Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) yummy dinner club last night and great catching up with Sandi Aitken (our hostess), Marianne Rochelle, Joene Grissom, Mark Salamanson and Gary Greenblum. We missed Cookie Ruiz and Christopher Kennedy.

Excellent board retreat for PeopleFund yesterday. Jack McDonald has taken over as board chair, following Cloteal Davis Haynes. Jack & Margo Weisz (ED), planned and executed an on-point, concise and specific retreat which generated the right strategic conversations among fellow trustees and senior staff. Carol Kallendorf & Jack Spears reported on our strategic & environmental assessment and staff 360 reviews. Trustee Debbie Ramirez reporting on our new building on the MLK Featherlight tract which should break ground in a few months (has everyone seen the new rail transit stop on the site – quite cool). PeopleTrust board chair Mike Cook joined us and we’ve elected their board members to our board and vice versa. PT is a support organization of PF; nevertheless, we’ve decided to mirror the boards. Kelly Wiess and staff have done a terrific job managing the affordable housing for Robert Mueller. Many opportunities in this space given real estate values.

Lots of good stuff underway.

(Community Matters) Apparently not. AG Abbott opposing Texas courts granting divorce to MA wed gay Texans. here

(Community Matters) Nice treat to receive – from Sat night’s Dell’s Childrens Hospital Gala

(Community Matters) It’s sounding touchy but not over the line. Hate that America’s first major city gay mayor is in the middle of such controversy. And, yet, as the story goes, doesn’t appear to be anything a heterosexual mayor wouldn’t survive. story here

(Community Matters) So good to be back in town and at our church, a place that reflects the diversity of America and the community President Obama’s election reflects.

(Community Matters) Hundreds on hand, might have been a thousand. No evidence of the economic recession when it came to supporting the extraordinary resource which served 88,000 children last year, the Dells Children Hospital. We know they raised over $1,000,000 last night. Results of Entrepreneurs Foundation/Silicon Labs match challenge raised during dinner still not in but a couple raised their hands in at $25k, several for $10k and tens at various lesser amounts. Hoping we raised another $100k, which would mean having leveraged our $50k grant into $200k.

Alyson & Wyeth Wiedeman

Frankly, lots of folks were shocked that Dells was able to pull off a million dollar event in this economy. Aside from the extraordinary Seton fundraising machine and Central Texas’ recognition of the unique asset the Childrens hospital represents, Alyson & Wyeth weren’t about to settle for less – they’re passionately supportive of Dells. And, as Wyeth says, “it’s my life.” Their twin daughter Harper was born premature with cerebral palsy. He can tell numerous stories about how the hospital has saved and improved her life.

Wyeth & his daughter, Madison

Amy Rudy & Jen Hamlin

Since the EF/Silicon Labs grant declined all benefits and services, we hadn’t really planned on attending. Kirk & Amy Rudy invited Steven & me to join their table, which also included Senator Kirk & Liz Watson and Jen Hamlin. hubby John was off helicopter skiing with Andrew Harris.

Kirk Rudy

Kirk & Liz Watson and Steven

Mayor Will Wynn

Hadn’t seen Will in sometime. Enjoyed catching up with what’s next – several part time interests and planning to take some quiet time too. Missed him at the inauguration, though turns out we were nearby at the swearing in and Lincoln Memorial concert. Will flew up his two girls, Larkin & Kyrie. Hard to believe they are 13 and 10.

Judy & Bill Waxman

Judy Waxman recently transitioned from Dells to Dini Partners. Had a wonderful lunch with her Friday and co-chaired (though I missed) the ADL Stakeholders event with her on Thursday evening. Bill was a great guide on estate planning issues early in my career. Met these two nearly twenty years ago through our mutual friend Rebecca Yerly.

Senator Watson, Jan Lindelow, Wyeth

Jan & Britt Lindelow spending lots of time with their grandchildren in Savannah. Steven and I need to take them up on their offer to stay in their Old Town condo sometime. Jan still chairs the Vignette board, retired as CEO of Tivoli. Jan has severed on the Children’s Hospital board for years.

Blaine Wesner & Amy

Unfortunately, Alexa Wesner was home taking care of newborn Tenn, who wasn’t feeling so well. Though enjoyed a lengthy political conversation with Blaine.

Kathy & Doug Thompson

I don’t even know if Doug is still mayor of West Lake or if Kathy is still at Dell. We briefly chatted about Jane & Michelle and promised to catch up soon, maybe in Marfa

John & Amy Chronis

Amy Chronis a favorite female CEO in town. She’s the managing partner at Deloitte.

Lucy Glenn, Nick Fox & Cari Bissonett

(Community Matters) Tonight’s a big night – the Dell Children’s Medical Center 2009 Gala. Evelyn & Wyeth Wiedeman are this year’s gala chairs. Wyeth, a good friend who earlier this year told me he wanted to bust the record of raising $1mm. Looks like he’s done it. Congrats to Wyeth, Evelyn and the gala committee.

The Entrepreneurs Foundation & Silicon Labs launched a $50k match grant which was fully matched through Dell’s year end appeal. These monies will be used to match fund extra donations tonight for a total of up to $200,000 to complete the purchase of special MRI equipment for their Pediatric Neurosciences Center. While a part of the Gala fundraising, no costs of fundraising associated. EF/SLAB and those who have matched so far have waived all goods, services & benefits.

(Community Matters) If you didn’t read this piece in today’s AAS, do so now. Outstanding.

(Community Matters) It was Clark, Thomas, Winter & Nugent the last time I was involved. I’ve known the firm all my adult life since they were intimately a part of Capital National Bank aka Texas Commerce Bank aka JP Morgan Chase. Ambassador Clark and Donald Thomas were still with the firm while I was a baby banker. Think Rick Chapa had been the only Hispanic banker up until I arrived. He was in retail; I was in commercial. I still remember a few chats with the ambassador who seemed to be susin’ me for a political run. (small world, when I started traveling to Australia to be with Alan (my first boyfriend) he lived next to a woman who grew up as a closest friend to, then, Ambassador Clark’s children).

Sad to read of the firm’s tribulations in today’s AAS. Walter Demond was always an important partner. I have no experience other than extraordinary integrity and accountability with the firm and with its partners. And, I realize what constitutes conflicts of interest and what passes for arms length transactions have evolved over time. I’d find it hard to believe any intentional misdoing on behalf of the firm or Walter. And, as my readers know, I have been a vehement critic of PEC, its former management and its former board members.

(Community Matters) so my laptop’s 3-year warranty has expired, meaning it’s time for a new one. Wow, options. I’ve only ever had IBM/Lenovo laptops. Love the X series (ultra-light weight and portable). I overspent last time buying the notebook. Haven’t used that feature. And, not thinking I can justify the expense of the a) 300 series vs b) 200 series, which means a 12.1″ vs 13.3″ screen, no built-in optical drive and a 5100 (vs 5300) wireless LAN adapter. However, this will save me nearly $1k, even after upgrading the 200 to a 128GB solid state drive and 4GB ram.

If anyone has other recommendations or insights, please let me know.

(Community Matters) Last night hosted a dinner party for our godson’s, Ben Knaplund, 16th birthday.

Ben and Lena

Nico, Janet Maykus (mom), Mark Smith, Steven, Lena, Ben & Robert Torian
we missed older brother, Austin Knaplund, but he’s at Hampshire

(Community Matters) Thankfully no sign of truth to the rumor that local megalomaniac Mike Levy filed notice of a treasurer for his mayoral race.