tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16884217455119639312024-02-08T17:53:55.911-05:00People I MeetMichael Whitehouse: Salesman, Trainer, Educator, Speaker. My thoughts, events, and presentations.Michael Whitehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11965091654398554021noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-2544434293239240622024-02-08T17:53:00.000-05:002024-02-08T17:53:06.847-05:00<p> Get Your JV Connect Ticket</p><p>
<script async src="//tinder.thrivecart.com/embed/v1/thrivecart.js"></script><a data-thrivecart-account="guy" data-thrivecart-tpl="v2" data-thrivecart-product="54" class="thrivecart-button thrivecart-button-styled thrivecart-button_style-rounded thrivecart-button-custom " style="background-color: #610EDB;">Register for March JV Connect</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-86585582556401228302021-04-14T09:34:00.004-04:002021-04-14T09:34:21.435-04:00We Are all Damaged<p> <img alt="We are all damaged" class="wp-image-1536 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="1536" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2015 Kiselev Andrey Valerevich\/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Ancient,Male,Warrior,In,Armor,Holding,Sword.,Historical,Character.,Fantasy.","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Ancient,Male,Warrior,In,Armor,Holding,Sword.,Historical,Character.,Fantasy." data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?fit=739%2C493&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-permalink="https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/2021/04/11/we-are-all-damaged/ancientmalewarriorinarmorholdingsword-historicalcharacter-fantasy/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="493" loading="eager" sizes="(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior.jpg?resize=739%2C493&ssl=1" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&ssl=1 768w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&ssl=1 1536w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1367&ssl=1 2048w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 600w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=90%2C60&ssl=1 90w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?resize=135%2C90&ssl=1 135w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?w=1478&ssl=1 1478w, https://i1.wp.com/www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/scarred-warrior-scaled.jpg?w=2217&ssl=1 2217w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="739" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">As I often do, I made a social media post which was intended to remind people of their power to control their responses to their world. In this case, the post was “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” The intent of the sentiment is that we cannot prevent painful things from happening to us, but we can choose our response to it and whether we choose to suffer in that pain or deal with it in other ways.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Some people were inspired by this post and others were offended. I was hurt by their taking offense. I understood that those who were upset read the words through the lens of their experience and took a different meaning from that which was intended. What it took some time to recognize was the source of my own pain at the misunderstanding.</p><span id="more-1535" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">In the book <a href="https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/books" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz</a>, the author discusses the fact that humans have so much trouble connecting with one another without pain.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">He describes it by comparing it to physical touch. When healthy skin is touched, it is pleasant, but if that skin is cut or infected, then the touch is painful. We are covered in wounds from our pasts, so when we come in contact with other people, the contact is painful.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Our animal instincts are simple. Our instinct is to strike out when we are hurt. But the world is not simple. It is complex. If we have been hurt by a villain, then the response is simple. Strike back against the one who hurt you. But life is rarely so simple.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Perhaps we have been hurt by faceless circumstance. Perhaps we have been hurt by someone who didn’t know better and was doing their best. Perhaps we were hurt by someone who is repentant. How can you feel good lashing back against such a person?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Yet we are still driven to lash out. That is the instinct when we are hurt. So we create straw men. We create simple villains and strike out at them.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Consider what you see on social media in that lens.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Everyone you meet and everyone you speak to has been wounded by their past. Some wounds are deeper than others. Some are wounded by the harms they have suffered. Some are wounded by the fears they were fed. Some are wounded by the stories they heard or even by the stories they invented for themselves.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">When we are wounded, we want to lash out.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">This morning, I heard <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/bryan-doerries-you-are-not-alone-across-time/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">an interview with Bryan Doerries on On Being</a>. Doerries runs <a href="https://theaterofwar.com/about" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">Theater of War Productions</a> in which he uses readings of classical stories to bring to light our modern psychic wounds. The interview was profound, and I highly recommend it.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">As I listened, I was reminded of a quote I heard once: “We are all damaged goods.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">None of us came through life without scars and cuts and open wounds. Every one of us has sensitive spots, places that, when touched, cause us pain, cause us to lash out.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">We are we sensitive to certain ideas? Why do they upset us so?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">They upset us because we fear they might be true.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">There are ideas that we teach ourselves because they are ideas that bolster the person that we most want to be. We tell ourselves these things over and over. Perhaps it is the entrepreneur who tells themselves that they are capable and competent to run their business. Perhaps it is a person who was abused telling themselves that they had no power to change their situation. Perhaps it is the doctor who tells themselves that they are doing everything they can for their patients.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">We tell ourselves these things over and over and over because we need to believe they are true, and very often they are <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">objectively </em>true, but the real reason we repeat them is that our deepest fear is that they are false.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">I tell myself that I share ideas which will help people who need to hear them. I tell myself that I can make people’s lives better. I tell myself that I am competent to coach and guide and teach.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">I am sensitive to the idea that my words which are intended to heal may cause harm. I am sensitive to the idea that I have nothing real to offer people. I am sensitive to the idea that I am an imposter.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">I am sensitive to these ideas because my deepest fear is that they may be true. If they are true, then who am I? What do I have left?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">This is not just me. This is the nature of imposter syndrome, and almost everyone suffers from it in one way or another.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">But in our modern, connected society, it becomes worse. Bryan Doerries, in his interview said, “We are constantly consuming each other’s suffering.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Through social media, conversations which would normally be reserved for quiet, reflective moments are out for all to see among conversations about politics, health, food, pets, kids, war, peace, disease, and disaster.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">The constant barrage touches our wounds on a daily basis, and we lash out. We want, no, we need to discredit the person who threatens our most important beliefs, so we attack them.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">The attack does nothing to salve our own wounds, but they lead to hidden doubts in the other person. Nothing they’ll ever admit to, because to admit that the words wounded would admit to themselves their own doubts about the ideas which must be true to support their identity, so they strike back.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">And then we have a world of people, lashing out at strangers and friends alike, wounding as we go, and seeking the visceral satisfaction of vanquishing a foe, only to discover that the foe we vanquished was nothing more than a friend trying to move in a way that did not aggravate their own wounds.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">We are all damaged goods. We are all wounded by the injuries and accidents of our lives.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">I am wounded by my failure to understand and effectively serve the first community I built. I am wounded by various failed relationships. I am wounded by the impression of others that I am a shiftless wanderer, drifting from project to project.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">That community was a powerful force for good for many people, and I learned much from that experience, but the failure still haunts me. The relationships are long past, but the hurt I may have caused still haunts me. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">My business is now focused and is driving in a direction of growth, but I still worry that someone will look at me and see a dumb kid who’s pretending to be a businessman or even that I am simply repeating my past mistakes unwittingly. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">You see a grey haired connector and entrepreneur, but when I picture myself, I still sometimes see that 23 year old trying to figure it all and making a lot of mistakes on the way.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Next time you look at social media and shake your head wondering why people can’t get along, remember that we are all damaged. We are all wounded.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Remember that we all tell ourselves certain things every day, as loudly as we can, because we fear at a deep and visceral level that they may not be true, and we cannot imagine how we would live if they were. So we will fight with all our strength against anyone who might even suggest that the ideas should be questioned.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">When you find yourself angered or triggered or feel that sensitive spot, ask yourself why. How does this idea threaten you? What are you afraid might be true that you need to be false?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Look at your own supporting beliefs. Look at the ideas which you desperately need to be true, fear they are false, but which are objectively factual. Meditate on those ideas, find support for them, and work to become more comfortable with the idea that they are, in fact real.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">Having done this, you’ll start to see that the other person did not intend to hurt, but merely to touch, or was just lashing out from instinct from their own wounds. Either way, it is not their words which hurt but, your own wounds which made the interaction painful.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", Libre, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-top: 0px;">It is in this way that we might all get along a little better.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-71880887023889113112020-05-30T17:32:00.002-04:002020-05-30T17:32:55.863-04:00On George Floyd and the ResponseLet me begin by saying that I, like most Americans and people around the world, am disgusted by the murder of George Floyd. His death is inexcusable and unquestionably a murder which the law should deal with harshly.<br />
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The rage felt by his neighbors is understandable, and that's all I'll say about the protests. I would like to speak about two things I am seeing in the aftermath that are different from times before. One very inspiring and the other disturbing.<br />
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In my years, I've seen this cycle of police brutality leading to public reaction a number of times. Too often, the brutality is captured on film and everyone can see for themselves what happened. Politicians and other police will want to wait and delay while an investigation occurs. Police across the country will step up to defend their brothers in blue, no matter what the facts say.<br />
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This time is different. I read an article this morning in The Day (our local paper) in which the police chiefs of a number of towns decried the murder of Mr. Floyd as just that, a murder. Instead of standing with the murderer as has happened in the past, they distanced themselves from him. It's not just our local police: individuals, chiefs, and departments have made public statements that they are disgusted by what happened. Some have called for prosecution of the murderer and the other officers who stood by and let it happen.<br />
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Today in New London, the police chief came to speak at a Black Lives Matter rally. The local chief of police came to speak at a Black Lives Matter rally. This is huge and needs to be recognized as an important step.<br />
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Most police officers are good, honest, hard working people who do what they do in order to keep their communities safe, but as long as they defend the criminals among them, they are all tarnished by their actions. However, when they take a stand against the racists and the bullies in their ranks, that is when the culture changes and those who would abuse their power will think twice, knowing that they'll be punished just like a civilian would be for similar violence.<br />
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Police as bullies brings me to my second observation: the arrest of an entire CNN crew on live TV. Some police sometimes forget that their job is to enforce the law, and instead think they are the law. This is the root of tyranny, when police, the authorized wielders of violence on behalf of the State, see the people as their enemy to be defeated rather than as their neighbors to be protected.<br />
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20 years ago, I, as a representative of the Student Government of UMass Amherst, was standing with a group of administrators observing a riot on campus. For no reason that could be determined, a mounted officer rode over, reached down, grabbed me by the throat and pushed me back. To this day, I do not understand why this happened, as we were a safe distance from the police activity.<br />
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In situations such as a riot, there are people, such a the media and others, who have a legitimate reason to be there. The police have an obligation to protect them so long as they abide by any instructions of the police. In this situation, the CNN crew clearly and repeatedly asked for instructions and indicated their intention to follow whatever guidance was given. They offered no resistance and only compliance. The police offered no instructions, and simply arrested them without explanation.<br />
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The officers probably thought they had some good reason to do what they did. Maybe they gave instructions previously, but there is always the chance instructions are misunderstood, and an arrest should be explained if there is time to do so, as there was in this case.<br />
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The police then proceeded to lie to the public about facts that were clearly evident in watching the many minutes of footage, broadcast live to millions of viewers.<br />
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While the image of Mr. Floyd being murdered is horrifying, it can be addressed with prosecution. The images of the CNN crew being arrested are also disturbing in another way, because they show a hubris which is truly terrifying. The hubris of arresting authorized, credentialed members of the media and lying about the details of the arrest.<br />
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It is this hubris which leads to deaths of many innocent black men. It is this hubris that leads to so many other unjust interactions with police.<br />
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It is this hubris and an effort to counter it which should bring together both the Right and the Left. When the Left says "Black Lives Matter" and the Right says "Don't Tread On Me," they are both objecting to the hubris of law enforcement when they forget that they are here to protect and serve, not dominate and control.<br />
