As we begin to Celebrate Christmas with family and friends

Wow, Christmas weekend has arrived. It has been a very busy year in 2011 with our real estate and manufacturing businesses. Our kids are busy with education and work. I have been busy with community and public policy issues, along with family, business and Rotary International.

We want to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays this year. Before we know it, we will be into 2012 and another Iowa Caucus will be in the books.

Our thoughts and prayers are especially with those traveling, ill, homeless, encountering violence, struggling, alone, under or unemployed this Holiday Season. We hope 2012 brings about a better community dialogue on a issues requiring attention. We need to turn the direction America is headed. The 2012 Presidential process, along with the Local, State and Federal elections will be very important for the direction our Republic and how America interacts with the World as a whole.