Innovations

Innovations

Bernie Koch of Springfield uses his salon a block from the Capitol in Springfield not only for some of the state's who's who, but also to help women in the nearby Sojourn House feel more attractive.

Businessman helps people without power feel more attractive

Image is power. As the owner of a high-end beauty salon one block from the state Capitol, Bernie Koch sees that truism played out every day. He is instrumental in helping a number of prominent women and men look their best. "Attractive people get the breaks," says Koch. He feels politicians are a clear reflection of our culture's belief that power and beauty go hand in hand.

But Koch isn't satisfied with making the who's who along the brass rail look good. He reaches out to people who have no power. He found them at Sojourn House, a shelter for battered women in Springfield.

"All people have the potential for being attractive," says Koch. His program for Sojourn House has one goal: to provide the women with a positive experience. Many of his clients from Sojourn, he says, have a history of failures and of being told they are not attractive. Koch and his assistants try to help the women regain self- esteem through an improved self-image.

According to Ann Tavender, one of Koch's Sojourn clients, Koch does just that. "Bernie is responsible for my getting back into the world. Now I know I look good, and I feel confident about being out in public again." Tavender went to Sojourn House after being hospitalized from a beating by her boyfriend. She is now on her own and ready to join the workforce again.

Koch says his program concentrates on helping women learn how to look attractive and how to re-create that look for themselves. But Koch's advice goes beyond hair styling, makeup and nails. He starts by getting women to visualize where they want to be, then teaches them about the uniform of that job. "All jobs have uniforms," says Koch. "The uniform of a supervisor is different from that of a clerk. If you want to be a supervisor, you have to dress and carry yourself like a supervisor." Part of the training is mastering a confident, solid handshake and making eye contact.

Koch has helped 46 women in the past two years make the transition from the shelter to self-reliance.

Illinois screenwriters have chance to compete
If you have a screenplay you've been working on, now's your chance to make it to the big time. Through a joint effort of the Illinois and Chicago film offices, prospective screenwriters will compete for the opportunity to work with successful writers in Los Angeles and have their work read by studio executives.

"The process will be the prize," says Suzy Kellett, director of the Illinois Film Office. "This competition will provide Illinois- and Chicago-based writers with the opportunity to have direct access to top decision-makers in the motion picture industry."

Entries, which are due by November 15, will be judged through a two-tiered jury system composed of people from the local film industry and current or former Chicagoans who have written, directed or produced feature films. Based on script analysis, the field will be reduced to 50. That group will be narrowed to five based on script creativity and marketability. Those five get to work with an accomplished screenwriter to polish their scripts and then have them read by film industry executives with the power to put them on the

screen. "It's exciting to know that a screenwriter's career may be launched as a result of this competition," says Charles Geocaris, director of the Chicago Film Office.

Kellett says that one requirement is that at least 75 percent of the story takes place in Illinois. She says that even though more than 500 movies have been shot in Illinois, the state has been slow to encourage the creative side of moviemaking that will guarantee that movies will continue to be made in Illinois.

The competition, to take place every two years, is aimed at fueling the economic engine of movie production in Illinois.

"It's an investment in ourselves," says Kellett.

In the Saving Your Tax Dollars category...
Seal
The winner this month is (pause, drum roll) the Illinois State Police.

In a total state budget of $33.37 billion, a few thousand could be seen as a proverbial drop in the bucket. Nevertheless, it should be noteworthy when an agency of government tries something new that saves money, our money, especially when sticking with the status quo is easier and offers little risk of criticism.

Beginning last June, after a two-year study, 2, 396 ISP fleet vehicles began using synthetic motor oil. Director Terrance W. Gainer estimates the savings for fiscal year 1995 will be more than $300, 000.

Most of the savings come from the extended length of time between oil changes: 15, 000 miles for synthetic oil compared to 3,000 miles for patrol cars using regular motor oil (5,000 miles for all other vehicles in the police fleet).

With fewer changes required, the savings are realized through a decrease of work hours, oil and filters used. Added to those savings are other dollars accrued through lower costs for unscheduled repairs and vehicle replacements due to extended engine life. Studies showed using the synthetic oil also resulted in an overall 1 percent increase in gas mileage.

The synthetic oil can be recycled with regular oil so there is a long- range environmental bonus, too.

Beverley Scobell
4 / November 1994 / Illinois Issues