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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – July/August 2014
@IndianaChamber
IN Chamber calls latest #EPA regulations
‘devastating’... will lead to loss of jobs, hurt
families, cost businesses @tinyurl.com/kw6ygep
Larry Gigerich of site selector Ginovus writes on
the importance of closing the middle skills gap
for @IIB ow.ly/xrQwq
Great news for LaPorte: @Alcoa breaks ground
on new facility, plans to add over 300 jobs by
2019 ow.ly/xp1v4
Our Charlee Beasor writes on workforce
development efforts underway throughout the
state in today’s @IIB column ow.ly/xnYgT
RT @realjohngreen: I love indianapolis, and I
love my friends here. Y’all can call it flyover
country all you want. I’ll call it home.
Janet Boston of @indianaintern writes on
maximizing ROI (Return on Intern)
xicIv (via @IIB)
What others are saying to – or
about – the Indiana Chamber:
@JulieAudenaert: Employers should read
@IndianaChamber’s article on getting the most
out of your interns via @IIB @GerryDick http://
bit.ly/1jWvhi7
@readyindiana: Great article from
@IndianaChamber about innovative workforce
development ow.ly/xobR6 @ECO15org
@VincennesU @CareerAcademySB @IIB
@inhousegop: The @IndianaChamber handed
out their scores for the 2014 #INLegis session &
our members received top marks! bit.ly/1piXcJz
@stephaniewang: New @IndianaChamber
report shows school counselors skew toward
4-year college guidance, not enough focus on
sub-bac or career options.
@soards: Nice panel today of @AttyAbdul
@Afhathaway @JenniferAWagner &
@jbrantleyibrg at @IndianaChamber #BOD mtg.
What’s Chirping
on Tweet Street?
The Indiana Chamber has nearly
11,000 followers. Are you on the
list? Here are some examples of
recent activity:
CHAMBER REWIND
BUILDING THE
FARM TEAM
Beginning on Page 34, you will find a
series of stories on the current state of agriculture
and its contribution to the state’s economy.
While digging into the fertile soil of our
archive room, staff has discovered an Indiana
Chamber report from August 1945 titled,
Aids Behind the Farm: A Directory and Functional
Analysis of Governmental and Civic Organizations
in the Field of Farming
. (Yes, the title is
certainly a mouthful – potentially equaling a
bushel of vegetables from a Hoosier farm).
The booklet includes features on major
farm-related organizations in Indiana – and the
nation – like the Indiana Farm Bureau, The
Grange, the National Farmers Union and the
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
One such prominent organization highlighted
is Purdue University. The 1945 entry about
the school reveals its history and mission, and
why it’s such a benefit to the agricultural
industry:
“In 1869 the Indiana General Assembly took
steps to establish an institution of learning and it
received $340,000 from the Federal government
which sum is held in trust by the state at interest.
In 1869 the General Assembly accepted from John
Purdue, a philanthropic businessman of Lafayette,
and other public spirited citizens of Tippecanoe
County, the sum of $200,000 and a tract of 100
acres of land. It also voted to name the institution
‘Purdue University.’
“In 1879 the College of Agriculture was
founded. Prior to 1900, few students attended the
college and intensive efforts had to be made to
acquaint farmers with the value of agricultural
training. The first short course in agriculture was
held in the winter of 1887-1888. These intensive
winter short courses are still permitting hundreds of
farmers to attain further knowledge of profitable
agricultural practices.”
Even then, Purdue’s county extensions
played a major role in building the state’s
agricultural climate. (The school has an
extension in all 92 Indiana counties.):
“An integral part of the work of the Extension
Department is carried on through the efforts of more
than 30,000 volunteer local and neighborhood
leaders. County Extension Committees, organized
in each county, are composed of local people who
know the immediate needs of the county and who
help to plan the extension program of their counties
to meet the local problems. These people help to
bring to Indiana farmers the information and facts
which they need to meet their particular problems
speedily and proficiently, and to advise returning
veterans interested in farming.
In 4-H Club work, more than 3,600 young
men and women serve as junior leaders and
2,200 parents and other adults serve as volunteer
local leaders.”
