Freedom to Choose

From the Farm

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

Published in the Casper Journal March 9, 2011

I have a new favorite definition of freedom:  Freedom is the opportunity to choose.  Freedom is not a free-for-all.  It does not mean, “Do whatever you want to.”  Freedom is simply a choice between at least two options.

As a parent, this definition is worth a lot.  As long as I give my children two, viable options, they are free to choose and act.  Those choices can be, “Do your homework and then you can play,” or “Don’t do your homework and miss out on free time.”  Even then, my kids are free.  They still have choices.

In America, we love choices.  We love choosing our occupation, taking time off when we want to, traveling to places we want to see, eating what we want to, and living where we want to.  We love electing our officials.  We love expressing ourselves when we are displeased.  We love choosing our religion.  We love voting on the laws of the land.  We are drunk on freedom.  But we must not get so intoxicated with choices that we forget one fact:  Freedom isn’t free.  Freedom requires moral leaders who will continue to provide choices, just as my children’s agency depends upon me to give them options.

Wyoming is especially good at providing freedom, at offering choices.  And Natrona County Schools are a perfect example.  Parents and students had until January 28^th to make their educational choices for the following school year.  During January, every school in Natrona County held an open house, where parents and prospective students could visit with staff, tour the facility, and ask questions.

With five Natrona County students, we attended a few open houses.  The best part was that they were all impressive!  Natrona County is filled with great, educational choices.  Every school was unique, with different educational approaches, styles of teaching, and building layouts. 

The buzz among decision-making mothers was heavy.  “I like Summit Elementary because of the ‘Leader in Me’ program.”  “I prefer Fort Casper and the intense curriculum.”  “I like Woods and the friendly atmosphere.”  “I was impressed with Verda James and the staff.”   “Dean Morgan has a convenient location.”  “Casper Classical Academy has a small student body.”  “Natrona County High School offers a lot of extra options.”  “Kelly Walsh seemed very organized.” 

The phone calls, emails, and chatter buzzed throughout the month.  My friends called, shared opinions, discussed decisions, and gathered input from past attendees.

“Everywhere I go, I’m impressed!” one friend wailed.  “I don’t know which school to choose.”  Isn’t that great!?!  There are so many wonderful options.  In Natrona County we truly understand freedom.  We have choices…and good ones!

Well, the deadline is here, the online request forms have been submitted, and now parents and students will wait for their choices to become official when notification letters arrive in the mail.  Nothing is set in stone, and students and parents can always apply to other schools, even when decisions have been made.  But for now, the discussion flurry is over for a bit. 

No matter what the outcome, it will be good.  I have five Natrona County School Students.  Everywhere we have toured, attended or observed in the past two years has been impressive.  Every place has pros and cons, with every school heavy on the pros.

I’m glad for freedom.  I’m glad for choice.  I’m glad for options, which put the decisions into the hands of parents.  I’m an American, and I love freedom.  I drink it deeply, especially when it involves decisions regarding my children.  Thank you, moral educators of Natrona County who provide choices.  You meet my definition of “free.”

Nettie Francis is Editor of The Wyoming Woman Magazine

Scouting Success

From the Farm:

SCOUTING SUCCESS

Published in the Casper Journal February 16, 2011

On February 8, 2011, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 101^st birthday.  Although I am not a Boy Scout, or even a boy, I still whole-heartedly celebrate Scouting.

Founded in England by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, the Scouting program was brought to the United States in 1910 by American journalist William Boyce.  Stuck in the London fog one night, he was assisted by a young Scout.  Boyce was so impressed with the helpful boy, that he learned more of the English Scouting movement and eventually founded the Boy Scouts of America. 

There are not many similarities between the lives of boys in 1910 and the lives of boys in 2011.  Boys today are more familiar with computers than camping, Ipods than ice-skating, and the internet than insect identification; yet they still benefit from being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.  And, despite shifting world values, the goals of the Boy Scouts of America are still to build character, citizenship and fitness. 

