Wisconsinites and Northern Illinoisans

[GlennCraven]

I've been holding off mentioning anything because I didn't want to jinx the girlfriend, but it's starting to look pretty seriously like she -- and thus eventually I -- will be relocating from Kansas to the Janesville/Beloit area of southern Wisconsin.

 

She'll be the one getting the new job and I'll be the one still looking.

 

Meanwhile, I'm interested in knowing who on the forum might live in that general vicinity. Anyone here in a car club, Mopar-specific club, anything like that?

 

Other than automotive stuff, what's important to know about the area?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who speaks up.

[Merle Coggins]

I'm about 75 miles away from Janesville. I like the area but can't tell you much about the local car clubs. Ken Bartz, whom I haven't seen here in quite a while, lives in that general area as I recall, maybe just north of Janesville. He is fairly active in the local POC group.

 

I don't know what the job market is like down there. Since GM closed the plant in Janesville there have been a lot of folks scooping up any other available job in the area. I'm sure you'll find something though. There's a lot of businesses around there. What company is drawing your GF up to the Badger State?

 

Merle

[GlennCraven]

Well, Merle, I should probably trade my minivan for a '74 Dodge Monaco (which could be a good idea anyway) because we're on a mission from God.

 

If hired, my girlfriend will be the new associate pastor at a large and growing church in the Janesville area.

 

The committee liked her during "neutral pulpit" weekend last week. She was unanimously invited back in November to preach for the congregation, and they will vote on whether to call her.

 

I need a job so we can make things official and set up house. Which would be a good move on my part because in a year's time since we met she's gone from just supporting the idea of old cars, to thinking she'd like to help with fabrics and interior restoration, to deciding she wants to learn how to weld.

 

KEEPER. 

[Dave72dt]

I'm about 2 1/2 - 3 hrs away and have been through the area several times.  GM's been closed down for several years now so it should be somewhat sorted out by now.   I think Saturn may have been operating a small plant in the area recently.  Rockford and Madison are both in driving distance so there may be opportunities there also.  There's always something if you're willing to venture out of your field of expertise.

[GlennCraven]

I may have to venture out of my field of expertise. I'd like to in many regards.

 

I've put in over 20 years in the newspaper business, which is an awful place to be. Ridiculous hours at embarrassing pay. Even if I want a newspaper job, it can be hard to get hired with my kind of experience. I'm old enough with enough time put in that I don't want to work for recent-grad wages, but the recent grads also know things like shooting video for the website, which I've never done.

 

I've done some media relations and enjoyed that a lot more; the opposite side of the coin, really, with the reporters and editors calling me for information rather than the other way around. That would be good.

 

Unfortunately, what I really like are old cars, baseball and racehorses, not always in that order, and I'm still looking for a way to make a living in one of those.

 

I actually do have my hat in the ring for an office job with a minor-league baseball club in Beloit, but it remains to be seen what sort of consideration I'll get for the role. ... "Venturing out" of one's field of expertise is a two-way street. One must be willing to "venture," but someone else must be willing to sell you a ticket on the ship. 

[Merle Coggins]

Good luck with all of it. If/when it all works out let us know. I'd make the trip down to South Central WI to represent the P15-D24/Pilot-House Forum Welcome Wagon.

Edited October 24, 2013 by Merle Coggins

[GlennCraven]

Thanks, Merle. I'd look forward to that!

 

We used to vacation every three or four years in central Wisconsin, around Green Lake. But that's as far as I've ever explored, and the last time I was there would have been 30 years ago.

[Merle Coggins]

Green Lake is a nice area too. That's about an hour and a half north of me. Maybe I'm just biased. I like all of Wisconsin and I get to see most of it during my travels for my job.

[54Illinois]

There are a lot of shows within an hour or so drive from where you will be. 

[Mike Petersen]

Now if you can get a job driving old cars to minor league ballparks and writing stories about it. That would be pretty cool. 

[GlennCraven]

Now if you can get a job driving old cars to minor league ballparks and writing stories about it. That would be pretty cool. 

 

That would be great.

 

Two summers ago when I moved the rest of my stuff back from North Carolina to Kansas, I turned it into a minor-league stadium vacation, though I managed only three. I saw a AA game at what was then Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn., (now I think just called Generals Park after the naming agreement ran out). I had a great time at a low-A game at Asheville, N.C.'s, historic McCormick Field, which was built in 1924 and was the site of some filming for "Bull Durham." And, I got to see a AAA game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which when built was arguably the finest stadium in minor-league sports. ... A lot of places are on its level now. It's remarkable how nice the newer stadiums are, and how much has been invested.

