Daily Archives: 11/06/2008

(Community Matters) Sad but I’m not fretting it. The majority cannot discriminate against a minority. The referendum was illegal and unconstitutional.

(Community Matters) My Chicago cab driver yesterday morning was a late 40-something/early 50s Black man. Obviously well educated, said ABD (All But Dissertation in educational psychology). We talked on the way to the airport, about what O’s election means. Obviously, all the important stuff about role model, direction changer, best man for the job . . . .

And, Matt told me 3 other things: 1) it took a Black man raised by two white women to become the first Black president. Obama’s mamas didn’t tell him the Black man narrative. They didn’t teach him to expect discrimination, unfairness or to lower his expectations. And, he doesn’t adopt the defensiveness that sometimes physically comes across as threatening.

2) He’s already hearing young men from the street changing expectations and hearing other Black men saying they’ve inherited a responsibility.

3) Matt considers O’s election as much about generation as race. Says O signals the transition of power to post-Baby Boomers.

(Community Matters) Hundreds of blog hits yesterday from literally, all around the world. No doubt looking for any and all information on Barack’s election as our next president, maybe too for pics. Interesting querries about another politician’s sexual orientation as well.

(Community Matters) President-elect Obama’s transition team:

John Podesta, Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse, co-chairs

Transition Senior Staff:

Chris Lu – Executive Director

Dan Pfeiffer – Communications Director

Stephanie Cutter – Chief Spokesperson

Cassandra Butts – General Counsel

Jim Messina – Personnel Director

Patrick Gaspard – Associate Personnel Director

Christine Varney – Personnel Counsel

Melody Barnes – Co-Director of Agency Review

Lisa Brown – Co-Director of Agency Review

Phil Schiliro – Director of Congressional Relations

Michael Strautmanis – Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs

Katy Kale – Director of Operations

Brad Kiley – Director of Operations

The co-chairs will be assisted by an advisory board comprised of individuals with significant private and public sector experience: Carol Browner, William Daley, Christopher Edley, Michael Froman, Julius Genachowski, Donald Gips, Governor Janet Napolitano, Federico Peña, Susan Rice, Sonal Shah, Mark Gitenstein, and Ted Kaufman. Gitenstein and Kaufman will serve as co-chairs of Vice President-elect Biden’s transition team.

(Community Matters) Raced back in time for a quick shower, even quicker nap and then to the Driskill. I probably should have ordered security. If someone had wanted to take out Austin’s vc-backed, high tech world, they could have done so last night.

Perficent CEO, Jack McDonald and Silverton Ventures GM, Bill Wood co-chaired our fundraiser for the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s community involvement programs (hundreds of high tech volunteers donating millions of dollars and thousands of hours to Austin nonprofits). It isn’t as if our participants haven’t been hit hard by the market meltdown; nevertheless, they reached deep and exceeded our expectations, donating over $130,000.

In addtion to our co-chairs and the idea man behind the entire event, Austin Venture’s Jeff Browning, hosts included: Joe Aragona, Mike Aviles, Philip Berber, Bill Bock, Amy Chronis, Ken DeAngelis, Tommy Deavenport, Jim French, John Hamlin, Diana Holford, Paul Hurdlow, John Gilluly, John McHale, Kevin Lalande, Jan Lindelow, Mike Maples, Kip McClanahan, Kirk Rudy, moi, Phil Siegel, Nav Sooch, John Thornton, JC Waller, Blaine Wesner, Ellen Wood . EF’s Amanda Chiampi is extraordinary and made everything happen. Other EF staff members: Shobie Partos, Marion Cimbala, Emily Nicholls & Peter Fry – along with honorary EFer, Jenny Murphy – made it all look easy. Many thanks too to Kim Hughes, Sara Fox & Amy Warmke.

tournament winners – 2nd place Lance Jones (Triology), winner Greg Garrison (vcf0)
& 3rd place Kenny Van Zandt (Solar Winds)

AV’s Joe Aragona & Philip Berber (Glimmer of Hope)

co-chair, Bill Wood (right)

founder Jeff Browning (right) and vcfo’s Corey Blahuta

EF’s Amanda Chiampi with Clay Carey (Frost) & Mickey Chapman (uShip)

Kenny Van Zandt (Solar Winds)

Lance Jones (Triology)

Greg Garrison (vcf0)

(Community Matters) NYTimes published statistics

(Community Matters) I’m in transit back to Austin. Found these pics as well