Monthly Archives: February 2012

(Community Matters) W0w – what a great HRC black tie dinner – Billy Wilkinson & Kathrin Kersten were the co-chairs. Randi Shade & Kayla Shell received the Bettie Naylor Award and wowed the crowd with personal stories. Alisa Weldon & Lynn Yeldell were presented the Visibility Award for their L Style G Style and their community leadership. John Hogg & David Garza should receive the Generous Award for auctioning the New Mexico home x3, which raised $27k. Camille Cook & Siri Hutcheson brought the house down speaking about a personal experience and for Federal Club appeals; they should take it on the road. I think they brought in an extra $100k+. Kirk Rice introduced HRC President Joe Solomenese who’s announced his retirement. Judge Robert Pitman was a gracious recipient of much attention. And, what a surprise to have comedian George Lopez serve as auctioneer, even disguised as Police Chief Art Acevedo.

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our table

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(Community Matters) Two other postings about TEDxAustin below. Here are some photos

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(Community Matters) An image from a TEDx presentation yesterday

(Community Matters) Really? Only the third year? Feels like many more. In a good way.

So far today: Jeff Lofton/Graham Reynolds, Chris Riley, David Dow, Todd Humphries, Ellie Audet and Penny de los Santos.

Just wrapping up lunch. I ate at a table hosted by Lenoir’s. Others: Swift Attic, Uchicko, BC Tavern/Wink, Carillion, FINO/ASTI & Easy Tiger.

Lots of note. Two to immediately share.
Chris Riley: “Stories change the world.”. Steven & I often say art can change the world. I think Chris’ statement is even more spot on.

Peggy de los Santos: “This is what I’ve learned about moments, they happen every day, every where.”. Posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) Last night during the TEDxAustin speakers/sponsors dinner, I received an email from Emily. She’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. She and her doctor are very optimistic. It’s totally treatable. And, still it so sucks.

I know I seemed a bit like an ass stepping away from the dinner just as the speaker got underway, standing off to the side on the telephone – even waving from the side lines while being acknowledged. Sorry All, I couldn’t just email Emily back; I had to call immediately.

Our prayers are with this dear friend, her family and her awesome boyfriend, Tim Crowley.

(Community Matters) First chance I’ve had to watch this awesome video. Thanks for the hat tip Kip Keller.

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(Community Matters) Beyond Measure, the theme for today’s TEDxAustin taking place at the Austin Music Hall.

The speakers: Craig Hella Johnson, Michael McDaniel, Penny de los Santos, Tanya Streeter, Bill Eggers, Jason Roberts, DJ Spooky, Taryn Davis, Ellie Audet, Jeremy Courtney, Chris Bliss, Prof Todd Humphreys, David Dow & Chris Riley. Performers: Jeff Lofton & Ballet Austin. Don’t have a seat at the Music Hall? Simulcast here

And, in honor of today, I’m reposting Steven’s presentation from the first TEDxAustin. The Entrepreneurs Foundation, Steven and I are proud to be among TEDxAustin’s founding sponsors

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(Community Matters) Bob Kinney’s asked that I post about this

Olivia Mercury Pepper and Katie Rose Pipkin have been building The Island Community in the backyard of their Northeast Hyde Park home at the east end of 47th Street across from the railroad tracks for a couple years now.They are seeking community support through Kickstarter for opening a multi-arts performance, exhibition gallery, puppet theatre and arts/gathering space by mid-March.

I wrote about them on my Austin Music & More blog – http://bobkinney.wordpress.com/

There is a link to a seven-minute video about The Island and plans to grow it to create Wardenclyffe in East Austin under the sixth photo on the blog post.

Olivia (who works the register at Wheatsville) and Katie (one of Turk’s daughters) host The Island Community.

(Community Matters) Once a quarter I go into my hole – dive deep into last quarter’s goals & objectives, objectively quantify accomplishment, review finances and update the plan, especially getting granular for the next quarter. The timing of these dives are around my EF quarterly board meetings but the practice is so powerful I extend it into business and personal – which now includes Marfa Public Radio and 91.3 in Midland/Odessa. Our GM Tom Michael was up for two half day sessions on messaging and pitch.

I’m back. Sorry for the occasions I had to cancel the last few nights.

(Community Matters) yeah!!! CNN: California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violates U.S. Constitution, appeals court in San Francisco rules

text of ruling

(Community Matters) Not sure I’d pay $4 per cup of coffee if it wasn’t about the young people I meet at the city’s best coffee shops – Houndstooth, Caffe Medici, Bennu. Drew Dunavan is the manager of Medici’s Guadalupe store, books their music and has just launched his own recording studio in South Austin, Werd Recording.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) this is why (& these kids are who for) we continue to fight, even when others think things are pretty much okay.

The silence of adults was deafening. At Blaine High School, says alum Justin Anderson, “I would hear people calling people ‘fags’ all the time without it being addressed. Teachers just didn’t respond.” In Andover High School, when 10th-grader Sam Pinilla was pushed to the ground by three kids calling him a “faggot,” he saw a teacher nearby who did nothing to stop the assault. At Anoka High School, a 10th-grade girl became so upset at being mocked as a “lesbo” and a “sinner” – in earshot of teachers – that she complained to an associate principal, who counseled her to “lay low”; the girl would later attempt suicide. At Anoka Middle School for the Arts, after Kyle Rooker was urinated upon from above in a boys’ bathroom stall, an associate principal told him, “It was probably water.” Jackson Middle School seventh-grader Dylon Frei was passed notes saying, “Get out of this town, fag”; when a teacher intercepted one such note, she simply threw it away.

In Michele Bachmann’s home district, evangelicals have created an extreme anti-gay climate. After a rash of suicides, the kids are fighting back.

Rolling Stone article link