Monthly Archives: October 2009

(Community Matters) off to Houston for a weekend of theatre –

Gruesome Playground Injuries tonight

Our Town tomorrow

(Community Matters) Infamous GOP Congressman Joe Wilson has drawn an opponent with Austin ties, Rob Miller. Rob happens to be the cousin of Austinite Laurence Miller, and a bunch of us are helping him raise money in Austin. The host committee includes: Laurence Miller & Judy Wilcott, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Meredith Miller Marks & Alan Marks, Beverly Reeves, Amy & Kirk Rudy, Alexa & Blaine Wesner, Wyeth Wiedeman and Steven & me.

Rob served for 13 years in the Marine Corps including tours in Albania, Yugoslavia, and Liberia and twice in Iraq. He is a small businessman who has the ability to provide South Carolina and our country the strong leadership required to address the economic and foreign policy challenges of our time. The polls are encouraging – 43% to 44% with rising favorables for the President in South Carolina.

The fundraiser is Nov 11 at 6pm. Tickets are $250, sponsors $500, the host committee $1k. RSVP to Guy Selden at (202) 543-5704 or seldengu AT gmail DOT com

(Community Matters) Loved the relaxed, close friend crowd of Kent’s 51st celebration. wow, only 2 months until Kent and Janet Harman are to be married.

Kent (center) & two college buddies Bobby McBride (left) & Rudy Garza (right)

I love Kent like a brother. His daughter, Lauren, is my goddaughter.

Bill Bock & Janet Harman

Pam Reese, Cindi Bock & Carol Robertson

Bill & Alex Smith

(Community Matters) A friend shared a few more pics from Jack’s fundraiser with Secretary Albright.

Jack & Carla McDonald w/ Secr Madeleine Albright

w/ Melba Whatley

Secr. Albright w/ Bertrand Sosa

w/ Nikelle Meade

(Community Matters) I’ve always said, you should pay big bucks to just be a fly on the wall while Victoria Hentrich and David Kurio are creating. What a treat to brainstorm with them, Amy Rudy & Marcia Levy yesterday afternoon at the Four Seasons. They’d been lunching with Bobby Topfer, so we all greeted before launching into wild creativity. Of course they were brilliant and it was an extraordinarily creative meeting. more to come

(Community Matters) It’s been a long time coming. Last year, Pres. Bush (43) and Congress launched repeal of the Jesse Helms sponsored ban against US travel entry for visitors with HIV/AIDS. President Obama entered office with its repeal a priority. Unfortunately, there were problems with the support data prepared previously and required to rescind the regulations. This administration relaunched the initiative and followed the laborious rules for regulatory change. Comments have been addressed and answered. Pres. Obama will sign the reversal on Monday – at long last.

(Community Matters) At an intimate brunch today, former US Secretary Madeleine Albright all out endorsed Jack McDonald, noting how important it was to send a young, experienced, successful entrepreneur to the Capitol. Suzi, Roy & Bertand Sosa hosted today’s event at their MPOWER Labs offices.

Jack McDonald & Secr. Albright

The Secretary noted how important Jack’s race is, not just for our district (though of course it is here too) but also for the entire country.

I jotted down several favorite lines, including: “I believe in Democracy but you can’t impose it, that’s an oxymoron.” “People want American leadership; they just found American leadership wanting,” referring to the previous eight years.

Tom Terkel, Mandy Dealey, Colleen Terkel & Councilmember Randi Shade

Alice Aspen March, Margaret Keys & Secr Albright

I loved the recounting of how Secr Albright’s granddaughter asks why it’s such a big deal that grandma Madie was secretary of state, since “aren’t all secretaries of state women?”

Alice is Marc Winkelman’s mom

Kirk Rudy & Aimee Boone

during Q&A

In response to a question about a new generation of leadership and style of decision making: “With the combination of new people and the rapidity of information, there’s an expectation of instantaneous decision making.” She was also speaking about the availability of information instantaneously online.

signing her books (Suzi Sosa with several 🙂 )

“I want a confident president, not a certain one.”

(Community Matters) Terrific meeting yesterday organized by Ian Davis with Sierra Club’s National Political & Public Advocacy Director, Cathy Duvell, Jeff Gantman (Sr. Dir of Advancement), Eva Hernandez (Central Texas Organizer) and Kirk Rudy. I’m very impressed by their work, especially Cathy’s national collaboration with other progressive organizations.

