Pictured above is Richard Willich operating the John Deere, disking the Picalata cornfield.
Richard Willich jumped on a very large tractor this weekend and began preparing a portion of his farm for a massive corn planting. No stranger to the tractor, Willich had previously carved out a 40 acre pasture, leveling, scraping and fencing it in preparation for this next step. Bright and early on Saturday morning the large equipment started humming. With the assistance of longtime friends and St. Augustine farmers, Rick Wells, and his son, Richard Wells, Willich began disking the field. Disking is a process in which the soil is tilled in preparation for planting. Wells and Willich are partnering on this corn project with high hopes for a prosperous crop.
Corn is America’s number one field crop. Over 332 million metric tons are grown annually in the United States with approximately 40% of the crop - 130 million tons - used for corn ethanol. Ethanol, when blended with gasoline at a 10 percent level, is effective in reducing carbon monoxide levels, ozone pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from automobile exhaust. Price per bushel has ranged from $6.00 to $8.00 in the last 6 months.
Field preparation and planting at Picalata Farm will be complete in February, at which time everyone will start praying for rain.
Richard Willich is shown walking tired horses after moving cattle to new pasture.
Picalata Farms was busy last weekend! Richard Willich moved his herd of Registered Aberdeen Black Angus cattle from the east pasture to the west pasture of his 120 acre farm. The move was part of a rotation plan for reseeding pastures, managing manure for environmental protection, and providing hearty grazing land for the cattle.
“The key to a successful project is having a good plan,” Willich said. ”And if that doesn’t work, quickly switch to ‘Plan B’!” Luckily, with 5 horses, 4 Australian Herding dogs and a good plan, there was no need to see if he had a ‘Plan B’.”
Pictured above is Major Duane Forsberg and Lt. Colonel Richard Willich
The Marine Corps Birthday is on November 10th and every year around this date the Marines celebrate with a Ball. Whether in Afghanistan, California or Florida, the day is celebrated and, if possible, the same type of ceremony is held. It is a time of great pageantry, but is also a time for remembrance of those who have given their lives in service of their country.
On Saturday, November 19, 2011, the Marine Corps Ball was held for the Marines in Northeast Florida and South Georgia. The evening began with a procession led by the guest of honor, Lt. Colonel Richard R. Willich, and the Commanding Officer, Major Duane Forsberg. At each Ball, the opening ceremony is marked by the service of a birthday cake. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the guest of honor, then to the oldest Marine present who passes to the youngest Marine present. This passage of birthday cake is symbolic of the wisdom and knowledge being passed from the older and more experienced Marine to the next generation of Marines. The celebration also includes a reading of Marine Corps Order 47, republished every year, as well as a message from the Commanding Officer.
After the pageantry ended, Lt. Colonel Willich gave a moving speech to the Marines and guests and, following a wonderful dinner, wowed them all on the dance floor!
Most people think of countries having only one diplomatic representative, an Ambassador, located at an embassy in the nation’s capital. Most do not know that many nations have Consulates scattered throughout the country. Spain has nine Consulates in the United States, including one in Florida. The Spanish Consulate in Miami has four Honorary Vice Consulates located throughout Florida in the Tampa, Orlando, Pensacola and St. Augustine areas. For visitors from Spain, the Consulate is their first stop for services they may need while traveling away from home.
We are proud to announce Señor Don Richard Willich was recently appointed Honorary Vice Consul for Spain in Northeast Florida by Consul General Cristina Barrios, Consulate General for Spain in Miami.
From his beautiful St. Augustine-inspired office building in Ponte Vedra, Florida, Willich, as Honorary Vice Consul, will provide services for many Spanish citizens who visit the St. Augustine area each year.
A reception in his honor will be held in conjunction with the Menendez Noche de Gala. The Gala will be in the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine on February 26, 2012.
The Honorary Vice Consulate for Jacksonville and St. Augustine may be reached by mail at 90 Fort Wade Road, Ponte Vedra, Florida 32081 or by telephone at 904-473-1200 ext. 1500.
