Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) Pressure to wear the pin – not unlike to wear the ribbon.

(Community Matters) Attended Barbara Chisholm’s performance of When Something Wonderful Ends last night at the Rude Mechs‘ Off Center. Playwright Sherry Kramer and director Katie Pearl both in attendance – hmm, think they were even still both taking notes.

The play is obviously autobiographical – though to what extent I haven’t yet discussed with Sherry. She superimposes amusing Barbie-laden & touching family memories with questions about US involvement in the Middle East, especially Iran in the 20th Century and Iraq today.

Barbara gives an impressive one woman performance, a 90-minute monologue; It’s a single character piece. I was awed by her retention and then I learned she also self-produced (with support and co-production from the Rudes). Can’t imagine how one manages 1,000,001 logistics and 90 minutes of lines.

Sherry hosted an after party at the fun abode, Reagan Gammon’s cool guest house, she’s leased while a visiting professor at UT.

Sherry Kramer and filmmaker Paul Stekler

Katie Pearl & Barbara Chisholm

Katie, Michael Mitchell & UT playwriting student, Kyle John Schmidt

Barbara & hubby/theater critic/actor Robert Fairies

Robert is working on a promising new project which I think would be okay to mention but I better check first. Lots of other friends, theater folks, Michener scholars and UT theatre students at the party – including Carrie Fountain who marries another Rude, Kirk Lynn, next weekend. Kirk, Katie’s beau (playwright Steve Moore) and friends canoeing the Brazos this weekend as a bachelor party celebration.

Lynn McKee, Robert Torian and I snuck out near midnight, leaving MM still going strong.

(Community Matters) Very important endorsements – Bill Donaldson, Arthur Levitt, and David Ruder, three former Chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission who were appointed by Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, respectively – have all endorsed Senator Obama for President. posted from my Blackberry. Please forgive typos. Tiny little keys

(Community Matters) Karen & Rick Hawkins hosted last night’s Ernst & Young EOY VIP event at their very swanky abode on Stratford. This year’s EOY finalists include: Mark Adams (Advocate MD), Tim Costell (Builder Homesite), Sam Goodner (Catapult Systems), Craig Malloy (LifeSize Communications), Satin Mirchandani & Mike Rosenfelt (MessageOne), Kirk Rudy, Chris Ellis, Bryce Miller, Jeff Newberg, Andy Pastor & David Roche (Endeavor Real Estate Group) and Ed Sattar (360training.com).

Social EOY finalists are Alan Graham (Mobile Loaves & Fishes), Richard Halpin (American Youthworks), Karen Langley (Family Eldercare) and Rachel Muir (Girlstart). The Silverton Foundation sweetens the pot for the Social EOY award – the recipient’s nonprofit receives a $100,000 grant.

Karen & Rick Hawkins and Valerie & Jeff Newberg

Ernst & Young managing partner, Mike Blue

Amy Warmke & Kim Hughes (Carol Thompson far right)

Laura Kilcrease & Richard Halpin

Laura Pastor & Amy Rudy

Tracie Pumphrey & Kim Shrum

Lots and lots of friends/high-tech leaders in attendance. This year’s EOY judges include Scott Eckert, Bob Fabbio, Bill Imhoff, Laura Kilcrease, Jack McDonald, Erik Prusch, Eric Rothfus (Guggenheim Ventures closing on a new, $100m fund) and Ed Taylor. Social EOY judges included Susan McDowell, Marc Seriff, Mike Turner and Neil Webber. The EOY Advisory Board includes Michael Blue, Tom Ball, Ted Barnhill, Lyn Chasteen, Amy Coplen, Tracie Pumphrey, Eugene Sepulveda, Kim Shrum, Tom Sicola, Bertrand Sosa, Tom Spivey, Carol Thompson and JC Waller.