 

I wanted to see another couple of games on the way home, but adopted the tiniest of stray kittens, who was lost and alone on the porch of my old house in Carolina. I didn't want to leave him alone in the vehicle during summertime for fear he'd die from the heat, even at night.

 

He's a great cat, though. He will sit on a table and watch television, but only baseball or "Top Gear." ... Otherwise, he doesn't care much about TV.

 

His name is Kismet, and I do think it was fate that he would be my cat.

Edited October 25, 2013 by GlennCraven

[Merle Coggins]

Is the Beloit team a MLB minor league affiliate, or are they part of the Northwoods league, a college player, wood bat, summer league?

[GlennCraven]

They're Class A minors, an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, playing in the Midwest League. The Beloit Snappers did well on the field last year, but in the minors that doesn't always have much correlation to how well the club does in attendance and financially.

 

They've been at the same field since 1982, basically in a residential neighborhood, and time has left the facility behind. Teams with new, commercially appealing stadiums in the 16-team league draw anywhere from about 2,700 fans (Cedar Rapids Kernels) to 8,400 (Dayton Dragons). After about a decade of consistently drawing around 1,200, last year Beloit was last in the league with 939 fans per game.

 

From what I can see, the club has challenges beyond the older stadium. The September unemployment rate in Rock County, Wisc., was 7.4 percent, higher than the not-seasonally adjusted statewide rate of 6.2 percent. Across the line in Winnebago County, Ill., unemployment is even worse; I think August was 10.9 percent. ... So it isn't a wealthy market.

 

Still, drawing 939 people per game in a two-county area with roughly 450,000 residents must be improved.

 

Further, when the club recently went to county officials for about $100,000 in renovation funds for the ballpark, it got the money, but not without some dissent from the elected officials. So it seems their local support is weak, and weakening.

 

Their general manager has resigned to take another job in town. I noticed that news online. I called and spoke with the president of the club (which is locally owned and operated by a board of directors, a bit like the Green Bay Packers) and he said they're trying to figure out what kind of person they need as a replacement, and the job is yet to be advertised as a result.

 

I've never managed a sports organization, but I've managed a newspaper, worked in media relations for a state agency, have a degree in public relations, and played baseball in college. I don't really think there's anything the position could throw at me that I couldn't handle.

 

I think they could benefit from new ideas, maybe an outsider's eye, and a lot of enthusiasm. I would love to have a job that gets me out of bed each morning absolutely stoked to go to work. And there'd be a lot of satisfaction in helping them turn everything around.

 

So, that's what I'd like to see happen.

Edited October 26, 2013 by GlennCraven

[Merle Coggins]

I guess I didn't realize how much baseball we have here in Wisconsin. I believe that's the same league that the Timber Rattlers are in. They are a Brewers affiliate up in Appleton. We also host 7 of the 16 teams in the Northwoods League, which is a summer ball league for college players. Those teams are in Madison, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, Green Bay, and Bayshore (north side of Milwaukee). 2 Minor league "A" teams and 1 MLB team. That's 10 places in the state to watch baseball through the summer months. Are there any more that I don't know about?

 

Good luck. It sounds like it would be a good gig. And Tim (aka 48D) would be a big fan, since he's a big A's fan.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Merle Coggins

[GlennCraven]

Sweet, Tim! (If you're watching.) I have a couple of other friends who are big A's fans, and I've started pulling for them some since "Moneyball."

 

Yes, same league as the Timber Rattlers. When I was playing in high school and college the team there was the Appleton Foxes, a club and nickname that started in the 1950s.

 

For the Midwest League, only the two clubs are in Wisconsin. The league has some pretty serious mileage to travel by bus. Most of the teams in the Snappers' and Timber Rattlers' division are scattered all over Iowa, with a couple in Illinois. The other division is populated by teams primarily from Michigan and Ohio, with a couple in Indiana.

 

It's a league with a ton of history. Next year will be the Midwest League's 60th anniversary. A lot of great players have passed through. And the MWL has some of the best club nicknames in minor league baseball -- the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Lansing Lugnuts, Bowling Green Hot Rods, Cedar Rapids Kernels and Quad Cities River Bandits being among my favorites.