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Of course, this is not all police. This is probably not even most police. Most police officers put on the uniform because they truly want to protect and serve. But remember, the expression is not "a few bad apples can be removed and the rest are okay." The expression is "a few bad apples ruin the whole bunch."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-24125168178372905442019-12-01T07:10:00.000-05:002019-12-01T07:10:44.946-05:00On A More Effective RTM<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unique form of government in Groton, Connecticut provides unique opportunities for transparency and bringing forth the best ideas of the people. Over more than two decades of serving in numerous non profit and governmental organizations, I have seen all manner of government and governance structures. Our unique combination of a Town Council and a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) provides some very interesting benefits if the RTM takes advantage of them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most members of the RTM are simply citizens who have decided to become more involved in their community. They do not have particularly deep knowledge of the issues or structure of town government, and this is a beautiful thing. It is beautiful because it means that the average RTM member is asking the very same questions that their constituents have, and they are asking them on camera where that constituent can watch the questions and answers right there on TV (or Youtube). This is an amazing resource for transparency.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bringing my outside experience to my time on the RTM, I have three thoughts on how the RTM can leverage its existing resources to serve as an even greater asset to our community: fact forward debate, embracing its role in transparency, and a creative engagement committee. I write them so that whoever is the next moderator of the RTM might consider putting them in place to create a more effective and efficient body.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Fact Forward Debate</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robert’s Rules of Order outlines a method for presenting, debating, and voting on motions which assumes that the person raising the motion is the first person advocating that motion. Because the RTM is more reactive on most issues, most main motions that the RTM votes on are initiated by the Town Council. The issue will be reviewed by the relevant committee, then the committee chair will report out the minutes of the meeting in which the motion was discussed. There is then an opportunity for questions from RTM members prior to voting.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the minutes describe a vigorous discussion of the matter at hand, the nature of minutes can make it difficult for members to get a complete understanding of the issue, resulting in a lengthy set of questions from members as they try to understand the basic outline of the issue at hand.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A more efficient format would be to have either a member of town staff or a member of the Town Council, or even a member of the RTM, provide a clear, factual presentation of the effect of the proposed action and reasons why it should be adopted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is doubly important in the case of ordinances, which the RTM does not even formally discuss until a motion to veto is made. It makes little sense that a member has to rise to veto an ordinance simply to learn the background and reasoning behind the ordinance. A brief explanation of the ordinance and its reasoning could save 30-60 minutes of debating and voting on an ordinance that nobody actually wants to veto.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This initial presentation of only a few minutes could replace what is often a half hour or more of questions that are meant to simply clarify the issue. This will allow questions and debate that does occur to be more specifically directed and efficient. It will replace what is often a sense of confusion about the issues before the body with a sense of confidence.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Embracing the RTMs Role In Transparency</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Charter allows the Moderator to cancel any meetings at which there is not “business” to consider. But what is “business?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some suggest that business is anything that we are required to vote on, but if the voting is the only important part, why do we spend 60-90 minutes on reports from town staff and committee liaisons?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In an era of limited resources of local media to cover local government, the RTM’s ability to ask questions of our town staff and leadership and get insightful answers is one of the best resources to inform our citizens available to us. The reports portion of the meeting is every bit as vital to the value the RTM provides as any funds appropriation or ordinance review.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The RTM has the same power as a congressional hearing: the power to ask questions and get answers in a public forum. In many towns, decisions are made and nobody knows how they are made or what is happening. Groton’s RTM provides citizens a unique and wonderfully democratic mechanism to pull back the curtain of town government. But it only works if the RTM meets.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depending on the way the Town Council’s activity falls, the RTM sometimes cancels a number of meetings. This past year, for example, we did not meet in July, August, or October. This made it difficult for members to get answers to key questions they were seeking. While staff is quite good about communicating with RTM members directly, the transparency of those answers being in a public forum is extremely valuable.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would suggest that there is important business at any meeting where any member has an issue that they’d like to get answers on. Sure, this may mean that there are meetings at which nothing is voted on. That means that the RTM could fulfill its valuable duty of providing transparency in a meeting on an hour or so. Nothing wrong with that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Creative Engagement Committee</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The town of Groton is ably managed by a team of skillful and honest professional staff, and I believe that every department is run by leaders who absolutely seek to provide serve at the best of their abilities. Most of the issues before the town are not Right versus Left or otherwise ideological, but are more often simply a question of whether or not someone has looked closely enough to see if there’s a better way to do things.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The members of the Town Council are, by the nature of their duties, up to their elbows in the regular functioning of the town and tend not to have the time to dive into various elements of the town to find exciting new solutions to old problems.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, RTM members, by their very outsider nature, have the ability to bring fresh perspectives. In the previous term, the RTM operated entirely reactively, but there is no reason it could not operate more proactively.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naturally, some members are more interested in diving in and getting their hands dirty than others, so it would not make sense to ask the existing committees to take on additional work. I would suggest creating a Creative Engagement Committee. This committee would be comprised of volunteers interested in getting into the weeds to really see how things work and how they might work better.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This would not be an investigative committee to catch wrongdoing. Rather, it would be a resource for the town, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. The very lack of legislative authority of this committee would be an asset. If one is not always thinking in terms of new legislation, one is often freer to have more creative ideas. Many solutions this committee might find could simply be executed by the department head.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of the greatest innovations have some from an outsider coming in and saying, “hey, why do we do it this way?” We have a pool to citizens who are interested in getting involved. Why not let them?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Three Ideas</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Based on my considerable experience in other organizations and my two years on the RTM, I feel that these ideas would streamline meetings, improve the RTMs effectiveness at serving the people, and help make the town more efficient. All three ideas can be executed within the authority of the Moderator without any changes to the RTM rules or the Charter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I look forward to working with the RTM for another two years as we serve our neighbors together in this wonderful and unique government institution.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Whitehouse is a member of the Groton Representative Town Meeting serving the 4th district.</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-50765910358754413772019-03-31T19:13:00.000-04:002019-03-31T20:38:24.048-04:00Fiscal Responsibility versus Austerity in Groton<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjry74-RxHwPH3-aHZXfDCDeBLYNVlvBnFJd92-s44U_mDxsmXYLnI2QWd-Za6Cycp2dVCTbj8HvJnCdbzNh0KGlEVJfXFChj-BkTzzDrevmGaVvPQblOUYcv79puqXYzM3dD-7TLObov/s1600/NS+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="949" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjry74-RxHwPH3-aHZXfDCDeBLYNVlvBnFJd92-s44U_mDxsmXYLnI2QWd-Za6Cycp2dVCTbj8HvJnCdbzNh0KGlEVJfXFChj-BkTzzDrevmGaVvPQblOUYcv79puqXYzM3dD-7TLObov/s320/NS+Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North Stonington Road Bridge... at least what used to be.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You go to a nice restaurant and you order a fancy meal that costs $24.17. The food comes out, but it's a little slow to get to your table. Your silverware isn't quite clean. The vegetables are okay, but clearly not fresh, probably frozen. Your experience is not terrible, but it's mediocre.<br />
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The vegetables were frozen because that cost a little less than fresh. They laid off the more experienced dishwasher and hired a less expensive one to save money. They are also short one guy in the kitchen, again to save money, and that's why your food was slow.<br />
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They made the cuts so they could reduce their prices. Had they not done so, the price would have been $24.74.<br />
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I suspect that if you were given the choice of the $24.17 mediocre experience or the $24.74 excellent experience, you'd pick the excellent one.<br />
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<h2>
One Town's Fiscal Choice</h2>
That is the choice that the town of Groton, Connecticut faces in this year's budget cycle. The current intention is to hold the mill rate the same as last year's at 24.17. (The mill rate is the rate per thousand that a property owner pays in taxes.)<br />
<br />
But there is a cost to this conservation:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>$1.5 million will be drawn from the general fund</li>
<li>The North Stonington Road Bridge will not be repaired</li>
<li>The Bill Memorial Library and Mystic & Noank Library will be cut, and, in later year, be completely unsupported by the town</li>
<li>The new community center will continue to have unusable water and a leaky roof.</li>
</ul>
<h2>
A Town In Decline</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYmHznHJj9C4OzAyMQ8Ip26-9C465anPtEjdNLk_YYRfeKkU919xfc19x8B-jnpW0Vk-Z3Dwhb-Dasz0gYOHT-9TKO1ZYO_iBYgLQOftMEHiHQREhRWI-s5XiW9gk6G9ZdMTVQ3HDYALK/s1600/Bridge+Out+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYmHznHJj9C4OzAyMQ8Ip26-9C465anPtEjdNLk_YYRfeKkU919xfc19x8B-jnpW0Vk-Z3Dwhb-Dasz0gYOHT-9TKO1ZYO_iBYgLQOftMEHiHQREhRWI-s5XiW9gk6G9ZdMTVQ3HDYALK/s1600/Bridge+Out+sign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sign of decline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
When a movie director is trying to show that the world the story takes place in is in decline, they will show broken things. They will show the once nice things that the society could not longer afford to maintain. "We have to take the stairs. This building used to have an elevator, but it broke years ago and no one can fix it." OR "We'll have to go the long way around. There used to be a bridge, but it was washed out in a storm years ago and we can't afford to fix it."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Every "Bridge Out" sign, every closed library, every "park closed" sign is a monument to the decline of a community. It is a celebration of past greatness and present failure.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For Groton to fail to repair it's bridge, to underfund the libraries, to not have a properly maintained community center, it is saying "we used to have nice things, but we can no longer afford them."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is a town in decline. Perhaps the town really is so poor that austerity is the only option, and visible decline the necessary cost of this, but I'm not sure everyone would agree.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Austerity Versus Investment</h2>
<div>
The cost to fund the libraries is 0.1% of the total town budget, so let's focus more on the larger maintenance issues.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The argument for holding the mill rate level is that a half mill increase this year could lead to one the next year and the year after that. After 20 years, the mill rate goes from 24 to 34, and that's not a good thing.</div>
<div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJugo9ECfrSwopTNMnB1NGnV7gIjdDSq1oD4o5-mOcIIYiNKNrYpxLDi3DcNQ5JYiFcKLCMPXzbkt-uWnga4mxv7k7CIX7-_MGyXQCEseTNlC2BvkMe9vyrYgdO6a2phuN6pt4eYbb09H/s1600/Sidewalk+closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="501" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJugo9ECfrSwopTNMnB1NGnV7gIjdDSq1oD4o5-mOcIIYiNKNrYpxLDi3DcNQ5JYiFcKLCMPXzbkt-uWnga4mxv7k7CIX7-_MGyXQCEseTNlC2BvkMe9vyrYgdO6a2phuN6pt4eYbb09H/s320/Sidewalk+closed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sidewalk on 184 has been closed for some time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
On the other hand, Groton has a bridge out, an unusable sidewalk, etc. If the mill rate is held level at the cost of failing to fix our infrastructure as it wears out, then there is another danger. What if the mill rate stays the same but the number of highly visible infrastructure failures increases by one every year. Twenty years from now, you'd have a low tax rate and 20 unusable bridges and sidewalks and parks throughout the town.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When you have 20 "bridge out" and "park closed" signs around town, people notice. Home buyers notice. Property values fall. Tax revenues fall. Mill rates must be increased to compensate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Under austerity, you still have to raise the mill rate <i>and</i> you end up with a town full of signs of neglect and decay.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
What's the Cost</h2>
<div>
One mill point converts to $3,686,117 of revenue. The proposed cut to the library is about $38,000. Other cuts to agencies which provide services to Groton residents come to about $30,000. Groton's share of repairing the North Stonington Road Bridge would be $300,000. Substantial improvements could be made to the community center for $250,000.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The total cost to fully staff the kitchen, to use our example above, would be $618,000 or 0.17 mills. If we want to do it without taking money from the general fund balance, it would be 0.57 mills.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
$550,000 of this would be one time capital costs. $1,500,000 would remain in the general fund to use in future years when we have harder times. Only $68,000 of this is recurring budget items.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For an owner of an average $200,000 house, the property tax based on these rates would be:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Austerity: $4,834</div>
<div>
Fully Funded: $4,868</div>
<div>
Fully Funded without using town savings: $4,948</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Under the proposed austerity, defunding the libraries, the supporting agencies, failing to repair a failed bridge, and leaving the community center in need to improvements, the average homeowner would save $114 per year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One hundred and fourteen dollars. To the average family.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is a line between fiscal responsibility and dangerous austerity. I think we can see where that line is.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
What You Can Do</h2>
<div>
The <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/town_gov/council.asp">Town Council of Groton</a> is a group of tremendously hard working and dedicated volunteers. They work with the best interests of the town in mind and want to be accountable to the taxpayers. They are pushing down this path of austerity because that is what they believe that the residents want. The loudest cries they hear are from those who want taxes cut no matter what the cost, and if that is what you want then you are being heard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the other hand, if you would like to see the bridges fixed, the community center improved to the level a town like Groton deserves, the libraries and agencies funded to provide great services to you and your neighbors and you understand it may cost a few dollars more in taxes to get these benefits, please contact you Town Councilors and let them know that you believe that 0.57 mills is a small price to keep all the nice things in Groton.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Their contact information can be <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/town_gov/docs/TownCouncilors.pdf">found here</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Closing Thought on Outside Agencies</h2>
<div>
The Mystic & Noank Library, the Bill Memorial Library, and other organizations called "outside agencies" are being cut by 25%. The argument is that the money should stay in the town. This is misguided argument.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The two association libraries cost the town a mere $125,000 combined and offer tremendous services funded by donors, other towns, and a variety of other sources. Groton receives millions of dollars of value for tens of thousands of dollars of expense.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These so called outside agencies are simply agencies that are not operated by the town but provide town services. The town gives them money because the services they provide would be profoundly more expensive for the town to provide internally.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When a cut of $100,000 of expense runs the risk of losing $1,000,000 of value, it should be very closely considered. This money does not leave the town. It stays in the town and it brings friends.<br />
<br />
<i>Michael Whitehouse is member of the Representative Town Meeting representing the 4th District of Groton, Connecticut.</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-9875799916429935612018-12-01T12:00:00.000-05:002018-12-06T10:38:59.817-05:00Solution Oriented Mindset<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I am presently working on a new book, tentatively named "Solve Any Problem." This is the first chapter on the Solution Oriented Mindset. I'm curious to get some feedback and suggestions for points I should be sure to address in the rest of the book.</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chapter 1. Solution Oriented Mindset</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">-Henry Ford</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c9d74970-7fff-e436-a15c-73313bff8d56" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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The first step to solving a problem is believing you can solve a problem. In fact, I would venture to say that as many as 90% of the problems in your life can be solved by what you will find in this very chapter.<br />
<br />
Among my many careers, I was a driving instructor for a number of years. One of the most important things that you teach in driving is to point your eyes where you want to go. Your hands follow your eyes. If you are skidding on the ice, you want to keep your eyes pointed down the road because that will give you the best chance to recover the vehicle. The tendency is to look at the thing you’re worried about: the guard rail, the other cars, etc, but if you do, that’s where you’ll go.<br />
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With a problem it is the same way. The right thing to do is to fixate on the solution to the problem, the desired outcome. If you fixate on the problem, you’ll hit the problem, you’ll stay in the problem. The longer you live in the problem, the easier it will be to tell yourself that the problem is insoluble.<br />
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Hopelessness is a very seductive state. Doing nothing is easy, and when there is no solution to a problem, then the right answer is to do nothing. Why waste energy fighting something that cannot be fixed? Why not just resign yourself to your fate and make the most of it?<br />
<br />
I’ll tell you why not. That form of resignation is the definition of depression.<br />
<br />
There is a difference between resignation and acceptance. Resignation is defeat, embracing the negative. Acceptance is recognizing the negative, but embracing the positive. It can be understood in cinematic terms. When the hero sacrifices himself for the good of the many, standing tall on the bridge of the ship as it falls into the sun with inspiring music, he has weighed the choices and accepted his decision. He will live (or die) with the consequences.<br />
<br />
Resignation, on the other hand, is living in an unacceptable situation, crushed by the failure to remedy it.<br />
<br />
