Monthly Archives: July 2010

(Community Matters) Survey sent to 400+ active military and reserve service members

(Community Matters) Note I sent today to our HelpHaiti donors:

I didn’t mean for this much time to pass since last providing you with an update.

We’re at $1,346k raised and have now granted $1,191k (including a $38k challenge grant outstanding with CharityWater).  Our last two grants were $100k to ConcernWorldwide to fund their cash for work program (Haitian’s paid $s/day to assist in clean up, rebuilding, day care and all sorts of jobs), and a $50k challenge grant to Fonkoze to fund a malnutrition program for the children of women in their savings and microloan programs (they’ve since met the match).

A lot has been written about the frustrations of deploying government and NGO monies in Haiti.  Continue reading →

(Community Matters) hmm, I won’t say who this is about but we’re close

(Community Matters) Our friend Steven Dietz’s newish play at Zach Scott, Becky’s New Car, fun, witty, light, a rapid fire comedy, especially in the second act, which felt like a farce.  Is there such a thing as an American farce? Certainly Becky’s second act.

Steven directed; Lucien Douglas and Babs George were outstanding; the entire cast did a super job, including its star Lauren Lane.

Much fun with Ingrid Johannsen, Robert Torian, Michael Mitchell & my husband. (Prof Berman and the kids on a road trip to upstate NY)

(Community Matters) Pres Obama, “The November elections are a choice between the economic policies that led us into this mess and the policies that are leading us out.”

(Community Matters) We’re looking at coordinating spending for Republican candidates in the $200mm to $300mm range.  The return of regulation at the agency level (think financial regulatory, environmental (EPA) and oil & gas drilling) – the agencies seriously laid down and played dead during the Bush years, some even took a 180 and became an enabler of bad practices rather than regulator – has driven the US Chamber alone to prioritize $75mm.

Huff Post story here

(Community Matters) One thing I learned today, Pick-a-Prof is alive and kicking, now Myedu.com –> scope significantly expanded.  Enjoyed lunch with co-founder Karen Holst.  Their model surprisingly comprehensive and focused on saving families money at university and driving student success.

(Community Matters) Excited about Graham Reynolds and Peter Stopschinski at Dueling Pianos this Sunday.

Tickets

(Community Matters) Great story in Aus Chron.

I don’t get most of the opposition:

Not Austin enough – really?  Sorry but Austin is everything – bikers, music, eeyore’s birthday bash, spam fest, etc.  What’s keeping Austin weird is in the eye of the beholder and I know many who would love to see this sport in Central Texas

Environmental concerns – again, really?  what’s the per capita foot print? probably less than heaps of parents and students driving to an out of town high school sports event

Financial concerns – okay, I get these.  Not sure it meets public investment priorities in these lean times.  I’m reading Mayor L saying no direct investment. We should remain vigilant

(Community Matters) wow, the second annual Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer coming up soon – Sept 25.  Met with Marion Cimbala & Elisabeth Anderson (DLA Piper) yesterday about tech community participation.  DLA’s Paul Hurdlow is a huge supporter of the ride, so were (last year) several high-tech c-level folks including Motive CEO David Altounian, BazaarVoice CEO Brett Hurt and Austin Ventures founder & GP Joe Aragona – imagining they are again this year.  Riders raised over $550,000 last year.  Ride leader, David Smith, is obviously sandbagging the goal – I bet it’s really $750+ 🙂

(Community Matters) Steven’s hotel in Battery Park was evacuated at 4am this morning.  What was he doing retrieving his camera?

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) I hope the conflicts of interest we find on the Texas Supreme Court aren’t spreading to SCOTUS.  Seriously, an anonymous $500k donor to the wife of a US Supreme Court judge? here