 

It used to be most of the minor league teams had distinctive, local nicknames. Then there was a stretch when some of the MLB franchises wanted all of their minor league affiliates to taken on the parent team's nickname. Now there's a bit of a trend back to being more localized and creative, which I think helps with fan interest and continuity. ... You might have a new franchise affiliation in 2015 (i.e., Royals instead of A's), but you can still be the Beloit Snappers -- which doesn't reset your brand identity, outdate a fan's game-going wardrobe and such.

 

I really want to do this thing, so thanks for the well-wishes. All good vibes count!

Edited October 26, 2013 by GlennCraven

[Mike Petersen]

Send in your resume. I too am a baseball nut but from the west side. My son pitches in college. Lots of baseball around these parts also.

[GlennCraven]

Send in your resume. I too am a baseball nut but from the west side. My son pitches in college. Lots of baseball around these parts also.

 

I did speak with the president of the club, who said he was working on filing a ticketing manager's position first. The GM's job will be discussed among the board and filled later.

 

BUT, after several minutes of telling him about myself and discussing what I've read about their situation already, he advised me to go ahead and send my résumé and such now, which I've done.

 

I've given him three workplace references and two people who can vouch that I probably remember you run the bases counter-clockwise.

 

I haven't heard back, but it looks like we'll be going to Janesville for my girlfriend's command performance at the church on Nov. 17, so I'll call him before then and offer to stop by ... even if he'd rather I didn't. 

[plymouthcranbrook]

Although I live in Northeastern Illinois I am a member of the Dairyland Region of the POC. I know Ken Bartz as well. The region is centered around the Madison/Janesville area and is fairly active in the summer months.  Not so much in the winter.  Most events are social meetings. The club is very family orientated and most events are one day with a sprinkling of weekend tours.  If you think that you might like to visit a meet in the spring of 2014 or later let me know and I will give you our schedule.  Let me know here and I will give you a contact number.

[GlennCraven]

Thanks. If (more like when) we get up there, I'll be in touch. Sounds like fun!

[plymouthcranbrook]

OK

[GlennCraven]

Well, it's a done-deal. On the girlfriend's employment situation, anyway.

 

Sunday was her morning to preach to (and be voted on by) the congregation, and she was overwhelmingly approved to be the associate pastor. She will begin serving in Janesville on Dec. 15, which apparently is kids' Christmas program Sunday so nobody will be preaching much.

 

Monday we'll be looking for housing, which we've done from afar but none in person locally until the hiring was official. We need a place to accommodate not just us, but three cats and a 45-pound dog. (A very, VERY good dog.) ... Also ideally a two-car garage, one side for her 2013 Mustang and one for my '49 Chrysler Windsor project. Whatever I drive can sit outside if it must.

 

We might have to buy because the rental market is incredibly tight, especially among places that permit a pet (or four).

 

I tried to steer her towards buying an older house just south of Janesville that has behind it a large, high-ceiling shop with a 9,000-pound lift.   

 

But, it's less house than a lot of other places in our price range and overall (regardless of ability to qualify) a lot more money than she's comfortable spending on a starter house. 

[Merle Coggins]

Welcome to 'Sconsin. Good luck in your new home search.

 

Merle

[Dave72dt]

She may need to reconsider that Mustang purchase.  There's a reason a lot of 4 wheel drive vehicles are sold here and she's the one who really needs to get to church on time.

[GlennCraven]

She isn't parting with the Mustang. After I (finally) got to drive it this weekend, I wouldn't, either.

 

I'm in a 2002 T&C minivan right now, but already looking for a way to replace it with a 4x4, preferably a three-quarter or one-ton pickup to eventually pull car and horse trailers. I'll drive her to work on the worst days. 

 

Finding rentals in the Janesville area was hard, considering our combined pet situation particularly. So after some whirlwind house-hunting, an offer was made and accepted in one afternoon on a home in a quiet, established neighborhood recommended by the buyer's agent. (We saw about a dozen options in a very affordable range before deciding.) Closing will be right around Christmas, though her first Sunday is Dec. 15.

 

I didn't get the house with shop and the 9,000-pound lift. Obviously I didn't get the five or 10 acres I wanted for horses.

 

The places DOES have a 2+ car garage, so I can push the Windsor over a bit to have more room to move around her and work. It has a double-width drive in front ending in one parking spot at the front porch and the other lane going behind the house, where the drive widens again to the full width of the 2.5-car-wide garage.

 

You should have seen the look on the future wife's face when I said, "I think we could fit eight cars here between the garage space and the driveway."

 

"We're not buying EIGHT cars," she said. 

 

"I mean for when we're hosting youth group."

 

"Ohhhhhh." 

[Merle Coggins]

Good rebuttal