Monthly Archives: January 2009

(Community Matters) Pardon the quick post of pics from today. Long day. Tired 🙂

the Cramers at the Lincoln Memorial Opening Ceremonies

Dio got creative before we left the house

Will-i-am

at Ben/Melanie Barnes & Bernie/Audrey Rapoport’s party
Lynn Meredith, Susan (?), Alexa Lange

Steve Adler/Diane Land

Tom & Kate Meredith

Marc Winkelman

Alexa Winkelman, Kate & Sarah Meredith

at Penny Pritzker’s Party at the Park
Alexa, Adrienne Donato, Blaine Wesner, Amy Rudy

at Norman Lear’s party – Norman Lear

Suzanne Deal Booth, Agape Huffington, Patricia Duff, Ambassador Paolino

Nuttin’ But Stringz

Mother Jones’ David Corn & Agape

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Arrived 5ish yesterday afternoon with friends Suzanne Deal Booth, Sofia Wolpert, Steve Adler & Diane Land. Wasn’t too bad getting into town from Dulles and other than a few detours because roads between the White House & the Capitol seem to be closed, we made it just fine. Dropped off Suzanne & Sofia first, Diane & Steve next, then me to the convention center to pick up credentials. Guy Selden & Adrienne Donato were there working – quite the understatement. Guy tells me he’s put in minimum 14 hour days the last several days, 21 the day prior. Great to see them and as they’ve always done, they exceeded expectations and helped me obtain tickets for several folks who wouldn’t be able to attend the swearing in, Lincoln Memorial concert and inauguration balls otherwise. Secretary Cisneros arriving to pick up his credentials just behind me.

Quick metro ride to Takoma Park and picked up at the station by Reid Cramer. Dinner at home with Reid, Sonya, Dio (11yo) and Gabel (9yo). Long conversations about Reid’s work at the New America Foundation, the Cramers’ 2008, travel, the kids, expectations for America, the economy and the new Robert Frank exhibit which Sonya’s daddy, John Cohen, was in to help open. A perfect night in.

The five of us are Lincoln Memorial bound this morning. Fortunately, enough tickets for us all so we don’t have to queue up quite so early. Breaking news 🙂 – Sonya’s uncle, Pete Seeger, flew in with Bruce Springstein last night and rumors he’ll join the Boss on stage. After, we’ll split. I’ll pull a batman change, then off to some parties/receptions including the Barnes/Rapoport Welcome, a dinner hosted by friends of Houston Mayor Bill White and an NFC party hosted by Penny Pritzker.

My impressions – it is colder than a witches tit, but it’ll be fine if we avoid rain/snow. The traffic seemed quite manageable yesterday, is it simply too early? They are recommending arriving at the swearing in at 8am, it takes place at 11:30. Projected high on Tuesday 34F and Steve & Diane want to have breakfast at 6 – I’ll let ST make the call.

Lots and lots of friends in for the festivities, in addition to those who flew up together: Rudys, Merediths, Winkelmans, Kirk Rice (arriving today), MaryLou Adams & family, Jordan & David, Ian & Amy, Juan & Teresa (arriving this evening), JD Gins, Ken Flippin, Wesners, Thorntons, Kleins, the Kevins, gosh others but I’m spacing just now.

(Community Matters) . . . . headed to DC to celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Hussein Obama.

Yes, it’s very significant that Barack is a black man, a multiracial American, and that millions of people who never imagined a person of color in that office during their life time will see Barack become president and will see the Obama family living in the White House.

And, race aside, we are lucky that President Obama and his team will soon be in office to guide us through the horrific challenges George W. Bush and his den of thieves and imbeciles leave to us.

Our youngest god children (Nico & Lauren) inspired Steven and me to get more involved. Kirk, Alexa & Tommie invited me to participate as a fundraiser for Barack, eventually as a national finance committee member – in addition to the national leadership council and LGBT steering committee. So many good friends contributed through me that we raised over $225k. Others contributed over $50k to the inauguration. I’m lucky to attend these historic events as their proxy. And, I’m attending as a self-selected representative of St. James’ Episcopal Church as well as a representative of the Sepulveda, Gomez & Tomlinson families.

Kirk Rudy was the early bird in Austin. I still remember his first call asking for $1,000. I thought, holy cow, he wants me to give $1,000 to someone named Barack Hussein Obama who thinks he’ll be president? I (then) said no, but I trust Kirk enough that I paid close attention going forward. Obviously so did a lot of others in Austin. Alexa got engaged. Tommie invited me and Steven to meet Barack at the Driskill. My cousin, Juan, brought us even closer into the campaign, introducing us to the teams on the ground who helped make the election happen.

Fast forward, on Tuesday the right man at the right time will assume leadership of our country. There are so many reasons why Barack is the right man. He’s extraordinarily smart, isn’t threatened by those even smarter, asks the right questions, synthesizes the information and makes good decisions. The Obama campaign was Barack’s idea. Those inside will tell you, he’s the master strategist – not to take away anything from the brilliant Davids. And, his race isn’t a nonissue, it sends the right message to Americans and to citizens of the world. That America is the first democratic country to elect a minority member as its CEO is historic, and it signals that Americans are resuscitating the American dream.

