Monthly Archives: April 2008

(Community Matters) Randi Shade challenging incumbent Jennifer Kim. I supported Jennifer during her tenure, served on the affordable housing task force at her request and still consider her a friend.

Randi and I have been friends for 15 plus years, have served on boards together and share many common ambitions and experiences.

I like them both but Jennifer’s not a consensus builder on the dias and is too immature in the way she handles her responsibilities – personnel management, policy consistency, airport security, traffic stops & office spending. I’m pleased to acknowledge her much more focused constituency work and drive to accomplishment since Randi’s announced.

Randi Shade’s business (entrepreneurial), government and NGO experience make her the best candidate for Place 3.

(Community Matters) The National Journal explains it. . . here

(Community Matters) They’re now saying Indiana is dead tied. Survey USA showed Hillary with a 16 point lead two weeks ago here.

North Carolina polls showing an average of Obama plus 15.

(Community Matters) Heard on NPR this morning that China had agreed to resume conversations with representatives of the Dali Lama. This is huge and shows their sensitivity to PR before and during the Olympics. Of course, it’ll be three months deciding what type chairs to have at what size table, for the reps meeting. Hope world leaders raise expectations for progress.

(Community Matters) We have a cool & funky structure surrounding our pool we call the pool house. It’s glass on three sides, very high ceiling and completely closed except for two vents with “ceiling” fans. I’d noticed a finch was living inside and had created a nest. On Wednesday morning, I peeked inside and found two chicks.

I was showing Ron Berry and Armando Miguelez around the property later in the afternoon, when we peeked into the nest, the chicks were gone. As it turns out, they were learning to fly. Unfortunately, one struggling more than the other as she had flown into the water but was quickly retrieved with a butterfly net. This little guy stayed dry. Steven and I almost always wrap up our evenings chatting in the pool house or in the courtyard. Wednesday night in the pool house serenaded by the loud chorus as mom continued her flying lessons. Reminds me it’s almost time for the frogs to start breeding. In the courtyard along the stream and ponds, it can get so loud you literally have to yell to be heard.

Cult of Color: Call to Color at ArtHouse

I was too late to make the ArtHouse opening, but Steven says it was very fun and well attended. The collaborating artists, of course, on hand – Stephen Mills, Trenton Doyle Hancock and Graham Reynolds. Understand Graham was even at the piano. Among the many ST spoke with Brent Hasty, Lisa Moore and Madge Darlington Shawn Sides, Sue Graves and Julie & John Thornton

I arrived at the Lombardi Gallery party too late for Romeo Navarro & crew’s breakdancing. But a DJ and dancing were still underway as Lombardi helped celebrate Fuse Box’s launch with painting/music/video/dancing.

Their exhibit, “Poutine Never Sleeps”, features 9 Canadian artists: James Patterson, Alex Produkt, Kathleen Weldon, Christopher Ross, Scott Harber, Peru Dyer, Clint Eagleson, Patrick Thompson and Felix Labrona Berube.

Zach Bailey & Rafal Roamano

(Community Matters) Scott Collier & Kala Philo hosted a reception in honor of the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy’s Orchestra, raising money for their 2009 trip to Carnegie Hall.

(Community Matters) Outstanding lunch today with Drew Scheberle, Sr. VP for Education & Talent Development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. I had no idea how much of Opportunity Austin was being invested in education and attracting talent. Plans for even more out of Opportunity Austin II. And, at least in primary & secondary education, Drew isn’t trying to recreate any wheels or launch any new programs, they are investing in performance tools and using their relationships to get educators and counselors real time information on performance, college entrance and financial assistance applications. I’m not doing justice to their objectives in these arenas and am rushed for now. But, good stuff . . . .

(Community Matters) I’m already feeling bad about moving from AAS after they worked so hard to roll up my three sites in the new migration. Certainly no hard feelings. Pluck and AAS already kind enough to have sent notes. Since the major feedback in blogging is monitoring daily hits, just fear sustaining daily blogging too difficult without this minimal feedback. Not to mention readers’ complaints about pictures not showing on front page. Will consider returning if these issues addressed, though may duplicate post some entries on that site from time to time.

(Community Matters) Had posted these photos on AAS site but thought would bring forward here

board members JoLynn Free and Steve Shook, Greg Free in the middle

board member Mandy Dealey and former member, Jan Hughes

Board member, Mary Margaret Farabee and Senator Ray Farabee

(Community Matters) You’ll find postings from Sept ’06 thru April 24’07 at http://www.communitymatters3.statesmanblogs.com/

Thanks for checking out my new site.

Eugene