December 16 Morning Edition

WGN RADIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump haters ask “Turning the page?” and say “Republicans acknowledge Biden’s victory.”
https://wgnradio.com/news/political-news/turning-the-page-republicans-acknowledge-bidens-victory-2/

WTTW
— Food Pantries Already Facing Unprecedented Demand in 2020 See Holiday Spike in Need – Nick Blumberg (DIERSEN: Soon, under the Democrats, everyone in Illinois will be handing out charity and/or getting charity.)
https://news.wttw.com/2020/12/15/food-pantries-already-facing-unprecedented-demand-2020-see-holiday-spike-need

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Madigan committee’s final ruling doesn’t sway dissenters to vote ‘yes’ for speaker   One by one, 19 members of the House have said they will not vote for Madigan — leaving him six votes shy of the 60 votes needed to continue in the leadership role he’s held for nearly four decades, barring any flip-flops in the group. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/12/15/22177151/mike-madigan-committee-final-ruling-no-sway-dissenters-vote-yes-speaker
— Beheading angels: Vandalism can’t diminish impact of memorial to gun violence victims. The sea of 739 flags, 26 angels in front, represented victims of gun violence. Vandals who chopped heads and wings off the angels couldn’t diminish the impact of a memorial to the eighth anniversary of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary and near record number of area residents killed in 2020. – Maudlyne Ihejirika
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/12/15/22171982/sandy-hook-elementary-anniversary-vandalism-cant-diminish-impact-memorial-gun-violence-victims

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Diversity, inclusion town hall sought feedback from Arlington Heights residents: ‘There is still a lot that is not welcoming’ in the village. ELIZABETH OWENS-SCHIELE (DIERSEN: From what I see, under the Democrats and under the RINOs, ever-increasingly, you are not welcome unless you promote LGBTQ, BLM, reparations, dependency on government, dependency on charity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and even worse things.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/ct-ahp-diversity-town-hall-tl-1217-20201215-tfcmagkprrf4bbmj2ftd62hfgi-story.html
— 11 candidates running for the Indian Prairie District 204 school board and four in Naperville District 203 after first two days of filing – RAFAEL GUERRERO (DIERSEN: Because I am buying real estate in Naperville School District 204, that is, because I will soon be paying Naperville School District 204 taxes, I am increasingly interested in what is happening in Naperville School District 204.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-indian-prairie-candidate-filings-st-1216-20201216-ebru2i2je5b5hcnimqjpjl6cei-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two District 204 incumbents — Susan Taylor-Demming and Laurie Donahue — were among the 10 people who submitted their forms Monday, the first day of filing. Both are seeking their second four-year term. Challengers who filed Monday were Marina Kosak, Saba Haider, Allison Fosdick, Rajesh Narayan, Kader Sakkaria, Supna C. Jain, Shannon Adcock and Yanmei May Liang. On Tuesday, Robert O. Harris became the 11th candidate to file.)

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled White-hating White-haters promote hatred against Whites, and especially against Whites who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20201214/schaumburg-library-to-feature-the-long-shadow-in-discussion-with-documentary-director
— FRONT PAGE: School board candidates flood ballot in Indian Prairie District 204 – Katlyn Smith (DIERSEN: Because I am buying real estate in Naperville School District 204, that is, because I will soon be paying Naperville School District 204 taxes, I am increasingly interested in what is happening in Naperville School District 204.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20201215/school-board-candidates-flood-ballot-in-indian-prairie-district-204
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote Kinzinger.
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20201216/editorial-kinzingers-defense-of-our-republic

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Neighbors oppose ‘dense as Chicago’ subdivision plan in Naperville The proposal to build 241 homes on about 67 acres of the former Nokia corporate campus “doesn’t match the suburban environment we have,” one nearby homeowner said. – DENNIS RODKIN
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/neighbors-oppose-dense-chicago-subdivision-plan-naperville

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
— Oberweis, Rickert, Ward vote recount covers thousands of mail-in paper ballots. “We do want to get this done while we’re still young.” – BRENDA SCHORY
https://www.kcchronicle.com/2020/12/15/oberweis-rickert-ward-vote-recount-covers-thousands-of-mail-in-paper-ballots/a6sf83/

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Pritzker orders big spending cuts. GOP blame him for budget deficit. – PETER HANCOCK (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran GAO used Republican-led budget cuts to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few GAO employees made the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article247869315.html

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Bloomington bar fined for not following COVID rules – Kevin Barlow
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/watch-now-bloomington-bar-fined-for-not-following-covid-rules/article_fadbee7b-f6cf-55e7-8de9-5577f39128a9.html