            Yet the real celebration is that whether or not we are boys or men, or are active in the Scouting organization, the Boy Scouts of America—even the Boy Scouts of Wyoming—have likely touched our lives in a positive way. 

In Wyoming, we are direct recipients of Scouting leadership.  On February 9, 2010, our own Senator Mike Enzi, an Eagle Scout himself, spoke on the United States Senate floor in honor of the Scouting Centennial. He noted that there are currently eleven Eagle Scouts in the United States Senate. 

Eagle Scouts aren’t just news in federal government halls.  On January 21^st 2011, Wyoming Eagle Scouts gave a report to Governor Matt Mead.  They were also introduced on the House floor and in the Senate chambers, where they received a prolonged standing ovation from state legislators.

But more deeply than senate speeches or Eagle Scout reports, our life in Casper has been touched by Scouting. When young men reach the trail to Eagle, Scouting’s highest award, they organize an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project which must directly benefit their community.  In 2010, 94 young men in the Central Wyoming Council achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  Fourteen of those boys were from Natrona County.  These boys and their projects are making a difference every day.

Boy Scout Paul Ortega, Troop 1060, organized volunteers to improve the Alpine Ski Trail on Casper Mountain.  Ethan Sheffield, Troop 1435, made display boxes for the Nicolaysen Art Museum.  Cameron Budak, Troop 1167, made improvements at the Putt-Putt Golf Course.  Clayton Dexter, Troop 1060, gathered supplies for Healthcare for the Homeless.  Perhaps we’ve benefited from Trenton Hoover, Troop 1030, who built a picnic shelter at Fort Caspar Campground, or Nathan Higginson, who made emergency preparedness kits for NOWCAP, or Joseph Zeitner who improved the garden at Shepherd of the Valley Care Center.  These Scouts gave a total of 1367 hours of service in Natrona County during 2010.  And the list goes on…  Even our favorite Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps are a Scouting unit.

Good turns didn’t just happen in 2010.  Scouting touched the lives of seven Scout troops of Japanese-American boys, living at Heart Mountain Relocation Camp near Cody in the 1940s.  This summer, many of those Japanese-American Boy Scouts, now over 80-years-old, will reconvene to once again raise the United States Flag at the dedication of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center.

The Boy Scouts are not a ‘facility-based’ organization.  There isn’t a Scout building where boys go to learn outdoor skills.  Rather, Scouts are dependent on community organizations—churches, schools, service clubs—to provide the facility and leaders.  Many thanks to the Casper Elks Lodge, the Five Trails Rotary Club, the American Legion, and the many churches and schools who sponsor Scout groups.  As a 98% volunteer organization, Scouting depends on good citizens to take an interest in our youth. 

Did I mention?  I’m not a Boy Scout.  But, as a mother I am grateful for Scouting.  Last year, my oldest son went to his first, week-long Scout camp.  He packed his own back pack.  He set up his own tent.  He built his own fire.  He wrote his own skit.  He made his own arrow.  He crafted his own cardboard boat.  He rowed himself across the lake…and sank.  But he grabbed his paddle and swam to safety.  He cried.  He wanted to come home early.  He stuck it out…and came home a different boy.  The following week he conducted a Court of Honor, planned a service project, and performed a good turn.

Last week, two of my sons went on a snow campout.  Planning, packing, and more planning took place at several troop meetings.  On the night of the campout, my boys had enough adrenalin flowing to keep them warm through any freezing weather.  They kissed me goodbye, and went out the door with their packs, their snow gear, and their hot cocoa packets.

At home that night by our fire, I was grateful for good Scout leaders willing to go the distance and tough it out with boys who wanted adventure.  Thank goodness for Scouting activities which provide productive, moral ways to use their hands and minds.    

Founder Baden-Powell said that “Scouting is a game with a purpose.”  Scouting’s purposes have always supported my purposes—as a mother and as a citizen of Wyoming.  And so, even though I’m a girl, I am grateful for Boy Scouting.  I look forward to 100 more years of this inspired program, for my benefit, my children’s benefit, and the benefit of our community, state and nation.  Happy 101^st Birthday Boy Scouts of America!