If you are poor because you have taken a vow of poverty or chosen to dedicate your life to your art with the recognition of the lack of financial opportunities, then the challenges that you encounter from a lack of money are a test of your faith that strengthens your spirit and will. It is the concept behind the deprivations of Lent. If you give up TV for Lent, then every time you walk by the TV, you are reminded of the strength of your faith and why you choose to deprive yourself. If you fast for a religious observance, each hunger pang reminds you of your love for God.<br />
<br />
In these forms of acceptance, you would build your life to accommodate them. If you have chosen the life of a starving artist, then you will find inexpensive places to live, learn economical ways to feed yourself, find forms of fulfillment that don’t require money. In doing so, the deprivations of the wallet will not lead to a depression of the spirit.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, if you are merely broke because there is too much month at the end of the money, and you have resigned yourself to the idea that you’re poor because your family has alway been poor and your friends are poor and that’s just the crappy hand you were dealt, then every deprivation will be another dagger into your spirit.<br />
<br />
The person who has accepted poverty sees a social media post of friends at a fancy dinner and can feel happy for the friends, knowing that they themselves find their joy elsewhere. The person who is resigned to poverty sees the same post and can feel only envy and resentment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In later chapters, we will discuss the importance of properly framing the problem for finding the solution. “I don’t have any money” is a statement, not an actionable problem. When I was a younger man, I owned a board and role playing game store which was the center of a beautiful and vibrant community. I had very little money, but I had accepted that fact and built my life to accommodate it. My lack of money rarely bothered me except when it affected what was truly important to me at the time which was my ability to build and maintain institutions which served our community.<br />
<br />
Later in life, as a family man, not having money at certain times would become more of a problem in and unto itself because I had obligations to support my family which required money.<br />
<br />
In that earlier phase, problems which seemed to be a lack of cash could be solved by reframing the situation, shifting or reducing expenditures. In the later phase, the problems of lack of money needed to be solved with finding more money because there were restrictions on how the situation could be restructured.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The opposite of being resigned to a problem is the faith that a solution always exists. The first step in this faith is to understand that the problem is rarely something as concrete as “I don’t have money” or “my company is failing.” Most problems can be broken down to some element of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.<br />
<br />
“I don’t have money” is most likely really a problem of safety as in “I need financial security,” or in more severe cases physiological as in “I need to be able to acquire food and shelter.”<br />
<br />
Most people fixate on the problem. “I don’t have money.” What they should do is focus on the solution. “How can I acquire financial security?” When the problem is “I don’t have money,” then the only solution can be “get more money.” If the question is one of financial security, a panoply of other solutions come into view. They could find someone who is willing to provide room and board in exchange for being a governess or housekeeper. They could live in a cabin in the woods with no rent or electricity. They could work for a restaurant and get free meals. None of these would create more money, and some might even mean less, but that is not important because it would solve the real problem.<br />
<br />
The important thing, regardless of the particular problem, is to first embrace the idea that there is a solution. You just have to find it.<br />
<br />
Why do you search your house for your lost keys, but you don’t search your house for a pot of leprechaun gold? You believe that your lost keys are somewhere in your house. You do not believe there is a pot of gold in the house. Why would you waste time searching for something that does not exist.<br />
<br />
It is the same way with solutions. Why would you search for a solution that you do not believe exists? When you are searching for your keys, you first search the obvious places: the counter, the couch, the mud room where you take off your boots, etc. Once the obvious places are exhausted you search the less obvious. Are they in the medicine cabinet? Did you put them in the freezer for some reason? The fireplace? The mulch around the bushes out front?<br />
<br />
But you will only search the most unexpected locations if your faith that your keys are somewhere in your house is strong. If you are absolutely confident that you brought them into the house.<br />
<br />
It is the same way with solutions. If you have a weak belief in a solution to your problem, then you will make a weak search for the solution. In the no money example, maybe you check the job listings once or twice, don’t see anything and give up. On the other hand, if you have an absolute confidence that there is a solution, then you will search high and low. You will never stop looking and trying and experimenting until you find that solution. You will research it. You will ask your friends. You will pray on it. You’ll never stop until you find it.<br />
<br />
The best part is that, in many cases, this dedication to finding a solution can lead you to find one in less time than it would have taken to make a cursory search and give up. Why? If you are planning to give up, then you make a plodding and perfunctory search. You don’t try that hard. You have already decided to fail, which perversely means that success would mean you were wrong. On the other hand, if you have decided to succeed, you will seek the most aggressively effective solutions first.<br />
<br />
Dave Durand, who has made a study of what he calls legacy achievers, says that one of the most powerful forces in the world is that of self justification. If you believe that you will fail, you want to justify that belief. You will want to justify your resignation. It’s not laziness, it’s prudence. Why waste energy on something that is doomed to fail? See, I tried this, that, and the other, and nothing worked. I put in an effort.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you only learn one thing from this entire book, let it be the importance of a solution oriented mindset. If you believe that there is a solution, you will find it. You will find it because there is always a solution, so if you never stop looking, you’ll eventually find it. If you can embrace absolute confidence in the existence of a solution, you will eventually intuit everything else I can teach you about problem solving.<br />
<br />
That doesn’t mean you should stop reading and figure everything out on your own. While you will intuit it all eventually, it is always more efficient to learn from the mistakes of others rather than making every single one yourself.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-30520665144863873242018-11-22T09:47:00.003-05:002018-11-22T09:47:39.399-05:00Gratitude in Difficult Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46502232_10155782136121889_3426227039881920512_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f68fc3f78982ddf391815779fde4cd10&oe=5C775528" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, text that says "HAPPY THANKSGIVING"" border="0" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46502232_10155782136121889_3426227039881920512_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=f68fc3f78982ddf391815779fde4cd10&oe=5C775528" /></a></div>
This has been a very difficult year for me and my family. I have seen communities torn apart by people who placed their personal grudges, agendas, and insecurities above the good of the society of which they are a part. I have watched people we thought were friends turn against us. I have dealt with people whose word is worthless.<br />
<br />
As we come to the close of such a year, it might be easy to say that it is not a time for gratitude but bitterness. The temptation to do so is quite strong. Too often, when there is bad and good together, it is too easy to fixate on the bad. To let the evil overshadow the good.<br />
<br />
This year has seen a lot of destruction in our world, but looked at another way, we could call it creative destruction.<br />
<br />
When those whom you believe are your friends turn on you, at first, you begin to doubt all of your friends. Who will turn next? Then you begin to doubt yourself. What did I do to drive them away? Then your true friends reveal themselves. Not necessarily in some great action, but simply in their continued presence. When the deceivers have all left, those who remain are the true friends, and there are many of them. So many.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLAVS7OsOYvdbtQp3xJsQSa-COOcxGUBcJXhmYioWKGhn8wR5FpEmQ02rKNjD96vDBogToXZEh09gm3_JuMcMOb30bpUtlpwTsoGqtoz-cC_mqoiatyll44iGku85EsJUFcLy1b7Yq4CA/s1600/rotary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="945" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLAVS7OsOYvdbtQp3xJsQSa-COOcxGUBcJXhmYioWKGhn8wR5FpEmQ02rKNjD96vDBogToXZEh09gm3_JuMcMOb30bpUtlpwTsoGqtoz-cC_mqoiatyll44iGku85EsJUFcLy1b7Yq4CA/s320/rotary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Groton Rotary club is a wonderful group of people, and<br />
I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to<br />
share my time, energy, and resources with the great<br />
projects they do for our community and the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
During the darkest time, I had blocked or unfriended dozens of people on Facebook. I was fixated on what was lost until I noticed a curious thing. After so many had been purged from my connections, I looked at my list of friends and discovered that, not only was it not lower, it was in fact higher. Much higher. I have connected with hundreds of good people in the last year.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, as the groups that we had built our lives around and contributed our support to proved to be rotten shells destined to <br />
collapse, we found ourselves freed to find new communities, new groups, new good people to surround ourselves with, new true causes to give our support to.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgo7KobkZFGfSOgIKUFEMT9iPopaDVU_7enjcrp-v9mvyfiY3t_MEca4AvXmUauK4IABTLsF9IzJ0dTcO-uwrmhAt2dnNMH6jzPsW9xhrlmJmCiMXtnqUvc8bcIEQgSgFnp8QsGhZM40E/s1600/toastmasters.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgo7KobkZFGfSOgIKUFEMT9iPopaDVU_7enjcrp-v9mvyfiY3t_MEca4AvXmUauK4IABTLsF9IzJ0dTcO-uwrmhAt2dnNMH6jzPsW9xhrlmJmCiMXtnqUvc8bcIEQgSgFnp8QsGhZM40E/s320/toastmasters.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the first meeting I visited my new Toastmasters Club,<br />
I treated as a member of the group, and I am deeply grateful<br />
for their fast and sincere friendship.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it turns out, they are not new. They have been here all along, but we had been dedicating our attention, our energy, our support elsewhere. Now, as things have become clearer, we have been able refocus our energy to places where it can do real good, where it will be appreciated, and where it will make us part of a community of good people who will make our lives richer for knowing them.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeav2M343iw98Hg5JoEOHS2mM-gSKdn5rxQCPxAuuhVbLD2oouxS2NcE8MnTfXdjZBZ6X3BvV6ApDiQhmydtXUIwzMkQR22cC6_1QeSXVEGU1wT-FbA_ahx3iFShbhyphenhyphenfF0ETc52O3jB4VL/s1600/vote+no+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="829" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeav2M343iw98Hg5JoEOHS2mM-gSKdn5rxQCPxAuuhVbLD2oouxS2NcE8MnTfXdjZBZ6X3BvV6ApDiQhmydtXUIwzMkQR22cC6_1QeSXVEGU1wT-FbA_ahx3iFShbhyphenhyphenfF0ETc52O3jB4VL/s320/vote+no+team.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the amazing local people I had the pleasure to work<br />
with. Even the folks on the Yes side we're great people. We<br />
may have disagreed, but we all agreed that we wanted what<br />
was best for our town. It was refreshing for everyone to care<br />
about the <i>common</i> good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the same way that you pull weeds from a garden to allow the beautiful flowers to grow, the trials and tribulations of 2018 have allowed us to weed out the places and people who sapped out energy and our strength and allowed us to grow and develop relationships with amazing, wonderful people who will make our lives so much richer.<br />
<br />
I have so much to be grateful for. I am grateful for the wonderful community I have found at my church over the past year. I am grateful for the chance to become more involved in the good work of Rotary. I am grateful for the chance to have worked along so many of the best and brightest in local politics. I am grateful for the new friends I have met throughout this year.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSnWtxBCeHJYGI2CLuO8G2Jfu6IW9OA6bah2PAiSuR1ZD1oVWAvuj6-RGxOjy9WTg9b-1I53M74giBYBcAcKHdvzy18H6UFvUOkCeyIJJaIHvjIe3VC1RTJPKhGlB9DyVjf_HmOpa2z6X/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="945" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSnWtxBCeHJYGI2CLuO8G2Jfu6IW9OA6bah2PAiSuR1ZD1oVWAvuj6-RGxOjy9WTg9b-1I53M74giBYBcAcKHdvzy18H6UFvUOkCeyIJJaIHvjIe3VC1RTJPKhGlB9DyVjf_HmOpa2z6X/s320/church.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful church family at Noank Baptist Church that I <br />
have been blessed to become a part of this year. While I am<br />
relatively new, they have welcomed me like a long lost<br />
relative and I am eternally grateful.</td></tr>
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So, I suppose I should also be grateful to one more group of people. I am grateful to the liars, the schemers, and the people with evil in their hearts who brought all this upon us. They allowed me to really appreciate all the good people who are around me. They allowed me to refocus my efforts onto communities that deserve the love of myself and my family. They have allowed me to find the flowers among the weeds.<br />
<br />
Have a happy Thanksgiving, and take a moment between the turkey and the pie to be grateful for all the blessings that are around us.<br />
<br />
P.S. I usually add the photos after I write an article. As I went to add the photos to this article, I realized that I didn't have room for all the wonderful groups. I am deeply thankful to the great folks at BVM that I work with, to various individuals I have met along the way, people in the fandom communities who are still doing the good work to bring fellowship and good times to those who wear the gears and dream of the rocket ships. I'm sure I'm leaving out someone, but, as A Halo Called Fred sings, "We Love You All!"<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-36095322801558382122018-11-17T18:34:00.000-05:002018-11-17T18:34:58.205-05:00Drink More Bad Coffee<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_zbPPa_CWwVJ-tpW3T5saqC-pz7nwmHJCdiMZeIZAdP5eJU-cy7pwBn07ns0XiMq3suI9WRiRFWCX-YDNDnPQccALWqgYqEvRlkIBx1tsx_SLh80Stlv_LY4gfsRb79pvEVE6Bwz2Y8F/s1600/Coffee+urn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_zbPPa_CWwVJ-tpW3T5saqC-pz7nwmHJCdiMZeIZAdP5eJU-cy7pwBn07ns0XiMq3suI9WRiRFWCX-YDNDnPQccALWqgYqEvRlkIBx1tsx_SLh80Stlv_LY4gfsRb79pvEVE6Bwz2Y8F/s1600/Coffee+urn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What comes out of this is hot,<br />brown, caffeinated, and strong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, I had the pleasure of volunteering with the wonderful people at my church as we hosted a fantastic Holiday Bazaar. I was helping out in the kitchen, and there was one of those coffee urns that you often find at church events. These coffee urns are excellent devices for creating coffee when quantity is paramount and quality is irrelevant. What comes out of it is a powerful concoction which is good for keeping you going, although there are differing opinions as to whether it is due to the caffeine or the bitterness.<br />
<br />
As I tasted the distinctive flavor of urn coffee, I realized that I have very positive associations with bad coffee. Convention staff dens, all night game parties, intense campaigns, and other memorable events are often powered by the dark fuel that comes from these arcane machines.<br />
<br />
Some of my best times have been working long and late running a convention or another event, working on an intense project with a team, or something else which brings people together, and the coffee urn has been a part of many such events.<br />
<br />
The best times are naturally times spent with others, and the coffee urn, by its very nature, is a tool that only comes out for groups. Most people don't need a 55 cup coffee maker for personal home use.<br />
<br />
So I suppose it makes sense that I would have such positive associations with the strong, bitter, slightly burned flavor of cheap beans brewed into a strong and bitter concoction.<br />
<br />
As I drank the coffee, I came to realize that I should seek more opportunities to drink such bad coffee, because the bad coffee comes with good people, exciting times, and good causes.<br />
<br />
I'm going to try to find some more places to drink bad coffee while doing good things.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgwwTq4ad3AgvUhjgeS8SH8zUlTeWL74hI_IaoChqe50K_O-4YAvsklRJhW80iSSFdy5euMg7hDIUwwlIN_Z8fmyx1Zy7xLoLOHJiDF-bkJkZN-bvsmv12UM8umcSlMG-ln4YBfT-92fO/s1600/keurig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="450" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgwwTq4ad3AgvUhjgeS8SH8zUlTeWL74hI_IaoChqe50K_O-4YAvsklRJhW80iSSFdy5euMg7hDIUwwlIN_Z8fmyx1Zy7xLoLOHJiDF-bkJkZN-bvsmv12UM8umcSlMG-ln4YBfT-92fO/s320/keurig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least it's not as bad as the pale<br />brown water that issues from this<br />machine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-75238638360060181722018-11-04T17:04:00.000-05:002018-11-04T17:04:21.435-05:00Will Your Vote Count on the Budget Referendum?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPFyiZxNAk5TLiRua6hELuTRZo9wWqrjilZ6zMNW_vzQvRqH7kCpoP5VT82zj200q8QKb19ow6AFS3RaTqhk_0HtcxAPCaT3ieXMyTzJgOFXyDF0_l3rO8TPA6ANg-od-_QIbDpJDpBio/s1600/ref+ignored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPFyiZxNAk5TLiRua6hELuTRZo9wWqrjilZ6zMNW_vzQvRqH7kCpoP5VT82zj200q8QKb19ow6AFS3RaTqhk_0HtcxAPCaT3ieXMyTzJgOFXyDF0_l3rO8TPA6ANg-od-_QIbDpJDpBio/s320/ref+ignored.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In a <a href="https://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/10/three-great-loopholes-in-groton-charter.html">recent article</a>, I discussed some fundamental and serious flaws with <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/twnclk/town_gov/docs/11-15-17%20DRAFT%20CHARTER%20REVISIONS%20(HIGHLIGHTED-STRIKEOUT%20COPY).pdf">the proposed charter</a> for Groton, CT. Today, I'm going to explain how the referendum in the new charter does not actually give voters any control over the budget and can and will be completely ignored.<br />
<br />
The proponents of this new charter believe that the budget referendum will somehow be the cure for every problem that Groton has. Groton certainly has it's challenges, and reasonable people can differ on the efficacy of a budget referendum to fix them, but to do that the referendum must have the power to control the budget, and due to a flaw in 9.12.6.6 of the proposed referendum, the referendum does not actually control the budget.<br />
<br />
<i>9.12.6.6 Interim Budget and Fixing the Tax Rate In case a Budget is not approved by June 30, the budget submitted by the Town Council per Section 9.10.3 shall be utilized as an interim budget until a new Budget is approved by referendum. Within three (3) business days after an interim budget is approved goes in to effect, the Town Council will set a mill rate that shall be sufficient, with the income from other sources, to meet the estimated expenses of the Town for the next fiscal year.</i><br />
<i></i><br /><i></i>So there's an interim budget. That's a good solution to the budget chaos that neighboring towns have, right?<br />
<br />
