(Community Matters) This weekend’s Out & About column stirred up some displeasure among a few friends. Among those who’ve talked with me about the column, they expressed an interpretation I wouldn’t have read into it, and frankly, one I wish they hadn’t jumped to embrace since most know Michael Barnes and all know me. Of course there was NO intention to suggest some elitist, exalted status of anyone who makes the Fortunate 500 list nor certainly to say anything about the Central Texans who don’t. No one I know on the list takes themselves or it so seriously. If they did, they probably wouldn’t make the list since – as I understand it – a big part of the qualifying criteria is how much time folks spend contributing in their communities. And, of course it’s part caricature since though the AAS invites nominations, it happens to mostly be those who bump into Michael the most and are out & about.
Michael Barnes has done as much if not more than anyone else in this city helping promote Austin arts and, especially during the last couple of years, promoting tons of good causes. Yeah, and now he writes a social column, but if you remember social columns in the past or even those in other markets, it’s gotta be the most broad, the most inclusive of any out there.
The idea of a forum (which was just brainstorming by the way) for conversations about how to get engaged stems, at least in part, from my conversation noting that I meet with at least 3 people a week, sometimes way more, who simply want to know how to better plug into Austin, how to contribute in the nonprofit & political worlds. Of course, tons and tons of others on & off the Fort 500 list have similar conversations regularly. The proposal didn’t presume they didn’t or that they don’t even better. It was simply brainstorming about how the brand MB and the AAS have built might be otherwise useful.
I’m sorry that the conversation stirred up any negative feelings among friends or strangers. I’m hoping my friends will let it pass and chalk it up to bad communication. thx
Community Matters 