Community Matters

(Community Matters) Good conversation about populist uprising against Geithner and financial institutions. I’m not unmindful of what treasury helped us avoid. And in a world Wall Street certainly understands, what have they done for us today? We need a hard-nosed leader who will see us through to tough new financial regulations and not abide the ridiculous bonuses and return to past overly-leveraged, unregulated practices.

Most don’t want a Fed politicized, and there’s a crisis of confidence which can only be resolved by strong leadership and transparency.  posted from my blackberry

Update: I especially like Prof Brandl’s comment:

Eugene – the key question to ask is:  why are the banks paying all of these bonuses and yet many (small business and consumers) can not seem to get access to credit?  The answer is the system that has now been set up encourages banks to borrow from the Fed at near zero rates and bring these funds to the commercial paper & currency markets and earn nice returns with defacto zero default risk.  Thus, by not considering the longer term objectives of policy changes we have mis aligned incentives in the financial markets.

(Community Matters) What a terrific day.  Spent most of it in National’s Stadium, the PNC Diamond Room the setting for our Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) meetings.  The topic was capacity building and how best to launch the Social Innovation Fund, Volunteer Generation Fund and Nonprofit Capacity Building grant monies recently authorized by Congress.  Lots of discussion about intellectual capital, leverage, capacities and capabilities.  I enjoyed the day in conversation.

Tonight I’m staying with my dear dear friends, Sonya, Dio, Gabel and Reid Cramer.  Wonderful dinner in with conversations about everything from national finance reform to unstructured elementary school sports, the building of bridges and the importance of cooks as well as artists.

(Community Matters) I wouldn’t shed any tears.

(Community Matters)

Steven’s always wanted to travel to Australia.  My Sydney friends are definitely Mardi Gras fans,and we’ve hung out at Bondi lots.  It’s their Xmas ritual.  hmm, not sure Mardi Gras would be ST’s thing

(Community Matters) I’m not exactly sure why, but it’s like AT&T ads from the 90s all over again.  Has been for a few weeks now.  Getting worse

(Community Matters) on the MARC from Baltimore to DC, then to check into the Tabard, then hosting Guy Selden’s birthday bash at Cafe Milano.

Visited with Leslie briefly this morning on the way to the airport. She was radiant despite circumstances. Some people just always are. I hope to see her when I return on Fri.

Wow, when traveling on the company dime, one can sure reduce expenses. Using the Pres Club (free papers, coffee and snacks) and free upgrades (meal), I haven’t spent a dime other than my taxi this morning (that my exp) and the train now ($9) which saved me $300 rather than flying into National.

Nice to be back in the city. Just arrived Union Station.  posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) Good gosh, I’d woken up completely forgetting that our dear friend, Leslie Jarmon is leaving the hospital to rest with her family.  Very sad; she’s not responding to treatment for cancer.

Leslie is an extraordinary woman.  I must stop by the hospital this morning on my way to the airport.

Leslie’s work was recently featured in the AAS story about UT’s adoption of Second Life for cross-campus collaborations.  She worked closely with Steven in creation and execution of the UT MBA Plus Program and taught highly-coveted, problem-based learning graduate courses.  She was also an early & extraordinarily enthusiastic Obama supporter.  She traveled the country campaigning for his election in the primary and general election.  I’m so thankful she rode out with us to the exotic game ranch recently, so privileged she prioritized attending the event even while in treatment.

Leslie’s been a fierce warrior against her cancer for a very long time.  She wrote her dissertation while undertaking her first round of treatment.  She likes noting that hers was the very first electronic copy dissertation submitted to UT, possibly in the country.

(Community Matters) I’m headed to DC today to participate in conversations at the Corporation for National & Community Service about capacity building and how we can leverage finite existing assets.

nope, no changes, this strictly volunteerism through EF

(Community Matters) It’s all over the news, Goldman’s $500mm for small businesses.  Early reports suggesting $300mm will be earmarked through CDFIs (community development financial institutions).  You can bet we’re all over that at PeopleFund.  In recent conversations about job creation, it’s been noted that CDFIs are seeing high demand for lending and our clients do create jobs and wealth, especially in low & moderate income communities. These monies would be well deployed.  Everyone has got to resist good money after bad and speculation. There are too many good opportunities to squander very finite capital.

(Community Matters) A new village for orphans in India.  Caroline Bodreaux and her team don’t stop – thank gosh for the team and the Miracle Foundation.  Last night’s event held at Donna & Steve Hick’s home, the Reed Estate in Pemberton, was packed with philanthropists and Miracle Foundation ambassadors – those men & women who have traveled with Caroline to India. 

Nav Sooch & Whitney Casey joined in hosting the event.  Lots of Austin’s most generous on hand including John Paul & Eloise DeJoria, Andra & Joe Liemandt, Ken DeAngelis & Lori Moritz, Nona Niland & David Braun, Krishna Srinivasan, Elizabeth Davis, Ben Cohen, Randi Shade & Kayla Shell and lots of others.  Steven and I couldn’t stay for all the event but I’m betting they raised nearly $2mm.  One friend on hand was prepared to pledge nearly $1mm.

(Community Matters) Such great news today about Michael Mitchell’s cancer not having returned.  Regrettably, not so great news about another friend with lymphoma who’s going into hospice tomorrow.  Treatments are not making progress.  Great news about another friend rushed to the hospital yesterday, no heart trouble after all.  Many ups and downs.

(Community Matters) Good news. No evidence of its return