Well, yes, it does prevent budget chaos, but it also removes the teeth from the referendum. Let's look at an example.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/useless-object-design-the-unusable-katerina-kamprani-fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for useless" border="0" height="159" src="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/useless-object-design-the-unusable-katerina-kamprani-fb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Whatever the charter was supposed to do, it doesn't do it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since the budget referendum must be held every two weeks after the initial vote fails, 9.12.6.6 effectively says that there can be up to three referendums before the interim budget takes effect.<br />
<br />
Let us imagine that the Town Council puts up a budget of $45,000,000 for an initial vote. The referendum fails, and the Town Council makes a good faith effort to offer a new budget with deep cuts, this time $43,000,000. It fails as well. So, the Town Council makes a third effort with a $41,000,000 budget. A $4,000,000 cut means a lot of cuts in services, but the people are speaking and they are trying to listen.<br />
<br />
The people vote no again. June 30th comes around and 9.12.6.6 comes into effect. The first, $45,000,000 budget goes into effect and the Town Council sets a mill rate accordingly.<br />
<br />
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4znl9Iyea92xPvYKticXh7t9J41FjBt0HPPPgHa9ZnEPp-jZZC37ubt4pugI4EJirVCtOTFczZURcUMCtBOLLusEV2OD8XyRo_SeZ8qZptVNu7UEBY_jh3PoSej6rJhfitNBMhaCnAxH7/s1600/fixing+a+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4znl9Iyea92xPvYKticXh7t9J41FjBt0HPPPgHa9ZnEPp-jZZC37ubt4pugI4EJirVCtOTFczZURcUMCtBOLLusEV2OD8XyRo_SeZ8qZptVNu7UEBY_jh3PoSej6rJhfitNBMhaCnAxH7/s1600/fixing+a+car.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If your car keeps breaking down, you fix the car.<br />You don't throw away your tool box.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The initial budget that the Town Council wanted is now in effect. Why would they ever put forth another budget for vote that was lower? If no budget ever passes, the $45,000,000 sticks, and the Town Council has all the power to determine what gets voted on.<br />
<br />
After the Town Council offers $45,000,000 a couple more times, the referendum will either pass when people realize it is already in effect, or it will keep failing... until it passes because people realize it's already in effect.<br />
<br />
The following year, there's no reason for the Council to mess around. They'll just put forward the budget they want in the first place, and it doesn't matter if it passes or fails because after three votes it goes into effect anyway.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />Of course, this exercise in fake democracy costs taxpayers about $100,000 every year, or $400,000 over the course of a Town Council's four year term. That's the same amount it cost to get the Fitch Community Center up and running. That's a lot of money to waste to pretend the public can influence the budget.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ultimately, the check of the RTM and it's reduction of 1-2% every year from the budget is gone. The Board of Finance is powerless. The referendum is easily ignored. In any system with no checks and balances in place, the natural result is budgets slowly but inexorably growing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QPGGbcge6xVi_nPYSoCBCbQQluSazTc3NCctBgay0y7EmVdE7mE8muo6hm83pYR2YTYwQ3NYdDF63xDE1tq-KnWTnAsI52w99v5KlF3dGbdGE3qzMPQu_xTc7umEZ8ewBQtkyZOgCFfk/s1600/burning+money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="800" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QPGGbcge6xVi_nPYSoCBCbQQluSazTc3NCctBgay0y7EmVdE7mE8muo6hm83pYR2YTYwQ3NYdDF63xDE1tq-KnWTnAsI52w99v5KlF3dGbdGE3qzMPQu_xTc7umEZ8ewBQtkyZOgCFfk/s320/burning+money.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending money on a referendum that doesn't matter.<br />Yeah, it's kind of like that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whatever this new charter was intended to do, it doesn't do it. The people of Groton trade away their representation through the RTM for a vote in a referendum that ultimately doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you like big government or small government, lower taxes or more services, there is no possible agenda you could have that is served by this poorly written and deeply flawed charter.<br />
<br />
The only reasonable vote on the proposed Groton charter is NO.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-55647553145197433992018-11-02T06:46:00.000-04:002018-11-02T06:46:25.911-04:00The Christmas Tree Scenario<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXPTlagKqIEZLmbyPMNi-c8Nvej37zUaqBFtEusDW5ziIBVnP2GqPhe8NAzh3Y3hBxit_b864nDiXuGmZcz8El4yxiR-Nq4Qv5WIbC3NXEDFcF80U-hqDQpZqZKb03KSIXTtT_riYVaVe/s1600/Christmas+Tree+Scenario.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="900" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXPTlagKqIEZLmbyPMNi-c8Nvej37zUaqBFtEusDW5ziIBVnP2GqPhe8NAzh3Y3hBxit_b864nDiXuGmZcz8El4yxiR-Nq4Qv5WIbC3NXEDFcF80U-hqDQpZqZKb03KSIXTtT_riYVaVe/s320/Christmas+Tree+Scenario.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been writing a series of articles about the proposed charter revision for Groton, Connecticut. <a href="https://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/10/CRC.html">This article</a> gives a good understanding to start from if you are not familiar with the issue.<br />
<br />
One of the great promises of Groton's proposed Charter Revision is that of better control of the budget, but is that promise really true? I'd like to discuss what I call The Christmas Tree Scenario.<br />
<br />
Let us imagine a town called Charter Town. Charter Town is a town of 40,000 people that operates under the Charter as proposed.<br />
<br />
We have been assured that the public will have sufficient knowledge of the budget to make an informed decision, and we're accepting that assumption for this scenario. In fact, we're going to assume that the public is not only fully knowledgeable but that the people of Charter Town are magically able to understand the importance of every aspect of the budget and know the motivations of the Town Councilors.<br />
<br />
The optimum budget for Charter Town this year is $100,000,000, and everyone would agree to that budget because everyone knows it's the right number.<br />
<br />
But Councilor A would really like to see the town dock renovated, which will cost $110,000.<br />
<br />
Councilor B is okay with that, as long as she can get a new sound system into the high school auditorium for $110,000.<br />
<br />
Councilor C really wants to see another police officer hired, which will cost $110,000.<br />
<br />
Etc. Etc. With all 9 Councilors each adding their own $110,000 addition.<br />
<br />
We call this the Christmas Tree Scenario because in certain situations, everyone will want to hang their own ornament on the Christmas tree.<br />
<br />
None of these little additions are inappropriate, and some would be nice to have, but they are also not necessary. They are what is often referred to at the Groton RTM as "nice to haves." But each little Nice to Have adds up. In this case, to a million dollars.<br />
<br />
9 councilors, each adding their own small pet project add $1,000,000 to the budget, turning an optimum $100 million budget into a $101 million budget: a modest 1% increase.<br />
<br />
The well informed and rational voters are faced with a choice. Should they approve this budget, recognizing that the small additional expenditures are actually nice to have and don't cost <i>that much</i>, or should they vote to fail the budget, incurring the additional expense and uncertainty of one or more potential revotes?<br />
<br />
If Charter Town had a Representative Town Meeting reviewing the budget line by line, it could excise the unneeded line items and bring the budget down to the $100 million optimum budget, but having only a referendum, they can either say yes or no to the whole thing.<br />
<br />
Knowing that $100 million is perfect and $101 million is only a tiny bit more, a rational electorate can be expected to approve such a budget.<br />
<br />
Let us assume a 2% rate of inflation. In that case, next year's budget in Charter Town should be $102 million, <i>but</i> with last year's budget being $101 million, the budget with inflation is $103.02 million. More importantly, in the next cycle, everyone gets to hang an ornament on the budget tree again. We'll assume that they never add more than a million dollars of special projects.<br />
<br />
So, what does that do after a decade?<br />
<br />
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<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Charter Town Budgets"}" style="border-right-color: transparent; font-family: Lobster; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: visible; padding: 2px 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="left: 3px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; white-space: nowrap; width: 266px;">
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Charter Town Budgets</div>
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</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" style="border-right-color: transparent; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Year"}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Year</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Optimum"}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Optimum</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Actual"}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Actual</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2020}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2020</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":100000000}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$100,000,000.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":101000000}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$101,000,000.00</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2021</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":102000000}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$102,000,000.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":104020000}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$104,020,000.00</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2022}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2022</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":104040000}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$104,040,000.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":107100400}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$107,100,400.00</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2023}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2023</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":106120800}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$106,120,800.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":110242408}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$110,242,408.00</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2024}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2024</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":108243216}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$108,243,216.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":113447256.16}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$113,447,256.16</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2025}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2025</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":110408080.32000001}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$110,408,080.32</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":116716201.2832}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$116,716,201.28</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2026}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2026</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":112616241.9264}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$112,616,241.93</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":120050525.308864}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$120,050,525.31</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2027}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2027</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":114868566.76492801}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$114,868,566.76</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":123451535.81504127}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$123,451,535.82</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2028}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2028</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":117165938.10022658}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$117,165,938.10</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":126920566.5313421}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$126,920,566.53</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2029}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2029</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":119509256.86223112}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$119,509,256.86</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":130458977.86196895}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$130,458,977.86</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2030}" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">2030</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":121899441.99947575}" style="font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$121,899,442.00</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[-1]C[0]*1.02+1000000" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00"]" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":134068157.41920833}" style="font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$134,068,157.42</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By 2030, Charter Town's budget is $12,168,715.42 higher than it would have been with a line item budget process, or 10%. By 2065, it's 30% higher than it should have been. All because of a tiny increase of less than one percent of great projects that are simply a little more than is strictly necessary.<br />
<br />
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<div>
A complaint of Groton's RTM is that it only trims a percentage point or two off of the budget. If Charter Town had an RTM that trimmed 1% from their budget, their taxes would be 10% lower in ten years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>But the Voters Won't Do That</b></div>
<div>
Perhaps you believe that the voters in Groton are more like the voters in another very similar town called Budget Town. They also have 40,000 residents and they also follow our proposed charter. The difference is that their voters are strict. They will have none of this one percent shenanigans. To the Town Council they say, "You trim the fat or we vote your budget down. We have the ultimate power here!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After all, the voters hold the final authority through the budget referendum... or do they.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What happens if the voters fail the budget? In the <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/twnclk/town_gov/docs/11-15-17%20DRAFT%20CHARTER%20REVISIONS%20(HIGHLIGHTED-STRIKEOUT%20COPY).pdf">new proposed charter</a>...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>9.12.6 Should either budget fail to be approved by a majority of those voting thereon, the Council shall, within seven days after a
failed referendum, recommend a revised budget for each rejected budget, which <b>may </b>be less or greater than the failed budget, as
the Council shall deem appropriate based on the results of the referendum.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
I bolded a key word in that section. It says "may" not "shall." That means that they Council can return the same budget in the next referendum, as Stonington did recently when they put up a budget that was rejected and then put up the same budget which was accepted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But what happens if the budget fails three times?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>9.12.6.6 Interim Budget and Fixing the Tax Rate
In case a Budget is not approved by June 30, the budget submitted by the Town Council per Section 9.10.3 shall be
utilized as an interim budget until a new Budget is approved by referendum. Within three (3) business days after an
interim budget is approved goes in to effect, the Town Council will set a mill rate that shall be sufficient, with the
income from other sources, to meet the estimated expenses of the Town for the next fiscal year. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Back to our Budget Town scenario, the Town Council puts up a $101 million budget in May, and it fails. It puts up the same budget in June, and it fails. It then returns the budget to the voters a third time, and fails again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is now June 30th, the original budget which has failed in referendum three times now becomes the "interim budget," and the Town Council sets mill rates based on it. At this point, the Town Council can simply keep sending out the same budget every two weeks until either it becomes the next year or the voters give up an accept it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The check on this is that the Town Council can be voted out in the next election... except that the terms are now four years, so if they do this early in their term, it is likely it will be long lost to memory when an election finally comes around.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Or the other way...</b></div>
<div>
After the budget passes, the Town Council sets the mill rate. This means that, when the voters vote, they do not actually know what the budget will give them in terms of a tax rate. It also means that the Town Council could choose to add a small margin of safety into the mill rate to make sure it will cover all expected expenses. They could do something modest, say 1%. That's just prudent budgeting, right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, what's this?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>9.15.2 The Council may make Emergency Appropriations not exceeding one-hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), by a vote of
not less than seven (7) members of the Council, provided a public hearing, at which the public shall have an opportunity to be
heard, shall be held prior to making such appropriations. The notice shall be made in accordance with Section 9.19. Such hearing and
notice of hearing may be waived if the Council by an affirmative vote of not less than eight (8) of its members, shall decide that a
delay in making the Emergency Appropriation would jeopardize the lives, health, or property of citizens.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Remember how Councilor A wanted to put money into the town dock? Well, now it's really falling apart. It could become <i>dangerous</i> before the next budget cycle. Better make an emergency appropriate. After all, we have a little more than expected in the general fund.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If the town dock repair is an emergency, that additional police officer that Councilor C wanted is definitely an emergency. The police force has been dangerously understaffed, and there is that unanticipated cash in the general fund.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a side note, let's also hope there's never a real emergency that requires more than $100,000, because there's no provision for doing so.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Who's Empowered?</b></div>
<div>
In summary, the Town Council, which now has 4 year terms, has the ability to force a budget around referendum objections, and gets to set the mill rate <i>after</i> the budget is passed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This Charter Revision definitely empowers someone, but it's not the voters.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-42301412820359077922018-10-28T20:10:00.000-04:002018-10-28T20:10:45.704-04:00Three Great Loopholes In the Groton Charter Revision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYlGNYEB-82l2rCDuDVsO3fl0aZSrrwNcpcjt8zw7AjRrVhWYEVvEddOjOtIophKikk_rDtuu9-IijLPxhZBYHIleO-ARmkDSMo2cAJsDDHYXS9xVVL-gZQoTl1VMW1voi0V9H9aDOfm9/s1600/Loopholes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="900" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYlGNYEB-82l2rCDuDVsO3fl0aZSrrwNcpcjt8zw7AjRrVhWYEVvEddOjOtIophKikk_rDtuu9-IijLPxhZBYHIleO-ARmkDSMo2cAJsDDHYXS9xVVL-gZQoTl1VMW1voi0V9H9aDOfm9/s320/Loopholes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been writing a series of articles about the proposed charter revision for Groton, Connecticut. <a href="https://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/10/CRC.html">This article</a> gives a good understanding to start from if you are not familiar with the issue.<br />
