Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters) Karen & Rick Hawkins hosted last night’s Ernst & Young EOY VIP event at their very swanky abode on Stratford. This year’s EOY finalists include: Mark Adams (Advocate MD), Tim Costell (Builder Homesite), Sam Goodner (Catapult Systems), Craig Malloy (LifeSize Communications), Satin Mirchandani & Mike Rosenfelt (MessageOne), Kirk Rudy, Chris Ellis, Bryce Miller, Jeff Newberg, Andy Pastor & David Roche (Endeavor Real Estate Group) and Ed Sattar (360training.com).

Social EOY finalists are Alan Graham (Mobile Loaves & Fishes), Richard Halpin (American Youthworks), Karen Langley (Family Eldercare) and Rachel Muir (Girlstart). The Silverton Foundation sweetens the pot for the Social EOY award – the recipient’s nonprofit receives a $100,000 grant.

Karen & Rick Hawkins and Valerie & Jeff Newberg

Ernst & Young managing partner, Mike Blue

Amy Warmke & Kim Hughes (Carol Thompson far right)

Laura Kilcrease & Richard Halpin

Laura Pastor & Amy Rudy

Tracie Pumphrey & Kim Shrum

Lots and lots of friends/high-tech leaders in attendance. This year’s EOY judges include Scott Eckert, Bob Fabbio, Bill Imhoff, Laura Kilcrease, Jack McDonald, Erik Prusch, Eric Rothfus (Guggenheim Ventures closing on a new, $100m fund) and Ed Taylor. Social EOY judges included Susan McDowell, Marc Seriff, Mike Turner and Neil Webber. The EOY Advisory Board includes Michael Blue, Tom Ball, Ted Barnhill, Lyn Chasteen, Amy Coplen, Tracie Pumphrey, Eugene Sepulveda, Kim Shrum, Tom Sicola, Bertrand Sosa, Tom Spivey, Carol Thompson and JC Waller.

(Community Matters) Developer Taylor Andrews was called out of town but was nice enough to have Greg Anderson give me a tour of the 360 Condos – 44 stories and 430 residences.

rendering of the tower located downtown on Nueces between 3rd & 4th

View east from atop 360

Greg Anderson of Andrews Urban

Unfortunately, not allowed to photograph inside the building. I think the buyers of these condos have gotten great deals. In addition to well priced units, the club, gym and outdoor entertaining spaces are outstanding. Next week’s opening parties should be much fun.

view north

block next to post office between 6th and 5th – Andrews Urban and Novare should break ground on their next condo tower in the next couple of months

(Community Matters) Attended the American Youthworks luncheon today as a guest of Janet Harman and the KDK-Harman Foundation. Good to see social entrepreneur Richard Halpin who launched this organization over 30 years ago. They do great work as a charter school. From their materials: American YouthWorks (AYW) is an efficient, cost-effective vehicle for reclaiming the lives of our at-risk youth. 85.6 cents of every dollar AYW raises is spent on direct services at an average annual participant direct cost of only $8,076. Every private sector dollar AYW raises is leveraged 5-to-1 with AmeriCorps, TEA, and other government money.

Some of their students

Janet Harman and Sam Greer, surrounded by AYW students

(Community Matters) Another favored nonprofit is Habitat for Humanity. Even before we’d met Steven’d been contributing to them for many years.

Met this morning with HFH staff Michael Willard, Michael Kellerman and Michelle Nance as well as member of Habitat’s Leadership Council. Save the date: Oct 8, 2008, a cool, Habitat Party

Michael Kellerman, Amanda McPhearson (LCRA), Michael Willard, Sherine Thomas
Cindy Veidt and Michelle Nance

Also, looks like Rudy, Mike & I may be engaging with Habitat to deploy funds from the Meredith gift for elderly housing rehabilitation.

(Community Matters) Some pics from last night’s storm, which the AAS says was actually the collision of two supercell thunderstorms – one from Mason County and another from Fredericksburg.

Our back deck at 12:40 last night

Front yard this morning

Street and across street this morning

Clarksville, in front of Lee Elementary

Clarksville, on 12th

Clarksville, 12th

yikes, most unfortunate. 10th St in east of Lamar

Hearing Tarrytown rec’d even worse damage. Windows were blown out of some downtown buildings, including the Capitol dome.