Nettie Francis is Editor of The Wyoming Woman Magazine

CEO

From the Farm:

CONFESSIONS OF A CEO

Published in the Casper Journal February 2, 2011

I am a CEO.  I manage the personal schedules, finances, needs and lives of ten people.  (Well, almost ten.  My husband manages his own most of the time.)

For me, like any other CEO, it’s all about the numbers.

Yesterday I did 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, read 26 verses of scripture, made breakfast for ten people, packed five lunches, sent six people out the door, washed one batch of dishes, did three loads of laundry, gave three children baths, and shampooed three bedroom carpets, all before 10am!  Those sound like pretty good stats to me.

I then drove to the store and spent exactly 50% of my monthly grocery budget on 45 meals. I saved $12 buying non-brand products, and $10 of next month’s grocery money buying butter on sale. (Did I mark that in the notebook?)  I also set aside cash for two weeks of piano lessons and school book orders (due tomorrow).

Back at home, I fed four people lunch, put three children down for nap and then spent 98 minutes catching up on personal projects.  At exactly 3:35, I turned off the computer, started dinner and welcomed home two middle school students.  During the next two hours, three more children walked through the front door, I listened to five different versions of a ‘day at school,’ baked eight loaves of bread, and cooked dinner for ten, making an additional casserole to go in the freezer.  After calling “time to eat” exactly four times, we had ten people sitting at the table, where we spent 18 minutes eating what had taken me 78 minutes to prepare. 

I then gave five children baths, sent the other three to the shower, signed three homework sheets, drilled 28 phonograms, listened to forty minutes of piano practice, changed an additional two diapers, and checked and trimmed 160 (yes…160) fingernails and toenails.

By 9:00, eight children were tucked into four bedrooms, complete with teeth brushed, pajamas on, drinks had (well…almost), and prayers said.

Did I mention?  Being a CEO is all about the numbers.

But more than numbers, it’s the growth.  How many eggs did we get today?  What grade did you get on your test?  Did you study your spelling words?  When does swim team start?  What book are you reading right now?  And, did you make your bed? 

My clients are my responsibility, and I aim to help them succeed.

Being a CEO also means I can make the tough calls. “No, we’re not watching that movie.”  “Yes, we are eating our beans.”  “It’s time to come in and do chores.” 

In addition to my clients, I have responsibility for our business facility, as well.  I sweep, mop, scrub, clean, polish, vacuum and cook…every day.

Oh, what I would sometimes give for a janitor, cook, maid, nanny, or…  Weren’t those common in the olden days?  Even the Brady Bunch had a housekeeper.  And, I certainly could use Mary Poppins sometimes.  Or, a good, resident cook. 

Despite my dreaming, I’ll be the first to explain that my husband is extremely helpful.  That’s the only way it works.  When I’m tired and cranky—and even when I’m not—he steps in, washing dishes, giving baths, folding laundry, even fixing meals when I ask him to.   And, in the business world, I suppose he’s the one with the “real” CEO title.  Isn’t it nice that CEOs aren’t above changing diapers and vacuuming floors?  His support is a key factor in this company’s survival. 

Like every CEO, my job has its perks:  ice cream after 9pm, always sitting in the front seat of the car, and choosing pancakes over oatmeal for breakfast.   Those decisions are all up to me. 

When it’s all said and done, who dares to claim that mothers aren’t business savy?  We juggle more balls than most executives can imagine.  And, I’d say we do it fairly well.  In my book, every mother is a hero, eight kids or one. 

Tonight there are five report cards on my desk…all A’s and B’s.  An encouraging quarterly report and a parent’s payday.   This deserves a company celebration!  I just checked the budget and am making an executive decision:  we’re ordering pizza out tomorrow night.  And, there’s even enough money left over for ice cream.  Success?  Most definitely.