<br />
There are three crucial loopholes in the <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/twnclk/town_gov/docs/11-15-17%20DRAFT%20CHARTER%20REVISIONS%20(HIGHLIGHTED-STRIKEOUT%20COPY).pdf">proposed charter for Groton, CT</a>, which are exacerbated by the increase of their term from two years to four.<br />
<ul>
<li>The Town Council can effectively ignore the referendum results</li>
<li>Mill rates are set <i>after</i> the budget is approved</li>
<li>Emergency allocations without check</li>
</ul>
<b>Ignoring the Referendum</b><br />
<div>
The voters hold the final authority through the budget referendum... or do they.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What happens if the voters fail the budget? In the <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/twnclk/town_gov/docs/11-15-17%20DRAFT%20CHARTER%20REVISIONS%20(HIGHLIGHTED-STRIKEOUT%20COPY).pdf">new proposed charter</a>...</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<i>9.12.6 Should either budget fail to be approved by a majority of those voting thereon, the Council shall, within seven days after a failed referendum, recommend a revised budget for each rejected budget, which <b>may </b>be less or greater than the failed budget, as the Council shall deem appropriate based on the results of the referendum.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.newrepublic.com/3389e278f3c2d0a8d966c6543cf69834692bbb30.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for ignore ballot" border="0" height="213" src="https://images.newrepublic.com/3389e278f3c2d0a8d966c6543cf69834692bbb30.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Groton Town Council is normally comprised of<br />good, honest people looking to serve the people, but the<br />Charter must be written to prevent abuse by those who<br />might act poorly. Bad rules encourage bad behavior.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I bolded a key word in that section. It says "may" not "shall." That means that they Council can return the same budget in the next referendum, as Stonington did recently when they put up a budget that was rejected and then put up the same budget which was accepted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But what happens if the budget fails three times?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>9.12.6.6 Interim Budget and Fixing the Tax Rate In case a Budget is not approved by June 30, the budget submitted by the Town Council per Section 9.10.3 shall be utilized as an interim budget until a new Budget is approved by referendum. Within three (3) business days after an interim budget is approved goes in to effect, the Town Council will set a mill rate that shall be sufficient, with the income from other sources, to meet the estimated expenses of the Town for the next fiscal year. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
If the Town Council puts up a budget in May, and it fails, it can put up the same budget in June. When it fails, it can return the same budget to the voters a third time to be voted down a third time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is now June 30th, the original budget which has failed in referendum three times now becomes the "interim budget," and the Town Council sets mill rates based on it. At this point, the Town Council can simply keep sending out the same budget every two weeks until either it becomes the next year or the voters give up an accept it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The check on this is that the Town Council can be voted out in the next election... except that the terms are now four years, so if they do this early in their term, it is likely it will be long lost to memory when an election finally comes around, meaning there is really no check at all.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Mill Rate Is Set After the Referendum</b></div>
<div>
The first thing that this means is that voters do not know what tax rate they are voting on. This is like buying a car knowing the sale price but not knowing your monthly payment. You're not paying $119,000,000, you're paying your share of taxes, but that's a mystery until the Town Council chooses it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While there are guidelines to what they should do, they have quite a bit of latitude, which becomes important when you consider the power of Emergency Allocation, which was previously checked by the RTM, but will be checked by no one at all under the proposed revision.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Emergency Allocation Loophole</b></div>
<div>
<div>
After the budget passes, the Town Council sets the mill rate. This means that, when the voters vote, they do not actually know what the budget will give them in terms of a tax rate. It also means that the Town Council could choose to add a small margin of safety into the mill rate to make sure it will cover all expected expenses. They could do something modest, say 1%. That's just prudent budgeting, right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, what's this?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>9.15.2 The Council may make Emergency Appropriations not exceeding one-hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), by a vote of not less than seven (7) members of the Council, provided a public hearing, at which the public shall have an opportunity to be heard, shall be held prior to making such appropriations. The notice shall be made in accordance with Section 9.19. Such hearing and notice of hearing may be waived if the Council by an affirmative vote of not less than eight (8) of its members, shall decide that a delay in making the Emergency Appropriation would jeopardize the lives, health, or property of citizens.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.navcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/emergency_fund-750x393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for emergency spending" border="0" height="167" src="https://www.navcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/emergency_fund-750x393.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven Councilors will have the power to determine any<br />emergency and act on it... unless it's over $100,000. <br />Then we're just out of luck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the agreement of 7 Councilors, they can agree that anything they like is an emergency, and many issues can be spun as emergencies. The police department is dangerously understaffed. Hiring another officer is an emergency. That road is a hazard, paving it is an emergency. That building is about to collapse. Fixing it is an emergency.<br />
<br />
Under the present system, all such transfers must be approved by the RTM, requiring accountability and giving a check in which the transfer could be prevented.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Under the proposed charter, items that could not get approved in the referendum approved budget, could be slipped back in as "emergencies," and there's no one who can stop them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the other hand, let's also hope there's never a real emergency that requires more than $100,000, because there's no provision for doing so.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Who's Empowered?</b></div>
<div>
In summary, the Town Council, which now has 4 year terms, has the ability to force a budget around referendum objections, and gets to set the mill rate <i>after</i> the budget is passed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This Charter Revision definitely empowers someone, but it's not the voters. So, if you're planning to vote Yes on this revision because you think it will empower you as a voter, you may find yourself somewhat disappointed.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-40472762919082914522018-10-25T07:58:00.000-04:002018-10-25T07:58:44.111-04:00Thoughts on Representative Town Meeting, Applicable to the Present State of Groton<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2c1ec43e-7fff-91e1-6183-ed892aa4e38a"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2c1ec43e-7fff-91e1-6183-ed892aa4e38a"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Thoughts_on_Government.jpg/220px-Thoughts_on_Government.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for thoughts on government" border="0" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Thoughts_on_Government.jpg/220px-Thoughts_on_Government.jpg" width="123" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1. A single Assembly is liable to all the vices, follies and frailties of an individual. Subject to fits of humour, starts of passion, flights of enthusiasm, partialities of prejudice, and consequently productive of hasty results and absurd judgments: And all these errors ought to be corrected and defects supplied by some controuling power.</i></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2c1ec43e-7fff-91e1-6183-ed892aa4e38a">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2c1ec43e-7fff-91e1-6183-ed892aa4e38a"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>2. A single Assembly is apt to be avaricious, and in time will not scruple to exempt itself from burthens which it will lay, without compunction, on its constituents.</i></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2c1ec43e-7fff-91e1-6183-ed892aa4e38a">
-John Adams, </span>Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies</blockquote>
In 1776 John Adams was asked for suggestions on the form that the new colonial governments should take, and he responded with a treatise called <i>Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies</i>, in which he discussed the importance of having a bicameral rather than unicameral legislature.<br />
<br />
American government is based on the principle that voters with incomplete information will make choices to elect flawed human beings to represent them, as all humans are. Systems of checks and balances are created throughout the system to counterbalance the natural limitations of humans in roles of leadership.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thoughtsongovernment.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/constitution_thumb23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for thoughts on government" border="0" height="216" src="https://thoughtsongovernment.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/constitution_thumb23.jpeg" width="320" /></a>The Founding Fathers worked with the idea of the Few and the Many. The Few constitute the influential, the monied, the connected, those who are familiar with the gears and levers of government. The Many constitute the the general population who simply wish to live their lives, raise their families, and pursue happiness.<br />
<br />
Our state and federal government were created as they are so that one house (the Senate) might represent the Few, while the other (the House) represented the Many.<br />
<br />
In Groton, we see in structure of our town government an absolutely beautiful example of bicameral governance on a local level. In Groton, there is a Town Council of 9 members elected at large, and a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) of 41 members elected among 7 districts.<br />
<br />
Members of both bodies volunteer their time for the good of their community, but Town Councilors are expected to spend 15 hours and more every single week for what is ultimately a very thankless job. The RTM, by contrast, spends a few hours per <i>month</i> in meetings, except for during the month of May when they spend considerable time poring over every line of a 250 page budget.<br />
<br />
Naturally, the pool of potential Town Councilors, individuals who have the talent to serve and the willingness to invest hundreds of unpaid hours, is quite a bit more limited than the pool of those who might serve on the RTM. The result is a difference in the character of the two bodies.<br />
<br />
Town Councilors tend to be people of greater political involvement in the town and its history, which is multiplied once on the Council as they work closely with staff throughout the town. This is both an asset and a hindrance. It is an asset as their familiarity allows them to better understand the inner workings of our town. It is a hindrance as their increasing familiarity may cause them to overlook errors and inferior solutions, much as one ceases to notice a creaky step in their house after many years of living there.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQl329OtD1iaiAue_FDcx_geXBvoNLd6gu_k8BGOE2mSsIIYntXkV1gDDbXkw8nRm38Wx8ojb71RKrK2hMRN4_Lodf81WvfF-ura_McClUayWRPkIWKxIwbt4bmE9kj2yHRSB3nFVJdTy/s1600/rtm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1183" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQl329OtD1iaiAue_FDcx_geXBvoNLd6gu_k8BGOE2mSsIIYntXkV1gDDbXkw8nRm38Wx8ojb71RKrK2hMRN4_Lodf81WvfF-ura_McClUayWRPkIWKxIwbt4bmE9kj2yHRSB3nFVJdTy/s320/rtm.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">41 regular citizens coming together for the benefit<br />
of their community and their neighbors. There can be<br />
no better representation of true republican democracy than<br />
the New England town meeting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Covering this blindspot is the relative enthusiasm and inexperience of the RTM members. For any given issue, some of the members are encountering it for the first time, giving them the opportunity to approach it with fresh eyes, possibly asking questions that have not been asked before, while others have decades of experience in government giving them a seasoned outsider perspective.<br />
<br />
In the most extreme circumstances, the RTM can come together and even reverse actions of the Town Council or initiate their own actions. These tools are rarely employed, but their existence weighs into every decision that the Town Council makes.<br />
<br />
All of the meetings of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m06ptVF7YVQ&list=PLp4s6RQGCh5RZiTHP4faLF61F9V5IQYzr">Town Council</a> and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFI94osBHWQ&list=PLp4s6RQGCh5Ri4F9Tq8RaCh0g-yI1Z7PB">RTM </a>are recorded by Groton Municipal Television and uploaded to YouTube. Watch a couple Town Council meetings and contrast them to RTM meetings. Much of the work of the Town Council is done behind the scenes in caucuses and planning meetings. Their meetings are quick, efficient, and orderly, which is good for the conduct of business but often fail to allow the viewer to fully grasp the function of the government.<br />
<br />
The RTM, by contrast, contains many members who are effectively members of the general public coming forward to serve their neighbors. They may have little more involvement in government affairs than anyone else living on their street, so the questions that they pose to the Town Manager, the Superintendent of Schools, or any other staff who come before the RTM are the questions of their neighbors. The RTM gives voice to every citizen, both through direct citizen comment and though their representatives.<br />
<br />
The RTM is one of the most incredible tools of democratic engagement. The question may be posed as to whether the RTM has been employed to its best potential here in the town of Groton, but it is like any tool. It must be employed by motivated and skilled hands to create a beneficial result.<br />
<br />
There can be no doubt that the mere capability of the RTM to veto an ordinance has caused the Town Council to give a second thought to a flawed ordinance.<br />
<br />
There can be no doubt that items of the budget have been refined and cut prior to coming to the RTM, knowing that the RTM would reduce it if the Town Council did not.<br />
<br />
There can be no doubt that the ability of the RTM to inquire has brought sunlight to many functions of our town.<br />
<br />
There can simply be no doubt that the town of Groton, Connecticut is a better governed town because of the powerful direct influence that the RTM allows the common citizen to have on the government process.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-20680485408961169372018-10-21T15:36:00.000-04:002018-10-21T15:42:23.973-04:00The Groton Charter Revision In Brief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7NBYFe4HKpBFRYA0aTCBojcLOKFFE4FSuPbqdX2-leZjfzlvIWxFmsE2H1PWq1PadD58WoVyUov6j1uEdQTUJTENv4KdxyhbaOutso5r_i_c1aUDek3faEE6s2FyrLYRdgyFaXbLcrbP/s1600/charter+revision+in+brief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7NBYFe4HKpBFRYA0aTCBojcLOKFFE4FSuPbqdX2-leZjfzlvIWxFmsE2H1PWq1PadD58WoVyUov6j1uEdQTUJTENv4KdxyhbaOutso5r_i_c1aUDek3faEE6s2FyrLYRdgyFaXbLcrbP/s320/charter+revision+in+brief.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On November 6th, Groton, Connecticut will vote on a <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/twnclk/town_gov/docs/11-15-17%20DRAFT%20CHARTER%20REVISIONS%20(HIGHLIGHTED-STRIKEOUT%20COPY).pdf">proposed revision to the Charter</a> which governs the structure of the town.<br />
<br />
Presently, Groton has a 9 member Town Council and a 41 member (1 per 1000 residents) Representative Town Meeting. The Town Council is the seat of primary authority in the town. They have the power to create ordinances, develop the budget, and make contracts with employees among other powers.<br />
<br />
The Representative Town Meeting reviews the budget line by line, approving or reducing the Town Council's proposal. They can also restore funding if the Council cut the Town Manager's or Board of Education's recommendations. The RTM has the power to veto ordinances of the Town Council and even the Power of Initiative to create their own.<br />
<br />
It is effectively a bicameral legislature, with the Town Council as the upper house and the RTM as the lower house, with diminutive authority but providing a check on the power of the Town Council.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://grtv2018.org/">Groton's Right to Vote</a> is the political action committee advocating for this revision, and you can find a summary of their arguments on their web site.<br />
<br />
<b>What's Changing</b><br />
The main thing that the charter revision will do is eliminate the RTM and create a Finance Board and budget referendum. Rather than the Town Council creating a budget to be reviewed by the RTM, the Finance Board will work with the Town Manager to create a budget recommendation. The Town Council will then take that recommendation and craft the actual budget. This budget will then be voted on in a referendum.<br />
<br />
The GRTV web site summarizes this as follows:<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; padding-left: 1.3em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
<li style="font-family: lato, sans-serif;">Gives citizens the <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">right to vote on our annual budget</span>, like they do in the City of Groton and the Towns of Stonington, East Lyme, Guilford, Clinton, Madison, Newtown, Cromwell and many other communities in CT. Town and Education budgets are approved separately.</li>
<li style="font-family: lato, sans-serif;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Greatly simplifies Town Government by eliminating the RTM</span>, no other Town in Connecticut has a Town Council <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-text-decoration-underline x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;">and</span> an RTM like Groton has. </li>
<li style="font-family: lato, sans-serif;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Provides for a Board of Finance</span>, a stand-alone elected body, to support the Town Council in financial matters and keep the public informed.</li>
<li style="font-family: lato, sans-serif;">Provides for a <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">transparent annual budget development process</span> with many opportunities for citizen input including mandatory budget guidance by the Town Council.</li>
