[August 19, 2008]

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis., Larry Avila column

(Post-Crescent, The (Appleton, WI) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 19--I didn't personally see it, but from what I read, Brett Favre did pretty well in his preseason debut with the New York Jets on Saturday.

Though I'm not a Wisconsin native, I've been a fan of professional football for as long as I can remember and it seems weird to see Favre under center for another team besides the Green Bay Packers.

I suppose it's just one of those things. I'm sure Packers nation felt Favre would end his playing days wearing the green and gold, but as we've all seen, not everything is a lock in life.

During a recent visit with my family, my dad, who spent more than two decades with General Motors, told me the company was eliminating health insurance for white-collar retirees over the age of 70. The move, according to my dad, is designed to help the struggling U.S. automaker save money.

GM's struggles also are tough for me to accept. Having grown up in a town heavily dependent on the U.S. auto industry, GM was the employment king at one time.

During the company's heydays, I recall walking into a dentist's office, and the receptionist asking what insurance I had. I mentioned my dad worked for GM, and she said, "Oh, you're fine, then. Their plan covers everything."

Well, things do change. One day a business stands for multiple generations and then out of the blue, the company announces it's shutting down.

A recent major Fox Cities casualty is the NewPage mill in Kimberly, which by Aug. 28, an estimated 475 workers will be out of a job.

There are efforts now under way by politicians and the union representing a majority of the workers at the mill to try to either save the facility or persuade current owners to sell it to someone else and ultimately keep the affected workers employed. Only time will tell if the plan will work.

A colleague of mine recently mentioned to me that the cycle of business closures and openings is a normal process. If one shop closes, it's hoped that a similar or entirely new business comes in to fill the void.

So long as there is a business to replace the one that closed, it speaks to the economic health of the community. At least there is someone out there willing to take a risk and make a go of a business. If no one stepped up to take a chance, then we'd have a problem.

It's no secret that the economy isn't in the best shape, but it is moving forward. The president's Office of Management and Budget projects the U.S. gross domestic product, the total output of all goods and service producers, would reflect growth of 1.6 percent in 2008 and 2.2 percent in 2009.

These numbers are in line with the Federal Reserve Board projections of 1.3 percent and 2 percent growth for 2008 and 2.1 percent and 2.7 percent next year.

Whenever a longtime routine changes, it's difficult to accept at first. Packers fans are moving forward without Favre, and my dad has accepted that his health benefits are how in the hands of Medicare, instead of through a private insurer provided by his former longtime employer.

In the end, whenever you think something is guaranteed for life, take a look at the fine print. So long as you can be flexible, dealing with and accepting change will be a lot easier.

Larry Avila: 920-993-1000, ext. 292, or lavila@postcrescent.com

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