STATELINE
— Illinois invests $4.5M to address systemic racism across the state (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans cause all the problems that minorities have.)
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-invests-4-5m-to-address-systemic-racism-across-the-state/
— High percentage of Illinois restaurants could close without COVID relief – Roche Madden
https://www.mystateline.com/news/high-percentage-of-illinois-restaurants-could-close-without-covid-relief/

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage County reports 427 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, fewest since November 20, two deaths – JOSHUA WEL
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/12/16/dupage-county-reports-427-covid-19-cases-tuesday-fewest-since-november-20-two-deaths/a82kfkm/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Speaker Madigan may lack the votes for reelection, but there’s no clear replacement either – Jakob Emerson (DIERSEN: In 2012, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes succeeded in a) ending my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship and b) ending TAPROOT. They painted me as being far worse than Madigan.)
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/speaker-madigan-may-lack-the-votes-for-reelection-but-theres-no-clear-replacement-either

ELGIN PATCH
— Want To Right Racial Wrongs? Rename Daley Plaza After Du Sable. KONKOL COLUMN: Ditch the arbitrary call to rename Lake Shore Drive for du Sable, Chicago’s Black founding father. – Mark Konkol
https://patch.com/illinois/elgin/s/hcmje/want-to-right-racial-wrongs-rename-daley-plaza-after-du-sable

KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— AURORA MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN TAPPED TO HELP LEAD ILLINOIS COMMISSION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BLACK MALES – Rick Nagel
https://kanecountyconnects.com/2020/12/aurora-mayor-tapped-to-help-lead-illinois-commission-to-improve-the-lives-of-black-males/

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— Naperville Park District Passes 2020 Tax Levy (DIERSEN: Because I am buying real estate in Naperville, that is, because I will soon be paying taxes in Naperville, I am increasingly interested in what is happening in Naperville.)
https://www.nctv17.com/news/naperville-park-district-passes-2020-tax-levy/

WIREPOINTS
— Bleeding people: 93 of Illinois’ 102 counties lost people between 2010 and 2019 – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/bleeding-people-93-of-illinois-102-counties-lost-people-between-2010-and-2019-wirepoints/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Grafton Township Assessor Al Zielinski Rolls Out Campaign Piece
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/12/16/grafton-township-assessor-al-zielinski-rolls-out-campaign-piece/
— Andrew Gasser Cuts Algonquin Township Road District Levy Over 10% During Term
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/12/16/gasser-cuts-algonquin-township-road-district-levy-over-10-during-term/
— Systemic Racism Mitigation Grants Not Included in Governor’s Budget Cutting
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/12/15/systemic-racism-mitigation-grants-not-included-in-govenors-budget-cutting/
— Almost Two Years In and Governor Prizker Decides Spending Needs Cutting
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/12/15/almost-two-years-in-and-governor-prizker-decides-spending-needs-cutting/
— Why Highway Commissioner Jim Condon Supporters Might Want to Support Consolidating the Road District into the Township
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/12/15/why-jim-condon-supporters-might-want-to-support-consolidating-the-road-district-into-the-township/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Why Many Americans Want to Secede (pssst, look at the Bidens) – Laurie Higgin
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/why-many-americans-want-to-secede-from-progressivism-pssst-look-at-the-bidens/

CAPITOL FAX
— A look at a handful of discovery recounts
https://capitolfax.com/2020/12/16/a-look-at-a-handful-of-discovery-recounts/

FOX NEWS
— Top Facebook, Twitter execs donated tens of thousands of dollars to Biden campaign. No Facebook or Twitter executives were found to have donated to Trump’s campaign – Brooke Singman
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/facebook-twitter-biden-campaign-donations-censorship

GOPUSA
— Pelosi Says House Members Won’t Be Allowed To Speak Without Masks
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=99293

AMERICA GREATNESS
— The Disunited State of America Hardworking mainstream American taxpayers are subsidizing the revolution in America’s schools. It’s time to stand up and say, “Enough.” – Larry Sand
https://amgreatness.com/2020/12/15/the-disunited-state-of-america/

BREITBART
— NYT: Joe Biden’s Border Promises Are Creating a Migrant Wave – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs look forward to exploiting a flood of illegals.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/12/15/nyt-joe-bidens-border-policies-are-inviting-migrant-wave/
— Democrats Blame ‘Defund the Police,’ High Trump Turnout for Orange County Losses – JOEL B. POLLAK (DIERSEN: In DuPage County, according to Democrats and according to RINOs, Republican candidates lost because they did not officially dump the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving), and other planks in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/12/15/democrats-blame-defund-the-police-high-trump-turnout-for-orange-county-losses/
— Dr. Fauci Wants Trump, Biden, Harris, Pence All Vaccinated for Coronavirus – SIMON KENT (DIERSEN: Who does Dr. Fauci want vaccinated in Illinois, in your county, in your county district, in your township, in your municipality, and in your municipal district?)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/12/15/dr-fauci-wants-trump-biden-harris-pence-all-vaccinated-for-coronavirus/