(Community Matters) Developer Taylor Andrews was called out of town but was nice enough to have Greg Anderson give me a tour of the 360 Condos – 44 stories and 430 residences.

rendering of the tower located downtown on Nueces between 3rd & 4th

View east from atop 360

Greg Anderson of Andrews Urban

Unfortunately, not allowed to photograph inside the building. I think the buyers of these condos have gotten great deals. In addition to well priced units, the club, gym and outdoor entertaining spaces are outstanding. Next week’s opening parties should be much fun.

view north

block next to post office between 6th and 5th – Andrews Urban and Novare should break ground on their next condo tower in the next couple of months

(Community Matters) Attended the American Youthworks luncheon today as a guest of Janet Harman and the KDK-Harman Foundation. Good to see social entrepreneur Richard Halpin who launched this organization over 30 years ago. They do great work as a charter school. From their materials: American YouthWorks (AYW) is an efficient, cost-effective vehicle for reclaiming the lives of our at-risk youth. 85.6 cents of every dollar AYW raises is spent on direct services at an average annual participant direct cost of only $8,076. Every private sector dollar AYW raises is leveraged 5-to-1 with AmeriCorps, TEA, and other government money.

Some of their students

Janet Harman and Sam Greer, surrounded by AYW students

(Community Matters) Another favored nonprofit is Habitat for Humanity. Even before we’d met Steven’d been contributing to them for many years.

Met this morning with HFH staff Michael Willard, Michael Kellerman and Michelle Nance as well as member of Habitat’s Leadership Council. Save the date: Oct 8, 2008, a cool, Habitat Party

Michael Kellerman, Amanda McPhearson (LCRA), Michael Willard, Sherine Thomas
Cindy Veidt and Michelle Nance

Also, looks like Rudy, Mike & I may be engaging with Habitat to deploy funds from the Meredith gift for elderly housing rehabilitation.

(Community Matters) Some pics from last night’s storm, which the AAS says was actually the collision of two supercell thunderstorms – one from Mason County and another from Fredericksburg.

Our back deck at 12:40 last night

Front yard this morning

Street and across street this morning

Clarksville, in front of Lee Elementary

Clarksville, on 12th

Clarksville, 12th

yikes, most unfortunate. 10th St in east of Lamar

Hearing Tarrytown rec’d even worse damage. Windows were blown out of some downtown buildings, including the Capitol dome.

Question: what would cause this. Thursday afternoon I noticed my pool and the ponds had lost water during the storm rather than overfilled.

(Community Matters) Hit Aldridge Place right at midnight. At one point thought I saw green light so staked out place for coverage in case heard “the train.” Like many areas in Central Austin, the hail, gusts and rain were extraordinary. No major trees down on my block. Our electricity back on within two hours. Austin Energy even called to confirm power was back at our place. As I’ve been around town this morning, Clarksville certainly candidate for most impacted neighborhood. Down trees have closed several streets. Looked as if Lee Elementary may be closed. Saw fence and deck damage at Christine’s & Charles’. Have pics to post but remote now.

Coffee with Bishop Greg Rickel and friends this am. Very cool Habitat for Humanity planning meeting too. Currently waiting for American Youthworks luncheon to get underway at Hilton. Steven’s sent current pics from Ground Zero. He’s got the day off in NYC and hitting all his favorite haunts. Posted by Blackberry. Please forgive typos – tiny little keys.

(Community Matters) I knew exercise is dangerous. This morning I was on a pilates reformer, sitting up on a box, leaning way back, achieving a strong arch when the strap holding my legs broke, sending me feet over head, crashing down into the well while my legs crashed into the bars. Tonight, feeling like a truck hit me. Lucky nothing broken though pretty good bruises materializing. Hmm, guess I’m gonna have to get back on that horse soon. Physically, this hasn’t been the best last few months. I must have screwed up my karma somehow.

(Community Matters) Carl’s the CEO of Thinkwell, the totally groovy company where EF is lucky to have its offices. Thinkwell is very into birthdays. Yesterday we celebrated Carl’s.

(Community Matters) CA’s Supreme Court has indicated it’ll issue its long expected ruling on gay marriage tomorrow. Expect CA to make marriage between same sex adults legal – finally, another enlightened US state where our marriage will be recognized.