Monthly Archives: May 2013

(Community Matters) I am alive just trying to catch up. Quick trip to San Francisco for the National Venture Capital Conference where I participated in sessions on social entrepreneurship. Saw friends while there including dinner with Dipti Pratt at Commonwealth (good, not great) and another dinner with Will Roman, Cesar Torres and James Reggio. We had reservations for Foreign Cinema but Will’s hurt his back so we treked to his very cool abode in North Beach – a new favorite part of town btw.

Back in time to celebrate Lynne Skinner’s & Jeff Browning’s leadership of the annual Austin Cup which has raised $790k for the Center for Child Protection – plus Penny Wilson and Kim & Kyle Hughes. And, today to catch some of the RISE Conference in Austin as well as prepare for tomorrow’s EF Spring Service Day – 23 companies and 565 team members expected at Linder & Brooke Elementary schools. Leigh Christie is an amazing super woman – she keeps the trains running, on time and in the right directions.

Steven’s on his way from Traverse City, Michigan to Manhattan tonight. I take it his TEDxTraverseCity talk was a success. We have such fantastic friends in that wonderful city.

(Community Matters) I regrettably rescinded the acceptance of a Facebook friend request because as soon as I accepted I scrolled his FB postings and realized he was quite angry and spoke out in a way that came across to me, very disrespectfully of President Obama and other leaders. Rescinding really gave me pause. This is a friend from early in childhood, the son of one of my father’s best friends. I sent him this note:

xxxx, thanks for the friend request. I initially accepted then realized we’d both drive each other crazy. I’d love to reconnect with you sometime and we can just not discuss politics. I like President Obama, and I’m a liberal. I wouldn’t want to upset you with my posts, and I would get upset by some of yours. So, probably better not to share FB space. Hope to see you sometime and wishing you the best.

In fact, I don’t think I post in a way that comes across as disrespectful to others – or well, I try not to and think I succeed more than fail.

(Community Matters) What a great day. Waking up in San Antonio, breakfast with good friends, back to Austin and a super visit with a long lost (moved to Indianapolis) godson, Ben Knaplund, and his lifelong best friend, Avery Martin, of whom I’m also especially fond.

Then to see The Great Gatsby with another godson (actually godson-in-law but couldn’t love him any more too), Trey Alford.

Steven arrived in Traverse City today to snow. I was telling him this evening I hope I wasn’t too didactic with the guys. Then, perfect, what a sweet text from Ben, including: “You are a pleasurable mixture of father and best friend.”

So, my day is complete, and I’m really happy.

celebrated mom yesterday with a too quick stop by the ranch. They’re coming next weekend so we’ll celebrate more plus Dad’s birthday.

(Community Matters) I don’t like profiling in law enforcement, national security, nor review of taxpayer applications for tax exempt, non profit status. I’m assuming those whose hair is on fire are also consistent in their opposition to profiling. And, it’s important to note that not only was then IRS Commission Douglas Shulman appointed by President George W Bush in 2008, the Director of IRS Exempt Organizations Division Lois G. Lerner was appointed to this position in 2005, ie., also under the Bush administration. I don’t point this out to assess blame but to suggest liberals or an Obama administration wouldn’t recruit Bush conservatives & an appointee if conspiring against conservatives.

(Community Matters) Mayor Castro won reelection with 66% of the vote. I hurried over from Mark Gibb’s Houston memorial service to be with friends at the election gathering. It was an early election night, then a long night with friends.

(Community Matters) Another note from a former SW Key employee who found my blog postings on East Austin College Prep.

Eugene, you are on the right track. I worked at Southwest Key Programs years ago and never spoke negatively about them in public but I am sure you are making them nervous by bringing their underhanded practices to light. You are pulling a thread that the community deserves to have pulled. When they broke ground on the school, providing community children with a quality education seemed to be the driving force behind their efforts. Reading about what is going on now it seems the Southwest Key administration is doing whatever they can to add grade levels and generating revenue for their operating expenses. Transparency seems to be and should continue to be your objective. I hope public pressure can be applied so everyone can find out where the dollars are going.

Occurs to me. I have not vetted these notes. Posting without confirmation.

(Community Matters) Austin’s arts replenish the creativity that fuels our tech community – creativity on demand.

one of our favorite bands in Austin – Mother Falcon. Admittedly not the best recording – it’s a little unstructured out on the street – and demonstrates part of what’s so fun about these young artists.

(Community Matters) This is Brian Kelsey’s presentation from the ATC CEO Summit – it shows that nearly 1/4 of Austin’s economy is tech related and nearly 1/3 of all jobs when you factor in the multiplier (9% x 3.5).

Economic Impact of Austin’s Technology Sector from Civic Analytics LLC

(Community Matters) President Obama visited the Capital Factory today, an outstanding tech startup incubator co-founded & operated by several friends, especially Joshua Baer and Bill Boebel.

In the shared work space (250 entrepreneurs work at Capital Factory representing almost 100 different companies) he was treated to a demo of Mass Relevance by Eric Falcao  and a demo by Stormpulse narrated by Matt Wensing.

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Photos from many different sources, including yesterday’s official CF photographer: Alex Smith, and many my own

Josh then introduced the President to a room of 24 entrepreneurs, investors and

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(Community Matters) I’m told these plans are being proposed to the UT Regents today.

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(Community Matters) More parents’ comments coming in concerned about Southwest Key’s stewardship of East Austin College Prep.

And, this has stoked my interest in knowing the results of two friends’, Austin business and political leaders investigations into the matters I raised. One friend was a board member and contacted me after my original posting. Rather than chastising me for raising concerns, I suggested he exercise his fiduciary responsibilities as a board member of SW Key and investigate whether my concerns were valid. He promised to do so. I never heard back but noticed he resigned from the board. The other friend was a paid consultant tasked with raising money. He asked me to stand down and I asked him to protect his reputation by investigating his employer before asking our friends for money. I never heard back but I do know he wasn’t working for SW Key a few months thereafter.  A revered Hispanic community leader wrote me questioning my connection with Hispanics in this community – suggesting I only speak out against Hispanic initiatives. Well, that would be wrong, though I appreciated her candid feedback and directness.

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(Community Matters) Seriously, is this a priority for some conservatives? Reading about the US House Bill to allow employees to take comp time (subj to scheduling with employer) in lieu of overtime. You know, for empowered employees, maybe this might work, though I think over time, most employees are becoming less empowered.

I’m really not a corporate basher. I believe the most sustainable form of charity is creating jobs. And, I know that sometimes hard, firm rules are the best way to ensure we operate fairly and aren’t tempted to cut corners.

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