Join us in the A.G. Maas parking lot this Wednesday to watch the downtown fireworks!

This Wednesday we will be celebrating Independence Day in the A.G. Maas Company parking lot. Please come down for free parking and a great view! (Parking is first come, first serve)

The fireworks begin at 10pm.

Announcing the Newest (and Youngest) Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis

Laura Sniadecki, Henry Sniadecki (2 mos), and Matt Will, President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis

During the Tuesday lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Henry Sniadecki was recognized by the club as a Paul Harris Fellow (possibly the youngest). He was presented with a commemorative certificate and pin. What a special honor!

Henry Sniadecki (2 Mos), Mark Blade, Past President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, and Laura Sniadecki

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Indianapolis and the Paul Harris Society, please visit www.indyrotary.org.

Tour of United Water...Hold Your Nose

Laura, who is currently serving on the Board for the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works, had an opportunity this week to tour the Belmont Wastewater Treatment Plant.

She comments that it was educational and enlightening to see the process and facility through which our wastewater flows to be recirculated.

(Laura is expecting a baby in 2 months).




Photo provided courtesy of Bob Masbaum, Chief Engineer-Deputy Director for DPW

A.G. Maas Drives Down Hunger with Church Brothers

Above: 2011-Concord Neighborhood Community Center
Below: 2010-Concord Neighborhood Community Center
For the second year in a row, the A.G. Maas Company is proud to support their neighbor, Church Brothers Collision Repair, in their Driving Down Hunger campaign which benefits six area food pantries. More than 12% of Hoosiers live in poverty according to the Census Bureau.

Our donations are delivered directly to the great people of the Concord Neighborhood Center, just down the street from the A.G. Maas Company. This year, we were able to include toilet paper, gloves, and other cleaning supplies which they also appreciate.

What Makes the Stadium Village Farmer's Market the Best in Town?

If you work or live downtown, I can't think of a better time or place to buy fresh fruits, veggies, and meat in addition to other great artisan products!

The Stadium Village Farmer's Market is conveniently located in the parking lot adjacent to A.G. Maas Company (that's us with the red building!), across the street from Shapiro's Deli, and just two blocks west of the Eli Lilly and Company corporate headquarters.

I personally have bought from nearly every vendor over the past two years and have been pleased with it all. Not only are these people incredibly friendly, they are passionate and knowledgeable about what they do and grateful for the business.

The parking is free and it is right on your way home, from 4pm-7pm every Tuesday! Please visit the market website for more information on the vendors and activities. www.stadiumvillagefarmersmarket.com

I hope to see you there!

Uitlander: It's all in a word at the Marion County Spelling Bee

Many of you have wondered if I take any pleasure in ringing the bell at the judges' table during the Marion County Spelling Bee, sponsored by IUPUI, Kroger and the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. The answer is absolutely not.

For the fourth year in a row, I have volunteered as a judge on behalf of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. The photo above is taken from my vantage point at the judges' table. Look at these nervous, yet determined faces! How could I possibly take pleasure in disqualifying them for spelling a word wrong when they've studied so hard and take the competition so seriously.

Of the 40 participants, Regina Solomito, a homeschooled 8th-grader, won this year's Bee with the word "uitlander". I was so proud of all these outstanding young people. Regina will be representing Marion County, Indiana in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. on June 1 and 2. Good luck Regina!

Live Long and Prosper

My dad was a big Trekkie when I was growing up, so I often heard the words, "Live long and prosper" followed by the unusual hand formation of the Vulcan salute.

Today, Governor Mitch Daniels was the speaker at my regular Rotary Club of Indianapolis meeting, and I had the great pleasure of meeting him. When I told him that I own a small, WBE-certified business, he inquired as to what kind of business it is and immediately wished me prosperity.

With Thanksgiving Day upon us, I find it especially timely to think about the word prosperity as defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary: the condition of being successful or thriving.

Before we rush, rush, rush into December, I am reminded to exhale and be thankful for the support of my family and friends, the loyalty of our customers, and the good people of the Indianapolis community of which I am a fortunate part. For without you, prosperity is not possible; therefore, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and on behalf of all Trekkie's in the world, "Live long and prosper" to you too.

Dirty Work is Good Clean Fun

First of all, a big thank you to John Bragg Photography for capturing the wonderful sense of community and fellowship from the Concord Business Association (CBA) Fall Tree Planting which took place Saturday, November 20, 2010.

This tree planting would not have been possible without the generous, hardworking people at Indianapolis Downtown Inc., Indianapolis Power & Light, Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, Rotary Club of Indianapolis, and the kids from the Concord Neighborhood Center. You will find the fruits of labor on South Meridian Street mainly between the I-70 overpass and Wisconsin Street.

As Vice President of the CBA, I am so proud that the A.G. Maas Company is located in this great downtown neighborhood. It was fun meeting new people, getting a little dirty, and making a small difference in this big world.

To view all the photos from the tree planting, please visit http://johnbragg.com/concord.

Yee Haw! Monumental Marathon Runs Past A.G. Maas Company

When Kellie Stewart from the organizing staff of the 2010 Monumental Marathon contacted me to see if we would mind supplying power to one of their entertainers this year, I jumped at the opportunity.

Check out Jeremy Morris and the Harvest Road Band in this YouTube video. Can you believe he is only 13 years old? It was early and very cold, but those frozen fingers sure can play the banjo! Good luck Jeremy!

2010 Marion County Spelling Bee: Can You Spell Plenilune?

Spell it? I'm not even sure exactly what it means. Actually, I looked it up, and it means full moon. This was the third year for me to judge the Marion County Regional Spelling Bee on behalf of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. I am pictured here with this year's winner, Gina Solomito, a home-schooled 7th grader, John Elliott of Kroger, and Kathy Cookerly of The Indianapolis Zoo.

Each year, I am amazed at the intelligence and discipline that are demonstrated by the young people who participate in the Bee.

With each ring of the bell, I imagine that young person reciting, writing, and practicing the words from the Scripps National Spelling Bee practice guide. With deep sadness in their eyes, many filled with tears, one by one, the spellers leave the stage as the best speller emerges. In my eyes, these young students are all winners.

Buy Local Reminder

"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back..." Anthony Robbins

Today's Rotary Club of Indianapolis' weekly meeting was closed by our president, Julian Peebles, with the above quote. I find it especially touching and relevant considering our club presented more than 40 local non-profit organizations with nearly $200,000 total in grant awards. As a board member of this club, it was a great reminder of how our contributions are benefiting so many worthy causes and outstanding individuals right here in our own community.

Additionally, today's program was one of the most moving presentations I've seen in our club in a long while, and there are many great presentations. For those who may not be familiar with the amazing story of Qudrat Wardak and Rotary's Gift of Life program, I invite you to read the story from the Indianapolis Star about his journey. The image of Qudrat and his father in this posting has been provided by Matt Detrich of The Star.

What's truly heartwarming, and what I learned from Jim Graham's presentation today, is that despite Qudrat's short and courageous life, his legacy lives on in Afghanistan, his native country, through the construction and operation of a school for women and children. Many of the funds that were raised to provide continued aid to Qudrat and his family upon his return to Afghanistan were used to make this possible in a community that was in desperate need of this facility and education.

Because the A.G. Maas Company supports organizations like the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, we are able to not only reach organizations in need in our own backyard, but also around the world. It is days like today when I am reminded that we all have a greater purpose!