Daily Archives: 06/03/2009

(Community Matters)
Well . . . Even after engaging the district manager I haven’t been refunded all my money . . . but, I do have a case number 🙂

I’ve decided how this pays. Yesterday & today I insisted on a free coffee. For last two days, I’m earning around a 1,500% return on my money, so I’m now happy. Posted from my blackberry.

(Community Matters) Each year Leadership Austin hosts a bash celebrating the organization, its alum, especially one alum awarded the Polly Scallorn Award and one community leader named an honorary Leadership Austin alum.

MariBen Ramsey & Michael Kellerman chaired this year’s event, ably assisted by a super committee. Nina Seely & a merry band of Ralph Lauren/Polo volunteering in abundance and style. Tim Taylor chaired the “live auction” of the evening.

Lee Thomson

Lee Thomson was honored with the Polly Scallorn Award. Lee was LA’s second executive director and took the organization from a program of the GACC to a stand alone 501 (c)(3). Lee was ED the year I chaired the board and most of the 4 – 5 years I served on the board. She’s a dear friend – well deserved recognition of her contributions to LA.

Will Wynn

Mayor Will Wynn named an honorary LA alum. Will’s been a super supporter of the organization and gave a really good acceptance speech which also sounded like a goodbye from our mayor. Only about 3 weeks remain of Will’s final term as mayor.

Heather McKissick (LA Pres & CEO) and Steve Benesh (Chair) emceed the evening’s brief presentations, Heather looking like two million dollars!

Cliff Redd, Mark Williams & Rick Johnson

This year’s event held at the Long Center, in the Dell Hall and onstage, which worked quite nicely – much better than I would have imagined. Even though I’d been back stage for a few performances, I hadn’t realized just how huge the entire back stage area is.

Mark Williams – second time to run into Mark in the same day. Earlier we’d discussed the consultant’s report (Mark chairs the AISD board of trustees). Mark mentioned that the report of the consultants was just that. It was only Monday released to the board and AISD staff will prioritize recommendations from the report.

Susan Dawson & Betty Dunkerley

Chelsea McCullough & Amanda Chiampi

Trisa Thompson & Michael Guerra

Etta Moore & Jennifer Repass

Damon Arhos & Mark Peppler

Ted Smith, Ed Sharp, Gary Valdez, Molly Sharp & Cindy Valdez

Pat Hayes, Kerry Tate & Steven

Pat leaves for Maine soon. They’ll make at least one quick jaunt back to Austin in August but otherwise gone until late fall/winter.

Jerele & Elizabeth Neeld

Karin Richmond & Nina Seely

Geronimo Rodriguez & Stephanie

Brief visit with Geronimo Rodriguez who’s also excited by Gov. Kaine’s decision to host the next national DNC conference in Austin this September. Hoping to convince Geronimo to join the DNC’s National Hispanic Leadership Council.

Margaret Wright

Always a good sign with Margaret at the piano. It’d been too long since I’d seen/heard her. Congrats to all those responsible for last night’s event.

(Community Matters) Breakfast with Carla McDonald yesterday and learned that her client Clayton Christopher of Sweet Leaf Tea will be on the cover of Inc. Magazine. Congrats to both Carla & Clayton