Some Old and New Pics

This pic was taken a couple of weekends ago at Warrior Hunting Club. This has become an annual event hosted by my good friends Drew Higginbothom and Jason Felton. Probably 15-20 of us get together every year for a weekend where no manners, women or children are allowed. Spirits are held in hand and in high regard and all have a great time. Lies and jokes are told, both are laughed at and then retold. It really is one of my favorite weekends of the year.

This pic was taken with my good friends Isaac Smith and Chris White at one of our Leadership Arkansas Events in jonesboro, I think.

Here is a pic I get kidded about by some of my friends. They say it looks like one that will end up on the front page of a paper some day.

"Doom Comes In Many Forms"

"Doom comes in many forms, but none more than at the end of a bayonet." W. Churchill. I am currently reading a biography on Winston Churchill in which he so elequently points out that bad things happen in life. Often times as history often shows us, bad things happen because we failed to recognize bad things were coming. I suspect this was the case for much of the French and British during World War II. Many times bad things in life like cancer or car wrecks happen for no reason at all. I've often said the 2 things in this life you can control the most are your attitude and what time you get some where. This picture above (Me in the Middle) was taken at a reception for this years Arkansas Business 40 under 40 selections, of which I was greatly honored to be selected by the way. Anyway my "attitude" and my "time of arrival" where two really big reasons why I was selected to this years 40 under 40 class. My attitude was that I was going to be successful inspight of "bad things coming my way." I was going to "arrive on time", in other words not get distracted by bad things coming my way that could delay my final destionation of success. Remember next time "Doom" comes your way it could have been in the form of a bayonet and how are you going to react to it.



Arkansas Business 40 under 40

I recently was selected by the publication "Arkansas Business" to their 2012 40 under 40 class. It was a great honor and in the business and political world in Arkansas it has literally served as a list of the states up and coming leaders. To even be associated with the members of some of the former classes blows me away. This year there were more than 500 applicants for the coveted 40 spots given annually, and fortunately I was selected. It truly was the highest honor I could have recieved proffesionally at this point in my life. Polly and I will be traveling once again back to Little Rock for what seems like the 19th time in June next week to attend a luncheon honoring this years class. As fate would have it their are a couple of guys selected to this years class that I was friends with in college in Fayetteville. Although I was not surprised at all at their selections, I was surprised at my own. Here is the story from the June 18th edition of Arkansas Business:

Arkansas Business Unveils 2012 40 Under 40 ClassBy Gwen Moritz
6/18/2012 7:41:21 AM

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This week, Arkansas Business presents its 19th class of "40 Under 40" honorees. As you read the profiles, keep in mind that they were selected from more than 500 new nominations - plus dozens of still-eligible nominations from earlier years. We've never had so many to choose from, at least not in the 13 years that I have overseen this project.
More nominees helps assure the overall quality of the class, just like a bigger school tends to have a better football team. But there is a common drawback: The starters tend to be upperclassmen. Not one of this year's honorees is a 20-something; the youngest is 31 and only eight are under 35. This problem is the very reason Arkansas Business introduced a "20 in Their 20s" feature three years ago. We'll be featuring those "New Influentials" in the Sept. 24 issue, so don't forget to submit your nominations by Aug. 17 at ArkansasBusiness.com/20.
Because we had so many great nominees to choose from - and because, let's face it, we make the rules - we decided to jointly recognize twin brothers Walter and William Burgess, the second-generation executives of Power Technology of Alexander. I don't anticipate making this kind of exception in the future, but treating the Burgess brothers as a single entry allowed us to actually work in a 41st honoree.
A luncheon recognizing this year's honorees will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock on Wednesday, June 27. The luncheon is open to those of us who never made the cut. Click here for more details.

Each year, Arkansas Business presents our 40 Under 40 list to recognize intriguing business and political leaders under 40 years old who bear watching.

Archived here are profiles of the state's rising stars, as nominated by readers and chosen by the editors of Arkansas Business.