Question: what would cause this. Thursday afternoon I noticed my pool and the ponds had lost water during the storm rather than overfilled.

(Community Matters) Hit Aldridge Place right at midnight. At one point thought I saw green light so staked out place for coverage in case heard “the train.” Like many areas in Central Austin, the hail, gusts and rain were extraordinary. No major trees down on my block. Our electricity back on within two hours. Austin Energy even called to confirm power was back at our place. As I’ve been around town this morning, Clarksville certainly candidate for most impacted neighborhood. Down trees have closed several streets. Looked as if Lee Elementary may be closed. Saw fence and deck damage at Christine’s & Charles’. Have pics to post but remote now.

Coffee with Bishop Greg Rickel and friends this am. Very cool Habitat for Humanity planning meeting too. Currently waiting for American Youthworks luncheon to get underway at Hilton. Steven’s sent current pics from Ground Zero. He’s got the day off in NYC and hitting all his favorite haunts. Posted by Blackberry. Please forgive typos – tiny little keys.

(Community Matters) I knew exercise is dangerous. This morning I was on a pilates reformer, sitting up on a box, leaning way back, achieving a strong arch when the strap holding my legs broke, sending me feet over head, crashing down into the well while my legs crashed into the bars. Tonight, feeling like a truck hit me. Lucky nothing broken though pretty good bruises materializing. Hmm, guess I’m gonna have to get back on that horse soon. Physically, this hasn’t been the best last few months. I must have screwed up my karma somehow.

(Community Matters) Carl’s the CEO of Thinkwell, the totally groovy company where EF is lucky to have its offices. Thinkwell is very into birthdays. Yesterday we celebrated Carl’s.

(Community Matters) CA’s Supreme Court has indicated it’ll issue its long expected ruling on gay marriage tomorrow. Expect CA to make marriage between same sex adults legal – finally, another enlightened US state where our marriage will be recognized.

(Community Matters) No real news there, though disappointing nonetheless. Hate seeing the polarization by race. Obama’s about bringing people together; evidently Hillary is about tearing people apart.

Bill Clinton thought she’d win by as much as 60% – 70%, so I guess they didn’t meet their own expectations. She netted 10 delegates; thank gosh for the 27 superdelegates Obama netted just this week. In neighboring Virginia, he netted 25 delegates. Not true he can’t win swing states, his wins have included Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri.

Nationally, Obama continues to win big among independent voters over McCain (Hillary loses among the same group). And, the May 8 LA Times poll shows him winning 41% of white voters, McCain winning 45% – about what’s expected for any national Democratic candidate.

Obama’s campaign is strong – historically unprecedented fundraising – not just dollars but also number of donors – no debt, grassroots operations, relations within staff & stakeholders and results measured by delegates and popular vote. Lots of momentum among superdelegates, influencers and even former Hillary supporters.

(Community Matters) Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, has announced her organization’s endorsement of Senator Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. She also cites Senator Clinton’s longtime support for a woman’s right to choose. here

(Community Matters) I’ve studied up just a bit on those listed as potential Obama VP picks here , so no way could I not accept Tommie & Lynn Meredith’s invitation for dinner with Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer. Steven was bummed he couldn’t go – left for an east coast tour yesterday morning. The Meredith’s have gotten to know Gov. Schweitzer during summers at their extraordinary ranch on the Blackfoot River near Ovando.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Justin Smith & Will Meredith

Gov. Schweitzer is mentioned in many lists as a potential running mate with Senator Obama. Easy to see why since he’s an everyman kinda guy, completely comfortable shooting the s#%t or discussing economic policy. As governor, he’s cut taxes, created more jobs at better wages than any other governor, invested heavily in alternative energy, invested heavily in K – 12th grade and higher education, improved Montana’s bond rating and achieved the lowest unemployment rate in a very long time.

Justin Smith’s a good friend of Will’s. Believe we’d met when Will was honored for his community contributions at PeopleFund’s recent event. Nevertheless, we bonded last night and he’s going to get involved in helping with the June 19 (oops) 9th Obama event in Austin (David Axelrod speaking).

Blaine & Alexa Wesner & Lynn Meredith

Tom Meredith & Ben Barnes

Franklin & Marc

Alex & Marc Winkelman