Flying S, Inc.
Whenever I get a little depressed about the state of our nation and Illinois, I reflect on Flying S, Inc.
David Shaw, grew up in Palestine, IL (a tiny town of only 1,300 citizens in east central Illinois). An early passion in flying, instilled by his parents, led to an aeronautical engineering degree. Following graduation, David worked for a number of firms before, in his early 30's, returning to Palestine and forming Flying S, Inc. - an engineering consulting firm.
Accompanying David back to Palestine, was his Australian wife, Penny. Working with David's father, Penny helped market their prized grass-fed beef, while David consulted for firms around the world. One of David's clients was having trouble getting a proto-type completed. "Could David help?" they inquired.
Purchasing a few pieces of machinig equipment, David completed the job, and quickly found more demand. He added employees and equipment and even more clients. Flying S had started in a barn. Penny and David occupied the upstairs, while operations occurred on the main floor. 
David & Penny Shaw - Original facility on the left.
Pretty soon their living space became the office, as every inch was needed for the growing manufacturing activities.
In April, the completed a new 16,000 square foot manufacturing facility. In three short years, they've added more than 20 employees, all highly skilled, well payed positions! Today, their manufacturing capabilities include elements for unmanned aircraft used in both the commercial and defense industries. They've quickly become the top class supplier for a world market of customers, including NASA!
I was fortunate enough to be present for the grand opening of their new building. More than 250 people were in attendance. Due to my affiliation with the firm that completed the building, I was honored to give a short speech. You might be surprised to learn that the crowd of 250 people gave a standing ovation that day.........not for me, but for the person that spoke immediately after me.
David's father, John Shaw, gave an incredibly moving tribute that brought the crowd to it's feet. I've kindly received permission to reprint his remarks. Please take the time to read his heartfelt words. I can think of no more fitting post for Memorial Day...............
Get R Done
(Speech by John Shaw at Flying S Grand Opening – April 20, 2012)
Welcome. When our children were young, Patti and I tried to give them opportunities to further their education. Sure, I always tried to direct David toward airplanes. Perhaps the poor child didn’t have a chance. His mother came from a family of aviators and I have been interested in flying for as long as I can remember. David had no problem taking the bait.
What a blessing it is that we live in this great country where we have the freedom to step out, dream big, take a chance, word hard, treat others the way we like to be treated and who knows what good things might happen. Opportunity is available to all. As Glen Beck would say "Small business is the heart of this nation." Its what the US is all about.
It’s to the point now that I’m no longer surprised by David and Penny’s accomplishments but I’m impressed. Who could have imagined a facility such as this a short time ago? Who could have guessed we would have been on national TV talking about the farm and business.
It’s great. However there is a reason for serious concern! Like Apollo 13 Lovell said "Houston we have a problem." Our problem comes from Washington. We have people in power who are intent on taking away the very freedoms that make things like you see here possible. They can’t stand to see someone rise above another – excepting themselves.
Our grandchildren assembled this puzzle of Emmanuel Lentz's famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. Lentz was German-American who went home to Germany in the mid-1800s for a visit. At that time Karl Marx had just completed his "Communist Manifesto" and it was taking Europe by storm. The state would own everything and personal freedom would be nonexistent. Marx’ plan was nothing new it has never worked and never will but it is the direction we are heading at high speed. Lentz painted the picture to show Europeans that those Yanks on the other side of the pond have a better idea. Forget Marx.
In the boat we find a Scot, a black man, a woman, some farmers, a Native American – all being led by General Washington, General Hand and future President Monroe. He illustrated a government that protects man’s God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A government where everyone has a chance to better himself.
The war had not been going well for Washington in 1776. They didn’t give up. On Christmas Day they crossed the Delaware at night and attached the Hessians defending Trenton. They had that Get R Done attitude. Washington and his rag tag army were victorious – it turned the tide of the Revolution.
I see the same Get R Done attitude in the people of Flying S. It comes only from a free people.
It is high time for people like each of us here today to make sure future generations have the same opportunities we have had. We need to work hard to defeat anyone who has even the slightest leaning toward Socialism, Marxism, Communism, whatever you want to call it. The future of our nation depends on us. Let’s Get R Done.
Thanks to TWO generations of the Shaw family for keeping me inspired!
Okay, let's talk about Bain
Obama wants to make Mitt Romney's tenure at Bain Capital an issue. So, let's talk about it.
Following his graduation from Harvard's joint MBA/JD program, Romney started his business career as a business consultant with Boston Consulting. His work there earned the attention of Bill Bain, founder of Bain Consulting, who asked him to join Bain. For the next six years, Mitt distinguished himself as a Bain consultant for numerous companies across America.
In the early 80's, Romney wanted to be more than a consultant, he wanted to have a stake in the outcome. And so, Bill Bain formed Bain Capital and named Romney as it's head. Through Bain Capital, Team Romney would employ their consulting expertise to firms that they were actually investing in.