Matthew Glass, 34
Title:	President and CEO
Company:	Fidelity Insurance Group
City:	West Memphis
Published:	2012

Matthew Glass had what he said was a “cookie-cutter-perfect life,” but even a man in the insurance business couldn’t ensure it would stay that way.
Two years ago his son, Tapp Allen, was born with a rare chromosomal disorder called Potocki-Lupski syndrome, which causes developmental delays.
Being thrust into a life filled with visits to the Department of Human Services, he said, “opened me up to a whole new world of people living in poverty. At DHS you see things you’re not exposed to; you’re around a whole new demographic.”
Since then, Glass has become a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. In 2011, he was appointed to the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council, and he serves on the board of the Frank C. Steudlein Learning Center, a day treatment center in West Memphis for people with developmental disabilities.
He is also active in the West Memphis community, where he serves as director of the board for the Mid-South Community College Foundation and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. “I know I can make my community better and the only way is to be involved in it,” he said.
His commitment to service extends to his more than 1,500 clients at Fidelity Insurance Group, where he has helped double revenue since he joined the company four years ago.
“I knew we had to do a better job of serving the people of Crittenden County and all over the state of Arkansas,” he said. “If your main goal is to help someone, the dividends that it pays are infinite.”

A lot changes in a year.

This picture was taken about one year ago at my son Tapp Allen's graduation. A lot has changed in just one year, including the length of his hair-it's alot longer now. I recently had to give an elevator speech at a business luncheon I was at. Normally great at these things I bombed. Someone told me afterwards that I did fine, however I am pretty sure the guy was just being nice. The purpose of an elevator speech is obviously to let someone know what exactly it is you do for a living. If you are in the sales or service business than the purpose of that speech should be changed to what it is exactly that you can do to improve that person's life. In the end that's all any of us are concerned with business wise anyhow? What I should have said was that we have 3 offices located throughout the state of Arkansas and over 150 years of experience. By being an independent agency we are able to shop all of your insurance with literally hundreds of insurance companies and that no one could sell you insurance any cheaper than we can. In addition to providing the lowest possible premiums in the south-we only use insurance companies that are A rated or better.

While our business has grown like crazy since this time last year, we cant rest on our laurels. That luncheon was a perfect example of how important it is to tune up your elevator speech every year-because just like Tapp Allen's hair-a lot can change in a year.

Disability Policy Seminar in DC and the Access School in Little Rock

Its been awhile since my last post but hopefully that will change. Last week I had the privilege of attending a Disability Policy seminar in Washington. The seminar hosted people from all around the country to discuss the numerous issues involved with Developmental Disabilities. As a parent of a child who is affected by numerous Developmental Disabilities and as a board member of a school for special needs kids here in Arkansas, I am acutely aware of the challenges that people with developmental disabilities face. Or at least I thought I was. One of the issues that I am embarrassed to say that I was unaware of is a piece of legislation intended to allow people with disabilities or their parents or siblings, the opportunity to save money in a 529 plan. 

The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their families the ability to save for their child's future just like every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities without losing benefits provided through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security income program, the beneficiary’s employment, and other sources. The account could fund a variety of essential expenses for individuals including medical and dental care, housing, transportation and a host of other needs. This should really be a no brainer for congress, but as the old Chinese proverb says "we'll see." I would encourage you to call your member of congress and tell them to support the ABLE Act.

One of the reasons I started this blog last year was to raise awareness about Developmental Disabilities. The picture above of Polly and I was taken at an annual fundraiser for a school in Little Rock called the The Access School. The school provides services and therapies to children who have developmental and other disabilities. It was a great event and Polly and I were happy to support such a great school. Part of my job as a DD Council member is to promote the services of the council and to help increase self advocacy of people with Developmental Disabilities. I hope you will join me in this task as we continue to try and make a difference in the lives of all people affected by Developmental Disabilities.

Fallen Officers Memorial Poker Tournament at Southland Park

On January 28th the Crittenden County Leadership class with the help of Randy Sullivan and Jerry Fenter, held a slot, black jack, and poker tournament at Southland Park Gaming and Racing. To say the event was a success would have been an understatement. When all was said and done more than $10,000 were rasied to help support the Fallen Officers Fund.
The winners that I knew where -my wife and Marion elementary teacher-Polly Glass, Dr. Daniel Bird, Franklin Fogleman and Blake Foust. Foust 2nd from left was crowned the Grand Champion.