July Email from Senator Don L. Ipson

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I did a copy and paste of the email.

Friends and Neighbors,

 

A message from Don:

 

I look forward to celebrating with you this month as we commemorate the 127th anniversary of our pioneer ancestors entering Utah. Whether we are descendants of those who came across the plains or not, we can learn from their example of sacrifice, faith, hard work and determination to press forward against all odds. These traits allowed the pioneers to build a thriving metropolis in the middle of a desert wasteland and these traits will help us continue to make Utah the best state in the nation. Our state’s pioneering spirit continues to set us apart as we build thriving industries and a place where all Utahns can reach their greatest potential.

 

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy your Pioneer Day celebrations as we take time to celebrate those who founded our great state. In addition to Pioneer Day, below are other highlights from this month. Thank you for staying involved and informed!

 

One Year of 988

This month commemorates one year of 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Similar to calling 911 during an emergency, the three-digit hotline creates a simplified, universal number that anyone in the country can utilize during a mental health crisis. After dialing 988, individuals speak with trained counselors who listen, offer support and connect callers with helpful resources. The idea for a three-digit suicide prevention number originated in the Utah Legislature before being championed by Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Stewart in Congress.

 

Many Utahns were involved in making the three-digit lifeline possible, including state lawmakers, Utah’s federal delegation, the Attorney General’s Office, the University of Utah, stakeholders and constituents. Because of Utah’s initiative, individuals across the country now have access to mental health resources.

 

Bills Now in Effect

 

During the 2023 General Session, we made generational investments in education, water and accomplished a historic tax cut for the third consecutive year. Many of these related bills were signed and went into effect earlier this spring. Additional bills had a specified effective date of July 1, 2023, and are now in effect. I wanted to highlight some of these important bills below. I once more express gratitude for the diligent efforts of my colleagues in collaboratively crafting impactful legislation that will soon be integrated into the fabric of Utah’s legal framework. Click here to view the full list of passed bills and their effective dates.

 

Water:

 

H.B. 307 Utah Water Ways creates a statewide public-private partnership program called the Utah Water Ways, which will educate Utahns, coordinate efforts to optimize water use and focus policy discussions about Utah’s water supply.

 

H.B. 491 Amendments Related to the Great Salt Lake sets the framework for the new Great Salt Lake Commissioner, who is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan for the Great Salt Lake. The commissioner is also responsible for coordinating with other state agencies and stakeholders on Great Salt Lake issues. Brian Steed was confirmed as the new Great Salt Lake commissioner in the Senate’s June Advice and Consent proceedings. The bill also establishes a Great Salt Lake Account to support Great Salt Lake restoration and management efforts.

 

S.B. 112 Aquatic Invasive Species Amendments addresses the problematic spread of quagga mussels by placing a $20 per boat fee for in-state boats and $25 for out-of-state boats. The funds will go towards hiring staff and other resources that will directly help mitigate the spread of mussels to more of our water systems.

 

S.B. 277 Water Conservation and Augmentation Amendments establishes a water conservation fund to support water conservation projects and programs. The fund requires water users to develop and implement water conservation plans. These plans identify ways to reduce water use and improve water efficiency. Additionally, the bill provides incentives for water conservation, such as rebates for water-efficient appliances and fixtures.

 

Education:

 

S.B. 45 Statewide Online Education Program Amendments expands the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) to include grade 6 in certain circumstances, allowing sixth-grade students who cannot attend school due to medical or other reasons eligibility to participate in the program.

 

The bill also allows for additional middle school credits per school year, giving students in grades 7-8 more chances to earn up to 12 credits per year through the program, up from the previous limit of nine credits.

 

S.B. 146 Higher Education Governance Amendments adjust the Utah Board of Higher Education size to better focus on a statewide vision and clearer governing authority. The bill also creates a new Higher Education and Corrections Council responsible for coordinating higher education programs with correctional facilities and similar programs.

 

S.B. 183 Educator Salary Amendments is a companion bill to H.B. 215 that appropriates funding and ties the teacher salary supplement and educator salary adjustment raises to increase yearly with the WPU value instead of remaining stagnant. Additionally, it makes all teachers eligible for these benefits until they have received three unsatisfactory ratings instead of one.

 

H.B. 140 Standard Response Protocol to Active Threats in Schools addresses administrative rules related to required emergency drills in public schools. The bill codifies portions of existing administrative rules made by the State Board of Education (USBE) regarding required emergency preparedness plans, emergency response plans, training and drills. It also implements monthly and developmentally appropriate training or drills regarding an active threat within the school.

