A Smile - Coulee Region Women Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

sustaining ecosystems • Meet the hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently Thanks in part to Johnson’s advocacy of this program, both the La Crosse City Council and County Board passed resolutions in 2007 identifying the city and county as eco-municipalities, which means they have committed to developing an ecologically, economically and socially healthy community for the long term and making changes that can be sustained over the long term. In selling her idea, says Johnson, “I shared examples of how other communities had saved through sustainable initiatives. At the time, Madison was touting its plan to buy a $100,000 bus garage door that would save $40,000 a year in energy. That’s pretty good payback. And the money the La Crosse School District had saved on energy was brought up often.” Sustaining the sustainable movement Just as serious climate change has developed over time, it cannot be resolved overnight and requires others to participate. “I keep challenging myself to take new steps,” Johnson says. She has attended many meetings over the last two years as part of the Joint Oversight Committee on Sustainability, which created the citycounty Strategic Plan for Sustainability with the assistance of Senior City Planner Tim Kabat. That 66-page plan, which went to both the City Council and County Board in February, sets goals and action steps for years to come. “One of the barriers to change is the fear people have of loss: loss of comfort, loss of convenience, loss of time and money,” Johnson says. “But I can’t think of a single step I’ve taken toward sustainability where I’ve lost more than I’ve gained.” Plan goals include reducing overall energy consumption in buildings and city and county vehicles and having 25 percent of the fuel used by the city fleet coming from renewable sources and alternative fuels by 2025. The plan includes support for more locally produced food and exploration of city-county joint sponsorship of wind turbines, solar projects and other efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels 12 APRIL/MAY 2009 www.crwmagazine.com CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jai Johnson (left), together with colleague Dorothy Lenard, has been instrumental in promoting sustainability in the Coulee Region. Thanks in large part to their efforts, La Crosse is considered an eco-municipality. and extracted underground metals and minerals. More information about the plan is at www.sustainablelacrosse.org. Saving in tough economic times Johnson believes the economic crisis of our country makes this the perfect time to find ways to save money through conservation and other practices. “This is not a Republican or Democratic issue,” she says. “The concern is about the future for all people. We have the opportunity to come together around a common cause, like nothing we’ve seen as a nation since World War II.” Johnson sees the movement building on past successes of many other groups, including the city and county parks departments, the Sierra Club, the Mississippi Valley Conservancy and the Clean Energy Coalition. Local medical centers, colleges and the School District of La Crosse have also embraced changes. The nonprofit, citizen-organized Coulee Partners in Sustainability was created as an outgrowth of this work. The past and the future are very much on the minds of both Johnson and her colleague, Dorothy Lenard. “Virtually every religious tradition says something about sustainability,” Johnson says. “There are references to being good stewards in the Christian Bible and Jewish Talmud.” “Our immigrant ancestors worried about the opportunities for their kids in our country,” Lenard adds. “We worry about what conditions we will leave the world in for our kids.” The role of government While raised to be fiercely self-reliant, Johnson says her family may never have gotten indoor plumbing without Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society loan program, which pulled many people out of poverty. “It was very, very difficult for my parents to accept this hand up from the government, but in time, they paid back every penny, and our fortunes continued to improve after that. “Just for the record,” Johnson adds, “outhouses are much more sustainable than flush toilets. But that’s not an ordinance I plan to introduce any time soon.” D Like the family, business and community stories that Susan T. Hessel sustains as a personal historian, she appreciates the sustainability movement for linking the past, present and future.
