Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) Arrived yesterday to spend three days w/ the Chrisities, who’ve taken a home on the North Shore. Perfect timing – it’d gotten cold in Austin. Ah, the sun is rising. I said I’d leave the computer when the sun came out.

(Community Matters) “Inspiration is more like catching a wave than going to a well.” – Dessa, aka Margret Wander

(Community Matters) Enlightening? Telling?

“Of all the issues Mrs. Clinton has worked on over the years, the one nearest her heart is improving the status of women and children around the world. … [F]ormer aides say that Mrs. Clinton drew a lesson from her 2008 run: she believes that the country approves of her, and of female candidates in general, when they appear to be serving others rather than seeking power out of personal ambition. By that logic, Mrs. Clinton’s interest in helping poor women around the world would not hurt her politically in 2016 and might add to her current politician-above-politics luster. … [from Politico’s Playbook]

(Community Matters) Holy Mole, I’m having new career ambitions:

Politico’s Playbook: TOP ASSOCIATION CEO SALARIES, per CEO Update Managing Director Mark R. Graham, based on association intelligence and IRS 990s for tax year 2011 (seven of these include six or-seven-figure payments toward Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, or SERP): 1) Edison Electric Institute, Tom Kuhn, $6,736,6276 … 2) U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue, $4,916,571 … 3) American Gaming Association, Frank Fahrenkopf, $4,632,882 … 4) Institute of International Finance, Charles Dallara, $3,930,881 … 5) American Petroleum Institute, Jack Gerard, $3,617,134 … 6) Airlines for America Airlines (formerly Air Transport Association), Nicholas Calio, $3,579,606 … 7) Securities Industry and Financial Markets Assn., Tim Ryan, $2,946,476 … 8) Business Roundtable, John Engler, $2,815,324 … 9) American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, David Karcher, $2,630,6475 …

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(Community Matters) how fun!

(Community Matters) We’re gonna miss Milinda and maybe this will drive us all up to Sherman and Woodlake more often.

realizing I took pictures early and missed Judge Arth, Stephen & Denny and a couple other friends.

Not sure we’ve ever hosted just 20 people – yes less, yes more. What a civilized number. Had substantive conversations with nearly everyone.

(Community Matters) levity from Jerusalem

Happy Hanukkah

(Community Matters) As of Thursday, same sex couples could be issued marriage licenses in Washington state.

Our dear friends once removed (we’ve never met them but they are dear friends of our dear friends Bill & Amy) are the couple in the background of this picture.  Harry & Terry will be married tomorrow. Whidbey Island News Times

(Community Matters) Taxpayers Savings Grants, Tuition Tax Credits, Full Time Virtual Schools, & Texas Families First – Speaking with Dr. David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas yesterday about threats to Texas public education, I asked what euphemistic language might be used to disguise vouchers in the upcoming legislative session.

Tuition Tax Credits – Texas corporations would be allowed to donate to any private school and take a deduction against their Texas franchise tax bill.  Tax Payers Savings Grants – will be sold as saving money – parents given a credit for 60%ish of per capita state funding and state saves rest (subtracting 100% from public school). Texas Families First – a separate accountability system and assessment criteria with a “voucher of last resort” provision. Full Time Virtual Schools – even home schooling might qualify. Problem with most of these (aside from taking scarce resources from already underfunded public schools) is the lack of oversight and accountability. I remain a fan of charter schools with strong performance records and accountability.

(Community Matters) Judy Trabulsi and Roy Spence spoke at today’s People Talk series. I was honored to introduce my two friends and wrote pages of notes, including:

• I’m sick of the fiscal cliff; I want to talk about the American mountain
• We’re not going to cut our way out of this mess. We’re not going to spend our way out of this mess. We’re gonna create our way out
• You never get anything done on common ground. You get things done on higher ground.
• It’s not what you sell, it’s what you stand for.
• Culture starts with taking care of your employees.
• Purpose is the one place where it has to start at the top. It’s not a grassroots effort.
• The language of leadership allows people to rally to higher ground.
• Everyone should be in the social improvement business.
• The value of relationships & the relationships of value

It’s Not What You Sell, by Roy Spence

(Community Matters) there are all kind of problems in this world:

“The most intimidating thing is having sex with your boyfriend and pulling down his pants and his ex-boyfriend’s name is staring you right in the face.” – mobster scion John Luciano on dating Calvin Klein’s ex

(Community Matters) Another 573 Haitians have ready access to safe drinking water