 

Law Enforcement:

 

H.B. 278 First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program creates a grant program to fund mental health services for first responders in Utah. The bill appropriates $5 million to the program, which the Department of Public Safety will administer.

 

The grant program is open to first responder agencies in Utah, including law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services and corrections. Agencies would be eligible to receive grants for a variety of mental health services, including counseling, crisis intervention and training. First responders are often exposed to traumatic events. The program intends to help first responders struggling with the mental health effects of their work by providing access to resources to help cope with stress and trauma. I was honored to be the floor sponsor for this bill.

 

All Passed Bills:

 

Utah Fights Back Against EPA Rule That Endangers Energy Supply and Increases Costs

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released the Ozone Transfer Rule. This past month, many of the state’s elected leaders have taken a united stance against it, including Governor Spencer Cox, President Stuart Adams, Speaker Brad Wilson, and the members of Utah’s congressional delegation.

 

The concern is that the EPA rule could force the premature closure of power plants in the state. This action threatens Utah’s energy grid’s reliability, affordability and dispatchability, which has been vital in helping drive the state’s prosperity for years. The balanced and commonsense energy policy implemented by Utah has not only fueled the economy but has also created some of the cheapest energy and one of the most reliable grids in the country.

 

Recognizing the potential harm to Utahns, we are steadfast in defending Utah’s reasonable and responsible approach to energy production. We must emphasize the need for an energy policy that embraces efficiency while maintaining a realistic perspective. Last session, the Legislature appropriated funds to the Attorney General’s Office, and they filed a lawsuit challenging this rule, which has the potential to impact the state’s energy supply and increase costs significantly.

 

By challenging this rule, we are aiming to protect the affordability and reliability of Utah’s energy sources, ensuring that the lights stay on for all residents.

 

Utah’s fight against the EPA’s Ozone Transfer Rule reflects the state’s determination to safeguard its energy supply and mitigate potential cost increases while discouraging federal meddling in Utah’s energy management. By advocating for a responsible energy policy rooted in reality, we are taking a proactive approach to ensure the continued well-being and quality of life for Utahns.

 

Update on New Capitol Complex Building

 

Over a century of hard work has gone into building the Capitol Hill Complex, and tens of thousands of individuals visit every year. To help increase learning about our state’s rich, long history for Utahns and visitors, construction is currently underway for a new building on the north side of the Capitol complex. This new building has been a part of the Capitol complex plan for years, and we are excited to add it to our beautiful Capitol grounds. The building will house a Museum of Utah, archives storage, conference rooms and offices. The museum will display state historical artifacts, some of which have never before been available to the public, allowing Utahns and state visitors to interact with our past.

In addition to a world-class museum, the new North Capitol building will also include additional parking. During the session especially, visitors to the Capitol often struggle to find parking around the complex. We want to increase Capitol accessibility for visitors and constituents who want to be involved in the political process. The addition will make the Capitol Hill complex an even greater destination for Utahns and visitors. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2026.

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The Difference between Annual and Perennials

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I often forget the difference. Annual is a plant the grows for one year.

Perennials sound like two words to me and thus the plan will grow more than one year.

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Key Things You Need for Success When Publishing Your Book

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This online summit was presented by Alexa Bigwarfe . Any misinformation is the fault of the notetaker.

Q: what things you need when publishing your book?

  • First time authors make sure they have taken the time to have a good book that is publishing ready. Need a well-edited book.
  • A good cover to match the norms of the genera.
  • Properly formatted book for eBook.
  • Properly distribution channels.
  • Need proper key words and categories for people to search for your book (on amazon.
  • Finding readers that are ready to get your book.
  • Slow down. Beta readers catch a lot to make sure it is done right.
  • Not starting the marketing early enough part of which is emails.
  • Need an audience of those who are interested in your genera.
  • The presenter pushed her book for two weeks and found many mistakes. Take the time to do it right.

Q: How do you market a book that is not yet published?

  • Don’t need to have a book to market.
  • You need to know what your target audience wants. Start spending time on your Facebook page about the topics that will be covered your book. For fiction: start talking about the genera and talk about other books other people love to are like yours.
  • Use proper hash tags.
  • Pull in the readers what really interests them.
  • Using social media if its networking, you’re not doing it right. You need to create a content and you need to be engaging.  Ie: book talk. Getting a lot of major movement. (https://www.weareteachers.com/what-is-a-book-talk/)
  • If you make a video. It can build a community.
  • Sales are not coming from the author. It is largely coming from readers. Take advantage of book talk. Engage with them. then approach them on your book if it fits. On tick talk, Instagram,
  • Follow people who review books.
  • Linked in is great for nonfiction authors.
  • Google ads are good if set up properly and target the right people.