The Consulate General of Spain in Miami is located at 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 203, Coral Gables, Florida 33134 and may be reached by phone at 305-446-5511 and by fax at 305-446-0585.
Pictured above: Back row - George Norton, Katie's father; Jason Green and Billy Steeghs, MDI; and Nora Norton, Katie's mother. Front row - Katie Norton with Richard Willich, CEO and Chairman, MDI Holdings.
Seated: Children with the new iTouches Standing: Kids Bridge staff with Richard Willich, CEO of MDI Holdings, Inc. and Carolyn Camacho, Project Manager at MDI Holdings. Inc.
As the children entered the annex at the Willich Kids Bridge Saturday morning, they were greeted with warm smiles from the staff and, as an added bonus, iPod Touches! The majority of those in attendance had no prior experience using an iTouch but it was only a matter of minutes before they figured it out.
When Richard Willich, Chairman of MDI Holdings, Inc. visited the Willich Kids Bridge earlier in the month, he noticed that the children attending classes on Saturday mornings seemed disengaged. Willich had the idea to integrate technology in with the program to enhance their learning experience. His donation of 8 iTouches, 2 iPads, and 2 Laptops at a value of approximately $4,000.00 was a much welcomed gift. Lynn Stroghm, President of the Kids Bridge Board, was delighted when she learned the scope of Willich’s gift. “Our laptops were extremely old and on the verge of not working at all. The iPads and iPod Touches will be a wonderful addition to the Saturday classes. Kids Bridge appreciates so much, all that he does for the Center.”
The Kids Bridge was opened in 2002 to provide a safe, neutral, home-like setting for continuation of family relationships during times of separation due to issues such as divorce, domestic violence and abuse allegations.
In 2009, Richard Willich and MDI Holdings, the national healthcare technology company based in Ponte Vedra, financed the renovation of Kids Bridge at a cost of $300,000. Upon Kids Bridge reopening in March of 09, the center was renamed The Willich Kids Bridge in appreciation for the generosity of Willich’s donation.
Richard, parents and workers look on as the children learn to use the new ITouches.
Photo: Richard with Ellen Avery-Smith, Chair, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council Executive Committee, 2010.
Richard Willich shared his views on ways to stimulate job growth in St. Johns County with Florida Governor Rick Scott, State Senator John Thrasher and State Representative William Proctor at a luncheon with business leaders in St. Johns County on Monday.
“We are very focused on jobs,” Governor Scott said to the small group of people during a business roundtable luncheon held at the Markland House on the Flagler College campus in St. Augustine. The discussion focused on reducing regulations and the cost of doing business.
Richard told the Governor “The combination of federal, state and county taxes are job killers for companies like MDI that are the economic engines of growth, no matter how much stimulus tax money is spent.”
The Governor was interested in hearing views on how to stimulate growth and create jobs. “I’m trying to do everything I can to reduce cost. Is there something in government we don’t need? We are looking at every agency. I think government is way too big,” said Scott. Scott cited examples of results achieved since taking office including the creation of new jobs and, although still relatively high, Florida’s declining unemployment rate.
Pictured above is Richard Willich standing in front of the Willich Kids Bridge Center in St. Augustine, Florida.
Willich Kids Bridge Family Visitation Center celebrated the one year anniversary of its newly renovated Center on July 21, 2011. Lynn Waugh Straughan, President of the Kids Bridge Board, gave a brief overview of the history of the Center and the programs offered, stating “The generosity of Mr. Richard Willich has enabled the Center to expand its programs and as a result, reach out to those most in need.”
Former Circuit Court Judge Robert Mathis was on hand to address the Kids Bridge supporters and to introduce its benefactor, Richard Willich. Richard Willich, CEO of MDI, is a veteran, businessman, entrepreneur, cattle rancher and active community supporter. Willich graciously thanked Judge Mathis, the staff of Willich Kids Bridge and its many Junior Service League volunteers for their dedication to providing excellent services and programs to the community.
All present were then invited to tour the Center and enjoy the Hors d’oeuvres.