</span></ul>
<div style="font-family: lato, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: lato, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><br style="clear: both;" /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: lato, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small;">What's not Changing</span></div>
<div style="font-family: lato, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><br style="clear: both;" /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: lato, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: lato, sans-serif; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; padding-left: 1.3em;">
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Maintains the Town Council/Town Manager form of government. </span>Town Council, sets policy for the Town, elected at-large, stays at 9 members. Town Manager executes policy and runs the town. Virtually no change to the core of our town government.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">The <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-fs-unset px_-ff-Lato__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: border-box;">seven voting districts</span> will remain as is. No changes.</span></li>
</ul>
<b>That might sound pretty good to some, but is it really?</b><br />
All that sounds pretty good, doesn't it. I mean, who doesn't want the "right to vote?"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's a little more complicated than that. In future articles, I'll be going into great depth on a number of these topics, but let's just spend a few moments on each of these points.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Right to Vote</b></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.voteosceola.com/portals/osceola/Images/Voting-Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for voting" border="0" height="192" src="https://www.voteosceola.com/portals/osceola/Images/Voting-Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprague just recently passed a budget after four months of<br />
revotes. North Stonington once required 9 elections to pass<br />
a budget. Groton could see similar problems.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They do indeed have budget referendums in many other towns, most of them smaller than Groton, and if you speak to people who live in those towns, you will find that most of them are quite disappointed with the results of this system. A town official from a local town explained that about ten years ago, there was a wave of charter revisions replacing town meetings with referendums, and almost without exception, the towns that have undergone such transitions regret their choice to do so. The election process creates uncertainty and unnecessary expense in the municipal governance process. Recently Sprague, a town of 2,900 people (compared to Groton's 41,000), took four months to pass a budget. North Stonington once took 9 votes to finally approve a budget. In small towns, a budget referendum only costs a few thousand dollars. In Groton, each vote will cost $20,000-$25,000</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Massachusetts, which has town property taxes on average 1/3 what they are in Connecticut, has a town meeting in every town, but a referendum for any tax increase of more than 2.5%. This is called a Prop 2 1/2 Override. Thus, they are able to have an efficient and representative system of budget creation with a check against excessive tax increases. To many, this would seem to be a more reasonable, less costly form of a budget referendum for Groton to adopt, rather than the extreme version being proposed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Greatly simplifies Town Government by eliminating the RTM</b></div>
<div>
Simple government is not necessarily better government. The RTM provides an opportunity for ordinary citizens to participate in the government process. Whether a town has a council or board of selectmen, the close involvement of the town leadership with the day to day workings of the government can induce a form of groupthink, sometimes causing them to overlook obvious solutions or problems that an outsider might spot at once. The RTM is a simple and effective solution to this problem, allowing 41 engaged citizens to take a second look at all the major activities of the town.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--2tM9p_45--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/i75jmphwbjsocp4tsdyi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for founding fathers" border="0" height="181" src="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--2tM9p_45--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/i75jmphwbjsocp4tsdyi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The founding fathers intentionally created complexity<br />
in government called checks and balances to ensure a<br />
balance of power which would create stability and fairness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eliminating the RTM makes town government simpler and smaller in one way, but our government is intentionally built on a system of checks and balances. The President requires Senate approval for appointments. Congress must get a Presidential signature to pass a bill. The Judiciary may review the actions of either. In the same way, the RTM provides a check and review on the actions of the Town Council. Take away the RTM, and 5 members of the Town Council (a simple majority) have a lot more power with no check or balance.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Board of Finance and Transparent Annual Budget Process</b></div>
<div>
An argument of GRTV is that the early part of the budget process is behind closed doors, led by department heads, and that by the time the budget reaches the Town Council and the RTM, much of it is already set. The GRTV supporters argue that the new charter will create public hearings earlier in the process as the Board of Finance has meetings to create the budget. However, the truth is members of the public can speak to the Town Council and RTM anytime, all year long, and the Council holds a public hearing on the budget before the budget process begins. It’s not so clear anything the BOF does will be different. Furthermore, the BOF in Groton has no actual power or authority. They are “advisory” only. Groton will be the <i>only town</i> in the state with a BOF with no actual power or authority. In every other town that has a BOF, they have actual power.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://robinbutlerrealtor.com/images/contract-negotiation-knoxville-real-estate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for contract negotiations" border="0" height="212" src="https://robinbutlerrealtor.com/images/contract-negotiation-knoxville-real-estate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The RTM, along with the Town Council and Board of<br />
Education can control staffing costs by reducing <br />
positions, as they have done in the past.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The GRTV group argues that because the Town Council approves employee contracts, the RTM doesn’t have authority over the 80% of the budget that is employee costs. Nothing could be further from the truth! Most of the budget is made up of personnel costs, and those are based on contracts approved by the Town Council prior to the budget process. Only the Town Council and Board of Education approve contracts, and that won’t change with the new charter.<br />
<br />
But, all three bodies, the Council, BOE and RTM can control overall employee costs (80% of the budget) by reducing positions, which has been done over the past two decades. Many positions have been eliminated. Again, nothing will change in this regard, with the new charter. The claim that the RTM can’t act on 80% of the budget is inaccurate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Virtually no change to the core of our town government</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
It is a bold statement to suggest that the elimination of a 41 member elected representative body constitutes "virtually no change to the core of our town government." The RTM not only reviews the budget, but reviews ordinances, financial transfers, and other town activities. Beyond the official powers of the RTM, the RTM creates a method for 41 additional members of the community to be involved in their town's government, and to provide oversight of every activity of the town. That's 41 more sets of eyes to notice potential cost savings. 41 more people to spot errors or even malfeasance. 41 more people keeping an eye on the cookie <br />
jar. Many of these people become interested enough to go further and later run for Town Council or Board of Education. We lose the valuable learning opportunity for residents who want to be involved but cannot necessarily commit to weekly meetings all year long.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Wjd_kPmdCVJ2UTElFxzKieL-aqC6FVyOl63ypB7tDjYg7XRF_exVBn8o_d49HS-ii2RrhD3yojMB5JQHD9dytP1DWuP0w7GUp7fu4Q8DZVc-I-27-fVamezGYuTENhok4Soid_2JLAI/s1600/rtm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1183" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Wjd_kPmdCVJ2UTElFxzKieL-aqC6FVyOl63ypB7tDjYg7XRF_exVBn8o_d49HS-ii2RrhD3yojMB5JQHD9dytP1DWuP0w7GUp7fu4Q8DZVc-I-27-fVamezGYuTENhok4Soid_2JLAI/s400/rtm.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">41 citizens getting involved, providing oversight, creating<br />
solutions, identifying problems, and keeping an eye on<br />
the cookie jar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the next few weeks leading up to the November 6th vote, I will be writing a series of articles to provide additional background and information on various aspects of the proposed revision.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You see, I came to this issue at first with not particular interest one way or the other, but the more I researched and studied, the more I found that our current system of government, while not perfect (what system is?), has an incredible elegance in its system of checks and balances. I have found the proposed charter revision to be unrefined, unfinished, and undesirable for the future of our town, and I believe that as I share what I have learned with you, you will come to agree with me that this revision should be rejected.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Groton's charter is not perfect, and revisions may be needed, but this revision, the one before us in November, is not the right choice for Groton.<br />
<br />
<i>Michael Whitehouse presently serves a representative on the Representative Town Meeting from the Fourth District. His opinions do not represent any official stance of the town of Groton. His opinions are his alone, but he hopes that you may find them compelling enough to share them.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-26155104484452189912018-07-02T10:57:00.001-04:002018-07-02T11:02:49.650-04:00Networking Events: But They All Know Each Other Already!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KIcAYLnzECKVknGAoWR7mS2ujj_Y0PVm3eiIUQnMQ1gsDG9ftbJjkH8bsWJsM9IIZsrN3DzkbiyGFZrIXXtOhcEC4XjSsrQ5L5JtNBbuSLnNorZi-U2F-KQbyfBHYaJ0ffD1Aiw0U7pg/s1600/Networking+crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1353" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KIcAYLnzECKVknGAoWR7mS2ujj_Y0PVm3eiIUQnMQ1gsDG9ftbJjkH8bsWJsM9IIZsrN3DzkbiyGFZrIXXtOhcEC4XjSsrQ5L5JtNBbuSLnNorZi-U2F-KQbyfBHYaJ0ffD1Aiw0U7pg/s320/Networking+crowd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: A whole lot of people who do not all know<br />
each other.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>(This is an excerpt from </i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0728NWLBV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496279452&sr=8-2&keywords=the+guy+who+knows+a+guy">The Guy Who Knows a Guy</a><i> by Michael Whitehouse)</i><br />
You finally make it out to a networking event. Maybe a Business After Hours. Maybe some other kind of mixer. You come in, you pay your admission, you put your business card in the raffle basket. Now what?<br />
<br />
You look around the room and it’s full of people talking to each other. Everyone is engrossed in conversation. They all already know each other, and you’re the newbie trying to find your way in. It’s a high school dance all over again.<br />
<br />
Or is it?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAxfX9Pkwo4aE1CW1o-jYTNgXvI1hzyGxVGHRiCJ02zfdkZCJsfFjewaOKC6DZiitQ1N8lB9xJ6Pn-IdpY4Qb-IC7dznU40E4k3HSAkxGenToJ9pS4A-Nyf90oi0CVj7Pt_oTrJvbyHvn/s1600/Napoleon+D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="612" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAxfX9Pkwo4aE1CW1o-jYTNgXvI1hzyGxVGHRiCJ02zfdkZCJsfFjewaOKC6DZiitQ1N8lB9xJ6Pn-IdpY4Qb-IC7dznU40E4k3HSAkxGenToJ9pS4A-Nyf90oi0CVj7Pt_oTrJvbyHvn/s200/Napoleon+D.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not pictured: a networking event.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What would be the point of a networking event where everyone all knew each other. There have been some such events, and they tend to dwindle down and eventually fail entirely. Why? Because the entire purpose of a networking event is to meet people and make connections.<br />
<br />
What about those knots of people having long, engrossed conversations. There are two such groups you will likely find at a networking event.<br />
<br />
The first is people from the same company who are there because the company pays for it and it’s a great place to catch up, have some wine from the open bar and have a nice after work experience. Often, these are not necessarily people who really need to network, but the company sends them out because even at the absolute minimum level of networking effort an opportunity might stumble upon you. You can usually tell these groups because everyone’s name tag has the same company on it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kMXEoS6hYn0SJUiSostmn2xtam3Wg1LRpSqkS1gD7sJMmrh1CGP_n1ytXKRMxjHheiF2Iu-bY51yx7Lcw4YM-0hOOjyKeOI4K1wLW0Za44byFz1oM5f_GLmCqfX6mg7Qq5i0Eyp0fQ-F/s1600/networking+stock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kMXEoS6hYn0SJUiSostmn2xtam3Wg1LRpSqkS1gD7sJMmrh1CGP_n1ytXKRMxjHheiF2Iu-bY51yx7Lcw4YM-0hOOjyKeOI4K1wLW0Za44byFz1oM5f_GLmCqfX6mg7Qq5i0Eyp0fQ-F/s200/networking+stock.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Networking events are where<br />
people go to meet new people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These are decent groups to approach because they are in a very social comfortable mood, and, deep down, they know that their job here is to meet new people who might be of benefit for their company, and you approaching them gives them the opportunity to do so without leaving their comfort zone.<br />
<br />
The other sort who will be having long engrossing conversations are people who just met each other. Think about it. If you see someone you know at an event, you might chat a little. How’s the wife? How’s the dog? How about that local sports team? Then, unless you have some actual business to talk about, chances are that you’ll move on. However, if you meet someone new, you don’t know anything about them. Even the most mundane questions are interesting. “Where do you work?” “What does your company do?” “Are you new to the area?” It’s all new ground, and you’re all there to meet new people, so the delving may be deep.<br />
<br />
These people are also great to approach. You are walking up to two or more people who are just feeling each other out. Even if you just join the conversation without saying much, you can still listen in and overhear their quick biographies.<br />
<br />
So, those groups that all look like they know each other? Either they do know each other and are looking to meet new people but are too shy to go out and meet them, or they don’t actually know each other and just met.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The moral of the story is not to be afraid. Everyone at a networking event is there to network. It's not about exclusive cliques or sticking to your own circle. If people wanted to do that, they'd stay home or go join the Stonecutters.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CWcSfBt4tcif90a5Wd8fqVGNLZYo_2ddQOPNDxWD9g8HxSj1EAtvu3Xj798qS6be8zs3gSiD199D2i9cdrU3CdpJzYRr60vS1MTAOholjAMuWtEr_nhRDs1LSZVuaAHrKJmI9vZtXNaU/s1600/Homer-simpsons-stonecutters-initiation-671x377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="671" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CWcSfBt4tcif90a5Wd8fqVGNLZYo_2ddQOPNDxWD9g8HxSj1EAtvu3Xj798qS6be8zs3gSiD199D2i9cdrU3CdpJzYRr60vS1MTAOholjAMuWtEr_nhRDs1LSZVuaAHrKJmI9vZtXNaU/s320/Homer-simpsons-stonecutters-initiation-671x377.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely NOT Pictured: a networking event.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-34747826417890337192018-06-23T19:34:00.001-04:002018-06-23T19:34:43.083-04:00Build Your Brand In Summer to Prepare for Winter<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErLdRm2HDdJqLxAWNaaDy8L_1LNCoAdJMMpzs_L2uP_JpRGFv0BzQXOfYX-NwYSgeXp_jsqDm6XzBDVMTEWdLjSGwiCYs7X6k1xxJ1WA6_ts_MmgSfwnEm224-pI5qYuwHyU1EG36gf18/s1600/Forest+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1360" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErLdRm2HDdJqLxAWNaaDy8L_1LNCoAdJMMpzs_L2uP_JpRGFv0BzQXOfYX-NwYSgeXp_jsqDm6XzBDVMTEWdLjSGwiCYs7X6k1xxJ1WA6_ts_MmgSfwnEm224-pI5qYuwHyU1EG36gf18/s200/Forest+Fire.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recessions: <br />Yeah, they're kind of like that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A recession is a bit like a forest fire. It causes great destruction, but it also serves to clear away debris and waste and make room for strong, healthy trees to thrive. In a recession, many businesses will fail, but the the strong ones will survive. The strongest will actually come out of the trial of a recession stronger than they went in, expanding market share and often having the opportunity to buy up their weaker competitors.<br />
<br />
Proper work during the boom times on establishing a powerful and robust brand is crucial to being one of the companies that thrives in the downturn rather than being one of those that is forced to sell out.<br />
<br />
In 1862, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cl%C3%A9ment_Juglar">Clément Juglar</a> discovered that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglar_cycle">Juglar Cycle</a>, in which he found that the booms and busts of the economy tended to cycle every 7 to 11 years. It is a natural part of the business cycle. There are various factors that go into this: monetary policy, government policy, the need for the economy to correct itself, and more.<br />
<br />
Of course, we see this borne out in the last few recessions. Here are years that the last seven recessions started in the United States.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfOKvrMWxWL1cfhCtKF1LCnVBqM2l2tTJSDQvLoW3p26RCg8u1k_8v0ZtApGRFar2m83AcxYC6XFnmUPKNAbiQCLLhAjUpm7GGaWAcS4nCT9aiSfBzyhliTPLd6QQhkvK-x7Rue42qgL-/s1600/financial-crisis-headlines-7003996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfOKvrMWxWL1cfhCtKF1LCnVBqM2l2tTJSDQvLoW3p26RCg8u1k_8v0ZtApGRFar2m83AcxYC6XFnmUPKNAbiQCLLhAjUpm7GGaWAcS4nCT9aiSfBzyhliTPLd6QQhkvK-x7Rue42qgL-/s200/financial-crisis-headlines-7003996.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's been 11 years since the last<br />recession. On average they occur<br />every 6 years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
2007<br />
2001<br />
1990<br />
1981<br />
1973<br />
1969<br />
1960<br />
<br />
They are actually an average of 6 years apart, and the last one started 11 years ago.<br />
<br />
We can discuss all kinds of complex economics and contentious politics when looking for reasons why the next recession will come, but it is simple math to see that the next recession is coming. Economists do not seem to believe that it is imminent, growth likely continuing into 2019, but whether it's in 2019 or 2022, now is the time for a business to prepare.<br />
<br />
As the Bible says, "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. (Proverbs 6:6-8)"<br />
<br />
How do you prepare, and avoid King Solomon calling you "lazybones"? Naturally, you should make sure your business is on firm financial footing. Pay down debts. Maintain a cash reserve for unexpected downturns. But financial reserves enough are not enough to ensure that you are one of the businesses that will come out stronger rather than one of those that must sell out to a competitor.<br />