(Community Matters) Last night’s Silverton Partners’ bash – everyone loves Bill Wood, Charley Dean and Morgan Flager, so of course everyone was there. Place packed and guests loved Bob Schneider.

Bob Schneider (photo Kim Hughes)

Due to unpredictable weather, the event was moved to a club rather than a street party outside Silverton’s offices. Always one of the best events of the year. Steven and I on the balcony watching/listening to Schneider, together with Cindi and Bill Bock.

(Community Matters) Passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act is the very first time our LGBT community has ever been afforded equality in federal legislation. And, it represents 11 years of advocacy by Matthew’s parents, Judy & Denise Shepard who lost their son to murder by torture for being gay. As most know, he was beaten to near death for being gay, then left to die hung from a barbed wired fence in Wyoming.

Wyoming Bishop Bruce Caldwell

A lot of us gathered at the Southeast gate as we awaited entry to the White House for the ceremony marking the signing of the legislation. After greeting Elizabeth Birch, Terry Bean, Paul Horning, Ray Buckley, Joe Solmonese and many others, I noticed an Episcopal Bishop alone in the crowd. Of course I had to introduce myself.

How lucky I did. Bishop Bruce Caldwell was Matthew Shepard’s bishop. Matthew had been a acolyte in the church. Bishop Caldwell presided over Matthew’s funeral and is a friend to Judy & Denise.

We also share a good friend in Bishop Rickel of Seattle as well as acquaintances with Texas Bishop Doyle, retired Bishop Jack Spong, the late Rev Will Spong and a few others. We hung out quite a bit in the White House. I’m surprised how much it meant to me to have a leader of my church with me during this occasion. Frankly, I’m surprised how spiritual I found the entire event.

Betty Byrd Boatner and Louvon Harris joined the Shepards on the stage with President Obama. They are the sisters of James Byrd who was tied by chain to the back of a truck and dragged cross country.

Attorney General Eric Holder

Chmn Barney Frank

Not very chatty 🙂 but I was glad to be able to thank him for his leadership

David Mixner

It was great to see David. He and Tom Henderson were close friends and I worked with them when we raised money for the fight against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. David’s just moved back to New York. His blog is terrific.

Karen Dixon

Activist Phil Attey (& former HRC board colleague)

David Axelrod & Rahm Emanuel

I didn’t get a chance to talk with Rahm, but I did just a bit to Axelrod. He’s a good friend of Karen & Nan’s as well as a friend of my cousins, Teresa & Juan. Wish I had with Rahm, really wanted to ask about Bill Owen.

Valerie Jarrett & Fred Hochberg

Fred’s also a former HRC board colleague, now Chmn & Pres of the Export-Import Bank

Nan Schaffer & Karen Dixon

Met Nan Schaffer & Karen Dixon at the National HRC dinner. They were also friends & table guests of Andy Tobias. Wonderful women recently relocated from Chicago and Botswana where Nan was conducting research on rhinoceros.

Paul Horning & Ray Buckley

Paul and I are on the DNC’s LGBT Leadershp Council together; he’s the c0-chair. Ray is vice chair of the DNC and chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic State Committee.

Most invitees were from the broader civil rights community, though, of course, I knew lots of the gay & lesbian leaders.

I’ve always loved the picture of Michael Mitchell under this painting. I should have been resting on the couch like MM 🙂

Quite amazing. Really wish Steven could have been with me. So thankful to so many for making this legislation happen – especially to President Obama for pushing for it and signing it. Unfortunately, Pres O didn’t hang around after the remarks. I did get to shake his hand and say hello . . . .

(Community Matters) Tuesday night I joined DNC National Finance Chair Jane Stetson at a reception honoring EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Jane (center), Administrator Jackson (second from right), Frank Loy (right)

Jane’s husband, Bill, and Austinites Linda & Glen Neland also joined us. Wow – Administrator Jackson completely blew away the audience. She’s a Tulane & Princeton degreed engineer, a scientist running the EPA. She’s enforcing regulations which went unenforced during the Bush Administration, the agency’s budget has been restored – even strengthed – after taking more cuts than any other federal agency during the pervious eight years. And she promised to use her powers to enforce clean air and clean water acts.

She’s also economicly sensitive and keenly attuned to the economic development opportunities by promoting and investing in clean energy alternatives, believing as most do, that this industry will lead in job and wealth creation in our future.

(Community Matters) Excellent piece on the Texas Tribune in the Austin Chronicle articulating its challenges, strengths and tactical ambitions