Our values and goals to better prepare children for learning are intertwined with Dubuque United Way Agencies.

was born in Oak Park, Illinois, raised in Chicago, the Chicago suburbs, and I've lived in Dubuque for the past 40 years. I've lived for a short time in Iowa City, I've traveled around the US and visited about seven foreign countries, and I've always speculated upon visiting a new place, "What would it be like if I lived here?" I know you have asked yourself the same question.

One of the first things I notice upon visiting a new town, city, state or country is the people. Are they friendly, engaging, and how are they involved in their community? What's the ratio of those with means to those in need? It's easy to discover these things. You can read the local paper to learn most of these answers as well as talk to people.

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Do you now the best measure of a community's quality of life? It's how those with means and the power to organize and do something in their community take care of those in need... those who are powerless. I don't look at what the local government is doing. I look at community organizations like the Rotary Club, area churches, business organizations like the Jaycees, the local school district and the United Way. If these organizations are vital, energetic and effective, quality of life in that community is high.

Another indicator of quality of life is the quality of education in the community. How is education and our institutions respected and supported? Conversely, how do the education institutions, its teachers and administrators support organizations like United Way? Besides this film project and countless volunteer hours among our people, many of our school district employees support United Way financially and generously I'm proud to say. Many of us in education realize that we depend on United Way agencies to help us prepare our young people to learn. We have the same values and objectives.

United Way of Dubuque has a long and successful legacy in of taking care of people in an efficient and cost effective way. I've been a United Way volunteer for 35 years in one form or another. Most recently, as a media developer for the Dubuque Community Schools, I've been producing the United Way campaign video. I've done four of them.

This most recent film I call "Success Stories." My theme this year was to show how well United Way has worked by featuring people who have benefited in some way from contact with a United Way Agency. From the first year I produced these films, I knew there were great stories to tell in our community, and I wanted to feature them in some way. They are the faces of United Way even though they don't realize it. They are the very symbols of how well this community works. It's not just about the money, but it's about respect and human dignity. There is a moment in this year's movie where an executive for the Salvation Army talks about dignity as if it was the most important core value in the world, and it's a powerful message.

Working for the Dubuque Schools has put me in a unique position to help with the United Way Campaign. The first thing I wanted to do was create a quality film that would connect with people on an emotional level. Last year's film won a national media award, and that was fine, but the real reward came from my friends who volunteer in the United Way community wide campaign. They loved the movie. Carrie Tedore, who is with the Diamond Jo Casino, once called me on her cell phone while she was running the movie for an employee group. She frequently goes into the community and visits businesses to kick off their individual company campaigns. She was whispering to me so as not to be heard by the people for whom she was running the movie. "I've seen this film 10 times, now, and I never get tired of it. I just wanted you to know that." It was one of the best compliments I've ever received, and I'll never forget it.

I don't do this movie alone. I have received excellent help from Rob and Chris Apel, long-time friends of mine with whom I share a love of film making and community projects. Rob is president of Liberty Bank, and his wife Chris is a professor of media studies and communication at Loras College. She is a brilliant editor, and she helps me with thematic issues, shot lists and final editing once all of the principal photography is completed. Rob acts as producer and organizer of the project, lining up the interviews and film opportunities. I couldn't do this project without them.