Monthly Archives: May 2009

(Community Matters) At our St. James’ Connections dinner last night, everyone was discussing President Obama’s Norte Dame commencement speech – his inclusiveness, his articulateness, the inspiration he continues to provide.

I’m inspired to find our similarities rather than only focusing on our differences and to watch my language so that I show respect.

I suppose other presidents have made other Americans feel similarly proud and inspired. Perhaps it’s just been too long since. Kirk Rudy is good about keeping the high road and reminding me that President Obama wants us to speak & act above partisanship. I need to be reminded from time to time, nevertheless, little by little . . . .

(Community Matters) well . . . now I’m excited.

Steven’s working in China for a week next month and wanted me to join him for a weekend in Hong Kong. hmm, it’s kinda far for a weekend, but after being apart for 10 days, I’m looking at it as making the next (well, not next but one of the next) separation only 7 days rather than 10. And, we’ll fly back together – real quality time for us (travel by any means – no wifi, lots of talk, seated next to each other the entire way).

Plus, Hong Kong is one of my favorite places in the world, and Steven’s never been there. I’m looking forward to showing him all around, and we’ll both experience Shek O for the first time. Now the question is The Pennisula or The Ice House – two very different hotels and different experiences – the former the greatest hotel in the world & on Kowloon, the latter a favorite apart-hotel at mid-level on Hong Kong Island in Lan Kwai Fong.

(Community Matters) . . . a few days early. Dad will be 74 on Tuesday, but we surprised him by all converging on their place in Sealy this weekend – my sister and brother-in-law from Florida. Brother and sister-in-law from Houston, but they are at the farm most weekends anyhow – with their adorable two children. My cousins Lulu and Mike Abbott and three of their grandchildren plus an aunt and uncle.

Steven didn’t return from London until late last night, so we missed the big dinner but joined all for a scrumptious breakfast this am.

Brian, Eli (jr) & Dad

Caroline, Paulina, Harrison & Allison
Caroline & Harrison the children of Remi & Shannon Ratliff; Allison of Lance Wright

Shannon & Remi in Houston for the weekend at Teddy Adam’s wedding. Congrats Teddy!

Steven learning to play guitar hero (Wii) with Eli

(Community Matters) My husband is too sweet.

http://robo.to/stetotex

(Community Matters) Michael Barnes has posted about last night’s Art House soiree. Regret that we weren’t able to join Suzanne & David Booth. I know their party included Kevin Keim and other friends. Have to make sure Michael B. meets Suzanne & David soon. my bad.

Art House definitely a major player in Austin’s thriving art scene. Led by Sue Graves with major support from Julie & John Thornton, Jeanne & Mickey Klein, Chris & Phil Dial, Chris Mattson & John McHale, Joanna & Stephen Jones, Lynn & Tommy Meredith, Laurence Miller and Don Mullins, they promote the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas. It’s a very cool and collaborating organization. Congrats to this year’s chairs, Alisa Weldon, Oliver Everette & Sharon Gerhardt. Sorry to have missed, but wouldn’t have missed our dinner for the world.

(Community Matters) It use to be four of five couples – two of the principals are no longer with us.

What a terrific evening, Barbara Wohlgemuth cooked a spectacular dinner assisted by her dearest friend Carrie Stapleton. Sarah Goodfriend, Suzanne Bryant, Michael Mitchell and Robert Torian. We missed Bettie Naylor & Libby Sykora; they should have been there 🙂

Pates & goat cheese medallions, Lobster bisque, fresh beets and salad, poached lobster and wild rice and a chocolate & ice cream concoction infused with espresso beans & devised by Carrie. Good god it was heavenly, and paired with 4 perfect wines. And, laughing, lots of laughing. Michael & Barbara have always given each other the giggles – especially when we enjoy lots of good wine. The three of us have more dinner stories than just about any other setting.

Kay Longcope & Tom Henderson are no longer with us, though they’re especially with us when we’re together. Steven couldn’t be there, and – rats – I forgot to count how many times Steven & Eugene vs Eugene & Steven.

Sarah, Michael, Suzanne, Barbara, Carrie & Robert

Robert & Barbara

Michael, Carrie & Robert

(Community Matters) It really won’t be about the Supreme Court nominee. They don’t even expect to succeed. The leaders of these conservative groups – most who consider themselves “good Christians” – are ready to attack and vilify honorable women in order to prosper financially and politically. NYTimes article here

Of course, Gary Bauer is still full of it:

“The risk for the Republican Party is they will be tempted to be more gentlemanly than Democrats are when a conservative is nominated,” Mr. Bauer said. “By doing that, they will not only lose an educational moment with the public, but they will risk driving the base of the Republican Party to once again be frustrated.”

