Goodbye to 2006

There is nothing we can do about the past. It's history. But we can do something about the here and now and also have a confident expectancy about the future.

It's high time that Tulsans forget and forgive about past perceptions of mismanagement, lack of leadership and white elephant public projects. The arena is being built, and will be completed shortly. What can we do as Tulsans to make sure it is profitable?

We need to focus on our future. That we can impact and change. Here's a list of my priorities:

1. Improved public education

2. Economic development and good job creation

3. Reduction in crime and an increase in the police force

4. A major street renovation initiative

5. True spiritual revival

6. Improved neighborhoods and property values



I have the privilege in my vocation to meet many small business people every week. I am struck by the unusually highly optimistic outlook for 2007. Almost without exception people believe that 2007 will be better for them than was 2006.

My prayer for you is that it is so.

Happy new year from the Tulsa Chigger!

Gerald Ford #38

After hearing all the accolades and eulogies for the former President, Gerald Ford, something came to mind.

Gerald Ford may for all time be our only President that never even aspired to be President! His aspiration was to be Speaker of the House. Any yet, like a story from the Old Testament, he was thrust upon the Presidency as a result of an appointment and a resignation.

He was the right man for the time. All this was going on when I was a Senior at Nathan Hale and just becoming politically aware of things.

Contrast that situation to the way we elect Presidents and compare him to the candidates we now have. He was not elected with PAC money and certainly no one could accuse him of being power hungry or grand-standing.

Merry Christmas!

The Tulsa Chigger

Lost Bully Pulpit

Michael Delgiorno






With his move to Broken Arrow, MD should find a different schtik. His rants have gone stale in the wake of his departure from T-Town.

He has gone from being part of the solution, to being part of the problem. Not that he is any different than the thousands of Tulsans that have preceeded him in a mass exodus to the suburbs.

I will no longer listen to his railings about the issues of Tulsa, knowing that he is driving to his Broken Arrow home in the evenings.

Union's Priorities Out of Whack

Former Union Head Football Coach Kevin Wright


Let the Tulsa Chigger make a prediction; Union High School academics will follow the slide experienced by other Tulsa Public High Schools. It's really not much of a prediction when you see the rabid school administration, parents and students frothing at the mouth over their beloved football program. Heaven forbid they let JENKS get one by them to win yet another football championship!

This insane priority/love affair with high school football follows the pattern of the inner city Tulsa High Schools in the 70's. Its only a matter of time, since academics at Union has taken a back seat long ago.

Let me ask you this question: Would Union High School even consider a national search for a high school math teacher? Yet no one says a word when they announce a national search will begin for the next football coach.

In this case history will repeat itself!



The following is from the Union website.

12/20/06
Head Football Coach Resigns

In a joint statement released today, Union Public Schools announced that Kevin Wright has resigned as head football coach and athletic director. Wright said his decision was based on the best interest of the program and the students.

“I appreciate the opportunity to coach at Union High School,” Wright said. “My wife and I moved here with every intention of being at Union for a long time. We have met some outstanding people who will be an influence on us for the rest of our lives,” he said.

“A change always brings about challenges and can cause division, particularly following in the footsteps of a long-term coach. Unfortunately, the students and the program have been impacted the most. My family and I have also been through a lot, and it is in the best interest of all concerned that I resign,” said Wright. “This will allow Union to move forward and its tradition of excellence to continue.”

Jim Giles-RIP

Swift & Company® Gets A Pass

Swift & Company®, a meat processing and marketing concern, self-described as "the world's second-largest meat processor with sales of about $9 billion, received no fine, no imprisonment, nada, zip, zilch, although raids by ICE agents netted hundreds of illegal immigrants working in their numerous processing plants scattered across the U.S.

Look at this logo carefully. Boycott the purchase of Swift & Company® meat!




The raids were conducted after a 10 month government investigation. However, the investigation centered not around the illegal status of the immigrants, but a ring of people stealing identities of U.S. citizens! This shows the comparative ranking in the mind of the Federal government between the two Federal crimes.

Officials with Swift & Company® were given a heads up last month before the raids began. They estimate "a raid would remove up to 40 percent of its 13,000 workers". And they expect us to believe they don't knowingly hire illegals?

In a written statement, President and CEO Sam Rovit said, "the company has never knowingly hired illegal workers and does not condone the practice". Yeah, right!

Here is the management team for Swift & Company®

Swift & Company® Management Team

They are among the industry’s most respected leaders (they say this not me). Meet the team that’s shaping the future of Swift & Company®:

* Sam Rovit - President and CEO
* Dennis Henley - COO
* John Keir - CEO, Swift Australia / Australia Meat Holdings

* Raymond Silcock - EVP, CFO
* Kevin Yost - EVP, Customers and Supply Chain
* Martin Dooley - EVP, Margin Management
* Ted Miller - EVP, Operations
* Matt Wineinger - President, Swift Australia / Australia Meat Holdings

* Bill McClellan - SVP/GM, Food Service Sales
* Dan Halstrom - SVP/GM, International Sales
* Mike Rempe - SVP/GM, Processor Sales

* Pat Huebner - SVP, Business Development
* Rajan Nagarajan - SVP, CIO
* Bill Trupkiewicz - SVP, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
* David Colwell - SVP, Fulfillment and Supply Chain
* Don Wiseman - SVP, General Counsel / Corporate Secretary
* Jack Shandley - SVP, Human Resources
* Ed Bick - SVP, Product Management
* Warren Mirtsching - SVP, Quality Assurance / Food Safety

* Sean McHugh - VP, IR / PR / Communications
* Scott Vuchetich - VP, Policy, Planning & Analysis
* David Marantes - VP, Purchasing
* Michael Hajost - VP, Treasurer

You can check out an article about the raids here.

In my opinion, the Federal government left the job half finished. And they passed on a prime example of the abuse and illegal activity going on in virtually every community, town and city in the U.S. each and every day. As consumers, we can help remind the company who controls the cashflow and company outlook.