Beginning in late 2024 and continuing into early 2025, I was part of a team to refine PreK-12 Math Standards under the auspices of the National Association of Scholars.  Known as the Archimedes Standards, they offer an alternative to watered-down and sometimes politicized math standards that have crept into many state standards.

My Mom turned 90 in February! I organized a small luncheon for her at her favorite local restaurant, attended by friends and family, and I wrote a special prayer for the occasion. 

I had an article published explaining how universities could be sued under the federal False Claims Act for violating their obligations to abide by Title VI and Title IX.

In 2024, I was shocked to discover that the state of Indiana had three minority-only (Black and Hispanic) teaching scholarships written into state law.  These were clearly a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.  During the latter part of the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly (which ran from early January to late April), I emailed countless state legislators, called their offices, and visited the state Capitol twice to persuade members to rectify these scholarships.  

Once I pointed out that the Biden Education Department in previous years had forced several universities to end similar race-based scholarships, an amendment was passed to SB 289, eliminating the race-based criteria for these scholarships.  It was an interesting (unpaid!) lobbying experience.

I've been a member of the Southwestern Indiana Historical Society for just over a year.  In April I gave a talk to the Society, "A Tragedy Became Evansville's Hate Crime Hoax of '69."  It even received some local television coverage.

In May, at the Vanderburgh County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, I received the "State GOP Chairman's Award" for Vanderburgh County.  The Governor and his wife were there; it was nice to receive a standing ovation.

My 50th Year High School Class Reunion!  Though my high school, Protection High School in Protection, Kansas, no longer exists, my classmates (thanks especially to Mike Morlan and Cynthia Dale Lindenmeyer) organized a 50-year reunion in Wichita.  I helped develop some press releases for the event.  We were a small class of 22, with 18 still alive at the time. 

While in Wichita, I also had a chance to tour Allen House, one of the final Prairie residences of Frank Lloyd Wright.  This was the first Frank Lloyd Wright structure I have toured.

Kissel-Roth Reunion! My first cousins-once removed organized this year's reunion, and Sharon Roth Kramer asked me to make a presentation on the Kissel side of the family, focusing on my grandfather Lewis (or was it Louis?) Kissel and the marriage to my grandmother Dorothea Roth.  The Willard Library here in Evansville was a big help, along with ancestry.com.  

In early July I stumbled upon the book "There's Treasure Inside," which had been published the previous November, describing five treasure boxes hidden across the United States.  Each box holds gold, gems, bitcoin, and historical artifacts worth several million dollars.  I decided to focus on the largest of the five boxes and quickly surmised it was in northern Iowa. I was "boots on the ground" twice in August with no luck.  I returned in early October, at which time I visited the Mooney Collection in the Charles City Library in Charles City, Iowa.  It was there that I saw the stunning print, Adoration of the Magi, from the Dürer woodcut pictured on the Christmas card. 

On September 7, Indiana Governor Mike Braun appointed me to the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees.  My appointment fills the final year of the unexpired term of a recently resigned member.  I had an orientation session in early October, and my first Board meeting was on November 6. By statute, we are the managers of the university, but we turn over much of that authority to the university president.  A new president was inaugurated on October 16. 

My Mom and Dad's 70th Anniversary!  My Mom and Dad celebrated their 70th anniversary on November 26.  They enjoyed receiving numerous cards and calls for this joyous event.

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!