ronald Reagan put it, “exploited for political purposes.” But his choice of running mate makes his age and health relevant. This choice was clearly political. Governor Palin, he thought, would excite his skeptical base and maybe win over Hillary Clinton supporters. Knowing she is an avid hunter, a conservative, a Washington outsider, and a maverick, McCain fell in love at first sight.
 
But where does this leave America?
 
Nine out of 43 American presidents did not complete their term in office. That’s more than one in five. Not a high probability, but not a remote possibility either. Should it happen in a McCain presidency, Palin would be making decisions on issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to double digit unemployment. Do you really believe she is the right leader to deal with two wars, a collapsed economy, an energy crisis, an unstable nuclear Pakistan, job migration to India, a rising China, or any other challenge thrown at us?
 
Barack Obama’s level of experience was questioned by some at the start of his campaign. But after 18 months of campaigning, the American people have come to know his background, his record, and his accomplishments. He has demonstrated intellect, judgment, calm, and leadership. The same cannot be said of Palin.
Trish Hardt

Fort Wayne

    I was named President of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.  As the newly appointed President, the first thing I did was go out and listen to Chamber members.  By listening, I learned about the current and emerging needs of our businesses and our community.  One thing is certain, change is on their minds.
    Throughout the political campaign season, “change” has been the buzz word and it appears that people are ready for it like never before.  Whether you are a republican or a democrat, there is an opportunity to make a bipartisan change this election. Every election day, we have the opportunity to select the people who represent us, but we rarely get the opportunity to change how government works.
    On November 4, voters in Aboite, Wayne, and St. Joseph townships have an opportunity to vote for a more efficient, consistent and outright better government.  As part of a business organization, I find it impossible to sit back and watch an archaic government structure limit our communities’ potential for growth.
    If area businesses and individuals are going to financially grow and prosper, we need a government that is efficient, responsive, fair and consistent. On November 4, take the first step to modernize local government - make the property the assessment process fair, consistent, and equitable.  
    As a business person, I see the demand for efficiency in every organization.  As a citizen of Aboite Township, I want my property to be assessed consistently and fairly. That is why I will be voting “YES” on public question #1.
    I ask you to join me.  
    On November 4, please vote “YES” to streamlining local government and ensuring property tax assessments are consistent and fair.  
(Signed) Kristine Foate
President & CEO
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce

John McCain is out of touch with regular Americans when it comes to the economy.  Early on in this campaign he admitted that he did not know much about the economy.  Considering that we are in the worst economic crisis of our time we cannot afford to allow him to try to muddle through this mess.

Remember the old "voodoo economics" of John McCain's favorite president, Ronald Reagan?  It didn't work for families back then and it certainly won't work now decades later.

Barack Obama has a 21st century solution that will help to rebuild the middle class.  He will pass a middle class tax cut that gives 95 percent of working Americans up to $1,000 more in their pockets. He will crack down on predatory lenders and punish corporations who send American jobs overseas.  More importantly he will redirect our dependence on foreign oil by developing alternative sources of energy that will protect our environment and create thousands of jobs that cannot be sent overseas.

Joe Biden has said that this country needs more than a hero, we need a leader.  What we need is the right kind of leader.  Barack Obama has the vision and wisdom to lead as well as the brilliance to come up with real solutions, not gimmicks, which will result in a brighter future for us, our children and our grandchildren.

Trish Hardt

Fort Wayne

It is a matter of public record that John McCain has been an exponent of deregulation throughout his career. He has stated that the health care system would be better if it were deregulated like the banking industry. Events in recent weeks have shown what a folly that would be.

On October 16, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was having his breakfast when he was informed that a US reconnaissance plane had discovered a Soviet nuclear missiles site in Cuba. JFK spent the next five days in secret meetings with cabinet members and other civilian and military advisers, deliberating the appropriate response. Some members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advocated military action. Others made the case for a sea blockade against Cuba. They had to consider all the possible Soviet responses. They also had to bring on board European allies and the American public. With US missiles staged in Turkey and the USSR threatening to invade Berlin, a lot was at stake. Careful but decisive action was imperative.