(Community Matters)
Reading today’s New York Times, further realizing how complex our financial challenges are to fix – NYT editorial, Frank Partnoy, David Brooks & Paul Krugman columns. I’ve written to conservative UT Finance Professor Michael Brandl for additional perspective.

More questions than answers. Steven flies in this evening, so we’ll probably discuss over Thai. And, I can think of no one better than Barack Obama to be the arbitrator of opinion, the architect of reform – to be assisted by the others we elect. Posted from my blackberry.

(Community Matters) Entrepreneurs Foundation’s Spring Service Day – over 350 employees from over 25 companies transformed Andrew Elementary’s campus in about 6.5 hours. Students, parents, teachers, AISD officials & our participants loved it.

Member & sponsor companies participating included 360 Training, Adlucent, ATI/Clean Energy Incubator, Austin Ventures, Bazarvoice, Boundless Networks, Comerica, Convio, Creditcards.com, Dell, Famecast, Homeaway, Lomardi, nVidia, Manacore Tech, Moximity, Quickarrow, PwC, Thinkwell, Silicon Valley Bank, Spinal Restoration, vcfo, Troux Technologies, Vinson & Elkins and Libre Digital. Sponsoring the day: the Entrepreneurs Foundation, Message One and Silicon Valley Bank thank you advisory board member, Doug Mangum.

Dr. Pat Forgoine (AISD Superintendent), Mark Williams (AISD board trustee, chair) and Cheryl Bradley (AISD trustee) all joined us at different times through the day. Principal Laurie Barber with us throughout the day.

Youth Interactive, the Sustainable Food Center and Communities in Schools joined as our partners.

Austin Ventures had the conn on the marquee and immediate garden

two concrete mixers, 2 tractors, a gator, tons of stone, four trucks of gravel, 2 trucks of plants, paints, murals and 700 hands

moms in CIS Aspire classes learning English pitched in

Convio timed their 3 days of community service to ours – thanks!

building a field track

3 from Convio

Comerica’s Tim Klitch

AISD had trenched the field, we laid & set the limestone in concrete, then spread & packed the crushed granite – probably 300 yards of track

AV’s Kim Hughes

mostly AV

Bazarvoice & Youth Interactive ran the field day activities

Dr. Pat Forgoine, Eugene & Principal Laurie Barber

@ lunch

during lunch the fifth graders performed

so did the bilingual preschoolers

Caroline Moreau with Communities in Schools
wife of Community Foundation’s Walter Moreau

Spinal Restoration’s Jeff & John

Vinson & Elkins team

V&E took on the internal courtyard

and they hit a home run

Boundless disassembled some tile displays

here Boundless and AISD School Board chair Mark Williams

and they constructed mosaics from Andrews Elementary children’s drawings

Creditcards.com painted the mural (as well as work on front gardens)

preschoolers – the kids were precious. all day – “hi”, “hello” “hola”

Quick Arrow

Adlucent

and of course a wee happy hour despues, at Tres Amigos

(Community Matters) Today’s the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s annual Spring Service Day – 350 employees from 25 member companies gathering at Andrews Elementary for an Extreme Makeover. pics and more after

(Community Matters) Thoroughly enjoyed my hour with arts producer/agent John Riedie as he explained his vision for Springscape. John’s a visionary with great drive and ambition for our arts community. He represents many in town including composer/musician Graham Reynolds.

(Community Matters) Greenlight’s has completed a study on the number of nonprofits in Austin. They’ve identified 6,309 public charities in Central Texas and have compared them by size and subindustry to other Texas cities and peer communities. Fascinating report which is being finalized and was only previewed to a group of friends over lunch yesterday at the Leadership Austin offices. In attendance included Matt Kouri, Deborah Edwards, Chris Earthman, Dave Shaw, Heather McKissick, Andy White, KDK-Harman Foundation’s Jennifer Esterline & Erica Ekwurzel, Lucy Glenn and several other foundation reps and founders. excellent information and good debate on interpretation – look forward to the full report publicly very soon. I’ve promised not to publish details since still being completed and not yet released publicly.