Pictured above is Richard Willich greeting one of the children at the Kids Bridge Anniversary event.
Gwen Johnson, Richard Willich, Lisa Brubaker and Beth Upchurch in MDI lobby showing how pleased they are with their FCAT number one rankings.
Out of the 18 possible grade-level categories in reading, science and math, St Johns County students were ranked either first or second in the state.
“100% student engagement, student cheers during math practice, and children excited to learn grammar! You might think this sounds like it could only be a teacher's dream, but it was my reality thanks to the generous donations of Mr. Willich.” heralded Lisa Brubaker. Ms. Brubaker teaches fifth grade at PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School. She joined two fellow teachers, Gwen Johnson of Timberlin Creek Elementary and Beth Upchurch of Ketterlinus Elementary at a luncheon last week hosted by Richard Willich, Chairman and CEO of MDI Holdings, Inc. Stephanie Keating with Crookshank Elementary was unable to attend.
In February of 2010, PVPV/Rawlings was the recipient of $100,000 worth of teaching technology from Richard Willich. The donation included 37 interactive SMART Boards, 43 MDI computers, 30 new Apple computers, 18 classroom response systems, power strips, network switches, cables, software and labor.
Three additional St Johns County schools, Crookshank, Ketterlinus and Timberlin Creek participated in TIP (Touch-screen Interactive Program). The TIP project is a technology based program that provides iPads and iPod Touches to these elementary schools. The goal of this program is to improve the learning skills of children through the use of state of the art technology.
“Without the technology and the doors it opened for my students, I expect we would have had another year with growth similar to years past.” said Beth Upchurch, third grade teacher at Ketterlinus Elementary school. “The technology was the key factor that made my students grow an extra year [a total of 2 years growth in one year] versus my former students or students in the comparison groups. This technology worked wonders as an attendance motivator, as a behavior modificator, and as a tool with which students took responsibility for their own learning.”
Ms. Upchurch said “I consider it a privilege to have been part of a program that impacts children's education in such a positive way.” Ms. Brubaker echoed Ms. Upchurch’s sentiments, saying “Without Mr. Willich's donations, this kind of technology would have taken years for us to purchase. His kindness helped the PVPV/Rawlings Eagles SOAR in so many ways.”
Congratulations to all the schools in St. Johns County on their excellent rankings within the state, and thank you to all the teachers who worked so hard to achieve it.
Wide screen monitors, computers, printers and office furniture being delivered to City Hall in downtown St. Augustine.
Richard Willich, Chairman and CEO of MDI Holdings, Inc., has been working closely with St Augustine City Administrator, John Regan, for several months to select the best location for a new technology center for the children of St. Augustine. Initial discussions looked to an abandoned building in Lincolnville which formerly housed a grocery store. A few weeks ago, however, fundraising efforts were kicked off for a three building Civil Rights Museum proposed for the St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church and School property on Martin Luther King Avenue. The museum will house a historical area and state-of-the-art museum. Regan and Willich agreed that this seemed a more fitting location for the high-tech computer center. With the location identified, Willich donated $100,000 in technology and furniture to the project.
Until the Museum is ready to accept delivery of the donation, the computers, printers and furniture are being stored on the 2nd floor of St. Augustine’s City Hall.
A long time proponent for helping the elementary school children of St. Johns County, Willich believes that this new center will enhance the efforts he has already begun with the implementation of the TIP (Touch-Screen Interactive Program) Project. The TIP Project is a technology based program Willich created that provides iPads and iPod Touches to Elementary Schools in St. Johns County. The goal of this program is to improve the learning skills of third and fourth grade students through the use of technology. This program is currently in three schools; Crookshank Elementary, Ketterlinus Elementary, Timberlin Creek Elementary and PVPV Rawlings Elementary.
Richard Willich, CEO of MDI, is a Vietnam Marine veteran, businessman, entrepreneur, cattle rancher and active community supporter. More information on Richard and his activities and philanthropy can be located at www.richardwillich.com.