Nettie Francis is Editor of The Wyoming Woman Magazine

           

INAUGURATION

INSIDE THE INAUGURATION

Published in the Casper Journal January12, 2011

 

I can think of a lot of words to describe the Wyoming State Inauguration last week:  interesting, invigorating, inspiring, informational; but the word that describes the inaugural events best is intimate.

I often forget this is “small-town” Wyoming.  So, when I received a personal phone call from one of the newly-elected officials, inviting me to the inauguration, I was a bit surprised.  We’ve lived in several other states longer than the two years we’ve been in Wyoming, but have never had a personal invite to any statewide special events.

On Inauguration Day, we woke up early and made the two hour trip to Cheyenne.  Having been to Cheyenne only a few times before, I remembered again what a beautiful drive it is.  Arriving at the Cheyenne Civic Center, we parked next to a huge trailer labeled, “Homeland Security.” 

“We’d better leave everything in the car, to avoid a long security check,” my husband suggested.  “Good idea,” I agreed.  Coming from Las Vegas, we were sure that any huge event would involve heavy security, metal detectors, perhaps even being frisked.  With just a small notebook and pen in my pocket (we even left our cell phones and overcoats in the car), we followed the hurrying crowd to the building. 

As we walked inside, we were greeted not by a stern security guard, but by a friendly usher.  “That was easy,” I breathed.  The security was there, but in a protective, comfortable manner. 

We immediately saw one, two, three… several people we knew!  Everyone was checking in overcoats at the desk, and carrying large purses, cameras, cell phones, etc. 

“It’s not as tightly secured as we anticipated,” murmured my husband.  Entering the large auditorium, we were surprised to find that seating was open, and immediately found seats toward the front with a good view of the stage. 

Looking around us, we saw some people dressed to the hilt, while others wore jeans and cowboy boots.  “Welcome to Wyoming,” whispered my husband.  Everyone was talking, laughing and meeting up with old friends.  The atmosphere felt comfortable.  Casual, but electric. 

The program started, the audience hushed, and the candidates entered, escorted by spouses or a parent.  The color guard presented the flag and the audience rose.  A great swelling seemed to leap from the crowd as we listened to The Star Spangled Banner.  It was incredible.  “The land of the free and the home of the brave,” rang truer than ever as I glanced around at the free, proud, comfortable, down-home audience.  No pretense here.  No façade or fake patriotism.  Just regular people:  ranchers, teachers, cowboys—honoring their next governor.

A dignified Reverend prayed for the new officials to have “sound judgment,” and included a blessing on “all of us, not to forget You.”  Amen.

When the officers were sworn in, the intimate feeling was still present.  When the candidates naturally stumbled over a few words during their oaths of office, the audience murmured pleasantly; when they held their family Bibles, everyone nodded their approval.

Governor Mead’s address was simple.  No flowery oration or stirring campaign promises; just a regular man, who had become governor through the support of regular friends and everyday people.  In his words, “Wyoming has the kind of people envisioned by the Founding Fathers; we take care of ourselves and each other.”

Afterwards, the crowd massed into the capitol building.  We waited outside on the steps in the freezing wind, until we could squish into the rotunda with the hundreds of other well-wishers.  Still, the feeling was intimate.  Laughing, talking, catching up with old friends, and nearby, a new governor and his wife, greeting everyone personally.  “This is Wyoming,” said my husband again.

Sandwiches, a fun chat with Al Simpson, a recognizable nod and handshake from the senators, a hug from Cindy Hill, becoming acquainted with several state legislators, and a quick trip through the capitol to see what we could.  The day was memorable. 

Later, we chatted with our friends in another state.  “Oh, yes, attended the inauguration today.  Met a dozen more legislators, traded stories with the elected officials, saw lots of people we knew.”

Once again, people in Vegas wouldn’t believe it.  People in New York, or Seattle, or Detroit wouldn’t believe it.  This is Wyoming.  Interesting, informative, invigorating and inspiring.  But most of all, intimate.

Nettie Francis is Editor of The Wyoming Woman Magazine