<br />
<b>The Most Valuable Investment</b><br />
The most valuable investment that you can make today is in your brand reputation. I speak to many business owners who say, "I'm too busy. I'm turning away jobs. I don't need advertising right now."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_642155622"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXquNszUZVF_eY63U6uY_watTFXZfEv9Y-R09VFbXICog2ZwH8qR-4NYK2rYpdcxvMGvbHmVg4fVQtdia1kH3PhMY2FWBKpviEUXgrBoI18-B1odyCuKNQ8hNvgTwh4a31fhOjr3hg3rLD/s1600/amazon.png" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an ad that runs for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0728NWLBV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496279452&sr=8-2&keywords=the+guy+who+knows+a+guy">Amazon.com</a>. When your<br />brand is as well known as Amazon, you can think<br />about saying you are well enough known that<br />you don't need to advertise anymore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They are correct that they do not need direct response advertising like coupons and special deals. What they do need right now, however, is sponsorship and brand marketing.<br />
<br />
What's the difference? Direct response advertising is advertising that seeks an immediate result. It's almost like day trading. You are asking for something today. Use this coupon. Get that deal. Call now. Operators are standing by. You either get a result or do not in a very short period of time. This is your Google Ad Words, many TV and radio ads that call for immediate action, that sort of thing.<br />
<br />
Branding and sponsorship advertising is more like making an investment in the future of your business, specifically in the reputation of your business. Branding is done by sponsoring events and organizations that people care about. It is done by supporting community publications that people are connected with. It is also done with advertising, whether TV, radio, print or online, that focuses on the values and value proposition of your business rather than an immediate call to action.<br />
<span id="goog_642155623"></span><span id="goog_642155624"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-ge-UHdmMATzIq07KUCj-oT-RVX539cOLc9GWHAilh9EU81r_dQFsRflfQUd_7F5jU79ztKS5ejcX1HvyPs6vQMsxLeGMfiN8l1KB0exym0XxXb9mcgOhD0VWUT6xyT7zWHaTPlMiFfS/s1600/Choose_Happiness_London_Coke_596x334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="596" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-ge-UHdmMATzIq07KUCj-oT-RVX539cOLc9GWHAilh9EU81r_dQFsRflfQUd_7F5jU79ztKS5ejcX1HvyPs6vQMsxLeGMfiN8l1KB0exym0XxXb9mcgOhD0VWUT6xyT7zWHaTPlMiFfS/s320/Choose_Happiness_London_Coke_596x334.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coca-Cola is the most recognized brand on Earth, yet they<br />continue to use ads like this one to maintain their top of<br />mind awareness.</td></tr>
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It's the difference between the friend who only calls you when they need something, and the friend who's always around occasionally asking for a favor. With branding and sponsorship, your business becomes that friend who is always around, not only there when they have their hand out.<br />
<br />
Right now, the economy is hot, and the pie is large. Everyone has a slice. In the foreseeable future, in the next 1-4 years, that pie will shrink. Those businesses that have invested their profits wisely, especially in building their awareness and reputation in the community will be those that will thrive in the next recession. Those that do not will find themselves losing their market, and possibly their business, to those that have.<br />
<br />
<b>How to Do It?</b><br />
Many small businesses only focus on direct response advertising, so they may not be familiar with what brand marketing is. There are three key aspects to look at: Sponsorship, Brand Marketing, and Content Marketing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3l6C5lr0rdrtaMhJqkKhOvSQYtTge12p_fx4xzumPJDrVaH9Y69ismMFBg39Ay_oAcY4F4sYt7mGoiQW_tNk-n_mlb_9OkQlHagrq2O3VIduPNx8aO93Y3cgczhbt1cy0SMZUbUyMubZ/s1600/Burrows+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1525" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3l6C5lr0rdrtaMhJqkKhOvSQYtTge12p_fx4xzumPJDrVaH9Y69ismMFBg39Ay_oAcY4F4sYt7mGoiQW_tNk-n_mlb_9OkQlHagrq2O3VIduPNx8aO93Y3cgczhbt1cy0SMZUbUyMubZ/s320/Burrows+field.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sponsors at a local Little League field.</td></tr>
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<i><b>Sponsorship</b></i><br />
Sponsorship means putting your brand identity adjacent to things that people feel positive about. Putting your name on a Little League team, sponsoring a community magazine, or supporting a Rotary event are examples of this. It makes people think of your business as local and as a part of the community rather than simply as another business after their money.<br />
<br />
Just because people know your business exists does not mean that their impression is positive. Placing your business adjacent to causes that they care about can move consumers from awareness of your business to appreciation for your business, a crucial improvement.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Brand Marketing</b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-bx4oFsxeKzzF0ap-YJRmzA1Is8hACJyoEUBaILr_wTfJAMRbur4xxpaW0Rt-vn-q6RnbTcp85qjqiiy0wqcQrYyKMv6rUTV6yuPelOS-Y38p249dopvvFL9gTv06mNltt4_fTn5MuyJ/s1600/mcdonalds-billboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="449" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-bx4oFsxeKzzF0ap-YJRmzA1Is8hACJyoEUBaILr_wTfJAMRbur4xxpaW0Rt-vn-q6RnbTcp85qjqiiy0wqcQrYyKMv6rUTV6yuPelOS-Y38p249dopvvFL9gTv06mNltt4_fTn5MuyJ/s200/mcdonalds-billboard.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of brand marketing.<br />No call to action, details, or even<br />contact information. Simply a<br />mention of the brand to maintain top<br />of mind awareness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Brand Marketing, is marketing with the intention of increasing awareness and positive perception of your business. Awareness can be increased with sponsorship activity, and it can also be done by putting your brand, logo, slogan, jingle, or face in places where people will see it consistently (many times) and persistently (over a long period).<br />
<br />
You can engage in brand marketing on any platform, but it is more cost effective on some platforms than other. Branding on television is prohibitively expensive for all but the largest companies. Branding on most online platforms like Google AdWords and Facebook is nearly impossible given their shifting algorithms. Community magazines can be very effective at branding to a targeted market. Billboards can also be effective, although it is more difficult to pinpoint the market.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gfwrMyPyp3CPVg5w_dOpdvClcFJvNVQZpkQFfsyAoNrkzdQ1ZwwsK1gC_gm57p7daWF4rjM_8dsYiKZy6eXBr-q5Z2dLzmhasHb_fcF6WS8fVUt1AV5f8L-nKK6jfKbBLMB_cm1xmV2T/s1600/expert+contributor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gfwrMyPyp3CPVg5w_dOpdvClcFJvNVQZpkQFfsyAoNrkzdQ1ZwwsK1gC_gm57p7daWF4rjM_8dsYiKZy6eXBr-q5Z2dLzmhasHb_fcF6WS8fVUt1AV5f8L-nKK6jfKbBLMB_cm1xmV2T/s320/expert+contributor.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High quality, high engagement community<br />magazines are one of the most powerful<br />platforms for content marketing to<br />reach a targeted audience.</td></tr>
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<i><b>Content Marketing</b></i><br />
Content Marketing is a form of marketing that puts a deeper message than simply your brand and product or service offerings. It is sharing content such as expert advice and valuable resources. It can also take the form of giving people a deeper familiarity with your business, such as business history, employee biographies, and the like. Either way, the goal is to make the market see your company are more than just a logo and a quote, but to make it human, deep, and familiar to them.<br />
<br />
Content can take a variety of forms: print articles, online writing, podcasts, video, audio, and more. It is important to realize that there are two key elements to content: the quality of the content itself and having a strategy to make sure that people actually consume the content. The greatest article in the world will bring no customers to your business if no one reads it. I have seen amazing videos on YouTube with 50 views on them.<br />
<br />
Tools like blogs and newsletters can be a very effective method for driving content to your existing customers and those already familiar with your business.<br />
<br />
How do you push that great content to the rest of the community? The best way to ensure that the broader public consumes your content is to place it in a platform which they are already engaging with. The ideal, although it can be difficult to achieve, is to become an expert contributor to a community publication that has high engagement or to have a show on local television or radio.<br />
<br />
This article, for example, is an example of Content Marketing. I am using it to share important information, to build relationships with my readers, and to establish a reputation for expertise.<br />
<br />
<b>For More Information</b><br />
Marketing is a complex and ever changing field. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to me at feedback@michaelwhitehouse.org or call 203-707-1245, and I'd be happy to help or discuss consulting options. I am also available to speak to your organization. Contact me for details.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-40056994681268275272018-06-20T10:43:00.000-04:002018-06-20T10:43:07.927-04:00Touching Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0FeDWLPnjPyAevW9QgyD9gSPZz3n1f8-uAj9_F4fs8ah4l_UVvv11eyWtPEocbUSYFnMmJllxf8jUF3hA7vmj7-TZCqs2kPPXepu3TLr8OiphHqFBYdqZlCCsQYY4XjWeApYkI5AP4cY/s1600/starfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0FeDWLPnjPyAevW9QgyD9gSPZz3n1f8-uAj9_F4fs8ah4l_UVvv11eyWtPEocbUSYFnMmJllxf8jUF3hA7vmj7-TZCqs2kPPXepu3TLr8OiphHqFBYdqZlCCsQYY4XjWeApYkI5AP4cY/s320/starfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>One day, a boy was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by a storm. As he walked he came upon a man who was throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Puzzled, the boy looked at the man and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the man simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The boy chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The man picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the boy, said, “I made a difference to that one!”</i><br />
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<br />
Last night I got a message from someone I meet four years ago. She was working at an ice cream shop at the time, and, getting ice cream one day, I talked with her as I often do with people I meet. Turns out that she was just finishing high school and was getting interested in anime and conventions but didn't know where to start. At the time, I was running the Connecticon Info Desk Department, and I invited her to join my team and get to see the con from the center of it all.<br />
<br />
We became friends and speak occasionally. Last night, she sent me a message in which she realized that when we met, she was just finishing high school, and now she has just graduated college. She said this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It seemed like such a small encounter, but your kindness to some random kid behind the counter stayed with me. You listened to me as i spouted off whatever high school angst I had and genuinely gave me advice and your time. Now I'm 22 and thinking about how incredible that was. You are the only stranger to ever be that kind to me."</blockquote>
<br />
Throughout our daily travels, rushing here and there, doing this and that, we brush up against so many other lives. I didn't think twice about chatting with the person behind the counter. It comes naturally, but it made a difference to her. Everyday, we have dozens of opportunities to make someone's life better, if only in a small way, but that small thing could mean everything to the right person at the right time.<br />
<br />
Probably without intention, her words came to me at a time when they had great impact. The past half year has been very difficult for me. I have been in a place where I had to wonder who were truly my friends and who were not. I came to doubt myself and my contributions to the world.<br />
<br />
This message (as well as many others I have received recently) was a powerful reminder that I have left a lot of good behind me, and that I have much more good to do.<br />
<br />
In the past few months, I have seen the best of people and I have seen the worst. I have seen people whose goodness is so strong that the world is a brighter place because they exist in it. I have seen people with such darkness that they cannot help but to destroy that which others enjoy. It made me question my faith in humanity. But I have seen far more of the former kind of person than the later.<br />
<br />
I have seen so many people step forward both behind and in front of the scenes to be the light in the world. Some did so because they were brave. Some because they didn't know what they were getting into. But all of them because they saw what the right thing to do was, and they knew that it was their time to do it.<br />
<br />
I started this year with about 1,675 friends on Facebook, and in the past six months, I have removed and blocked a considerable number of toxic people from that list. Today, after all of this, my list of friends stands at 1,701. I am deeply grateful for all the wonderful people I have been blessed to meet, both this year and before.<br />
<br />
Not only can every single one of us change the world, but every single one of us <i>does</i> change the world every single day. The only question is whether you change it for the better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-14198631969889132242018-06-19T16:39:00.001-04:002018-06-19T16:39:52.352-04:00Cons, Cogs and Steam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLncT6MNmqJR0-vVrT1dhRymXck4L5ifvYSZLo287VM7wgLspZyj7yUSDyV9hina34f09S5TzboGCMSH5fL2JMORqZxaXbZwx3PXNfj1rgwnqxvSavoqxVlAwodvvyJgVSn2gNc6ZG6cu/s1600/COGS.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLncT6MNmqJR0-vVrT1dhRymXck4L5ifvYSZLo287VM7wgLspZyj7yUSDyV9hina34f09S5TzboGCMSH5fL2JMORqZxaXbZwx3PXNfj1rgwnqxvSavoqxVlAwodvvyJgVSn2gNc6ZG6cu/s1600/COGS.png" /></a></div>
With last week's announcement of <a href="http://steampunkcon.com/">Steampunk Con</a>, I have been speaking to a lot of confused and concerned steampunks. What's happening to COGS? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What should I do? Who should I support?<br />
<br />
If you just want to know my quick opinion, I believe that this proliferation of events is a good thing. I expect them all to be successful, fun, exciting events. COGS will have the opportunity to find a new and better venue. As for what you should do? You should attend steampunk events, have fun, bring your friends and make new friends. Who should you support? You should support the community and anyone who is working to make it better. It's not an election. You don't have to choose. You can support them all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkbc-qOJzRyXy4-YQKh_t5my8uXe3q3rbI02rHayNU9ohVaRibk2JSROpnY8JpW1aFg7L9Fj6dkHf7vuOvTpbIdKA2DNlXrhQ0EAe94IRZl2QJQIwG80SAvPSctKgXZb2wyk7mCaNDFRe/s1600/Steampunk+con+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkbc-qOJzRyXy4-YQKh_t5my8uXe3q3rbI02rHayNU9ohVaRibk2JSROpnY8JpW1aFg7L9Fj6dkHf7vuOvTpbIdKA2DNlXrhQ0EAe94IRZl2QJQIwG80SAvPSctKgXZb2wyk7mCaNDFRe/s320/Steampunk+con+full.jpg" width="213" /></a>I'd like to discuss the addition of Steampunk Con to the calendar from a market and business perspective. I believe that most people have had enough of the drama and politics and just want to know if there will be events for them to flash their gears at, and this article is for them.<br />
<br />
<b>Background</b><br />
For those who are not familiar, Until 2017 Steampunk Worlds Fair was the 800 pound gorilla of steampunk events. 3000 attendees, 2 hotels, and a $200,000 budget. It dominated the steampunk scene and we are unlikely to see anything like it in the near future. However, with its failure in 2018, a successor event called Community Organized Gathering of Steampunks (or COGS) took over that weekend and ran a much smaller event at the Radisson Hotel in Piscataway, NJ where Steampunk Worlds Fair would have run.<br />
<br />
While small, the event was very successful and an excellent opportunity for the steampunk community to show that it was ready to get the gears turning on big events again.<br />
<br />
It was clear from the moment that Steampunk Worlds Fair collapsed that a proliferation of exciting new events would come to exist. SPWF, by virtue of its size, stifled the creation of other steampunk hotel conventions in the Northeast. There are numerous steampunk festivals, but very few indoor, hotel conventions. Those events require a much greater financial investment and risk, and it was simply not a good investment while SPWF was running.<br />
<br />
There are behind the scenes politics that would make for an excellent HBO series, but you can learn about those else where. The current situation is this: in spring of 2019, there will be three great steampunk events in a 7 week period.<br />
<br />
May 17-19 will bring us <a href="http://cogsexpo.com/">COGS Expo</a>, June 7-9 will bring <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/steampunk-con-tickets-47092804847">Steampunk Con</a>, and there is also Blackthorne Steam at Blackthorne Resport. Blackthorne Steam is traditionally also June 7-9, but it is likely that either Blackthorne Steam or Steampunk Con will adjust their date so that there is not a direct conflict. For the purposes of this analysis, we'll assume that will happen.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwi7wU4WHOn3j6SZ6UGbpvnCp7T0UeXcvW23MBkAKBTJaI3-Xn9nvfOUTrl3tJQ6jAy7qqnRq8gQxu-qBKIdYVD3LY235RVpVpssCpy_kGOXgy5fgIsK6s-W4uNFskP3p8w_JobYeNB1N/s1600/crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="958" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwi7wU4WHOn3j6SZ6UGbpvnCp7T0UeXcvW23MBkAKBTJaI3-Xn9nvfOUTrl3tJQ6jAy7qqnRq8gQxu-qBKIdYVD3LY235RVpVpssCpy_kGOXgy5fgIsK6s-W4uNFskP3p8w_JobYeNB1N/s200/crowd.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowds of steampunks at this <br />month's Blackthorne Steam</td></tr>
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The first concern I had heard from people is some variation of "splitting the community" or "splitting the market". This assumes that there is a finite market of steampunks with a finite budget. The actual economics of events is much more complex than that. The steampunk market is made up of a variety of different kinds of people from the absolute diehards to the causal tourist.<br />
<br />
This is not to say that there will not be individual people who will have a budget constraint and find themselves having to choose between events, but there is more than enough of a market to go around. This is particularly true because Steampunk is such an open, welcoming, and inviting community, which facilitates the growth of the community as we see the growth of new events.<br />
<br />
<b>Room For Everyone</b><br />
There are many examples that we can see where "competition" grows the market to the benefit of all. In the late 1980's, <a href="http://www.boskone.org/">Boskone</a> was the massive scifi convention in Boston, drawing over 7000 attendees every year. When they decided to reign in the event after a few tumultuous years and being kicked out of the city, there was<a href="https://totient.livejournal.com/61023.html"> a split between Boskone and Arisia</a>. <a href="http://www.arisia.org/">Arisia</a> runs MLK Day weekend and Boskone runs a month later on Presidents Day weekend. Today, both events draw around 5000 people, one month apart, in the same city, sometimes at the hotel, and often sharing staff between the two events.<br />
<br />
Connecticut has three large comiccon-type events, all during the same four month period, and they are all thriving.<br />
<br />