Romney would run Bain Capital for fourteen years. The average annual internal rate of return? OVER 100% per year!
Now we've all heard of Romney's success at the turnaround of 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. (Did you realize that a major financial complication facing Romney's efforts there was the fact that nearly $300 million in security was added due to the events of 9-11?). But there's another turnaround that few have written about.
In 1990, after less than a decade at the helm of Bain Capital, Mitt Romney was called back to Bain Consulting. The multi-partner consulting firm was in DEEP trouble. Huge deficits, partner defections and disgruntled employees had put the firm on the financial ropes. Bill Bain asked Mitt to help turn things around.
It took Romney exactly two years to restore Bain Consulting to its former glory.
In both the Bain Consulting and Salt Lake City turnarounds, Mitt Romney assumed leadership of entities with HUGE deficits, demoralized members and unfocussed leadership. He re-energized the organizations, with new focus and direction. He is a turn-around specialist with results.
HUGE Deficits
Demoralized Members
Unfocussed Leadership
It's seems like Mitt Romney has arrived, just when America needs him the most!
I
Tuesday, May 22nd
I've known Rodney for years - he will be an incredible advocate for fiscal discipline and economic opportunity in the Central Illinois district in which he's running.
Tuesday, May 15
Energy News: Natural Gas prices, at historic lows in January, have fallen by 50% more since then!! The lower energy prices will drive US manufacturing competitiveness. While the rest of the world only looks on with envy.....
Fracking is flopping overseas
King Coal is having trouble though. The switch from Coal to Natural Gas, as an energy source, has driven the demand and price down....dramatically. Publicly traded Coal companies have lost 50% or more of their value in the last year. A friend is working on a $600 million bankruptcy for a coal mine in West Virginia.
With the largest world reserves of coal, America holds an abundnant energy source. We can retap it, once the "known" natural gas supply is depleted (which is estimated at 100 years). Offer some tax incentives to invest in Coal gasification research, and we can unlock that bountiful resource, as well.
Meanwhile, North Dakota continues to open up new wells every day. As big as the Bakken formation is, the Sanish Three Forks formation appears to be even bigger and more abundant. But that's not the biggest oil news this week.
Federal Lands in Colorado, Wyoming & Utah hold known oil reserves that exceed the entire world oil supply.
Lower energy prices will drive both manufacturing and consumer spending in this country. It will necessarily jump start our economic recovery. Which Presidential candidate is most likely to help deliver cheaper oil prices for America - Obama or Romney? Vote accordingly.
Election News
Team Obama seems to be losing the women's vote. It was critical to his 2008 victory.
And his new gay marriage stance is creating a wedge with Christian America. Here's a great state-by-state graph on the percentage of different faiths in each state. In particular, take a look at the percentage of Christians in swing states like Ohio, Penns. & Florida. And remember, in just over a month, the Council of Catholic Bishops have called for a two week protest against the Obamacare mandates. But that's not Obama's biggest headache.
Wisconsin's recall election, against Gov. Scott Walker, is exactly three weeks away. Results will be an early predictor of Democrat's position for November. And, it's not looking good for them.
Walker jumps to a 9 point lead
Democrats form circular firing squad
Given the investment by unions, in this fight, a victory for Walker will seriously neuter the perceived strength of unions as a political force.
Frankly, it's already happening, as Democrat governors across the nation are making serious cuts in union power and benefits in their economically ailing states.
Democrat leaders have quickly realized that unions no longer provide political power, they are only good for campaign contributions. And where else will those union dollars flow? As a result, unions, in state after state, are having to swallow the bitter pill of benefit reform that their own elected leaders are forcing down their throats.
Tuesday, May 8 - TEA Party tonight!
Stephen C. Tucker - noted national speaker - will be in Effingham this evening for his talk "The Truth About Obamacare."
5 pm - Effingham VFW.
2304 S. Veterans Dr, Effingham
It's a free event and open to everyone!
Have you heard people say, "I just don't get involved in politics anymore. It's just gotten too harsh."
Well this is exactly what the entrenched politicians and bureaucrats want. The more you disengage from the political process, the more their power grows.
Don't just come to the TEA Party tonight. Bring your son or daughter (or grandchild) along with you. We only can preserve our freedoms for future generations if we get them involved at an early age.
I still fondly recall the first political events in which I accompanied my parents. From a march for Martin Luther King to political fundraisers, my parents raised my political awareness.
Do a favor for America and your children by bringing them to this event!
Thought for the day....
"Apparently, I'm supposed to be more angry
about what Mitt Romney does with his money
than what Barack Obama does with mine."
Gov. Scott Walker
Yesterday, your Republican Reporter Team (Dick R. & John P.), along with an Effingham business exec. attended a speech by Governor Walker in Springfield, IL.
