MARK BAKER

Why?  Specifically, why do some children grow up leading healthy, productive, happy lives and mature as men and women who make a positive contribution to society, while others get off track somewhere along the way? SEARCH Institute of Minneapolis did a study of this subject and produced 40 Developmental Assets, which is reprinted with permission following Mark's story.

Those assets came to mind as Mark sat in his office at Clarke County State Bank, where he is Assistant Vice President, and told of his life-now a citizen of Osceola, Iowa; Rotarian; member of the Optimist Club; on the Board of Trustees of the Osceola United Methodist Church; chairman of the Clarke County Republican Party, as well as involved in temporary community projects, which he regards as natural for a responsible member of the society.

What were the influences that brought the newborn in Independence, Missouri, through elementary school in Jefferson, Iowa; junior high in Fort Madison, Iowa; high school in Colfax/ Mingo; the University of Iowa, graduating in 1993, to Osceola and his present position?  There are those who might regard as detrimental the many moves the family made as Mark's father, Ken, was climbing the ladder of his career in the banking profession. It tells a great deal about Mark's nature that he sees them as broadening, exposing him to a wide variety of people, places and experiences.

Using the Developmental Assets sheet as a basis, listed first of all, under Support, is "Family support".  Mark has been very aware of and thankful for the positive support of his father, Ken, and mother, Pat.  Both parents were always there for him. "There was nothing more important than that they listened." Theirs was a reading family and as far back as Mark can remember of his childhood, his parents read to him every night. He points out that this practice accomplishes not only an acquaintance with books and establishment of a habit, but it also gives the feeling of togetherness and out of it grows conversations that evolve from or during the reading.  They went to the library at least once a week and Mark remembers that, on his way home from swimming, he stopped there because it was cool, quiet and restful.

All the while he lived at home, Mark cannot remember returning at whatever time of night and not finding at least one of his parents waiting up. He hastened to explain that was not in a negative way but just to know he was home safely and, if there were something to talk about, they talked.  Mark grew up in an era when the sharp distinctions of right and wrong were becoming fuzzy, but his parents defined them for him. They did not deviate from them and there was not a question about them. He describes his background as honest, clean, loving, with a "level of happiness" that underlaid whatever happened.

Mark learned early on the fundamentals that were important to his parents. #1: telling the truth.  No matter what that was, pleasant or painful, sharing or confession, even though he knew there might be punishment if he had done something wrong, it was never as bad if he was up-front about it.  #2: Never quit what you begin. Even if he signed up for wrestling and hated it after the first few weeks, he knew that he would have to endure it until the term was over. Those qualities have been so much a part of who Mark's parents are that they are now basic to who he has become.

The next asset under Support, "Positive family communication", has been reinforced by Mark's older brother, Chris. Being four years older, by the time Mark was ready to enter high school, Chris was graduating and going off to the university. Mark looked up to him and refers to him as his best friend. For persons acquainted with The Odd Couple, Mark describes himself as Felix and Chris as Oscar. Chris, a voracious reader, was sometimes reprimanded by a teacher for reading during class time. By nature he is a philosopher and the two have had long talks about life.  On the lighter side, they played frisbee by the hour and still do.  They still have much in common, both being in the banking business, and they talk on the phone two or three times a week.

"Other adult relationships": Mark remembers his early years in Jefferson, Iowa.  Before he was allowed to leave the block, he rode his big wheel in the immediate neighborhood. Everyone knew him and had a conversation with him. Billie Harding, across the street, was like a grandmother.  She began their relationship by waving at him. Billie traveled extensively and brought bookmarks from various places. She gave them to Mark because she knew that he enjoyed reading.

Those were days when children felt safe, which is listed as another Asset. Chris and Mark could ride their bikes or go anywhere without a thought of danger. And the neighbors and parents' friends were another support. The boys knew these people were aware of their doings and goings and that they cared. The boys' behavior was determined to a degree by not wanting to disappoint either their parents or this "community" of support.

Mark regards two teachers in particular as having had a positive influence: James Spencer was his English teacher and track and cross-country coach. In the latter instance particularly there was an opportunity to have lengthy conversations. Mr. Spencer listened! It is possible that adults do not realize the value of such relationships for strengthening young people in warding off negative peer pressure. Like other children, Mark was exposed to the drug culture, including alcohol, early on and throughout his school years. It requires a sense of independence, self-esteem and the awareness of a support system to "just say no."

