Leadership Plenty Trip to the Capital

Leadership Plenty Trip to the Capital
2-2-06

Approximately 47 members of Leadership Plenty Groups across the state met at the Capital in Lincoln on Thursday, February 2, 2006. There were Leadership Plenty groups from Butler, Seward-Polk, Thayer-Nuckolls, Perkins and Chase Counties. Those in attendance from the Perkins/Chase County group were Joe Morris, Shaun Meyer, Brian Long, Lisa Haskins, and Dave Vapenik. Instructors Dennis Kahl, Connie Francis & Phyllis Schoenholz were also in attendance, along with Ann Burge from SWNCBC.

Our tour started in the Warner Chamber, where we organized our groups for photos with Governor Dave Heineman. We were honored with a few minutes of Governor Heineman’s time as he spoke of the value of our small communities, and with pride the ‘best state to live in.’ He encouraged the Leadership Plenty classes in what we are trying to accomplish, as many small voices are powerful. We were given time to ask Governor Heineman questions. Topics of discussion that arose were regarding Homeland Security, terroristic threat, animal ID, methamphetamines, the Business Advantage Tier, and Governor Heineman’s perspective on Home Health Care.

We then were allowed to view the Unicameral in action.

We then gathered for a session with Laverne Barrett, who spoke on ‘What’s Beyond Leadership Plenty’, and left us with two very good points: 1) ‘If what you are proposing is quality, it shouldn’t be a problem’, and 2) ‘You don’t have a right to criticize if you won’t get involved’.

We ate lunch with our Area Senators: Baker, Combs, Stuhr, Kremer, and Langemeier. There is great concern about the 36 Senators that will term out in the next 2 years.

We met Dorothy Anderson, who is the Constituent Services Director and has been with Senator Hagel since 1997, and Josh Moening, who is a Field Representative for Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.

We then had the chance to tour the Capital.

Our next Leadership Plenty Session will be held in Imperial on February 28, 2006, where our group will graduate from the Leadership Plenty Class.