The 90 minute ride included insight from the business exec (born in Wisconsin and son of a union leader and former state rep.) and a phone call from my cousin who still resides in Wisconsin and is employed by a state University there. Let's just say the opinions were polar opposite.
Arriving at the downtown hotel for the speech, we had to weave our car through a picket line of protestors.
Frankly it was all pretty orderly. Although the protestors were loud, as one had a megaphone. (I told Republican Reporter Dick that we needed to put a megaphone in our budget for the next event). There were also several large busses on the streets. Quizzing a few protestors, we found out that most had come from Chicago area and had been bussed in for the day. I'm guessing there were at least two thousand people in the streets - not including the Republican Reporter Team.
Interestingly, every sign was a pre-printed offering. Through these eyes, it all looked a little manufactured.
Once we were inside, Chamber Exec.Todd Maisch gave an all too brief presentation on what other states are doing to reduce their budget deficits. (He had lots of great info - that I didn't have time to capture). Some snippets:
1 in 5 Illinois residents are now on Medicaid
Other states are tackling their problems
Rhode Island has imposed many of Scott Walker's pension reforms - but the union is not protesting
New Mexico has ended the food stamp program in their state
Michigan has placed a lifetime cap on entitlement benefits. Once you hit the cap you are out of the system.
Ironically, the unions aren't protesting these actions, only Governor Walker.
Chamber President Doug Whitley made reference to the protestors when he introduced Governor Walker. He said, "The people outside are raising a lot of flak for the Governor's appearance here today. But, I've always found if you aren't catching any flak, then you aren't over the target."
The speech by Walker was incredible. For all the media characterizations of this guy, he gave a one hour speech, without notes, and laid out his reasoning for crafting a new fiscal direction for Wisconsin.
Walker's main point was that State Governments (Illinois included) always put forth the idea that we must either raise taxes or cut state services. This is a "False Choice". Walker's approach is to make government more efficient. His greatest example was removing the requirement that school boards HAD to use the Union owned Insurance company. This has saved millions of dollars across the state. (Even my Wisconsin cousin didn't disagree that this had been a good thing).
Walker pointed out that the union control of schools was so unbalanced that the Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year received a layoff notice from her school district due to cutbacks. It was all based on seniority. Walker has implemented a merit based consideration plan, as well. (As I listened to this, I realized that even unions don't ascribe to a seniority system. After all, the longest serving union members aren't the leaders. That's done through an election, presumably based on merit. What a novel idea that they have embraced!)
Walker challenged Illinois leaders to think more about the future of Illinois than their own political futures.
In office just over a year - Walker's having an impact.
Already, state teachers, by a strong majority, feel the schools are on the right track.
The business community has gone from only 16% feeling the state was heading in the right direction, to more than 90% today.
Walker reminded that states don't create jobs, but that businesses and people do. And the only time that jobs expand, is when business owners feel there is a stability in the future. A big driver of that perception is the political and fiscal stability of a state. Having just impeached a governor, raised taxes by 66% and facing nearly 100 billion in debt, Illinois needs to get serious about restoring fiscal and political stability in the state if they ever want jobs to return.
Departing the speech (we left right after Walker spoke) we were stunned that all the protestors were gone. Well, there were five or six left. We had a pleasant chat with them.
Driving away from the Hotel, we saw several groups of people standing around waiting for their buses to return. And unlike the protest marches that I've seen in other places - the posters were all disposed of properly. You can thank the TEA Party for that - they set a high bar for being responsible citizens - and other protest groups are begrudgingly following along.
The unions have chosen to make Scott Walker the poster boy for fiscal responsibility. Latest polls show they may be losing that fight......in more ways than one. As Walker continues to balance the field for negotiating with unions, and delivering on budget reductions, more Governors will look to the Wisconsin model for making their own necessary changes. That's the last thing that Unions wanted.
He may be taking some flak, but he's over the target.
Just an observation
The next time you hear about the Republican's "War on Women", it's important to remember this.
There are five female governors in the US. Want to guess how many are Rs?
Would you believe that 80% of governors in the United States are Republicans? That's right. 4 of 5 are Republicans
The only Democrat is Bev. Perdue of North Carolina, and she's not running for reelection because of ethical challenges.
Invest in your future!!
Students are finding that their investment in education is not paying off in the job market. Many are now holding student debts that exceed a normal house mortgage.
My off the cuff idea - Colleges and Universities are the ones that encouraged their students to take on large debt loads, as the way to "Invest in their future".
Seems like those universities should now reciprocate. Let's require the Universities (via the Teacher Pension Funds) to hold at least 25% of their assets in Student Loans. Then the pension payments can be tied to the repayment ability of those students.
College professors are happy to have students tie their financial future to the University's ability to deliver a career building education. Maybe the College Professors should have their financial futures tied to that promise..