The second teacher was John Cannon. He taught history in a way that brought it to life. There were times when the students played the roles of past leaders, in which case it was necessary to consider not just the characteristics of the person but the events that led up to the decisions they made. Times change, situations evolve, and judgment cannot be made fairly without taking into account the cultural climate of that era. In that light, reasons for actions and reactions become more clear. Mr. Cannon also emphasized ideas more than dates and places. In Mark's opinion, "he was the best educator I ever encountered."

Without question Mr. Cannon directed Mark's attention toward history as a major at the University of Iowa.  He recalls the ongoing arguments between those who had chosen the history major and those who had chosen political science. That they are closely related is shown by Mark's later inclinations and shows up in a variety of ways.

Mark's recollection of UMYF  (United Methodist Youth Fellowship), in which he was active while the family lived in Colfax, was positive. The youth group opened the doors to all the youth of the community regardless of denomination. This expanded their thinking as did Mark's later courses in religion. "Go into any bookstore and look at the various Bibles.  There is no one Bible and no one version. From the Precious Moments to the King James Version, there is a wide variation but truth in each. Just as there is truth in the sacred books of other religions-for instance, the Koran."  Marks finds it fascinating how one religion has borrowed from another. He believes that the best way to strengthen faith is to challenge beliefs and not blindly accept them because the small group with which we associate say this is the way and the only way it is. It is mind-expanding to be open to consider where the person from another faith is coming from.  As an example, it seems to him that it is shallow, indeed, not to learn all we can from the Jewish faith, which is the basis on which Christianity was built.

Undoubtedly another way in which Mark's interest in history is determining his present life is his chairmanship of the Clarke County Republican Party.  Even though he would by background be a registered Republican, he has not blindly accepted their tenets as the only way to view the situation in which the country has found and does find itself. He relates those who don't take a stand as "road-kill".  The yellow lines define the lanes. Both are in the middle of the road but it is dangerous to drive there.

He understands those who have a cynical attitude but for those who do not like their political party as it is, he suggests they make it what they would like it to be by getting involved. He does not understand why people do not write a letter, make a phone call, certainly vote! He considers this more than a right-it is a privilege. Even in the local and state elections, it becomes evident that a very few votes one way or the other determine the outcome. It might be surprising to people to know how important contacts are, how much the elected representatives want to know what their constituents think and want, and how influential the calls and letters are.  Anyone who does not take the step of expressing opinions to the persons who can do something about it loses the right to complain.

There is no doubt that both parties want the same thing for the country. It is only that their ways of achieving that end differ. In accord with his party, Mark believes in more responsibility given to individuals and less to the government. There is no difficulty in stating a problem but there is a tendency to stop there and forget about possible solutions. Problems can't be legislated.  As he talks with young people and their groups, Mark urges them to learn to agree or to disagree, agreeably. Listen to one another. Understand the "enemy": think!

Mark had been exposed to many different approaches to life by the time he entered college and at that point he "laid back" and attempted to debate with himself about them, to know which he would accept for his own life. He came from that with several characteristics that he exercises now. One is what he calls "good gossip," saying a positive word, encouraging and complimenting those who have done well.  That is so often lacking as everybody is on a tighter and tighter schedule with more and more to occupy their minds. Also, his decisions are not arrived at quickly. They are thought through. In every instance there are many possible avenues and he mentally explores the various ones before he takes that step.

A very exciting step he will take October 23, 1999, will be his marriage to Christine Binning.  He regards this is the most wonderful outcome of his move to Osceola. They have planned their wedding to be a slight break with tradition, having it at noon, followed by a lunch with the emphasis on the uniqueness of the day and the vows they are making to one another. Both have come from homes that have nurtured them and both will accept in-laws as an extension of their own family.

With "Developmental Assets" that have undergirded him-the values of caring (helping other people), promoting equality and social justice, integrity, responsibility and restraint, how does he view the world in which he will have some authority?  Optimistically, there is always a spark of good in every situation and he intends not only to be a part of that but to promote it.

With permission of the Search institute, the list of developmental assets follow:

Return to main page for Recipes for Living 1999 by Fern Underwood

Last Revised July 9, 2012