Solutions for Individuals, Families & Communities For Marriages & Couples: Walk Away Wife Syndrome In the early years of marriage, women are the relationship caretakers. They carefully monitor their relationships to make sure there is enough closeness and connection. If not, women will do what they can to try to fix things. If their husbands aren’t responsive, women become extremely unhappy and start complaining about everything under the sun…things that need to get done around the house, responsibilities pertaining to the children, how free time is spent, and so on. Unfortunately, when women complain, men generally retreat and the marriage deteriorates even more. After years of trying to successfully improve things, a woman eventually surrenders and convinces herself that change isn’t possible. She ends up believing there’s absolutely nothing she can do because everything she’s tried has not worked. That’s when she begins to carefully map out the logistics of what she considers to be the inevitable - getting a divorce. While she is planning her escape, she no longer tries to improve her relationship or modify her partner’s behavior in any way. She resigns herself to living in silent desperation until “D Day.” Unfortunately, her husband views his wife’s silence as an indication that “everything is fine.” After all, the “nagging” has ceased. That’s why, when she finally breaks the news of the impending divorce, her shell-shocked partner replies, “I had no idea you were unhappy.” Then, even when her husband undergoes real and lasting changes, it’s often too late. The same impenetrable wall that for years shielded her from pain now prevents her from truly recognizing his genuine willingness to change. The relationship is now in the danger zone. If you are a woman who fits this description, please don’t give up. I have seen so many men make amazing changes once they truly understand how unhappy their wives have been. Sometimes men are slow to catch on, but when they do, their determination to turn things around can be astounding. I have seen many couples strengthen their marriage successfully even though it seemed an impossible feat. Give your husband another chance. Let him prove to you that things can be different. Keep your family together. Divorce is not a simple answer. It causes unimaginable pain and suffering. It takes an enormous amount of energy to face each day. Why not take this energy and learn some new skills and make your marriage what you’ve wanted it to be for so long? If you’re a man reading this and your wife has been complaining or nagging, thank her. It means she still cares about you and your marriage. She’s working hard to make your love stronger. Spend time with her. Talk to her. Compliment her. Pay attention. Take her seriously. Show her that she is the most important thing in the world to you. Perhaps your wife is no longer open to your advances because she’s a soon to be walk-away wife. If so, don’t crowd her. Don’t push. Be patient. If you demonstrate you can change and she still has eyes…and a heart, you might just convince her to give your marriage another try. For additional support, give us a call right away at 608.785.7000 x21 for an appointment with a Licensed Professional Counselor or Marriage & Family Therapist. ©2003 Michele Weiner Davis Training Corp. Reprinted with permission of Michele Weiner-Davis. Subscribe to the FREE “Divorce Busting” newsletter at www.divorcebusting.com, the website for people who want a more loving relationship. Also visit www.effectivebehavior.com and Subscribe to the FREE “Marriage Advice” newsletter from the Coulee Region’s premiere marriage experts - Stein Counseling. 571 Braund Street, Onalaska 608.785.7000 ext. 21 • www.effectivebehavior.com www.crwmagazine.com APRIL/MAY 2009 13
Page 2 and 3: A smile... Dr. Jon Feist The Care Y
Page 4 and 5: First in the nation breast care Bre
Page 6 and 7: 6 APRIL/MAY 2009 www.crwmagazine.co
Page 8 and 9: When weather threatens, turn to Sto
Page 10 and 11: 10 APRIL/MAY 2009 www.crwmagazine.c
Page 14 and 15: pERSONal aNd pROFESSIONal BRINGING
Page 16 and 17: “ The next day after the treatmen
Page 18 and 19: The racks at Once Upon a Child are
Page 20 and 21: CaREERS GROWING YOUR “GREEN” by
Page 24 and 25: The interior of a Savannah Village
Page 30 and 31: Types of Massage • Deep Tissue
Page 32 and 33: infertility, PMS and menopause. For
Page 38 and 39: RETaIl THERapY THE FRUGAL FASHIONIS
Page 40 and 41: 2009 paradeof June 20-21, 24-28 Sat
Page 42 and 43: “The average food that we eat tra
Page 44 and 45: efore (woman) before (man) 44 APRIL
Page 46: Find a sunny place to sit and liste
Page 49 and 50: Personal Attention • High Quality
Page 51: www.crwmagazine.com APRIL/MAY 2009

A Smile - Coulee Region Women Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?