(Community Matters) My brother-in-law is a ham 🙂

Craig Tomlinson

(Community Matters) I’m kinda glad we didn’t find a date in December for the foundation staff/board dinner. Was nice gathering outside the craziness of the holidays.

Janet Harman & David Sooch

Janet’s the founder, CEO and Chairman of the foundation. David’s a junior board member (also on his way to DC on Saturday).

Last year, we granted over $1mm to Austin-based nonprofits in order to break the cycle of poverty through education while promoting a culture of giving excellence. I joined the board of this foundation in 2008. The staff works extraordinarily hard, are leaders in their field and serve as collaborators with other philanthropists and community initiatives. I’ve been impressed by the “holisticness” of our grantee relationships. Erica (pictured below) is a full-time, on staff consultant who assists our clients with many initiatives, sometimes even assisting non-awarded grantees.

Program manager Jennifer Esterline and her husband (good gosh, brain freeze on name)

KDK in-house grantee consultant, Erica Villarreal Ekwurzel, John Ivester & board colleague, Jo Ivester (not pictured: Erica’s very groovy hubbie, Jarrod)

Bob & Jackie Malta (Jackie’s our COO)

KDK media specialist, Tania & Paco Cantrell

Kelly Sooch, Steven & Kent Mayes

ugh, why did I let Steven and Kent (my trainer) sit together. Sounds like they conspired about my diet and my workout schedule. 🙂 btw, my protests notwithstanding, Kent’s one of the best fitness trainers in the business – don’t judge by me though remember I should be 400 lbs + considering my diet and wine thirst. He’s a triathlete himself and holds multiple certifications. mayesmethod@gmail.com

(Community Matters) A favorite image captured in Marfa by our dear friend Margaret Keys:

Michael Mitchell, Tana & Joe Christie

Are Tana & Joe pledging allegiance to the DQ flag? Michael ambiguous about ordering

(Community Matters) Perficient CEO Jack McDonald will be awarded the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s 2009 Community Leadership Award at our Texas Independence Day celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 2.

Jack’s a tremendous community leader, serving as vice chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the AusTech Alliance, as chair of PeopleFund, chairman of the Central Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization, on the board of KIPP, People’s Community Clinic & the Hill Country Conservancy and as past advisory board chair for American Youth Works and, of course, as a co-chair of EF’s Austin Invitational Poker Tournament which has been a tremendously successful fundraiser. And, he’s a great friend. Congratulations, Jack. Thanks for everything you (and Carla) do for Central Texas!

(Community Matters) Ana Sisnet passed away yesterday. She’ll be missed more than many will ever realize. She was passionate about social justice and quality of life issues. In the early 90s, we served together on the Austin-Travis County HIV Commission. As a late 20 & early 30 yo, Ana taught me a great deal about East Austin and the nuances of social service delivery in communities of color. A few years ago, my students consulted to her Austin FreeNet nonprofit.

Ana impacted many peoples’ lives without their ever knowing – as a community activist, an artist, a poet, a mom & a friend. We’ll miss you, Ana.

(Community Matters) Jaclyn Pryor’s Floodlines

site specific performance art. Loved it last year.

(Community Matters) Maybe my internal clock is finally resetting after maybe a little too much traveling.

I’ve been up for half an hour, have a big fire going. Lately, I’m sleeping too much – 7 and 8 hours. Feeling as if wasting too many hours. It works great for Steven, but I count on the extra hours to get stuff done. Consequently, according to Outlook, I’m behind on 11,490 emails. I’ve read many on blackberry and just not deleted or filed, but if you’re waiting, I’d resend. I always read from most recently received.

(Community Matters) Hard to describe the logistical hurdles still underway for DC, including transporting 12 folks to events Monday night. Why they moved the Black Tie & Boots event so far out of the city into Maryland . . . . well, I suppose for space, nevertheless . . . .

Loved meeting Jason Heffron’s mother, Ruth Heffron, over breakfast this morning. She has lots of nonprofit management experience, is new to Austin and will be a great help to Austin nonprofits. High prospect board member for some.

Hmm, I was either stood up or messed up my appointment with the Salesforce.com guy.

Conference call with the national Anti-Defamation League office about Israel-Gaza and why local support shouldn’t be impacted by political perspectives. The vast majority of ADL’s work has nothing to do with the Middle East. Especially in Texas, where the programs and work of ADL are mostly fighting hate and discrimination, as well, advocating for separation of church and state.

Lunch with Laura Beck and Josh Jones-Dilworth from Porter Novelli. Can’t believe we’d never met. Many thanks to Bryan Jones for connecting us. They get CSR at a granular level.

Confirmed my appointment to celebrate DJ Cimbala’s 5th birthday on Friday over the biggest ice cream Amy’s can make. Not able to take up Marion’s suggestion that I stay with DJ until he comes off his sugar high – sorry, have 5pm drinks 🙂

Charles Schwab – Kelli Keough, who runs their Austin offices, is terrific. Hope she’ll be one of our panelists at the CSR Conference. Wow, they put their money where their mouth is re: financial literacy.

Prepping a experiential Acton session on networking tonight with my hubby over dinner – hmm, Greek, Thai or Salvation Pizza?