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CCFB News» June 2025

Downwind"Google Us"

06/01/2025 @ 8:30 am | By Bob Rohrer, CCFB Manager

I admit it. Google has become a part of my daily life. How did this happen? I don’t even marvel about it anymore. I’ve come to realize there is no longer a reason not to know the answer to a question. Just Google it. It is not a stretch to say I now know “less” because I no longer have to remember facts and details … just look it up.

 

I have watched Google become a verb (an action to search), a noun (the formal name of the company), and even an adjective (a compound adjective such as google-generated). Confession - I even asked Google if it is “okay” that I write about Him? Her? It? They?

 

Google’s response. ”Generally”. (I should Google its pronoun, I guess).

 

I searched for a few words about change (other than I hate it):

 

“The only constant in life is change”, said the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus according to “The Google”.  What would Heraclitus have said about “The Google”?

 

“If you don’t change direction, you may end up where you are heading”, said ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.

 

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often” said a less ancient philosopher Winston Churchill.

 

“To make powerful change statements packed with deep meaning, one must be ancient, grasshopper”, said an “almost ancient” Bob Rohrer, philosopher in training, while writing this column.

 

The world and us with has been swept up in an incredible wave of change. At an incredible rate of speed. Impossible to keep up. And yet, we must try. Google helps in various ways.

 

Cook County Farm Bureau is smack-dab in the middle of major change. (I should Google the origin of “smack-dab”) as we focus heavily on membership retention and recruitment.

 

Google reviews were never something I paid much attention to until recently. My decision-making processes are changing and I find myself reading Google reviews as I make consumer decisions. This change in my habits caused me to take a look at Cook County Farm Bureau Google reviews.

 

4.5 out of 5 rating. Not bad but the perfectionist in me is not satisfied. Diving deeper, the negatives only relate to past affiliated company guidelines; not on Cook County Farm Bureau work, benefits, delivery, or service. And, remember, we even answer the phone!

 

Google reviews will gain more importance to our organization as members consider renewing or joining the Cook County Farm Bureau. We, of course, want glowing and sparkling reviews to booster ratings in our quest for mythical perfect score of five. We will continue working hard to earn it from you and other members.

 

I Googled “how do you improve your Google score” and page after page of advice came rolling in. One piece of advice stated, “even mediocre reviews are better than no reviews at all”. Huh? Really? Let’s not plan on heading that direction.

Go ahead…Google us and rate us (especially if you are in a good mood)!

 

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I must say a few words about my wonderful wife. She deserves a Huge Shout Out! At the conclusion of this school year, she retired from a teaching career that began in 1987, right out of our alma mater, Illinois State University. She has been so impactful in the lives of so many junior high kids throughout the years. Education. Life skills. Responsibility. Support. Communications. Encouragement. Leadership. I have been witness to the many hours put forth in planning and preparation before school, evenings, and weekends to consistently deliver the best. I know, when Fall “back to school” time draws near, her heart will feel a big tug towards her students. She is a rock and rockstar, not only for our family, but for her school family. Job well done!

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