Monthly Archives: April 2010

(Community Matters) back home.  what a treat, the weekend with Jo & Jon Ivester at their fabulosa digs on S. Padre Island.

And, of course, always nice to be home.  especially eager to retrieve our garden’s bounty prior to the squirrels, birds, racoons, etc

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) My dear friend Lilly Archuletta continues writing – I don’t very much care for the Church Camp story.  In fact, it pisses me off.  Though, I like the writing.  Inkydinkyparlezvous

(Community Matters) Would be hilarious if it wasn’t true – squirrels in the attic (be sure to start at “Spring”)

(Community Matters) NYTimes question: What does Mr. Stupak’s situation say about the potency of abortion as a political issue? Or are other political factors at play?  Interesting response from Harvard government professor Theda Skocpol,

I don’t think this is about the potency of abortion as a political issue. Most Americans have moderate views on abortion. This is about the Tea Party movement, a very extremist minority, targeting people who supported President Obama in the March votes and played a pivotal role in enacting health care reform.

Congressman Stupak has been targeted by the general right-wing movement in this country, which is using the abortion issue along with many other stoked-up false fears about health reform. The aim of that movement, or at least those who are encouraging it and funding much of it, is to elect enough Republicans to undo regulations and subsidies that businesses and rich people want destroyed. Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Steven and I joined Jo & Jon Ivester for a weekend in their exquisite beach home on S. Padre Island.

Loved walking the nature trail this morning; saw a bit more than birds, though lots of those too.

Dinner with Carli & Tony Martinez.

(Community Matters) indulgence has a new level

Hat Tip: Cesart.me

(Community Matters) Wow, what might be the implications in the US? Among Facebook’s 116mm US users?  What do we know about the US users?

Better representation among communities of color, much younger, more women, more urban – not enough on political affiliation

Mashable’s US Facebook numbers

(Community Matters) David Bornstein & Susan Davis’ new book.  I enjoyed their book – tightly organized, good definition & examples of social entrepreneurship, challenges of causing change, envisioning an innovative society & thoughts for changemakers.

All of them share some basic tempermental qualities.  For example, entrepreneurs are comfortable with uncertainty, have a high need for autonomy and are biased toward action. Many social entrepreneurs can reacall a time in childhood when they were actively encouraged by an adult to take initiative – to start a club or organize a league, for example – and then assisted in the process. The most common misconception about entrepreneurs is that they like to take risks.  They will go to extreme lengths to minimize or eliminate risks, painstakingly seeking information to increase the odds of success.

(Community Matters)

I’m told in the 70s, partly cloudy – hmm, I believe it’ll be quite sunny

(Community Matters) Catholic Relief Services’ Caroline Brennan (senior communications officer) just returned from Haiti and was in Austin meeting with donors today.  With our HelpHaiti grants committee chair Phil Siegel and Chris Earthman who chairs Catholic Charities, met earlier today with Ms. Brennan and Diana Orren.  Wonderful pictures and stories of courageous Haitians, life seems to be returning to these people, though a very very tough life living in tents and mud floors during the rainy season.  It’ll be hurricane season almost as soon as the rains top.  HelpHaiti made a $50k challenge grant, against which Catholic Charities raised $88k in Central Texas.  We feel good about CRS’s spend, though given their raise of $140mm to date, unlikely we’ll be sending more.  Our priorities are mostly among more botique npos with specific programs we deem most valuable and for which monies from our $1.3mm would be critical – especially if we can help them leverage it with additional funding through match grants or other strategic partnerships.

(Community Matters) Through Shobie Partos in our Entrepreneurs Foundation office, we helped Silicon Labs, Inc. host tonight’s fundraiser for the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas – a happy hour spelling bee at the Alamo Drafthouse South.  There are three feeder spelling bees leading up to the big kahuna on April 29 at the Austin Musica Hall.

Tonight, teams from Austin Ventures, Bazaarvoice, BMC Software (formerly Phurnace), Convio, Creditcards.com, Silicon Labs, Thinkwell and Troux Technologies competed.  Creditcards.com won the competition.  Everyone had a blast for a good cause.

(Community Matters) While chatting with a 23 yo over lunch today, I listened attentively, since so much of what many need today is simply to be heard (and to talk outloud, to have to reach conclusion in their thoughts).  Increasingly I don’t prioritize making nice or becoming friends with 20 year olds.  I’d much rather share truths as I’ve experienced them, or as I interpret them, with the hope of favorably counseling someone.

This young man (who’s a casual acquaintance but whom I’ve watched on facebook and in a business setting), has many gifts to recommend him.

After listening, inquiring and mostly affirming, I explained that there are many paths one can take, which while looking similar, sometimes even easier, lead to very different sorts of lives.  While I’ve thought about it before, I’m not sure I’ve articulated how blessed some lives can be (I don’t mean blessed in any religious sense) – certainly mine & Steven’s among those.  I don’t mean materially (though that too); I mean because of the people we are lucky to count among our closest friends – how most of us spend a lot of time, money and effort on others – sometimes ones’ children, grandchildren or community, politics, running a business & providing fair paying jobs supporting families. How within this cohort, you don’t really have to look over your shoulder because these friends have your back.

Even among us, we sometimes become too ego-centric.  This doesn’t serve us well.  When we start feeling sorry for ourselves, or obsessing about ourselves, perhaps it’s time to focus on others.