Immediate Release

Goshen Dedicates new Township Offices

Good afternoon everyone. I am especially honored to be allowed to say a few words today at this event of the opening of the new Goshen Township Hall.  As a former resident of Goshen Township, I am proud to be part of this celebration.

No matter what the weather today, the sun is shinning on Goshen Township.  This building represents the forward thinking and progress of its leadership.  Not just the trustees and clerk, but certainly also those who work for the Township, the department heads, the various boards of the township,  those that volunteer for the township, and those who live in the Township.

In recent months, we have seen in our country and in our world what happens without vision. Hurricane Katrina showed us that New Orleans, the very capital or Louisiana and  Louisiana state government itself, was not ready. They lacked the vision to see disaster coming. The resulting effect on our oil and gas production shows a lack of vision from many a past Federal and State administration in terms of energy planning and energy conservation.  This list could literally go on for pages.

Vision and innovation: these are the key components of good government.  This is what I see here today. 

Goshen certainly has come a long way since I was Goshen Township resident back in the early ‘80s.  You have so much to be proud of.  From new fire stations, to new schools, to new road intersections.  I see people with vision.

Speaking of roads and of leadership vision. Do you all know that your township trustees started a long time ago meeting with county, state, and neighboring officials to keep the widening of SR28 and other road projects alive in everyone’s minds?  Now that’s vision with an attitude.  They have a vision and they are going to keep the vision they have for Goshen Township alive.  That’s neat to see in local government.

Sometimes progress is misunderstood, sometimes is hard to control.  Famous race car drive and multiple Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti said, “if everything is under control, you’re going too slow.”  That often fits.

Will Rogers the famous statesman said, “even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Makes Mario’s quote make sense.

To quote former President Ronald Reagan, “We believed then and now there are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are free to follow their dreams.”

And a fitting end to a Sunday speech, a quote from the often portrayed gruff President Ulysses S. Grant, a Clermont County native, “Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts on your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for the progress made, and to this we must look as our guide in the future.”
--