Q: Where is the primary place to concentrate your efforts.

  • Focus on finding readers.
  • Get on podcasts.
  • Go to events.
  • Get in front of your audience. Paying ads ‘may’ be an option.
  • Prioritize the route you choose to publish.

Q: best advice?

  • You need to market yourself in front of the right people. Find ways to get in front of other people’s audience. Podcasts is a great way.
  • Be consistent.
  • Do things to invite them to follow you.
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How to Survive and Thrive in a Difficult Conversation.

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My employer offers online videos on various topics to help employees. This one is from Daily Journey. This presenter is Dr Sarah. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

 

  • Difficult conversations can add to stress.
  • Quote: it is not about feeling good but its about good at feeling.
  • Quote: Forget about feeling good, just concentrate do what matters.
  • We know that when we communicate with loved ones it doesn’t feel good.
  • We tend to sometimes want to feel good especially when we’re having intimate, vulnerable conversations. It doesn’t feel good, it feels icky. It feels difficult, challenging, and uncomfortable. So, how can we feel ok with this? This is a difficult moment. It might be a moment when both of you are suffering.
  • How do we get good at feeling?
  • We have to learn to be in these difficult moments. We have to learn to sit, to breathe and – stay open.
  • Let us not constrict or restrict.
  • Let go, let be, let in.
  • Try to let go of the stress and be with the stress. Let in the good.
  • We are understanding our vulnerabilities. We can talk about us. What do we need to support each other? We need a moment of closeness together. How can we still how we love each other.
  • Notice our own needs, your own feelings, curious about the others persons thought and physical sensations.
  • Remember we all experience difficult situations.
  • I am not the only one having a difficult conversation with a loved one.
  • It’s about my needs not being met sometimes and their needs are not being met sometimes. We are trying to find a compromise.
  • Concentrating upon what matters helps us tap into our values and the superhero within each o us. It helps us connect to who we want to be.
  • When we face challenges, we can ask ourselves, how can I make my future self, happy?
  • How can you make the person you’re talking to happy? They can be happy by how I stayed calm and grounded in the conversation. I remember kindness, compassion and empathy.
  • Think when a little baby is upset or having a temper tantrum. They just need to be heard, loved and cared for. The same needs are for adults and relationships.
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Faith of the Pioneers

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These are notes from a talk at church. Any misinformation is the fault of the note-taker.

 

  • The Lord has always built his church on those who are willing to devote their lives to him.
  • Any saint who has chosen to be gathered in Israel.

Three traits of a Pioneer.

  1. They follow the prophet Moses, Nephi, and Joseph smith. They know the prophets are called of God.
  2. Pioneers share the gospel. A 11yr old in Peru was an excellent missionary. When we share the gospel, and the other person feels the spirt we too feel the spirit. If we are unashamed in sharing the gospel, we can call ourselves pioneers.

2nt Nephi 9:18

  1. Pioneers are covenant keepers.

The Israelites carried the Tabernacle.

The Nephites performed sacrifices.

The saints during the time of Joseph Smith, before crossing the plains, were living the ordinances.

Today we make covenants through baptism and marriage.

Our covenants help us to change and become better. They give our lives meaning.

We can repent and continue along the covenant path.

If we live the commandments, we will be blessed.

Christ was a pioneer by establishing his church on the earth.

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Why Should Creating an Emergency Fund Be a Top Priority?

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https://www.thesimplifydaily.com/budget/money-management/budgeting/why-should-creating-an-emergency-fund-be-a-top-priority-44515264

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Meadow Gold Dairy Property Meeting on Aug 2 nt at 6:30 pm.

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A citizen report:

 

Got this letter in the mail. for anyone who would like to provide input. This is an excerpt from the letter.

 

To Whom it May Concern,

Wright Development is holding a neighborhood meeting for a proposed development project located at 841 S state St. Orem Utah 84097. This site is currently vacant. It was formerly used by Meadow Gold Dairy.

“Pursuant to Orem City Code Section 22-=14-20(i0 this meeting is being held to discuss the project with you. This is an opportunity for you to review the plans and provide input and recommendations regarding the project. This application has not yet been reviewed by the city and is subject to change during the review process.”