BACON’S REBELLION
— Prince William Republicans Walk Out of “Bias” Training Session – James A. Bacon (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled White-hating White-haters promote hatred against Whites, and especially against Whites who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/prince-william-republicans-walk-out-of-bias-training-session/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Senators: Ignore Mitch McConnell Join Rep. Mo Brooks
https://www.conservativehq.org/post/senators-ignore-mitch-mcconnell-join-rep-mo-brooks

DAILY CALLER
— Committee Recommends Changing Name Of Abraham Lincoln High School Because He Allegedly Didn’t Prove Black Lives Matter – BRIANNA LYMAN (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents would stress to BLM the adverse actions that they took against me. They would stress to BLM that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.)
https://dailycaller.com/2020/12/15/san-francisco-rename-abraham-lincoln-high-school-racism/

EPOCH TIMES
— Electors in 7 States Cast Dueling Votes for Trump – IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
https://www.theepochtimes.com/electors-in-7-states-cast-dueling-votes-for-trump_3620059.html

ROLL CALL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled conservative-hating conservative-hater Stuart Rothenberg says “Four decades and counting — the GOP’s shift to the right is bigger than the Democrats’ shift left. Republican critics of the progressive “squad” are quick to ignore their own lunatic right.” (DIERSEN: Rothenberg is certainly not talking about the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, or the Milton Township Republican Organization.)
https://www.rollcall.com/2020/12/16/four-decades-and-counting-the-gop-shift-to-the-right-is-bigger-than-the-democrats-shift-left/

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: McConnell turns on Trump.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/trump-mitch-mcconnell-biden-president-elect-446221
— DeVos urges career staff to ‘be the resistance’ as Biden takes over. The secretary’s remarks come after nearly four years of frequently sparring with the career employees of her department. – MICHAEL STRATFORD (DIERSEN: GAO works for Congress. When Gingrich took over as Speaker of the House in 1995, my Democrat GAO superiors were his resistance. They used his cutting GAO’s budget to get rid of GAO’s employees like me who were Republican, White male, and/or non-veteran who had made GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/15/betsy-devos-biden-education-department-445900

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans cause all the problems that LGBTQers have.
https://www.nbcnews.com/know-your-value/feature/we-society-still-have-lot-work-do-reflecting-10th-anniversary-ncna1251284
— Georgia Senate race holds far-reaching implications — especially for LGBTQ Americans – Sydney Bauer (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans cause all the problems that LGBTQers have.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/georgia-senate-race-holds-far-reaching-implications-especially-lgbtq-americans-n1251264

NEW YORK TIMES
— A Home for Anti-Trump Republicans – Evan McMullin (DIERSEN: Will Adam Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, Pat Brady, and other hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters get together and banish Trump supporters from a) the Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican county, township, and ward party organizations, and c) Illinois once and for all? 2,446,891 voted for Trump in Illinois. 193,611 voted for Trump in DuPage County. 20,080 in voted for Trump in Milton Township. 157 voted for Trump in my precinct..)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/opinion/politics/never-trump-republican-party.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Covid-19 Vaccine Trial Volunteers Note Occasional Harsh Side Effects. Most report mild side effects, but those experiencing worse still recommend the shots. – Rolfe Winkler (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, a) will employers get rid of their employees who do not recommend the shots, b) will organizations get rid of their members who do not recommend the shots, and c) will municipalities, townships, counties, states, and countries get rid of their residents who do not recommend the shots?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-trial-volunteers-note-occasional-harsh-side-effects-11608114601
— GOP Senate Leaders Warn Against Long Shot Election Challenge. Some Republican lawmakers hope to contest electoral results at Jan. 6 joint session of Congress – Lindsay Wise and Siobhan Hughes (DIERSEN: Will Adam Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, Pat Brady, and other hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters get together and banish Trump supporters from a) the Illinois Republican Party, b) Republican county, township, and ward party organizations, and c) Illinois once and for all? 2,446,891 voted for Trump in Illinois. 193,611 voted for Trump in DuPage County. 20,080 in voted for Trump in Milton Township. 157 voted for Trump in my precinct..)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcconnell-congratulates-biden-harris-on-election-win-11608048087
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Other Republican lawmakers still hope to contest the results at a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, when federal law requires Congress to count and certify the results of each state’s electoral vote. Rep. Mo Brooks (R., Ala.) said he would press ahead with a plan to object to votes in multiple states. It takes one member of the House and one senator to formally object and force votes in both chambers. Majorities in the House and Senate have to agree for the challenge to be successful, an extremely unlikely prospect given that Democrats control the House, but the effort could set the stage for a final public fight over the tally. I can either fight for honest and accurate elections, or I can join the surrender caucus,” Mr. Brooks said in an interview on Tuesday. “I prefer to fight for honest and fair and accurate elections that are the underpinning of any republic.”)
— Schools Work to Speed Up Internet in Rural Homes for Remote Learning. Districts are paying for Wi-Fi access, modems and routers—but locating families in need takes detective work. – Julie Jargon
https://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-work-to-speed-up-internet-in-rural-homes-for-remote-learning-11608037202

