File This Under - Four Days Later - STILL Ticked Off

Back in December, when I decided to start this blog, and I found myself spending oodles of time surfing the web - that's what I came across the web site for the Indiana Historical Society.

Indiana's Storyteller Connecting People to the Past

After reading a tagline like this - how could a person resist signing up for a yearly membership?

Well, I couldn't and so I did.

By the way - you can find them here - and membership is relatively inexpensive ($40 for individual).

One of the neat things about membership is that you can opt to receive some of their publications. For example - Traces (of Indiana and Midwestern History) - an "award winning" history magazine published quarterly by IHS.

It came in the mail today.

On the cover - Indiana's Lincoln - and on the inside, a 15 page story about Lincoln and his roots in Indiana. Written by Ray E. Boomhower, it is a most excellent article - which includes drawings and photographs and maps - related to Abe Lincoln.

And of course reading through this - how could I not remember the press release that tops ALL press releases - the motherload - Lincoln Financial Foundation to Make Its Lincoln Museum Collection More Accessible and Visible

Yes folks. Four days later, I'm still ticked off (or as I like to call it - I'm still experiencing cognitive dissonance). Just goes to show that I feel strongly about a company that used to represent integrity and at least the 80/20 rule of honesty.

I'm waiting for the next press release to say, "Lincoln Financial to Make Jobs More Accessible and Visible". You know what it will say - hidden within multiple paragraphs?

The Lincoln Financial Group embodies the principles of Abraham Lincoln who once said, "I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number." By collaborating with other cities, the Lincoln Financial Group hopes to make jobs available to a greater number of people using Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial as a catalyst.

The Lincoln Financial Group is proactively pursuing a solution that benefits itself - exposing these opportunities to the largest possible audience (i.e. those on the East and West Coasts who will wine, dine and refine us.)

Through invitation, the Lincoln Financial Group will host a national informational session with potential partners in late March to provide an understanding of "possibilities" and "needs" and, in turn, discuss options for increasing visibility. In other words - you must come with at least one, highly visible pro and/or college athletic building which will bear our name.

The Lincoln Financial Group has operated in Fort Wayne, Ind., for many years, however, after giving our best possible CEO - Ian Rolland - the shaft - we high-tailed much of our operations to Philadelphia and over time, we intend to re-write history to show that this company actually originated in PA - and not in IN - as it currently reads today. As a result of this new strategic direction, The Lincoln Financial Group will eliminate as many jobs as they want - but only at the Fort Wayne location - whenever we want - but hopefully by June 30 so that we can close our books "appropriately".

End Note - Posted on the Journal Gazette website is an excellent editorial by Harold Holzer.

The Continued Erosion of Loyalty

One of the reasons that I focus on the past (as it applies to Fort Wayne) is that I'm completely heartbroken over what has been deemed "progress" over the past 15 years.


Do you remember this map that was released in - oh - the mid-70's?



I only have a small version to post here - but the one I have on this person is a fantastic animated/illustration of the businesses that were a strong force - a huge contributing factor - that made Fort Wayne stand out from all of the other big-little cities.

Companies like -

Scotts
Rogers
Maloleys
Fort Wayne National Bank
Anthony Wayne Bank
Archway
Eckrich Meats
Seyferts
Holiday Theaters
Nobsons
Southtown Mall
A&W Rootbeer Stand
Falstaff Brewery
Wayne Candies

And then last - but not least was a little ole force to be wreckoned with - Lincoln National Corporation (now known - I guess as Lincoln Financial Group).

LNC was a fantastic place to work.

My mother worked there.
My aunt worked there.
My mother-in-law worked there.
My husband and I BOTH worked there.

It was just an all-around, great place to work. Why? I think much of it had to do with the leadership and grace of Ian Rolland.

I still have major hero worship for the man today. He knew how to lead people. He knew the importance of giving back to the community. He knew that although the bottomline was important - have faith in your people - and they will build up your bottom line.

I worked at Lincoln for about six years. I always thought that after I was done with Central Indiana, I would make my way back up to the Fort and LNC would be my last place of employment before I retired.

Obviously, I was deluding myself.

Ian Rolland is gone.

The leadership team high-tailed it to the East because as we all know - it's way important to have your name on the side of some sports stadium.

They outsourced IT to IBM - which is completely - well laughable because LNC had one of the best IT groups that ever walked the face of this earth and to dump them down with the likes of the Big Blue - well - what an insult.

As an aside - very ironic - isn't it? To outsource IT to a company that charges a bazillion dollars to do consulting work for large companies like LNC/LFG. It's like we sold our talent to them. And then they turned around and (most likely) charged LNC/LFG triple.

Who knows if this THING still exists - it's probably been even further outsourced.

ANYWAY.

So I'm outraged at the moment because I just read on the Fort Wayne Newspaper site that those idiots are closing down The Lincoln Museum.

"The Lincoln Museum downtown is closing, it was announced at a press conference Monday by the Lincoln Financial Foundation.

The decision came in part because of decreased student traffic. The foundation said about 12,000 students went through the museum in 1996. Only about 7,500 did in 2006. The foundation said competition from more hands-on offerings, such as those at Science Central, had hurt business.

One or more organizations will take over possession of the museum’s 79 “3-D” pieces, such as a chair in which Lincoln was photographed. It is not thought that any of it will remain in Fort Wayne. Some of the print items, such as a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln, will be digitized and may stay here."

I heartily congratulate the idiot management team of LFG (insert golf clap here). Way to show your continued loyalty to a city that you once felt a deep commitment too. Let's start the countdown on how long it will take you to dismantle everything else that was once lovingly built and nurtured in this town by your predecessors and those who stood side by side with them (aka the fine folks of The Fort).

I'm sure there's another sports arena to fund on the East Coast. (snicker)