The neighborhood meeting will be held at 6:30 PM on Thursday, August 3rd at:

Scera Center for the Arts

Room 201 (2nd Floor)

745 Sough State

Orem, Ut 84058

Plans will be made available, and representatives of the developer will be on site to answer questions and to receive feedback.

For additional feedback, please contact logan@wrightdevelopment.com (801-773-7339)

Thank you.

Logan Johnson

Posted in Citizen Report | Comments Off on Meadow Gold Dairy Property Meeting on Aug 2 nt at 6:30 pm.

Psychological Tricks to Save Money: How to Change Your Mindset

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https://www.thesimplifydaily.com/budget/money-management/saving/psychological-tricks-to-save-money-44512585

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The Six Figure Book Launch

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These are notes from a online summit presented by Matt McWilliams. Any misinformation is the fault of the notetaker.

Q:  How write a book during a busy life?

  • Started it when it wasn’t so busy.
  • Started writing minutes a day. Screen already open. Followed timer.
  • Type in notes for the net day. Subconsciously I worked on it for the next session.
  • Finished book in 5 months. It is about making the time.
  • It can build a habit.
  • Use whatever software you’re comfortable with. If add a random thought> open google doc on phone to add the notes.

Q: what advice for professions who have a full-time job to write a book?

  • Do a daily short spurt of 20 min. each morning, Did a brief exercise to wake up the body.
  • Don’t sacrifice your sleep.
  • Every day on Facebook, gave word count it was a way to hold himself accountable.
  • His audience help them narrow down the book.

Q: what book launce strategy.

  • Focused on affiliates.
  • Got on multiple interviews.
  • Put the book up in advance > and identified people who promoted books that are in your category. We identified 200 books that fit> bound you who interview authors, podcast, or wrote blogs.

Q: how worked with affiliates.

  • We would provide incentive for buy the book.
  • Asked buyers where they bought the book?
  • $16-$23 entry point of book. Go info a funnel to give other options.
  • If sections of your book are cut, that might became a course with a deadline to take advantage of.
  • Don’t make money on the books its what branches off that book. The backend is how you make money.
  • Share 50% on back end with affiliates.
  • Preorder bonuses is the way to earn and preorder sales is counted for the first week of the book in print.

Q: advice?

  • Write your book
  • Authors can be so sucked into research. 80% of book hid in head.   the book and then do the research. AT the end fo the research.
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Can Forgiveness be Self-Compassion?

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My emp0loyer offers online videos on various topics to help employees. This one is from Daily Journey. This presenter is hector.

 

  • Long term resentment can destroy us.
  • There are things we can do other than running our minds over and over on our negative feelings.
  • Some people may be holding resentment for years or decades.
  • The good news is you can do something about it.
  • We are responsible for replaying our resentment and negative thoughts.
  • Mindfulness and mediation are two good ways to start.
  • Meditation is where you select a special space to work on your mind and thoughts.
  • During this time we’ll say good bye to all the things that we are seeing, smelling, tasting, touching and the rest. We withdraw from that.

Process:

  • Close your eyes.
  • Sit very still.
  • Let go of everything outside.
  • Let’s go digging inside, cause if resentment is in us, and the anxiety that comes from it is in us, let go find and undo it.
  • Meditation and mindfulness is a powerful tool to help us.
  • Get in a comfortable position but not too comfortable if you are sleepy.
  • You want your thoughts to be placed on your mind.
  • The thing that is not physical, your emotions, your feelings, your sensations, the energies that come in and out.
  • As we get there the mind will distract us.
  • As we sit in mediation, withdraw. close your eyes.
  • We’ll start thinking cause the mind is busy, thinking all the time.
  • Lifting resentment — what a weight off my shoulders.
  • Settle your body in a nice mediation position.
  • Relax and take a deep long breath.
  • Now inhale, fill up everything, hold it for a little bit. and then exhale and let it all out.
  • Hold for four, exhale for four hold for four seconds. do this for about ten rounds.
  • In your mind you see a future time, in the distance you see a future you. Maybe six months, a year or five years’ time. The future you have no resentment.
  • Seeing yourself as resentment free is called future refuge.
  • Your future self has confidence.
  • Let that visualization sink into your mind, the possibility of being resentment free. have a nice exhale and then do a stretch. whatever you need to do.
  • Once the body is settled, withdraw from everything. Nothing to see, our job is to be aware of our body.
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