TOPEKA CAPITOL JOURNAL
— Topeka City Council bans discrimination against LGBTQ persons – Blaise Mesa (DIERSEN: How strongly does your municipality protect LGBTQers, that is, how strongly does your municipality work to get rid of its residents, its organizations, and its companies that do not promote LGBTQ? I should write a book about each municipality in DuPage County and how strongly it works to get rid of its residents, its organizations, and its companies that do not promote LGBTQ.)
https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/2020/12/15/topeka-bans-sexual-identity-and-gender-identity-discrimination/3913838001/

WASHINGTONIAN
— How Did Your City Do on LGBTQ Protections? – DANIELLA BYCK (DIERSEN: How strongly does your municipality protect LGBTQers, that is, how strongly does your municipality work to get rid of its residents, its organizations, and its companies that do not promote LGBTQ? I should write a book about each municipality in DuPage County and how strongly it works to get rid of its residents, its organizations, and its companies that do not promote LGBTQ.)
https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/12/15/dc-area-cities-score-high-on-protections-for-lgbtq-workers-and-residents-hrc/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Broad Coalition of Employee, Advocacy Groups Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Convince Congress to Block Schedule F. With just days remaining until the latest government shutdown deadline, more than 60 organizations are pressuring Democratic lawmakers to ensure spending legislation includes a provision preventing the Trump administration from politicizing the civil service. – ERICH WAGNER (DIERSEN: Are/were you a policy maker? In Diersen v. GAO, GAO constructively argued that I was a policy maker, and therefore, that GAO could terminate me because I opposed GAO’s policies of political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and up-or-out. My Democrat GAO superiors never promoted me to GS-14. Only GS-14s determined job assignments, made pay-for-performance decisions, made promotion decisions, etc.)
https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/12/broad-coalition-employee-advocacy-groups-makes-last-ditch-effort-convince-congress-block-schedule-f/170789/

SHRM
Hanson v. LeVan, 7th Cir., No. 19-1840 (July 21, 2020). No Qualified Immunity for Terminations Due to Political Affiliation – Douglas H. Duerr (DIERSEN: Are/were you a policy maker? In Diersen v. GAO, GAO constructively argued that I was a policy maker, and therefore, that GAO could terminate me because I opposed GAO’s policies of political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and up-or-out. My Democrat GAO superiors never promoted me to GS-14. Only GS-14s determined job assignments, made pay-for-performance decisions, made promotion decisions, etc.)
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/court-report-no-qualified-immunity-for-terminations-due-to-political-affiliation.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to the allegations in the complaint, only the township assessor and the chief deputy assessors had the authority and responsibility to make or provide input into policy decisions. The plaintiffs alleged that they merely applied computer programs and fulfilled technical requirements in performing their job duties of assessing property, thereby exercising, at most, professional discretion. In reviewing the applicable state law and a prior court decision, there was no legal basis for concluding that the plaintiffs had a legal obligation or right to make policy. The appellate court determined that the law was well-established within the 7th Circuit that public servants employed in non-policymaking positions cannot be subjected to termination or other adverse employment actions based on their political affiliation. . .Professional Pointer: While the defendant will have an opportunity to avoid trial by presenting sufficient evidence that the deputy assessor plaintiffs were in fact involved in policymaking, this decision highlights the limitations on termination of government employees due to political interests. Although elected officials are, to some degree, represented by their subordinate employees and may worry that their image and effectiveness could be undermined by employees who prefer a different candidate or political party, termination of such employees must be based on job performance or other factors unrelated to politics. Generally, only those who are intimately involved in making policy can be required to be politically aligned with the elected official.)

GM AUTHORITY
— Corvette C8 Production Holding Steady At Two Shifts, 186 Cars Per Day
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/12/corvette-c8-production-holding-steady-at-two-shifts-186-cars-per-day/

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.