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From
growth, pay and TPA . . .
to pre-college and Mideast ties . . .
Summer '06 has been eventful
Greetings from Green Bay’s University of Wisconsin!
How fast the summer goes. In only a couple of more weeks, on August 31,
Cyndie and I will join 150 other UWGB volunteers to help our new students
move into the residence halls.
Still, I hope the summer remaining finds you well, with
friends, family and fun. Cyndie and I are just back from a much enjoyed
vacation, charged up, and looking forward to another great year. I will
keep this update short.
• The Growth Agenda continues — quietly — to
win new friends.
A few months ago, you’ll recall, there was a great swirl of publicity
for the proposal to grow UW-Green Bay to an enrollment of 7,500 to more
ably serve this region. Civic and business leaders made the pitch to the
Board of Regents. Our students, faculty, staff and alumni were exceptional
ambassadors. The Board’s response was a resounding pledge of support.
Then vacation season arrived and, seemingly, the public buzz quieted.
In truth, the push continues. It has meant working around the summer schedules
of our community contacts, regents, legislative representatives, agency
heads, state officials, and key supporters, but we’ve had very productive
sessions as we expand the circle of support for the Growth Agenda.
It is an easy case to make because it is about assuring bright futures
for our region, and I am delighted to report that all the people I have
been meeting with are understanding and intend to be supportive.
Soon, the efforts will again become more public: The Regents will act
on the UW budget August 17th; there are critical elections in November;
and consideration of the next state budget will begin immediately thereafter.
I ask you, as citizens and friends, to stay engaged in this dialog about
Wisconsin’s future. And, do not be shy about asking those who seek
to serve us in elected office where they stand. Working together, I believe,
we can carry through the Growth Agenda for a greater UW-Green Bay and
Northeastern Wisconsin.
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Since I last wrote in May, undergrads took nearly 2,000 courses,
youth camps enrolled thousands, and big initiatives moved forward.
•
We are being heard.
Again, I ask you to recall what might now seem a distant memory but was
only two months ago: the state Legislature’s crucial “No”
vote on the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment.
The issue was decided in the closing days of the spring session, the timing
roughly coinciding with our own hectic final exam and commencement week
activities. If my words of appreciation were lost in the rush, then, I repeat
them here, now.
Senators Cowles and Hansen, both UWGB alums, deserve recognition for acting
in the best long-term interests of Wisconsin. Representatives Ott, Van Roy,
Krawczyk, and Nelson also were helpful in shaping Assembly action on the
proposal.
There are very legitimate concerns about taxation, yet the answers must
be focused upon the actual problems and not a flawed, formula-driven cap
written into the Constitution. It was absolutely certain that the more draconian
versions of TPA would have had cumulative and disastrous consequences for
our UW and for Wisconsin’s future well-being.
Thanks, again, to all our citizen and lawmaker friends who helped on this
issue.
TO
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