Outside of conventions, Starbucks is a great example. Far from smothering locally run coffee shops, Starbucks created coffee culture in many markets, creating the circumstances in which locally run coffee shops could open in the first place.<br />
<br />
To go back to the Arisia and Boskone example, when that split occurred, the two groups were not friendly. The very name Arisia is a reference to the good guys in the Lensman series, who fought the evil forces of Boskone.<br />
<br />
<b>Individual Economics</b><br />
Let's start by looking at what an individual spends at a convention. People get very concerned about whether or an event ticket is $35 or $45, which is interesting when you consider that the average attendee spends a total of $500 to $1000 on their convention weekend.<br />
<br />
Here is an example of what one might spend at a convention, and this applies to any kind of fandom weekend convention from steampunk to scifi to motorcycles:<br />
Ticket: $50<br />
Hotel: $250<br />
Food: $120<br />
Drink: $50<br />
Travel: $50<br />
Buying Stuff: $250<br />
<b>Total: $770</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
But if someone is local, not staying in the hotel, doesn't spend a great deal with the vendors, and a bit more frugal on the eating and drinking, they can keep their visit under $100. Thus there is no reason that local steampunks, of which there are many in the greater New York area, could not attend both events.<br />
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<b>Separate Markets</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd0YIu5v5kmN9OM4bLE3asO7zpF5xbI64PW9Z9C077ORYxA9pf3zgFexcR40COokhsH0zVxFBCGsP3rpv_D-2DPqmff55E4lzRp8HLeEjWeG8uyBC9VzINswy0Sns1xlH_C9iEj6lMLhW/s1600/goth+steampunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd0YIu5v5kmN9OM4bLE3asO7zpF5xbI64PW9Z9C077ORYxA9pf3zgFexcR40COokhsH0zVxFBCGsP3rpv_D-2DPqmff55E4lzRp8HLeEjWeG8uyBC9VzINswy0Sns1xlH_C9iEj6lMLhW/s200/goth+steampunk.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331225747584464389/?lp=true">The first hit on Google <br />for "Goth Steampunk"</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is not simply one population of steampunks who live in Steampunk Town, New Jersey and choose which events they will attend. In fact, most steampunks have other identities beyond steampunks. Some are scifi geeks, some are goths, some are metalheads, some are mechanics, some are politicians, some train monkeys at the zoo.<br />
<br />
Like everyone, different steampunks have different levels of dedication. Some are so steampunk that their heart is actually a clockwork machine. Others are vaguely aware of this thing with the gears but they've seen <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Eternal-Frontier-434048053373992/">Eternal Frontier</a> perform and they think they're pretty cool so they'd like to check it out again.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampirefreaks.com">Vampire Freaks</a>, the company that, in association with the owner of the host hotel, is running Steampunk Con, has been running events in the goth community for 15 years. They have a large following in the goth community, but are relatively unknown in the steampunk community. This has an interesting and positive connotation. They have a great reach into a community of casual steampunks for whom Steampunk Con will be their first steampunk event.<br />
<br />
COGS Expo, on the other hand, has deep roots in the mainline steampunk community, and will draw the more devoted steampunks. However, the most devoted steampunks will attend both events. "Most devoted" means attending all the events as long as they're not on the same weekend (or shuttling back and forth if they are close enough).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYgIjr-esMdoMsk4aW0aELIoIi-TQmTy6kUga9W839TeDG1hMNtIeIBmErPBLGIQmYGKwP7D0hgBj6TZuHdq7lR7V0DJggFJrqkkJ1We1KgrBJwFFRKhY5eDoHrVvBDy5yUk_d0wKuuOr/s1600/vampire+freaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="185" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYgIjr-esMdoMsk4aW0aELIoIi-TQmTy6kUga9W839TeDG1hMNtIeIBmErPBLGIQmYGKwP7D0hgBj6TZuHdq7lR7V0DJggFJrqkkJ1We1KgrBJwFFRKhY5eDoHrVvBDy5yUk_d0wKuuOr/s200/vampire+freaks.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vampire Freaks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rather than splitting the community, I expect that the existence of this new event will grow the community. COGS Expo will continue to draw the fans it drew last year. Steampunk Con will draw new people, and those people will have the chance to meet the devotees.<br />
<br />
Blackthorne Steam, which has an event capacity of about 120 or so people, will continue to sell to capacity as it always has.<br />
<br />
<b>Can Goths Run Steampunk?</b><br />
While they have never run a steampunk event, they have run Dark Side of the Con for a number of years, and Steampunk Con will likely be structurally similar. They had the opportunity to run Dark Side of the Con this year without the support of Jeff Mach Events and demonstrate their ability to run a good con on their own, so I have no doubt that they can run a great event.<br />
<br />
<b>But Wait There's More!</b><br />
COGS Expo and Steampunk Con are not the two successor events to Steampunk Worlds Fair. They are the <i>first</i> two successor events. There is talk of an event in Connecticut and another in Massachusetts that I have heard. As event organizers realize the opportunity that now exists, I would not be surprised if we see as many steampunk conventions in the Northeast as there are scifi conventions.<br />
<br />
We are at the start of a very exciting time in steampunk.<br />
<br />
So, what should you do?<br />
You should attend steampunk events. As many as your wallet and calendar allow. And you should play <a href="http://www.concardia.info/">Concardia</a> there.<br />
<br />
Whom should you support?<br />
Everyone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-61759349059443684962018-06-02T10:23:00.000-04:002018-06-02T10:23:16.522-04:00Graturday - Great Professional Support<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s1600/Graturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s200/Graturday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I work with a fantastic company called <a href="http://www.bestversionmedia.com/">Best Version Media</a>, and it is unique in a number of ways. Much of this comes of the fact that the founders realized that true success is not born of a single minded obsessive focus on money but from a desire to do good with an eye towards a strong business in the process. This is how a company that produces local print publications in the age of Facebook has been able to go from zero to $100,000,000 in annual revenues in ten short years.<br />
<br />
What I am truly grateful for today, however, is the quality of character and compassion of the people I work with through this company. One of the pillars of the culture of BVM is that of a "compassionate heart." In short, it means that as a company we are encouraged to think of people as people and not simply a means to an end.<br />
<br />
It manifests in the way that we think about our prospects and clients, desiring to do what is best for them rather than simply what is most profitable for us. It also manifests in the way that every single level of management and home office works with the publishers in the field.<br />
<br />
I have worked for many sales organizations. While it varied somewhat from company to company, there was always a sense that your value as a person was tied to your most recent sales results. Best Version Media treats every single person on the team as a person of great value, regardless of the results they can achieve. When I hit a slump or when my head is not right, I know that I can be honest with those who are there to support me. I will find support, encouragement, and advice. I will not find judgement or snark.<br />
<br />
I am blessed to work for a company of good, honest, humble people who seek nothing more than the betterment of their community and the people they work with, and for that, this Gratitude Saturday, I am sincerely grateful.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-29388211318568382322018-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:002018-05-26T06:00:12.906-04:00Graturday - Thankful for Such a Large and Diverse Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s1600/Graturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s200/Graturday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Last I attended the Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham, Massachusetts: an impressive downtown steampunk festival which can draw as many as 10,000 people when the weather is good.<br />
<br />
Last week, the weather was not good, with intermittent rain throughout the day, but that did not dampen the spirits of the great people at the event.<br />
<br />
Due to my very busy schedule, there are only so many events I can get out to, but with a number of the events that previously filled my schedule no longer running, I now find myself more aware of just how many great events there are in the Steampunk community around New England.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKi61uwPx6j3Pb-rI4hAat1zT8F4WlBXLMasP65nfB6QVKXswZUPB7-tdOc58LJEg3x6dMOaKay1zEzN8jMGz4sMiQ8g0sLvhDdTurUokTJ8huzzBKgwSb4yqUHXnaUAst38NIQqexn3Z/s1600/Waltham+steampunk+city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1059" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKi61uwPx6j3Pb-rI4hAat1zT8F4WlBXLMasP65nfB6QVKXswZUPB7-tdOc58LJEg3x6dMOaKay1zEzN8jMGz4sMiQ8g0sLvhDdTurUokTJ8huzzBKgwSb4yqUHXnaUAst38NIQqexn3Z/s200/Waltham+steampunk+city.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waltham takes its steampunk seriously.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Steampunk is a fantastically positive culture. One of the underlying principles of it is a do-it-yourself attitude. I am reminded of a quote from President Kennedy in which he says "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings."<br />
<br />
That describes the Steampunk ethos. That which we have made, we can fix and improve. I believe that accounts for the success and growth of Steampunk in our modern culture of conflict, negativity, and post-factual thinking.<br />
<br />
I am deeply grateful to have had the chance to meet so many good people across the world of Steampunk, and I am even more grateful that I count so many of them among my friends.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-14236861244344794742018-05-13T19:38:00.000-04:002018-05-13T19:38:11.565-04:00Graturday - Moms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s1600/Graturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s200/Graturday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
One of the most underappreciated jobs in the world is that of mother. Teacher. Therapist. Coach. Peacemaker. Referee. Travel Agent. Logistician. These are just a few of the roles that come together in the role of mother.<br />
<br />
My mother deserves the credit for a great deal of my moral development. She taught me the importance of considering the effect that every one of my actions would have upon others. While I have certainly not always been successful, I have always striven to live up to the standard she taught me of try to make the world a better place.<br />
<br />
Both I and my daughter's mother (also known as my wife) love our daughter with all of our hearts, but Amy takes care of her in some ways that are unique and special to her. She connects with her on a level that only a mother can. She works with her on art and other skills which I personally lack. I am deeply grateful that I found such a good woman to be the mother of my much beloved child.<br />
<br />
In general, on this Graturday (written one day late on the Sunday that is Mother's Day), I am thankful to all the mothers out there doing incredible, unrecognized but vital work to raise the best children that they can, and, in the process, making the world a better place.<br />
<br />
Thank you to moms everywhere, and especially to my wife Amy, the best mom right here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-81358012883797590242018-05-05T17:28:00.000-04:002018-05-05T17:38:58.387-04:00What David Collins Doesn't Know About Downtown Groton"I never knew Groton had a downtown." This is how David Collins started <a href="https://www.theday.com/local-columns/20180503/downtown-groton-has-moved">his column</a> in yesterday's edition of The Day, prompted by the new signage that is now up on Interstate 95, discussed briefly in <a href="http://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/04/downton-groton.html">this article</a>.<br />
<br />
For those who are not familiar with Groton, Connecticut, it is a town with unusual geography. In the 19th century, it was split between Groton Bank, which was the portion of Groton on the bank of the Thames River, which was densely populated and supported by the shipping industry, and the town of Groton, which was the rest of the town's 45 square miles, was sparse farmland with occasional villages.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb3bFewGy7S2Iif8tf2ISV72Yv27V0WNOh0lh4kbguPhSUhHMXlvTCy2Cgn3a5RCk_ZcAmeYdIYxTWjDvCBOBQBkUUXtJtB1XiZ2PZ-V_oiQzQUtJWW-orfAbp7pXtU3VSJzLwLxWyYJr/s1600/Groton+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="928" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb3bFewGy7S2Iif8tf2ISV72Yv27V0WNOh0lh4kbguPhSUhHMXlvTCy2Cgn3a5RCk_ZcAmeYdIYxTWjDvCBOBQBkUUXtJtB1XiZ2PZ-V_oiQzQUtJWW-orfAbp7pXtU3VSJzLwLxWyYJr/s320/Groton+Map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annotated map of Groton from Google Maps.<br />
Apologizes for the business pins. No way to remove the ads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it developed, an area around Long Hill Road near exit 87 off I-95, just outside of Groton City, which Groton Bank would ultimately come to be called, became a center of shopping and commerce. The proximity to the highway, I presume, made it an attractive location for mid-century developers, providing the five strip malls which dominate the area now known as Downtown.<br />
<br />
A short way further down that road, one finds Town Hall, the major town field Poquonnock Plains Park, the Public Library, Groton Recreation Building, and the Groton Senior Center, which forms something of a municipal district.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNn_bhmw8q_Hoz0bm8ADxhQFLiH0QXdIejIIJt4dirBHAZvPLSLE3EDDREX6VVRJmXl7ufxe_agdyV6_tIPuta_ctYwEKX6Dt1JOAtH4B78eHU7V3IQ7dKg8uSAyvf8DzmbFldYYiPAD_/s1600/Downtown+Groton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="1567" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNn_bhmw8q_Hoz0bm8ADxhQFLiH0QXdIejIIJt4dirBHAZvPLSLE3EDDREX6VVRJmXl7ufxe_agdyV6_tIPuta_ctYwEKX6Dt1JOAtH4B78eHU7V3IQ7dKg8uSAyvf8DzmbFldYYiPAD_/s320/Downtown+Groton.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoomed in on Downtown Groton. This map is about a mile<br />
from one end to the other. Town Hall is at the far right.<br />
Long Hill Road is at the far left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As my regular readers may have notices, I love dictionary definitions.<br />
<br />
<div class="dDoNo" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: lighter; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span data-dobid="hdw">down·town</span></div>
<div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<div class="lr_dct_ent_ph" style="font-size: large;">
<span class="lr_dct_ph XpoqFe">ˌdounˈtoun/</span><span class="lr_dct_spkr lr_dct_spkr_off" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQlfQBCC4wAA" jsaction="dob.p" style="display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 5px; opacity: 0.55; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Listen"><input height="14" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8YfjMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="image" width="14" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 10px 0px 2px;">
<span class="lr_dct_lbl_blk lr_dct_lbl_box" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #777777; display: inline-block; font-size: xx-small; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: -1px; padding: 4px 6px; text-transform: uppercase;">NORTH AMERICAN</span></div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>adjective</i></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="15" data-mhc="1" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 15px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
adjective: <b>downtown</b></div>
<ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_sen Uekwlc XpoqFe" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="float: left;">
1.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="PNlCoe XpoqFe">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
of, in, or characteristic of the central area or main business and commercial area of a town or city.</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
<span class="vmod">"downtown Chicago"</span></div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vmod">
<table class="vk_tbl vk_gy" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;"><span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="central" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoIMTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">central</span>, <span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="metropolitan" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoIMjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">metropolitan</span>, <span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="metro" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoIMzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">metro</span>, <span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="urban" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoINDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">urban</span>; <span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; margin-left: 4px;">More</span></span><br />
<div style="display: inline;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<div class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="15" data-mhc="1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="uptown" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoINjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="midtown" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoINzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span></span></div>
<div class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="15" data-mhc="1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<div class="vk_gy">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>adverb</i></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="15" data-mhc="1" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 15px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
adverb: <b>downtown</b></div>
<ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_sen Uekwlc XpoqFe" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="float: left;">
1.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="PNlCoe XpoqFe">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
in or into a downtown area.</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
<span class="vmod">"I drove downtown"</span></div>
<span class="vmod"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>noun</i></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="15" data-mhc="1" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 15px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
noun: <b>downtown</b>; plural noun: <b>downtowns</b></div>
<div>
<span class="lr_dct_ph XpoqFe">ˈdountoun/</span><span class="lr_dct_spkr lr_dct_spkr_off" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQlfQBCDkwAA" jsaction="dob.p" style="display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 5px; opacity: 0.55; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Listen"><input height="14" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8YfjMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="image" width="14" /></span></div>
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1.</div>
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the downtown area of a town or city.</div>
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<span class="vmod">"the heart of Pittsburgh's downtown"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;"><span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="city center" data-ved="0ahUKEwjR1IOy1u7aAhVidt8KHRoICqEQ_SoIOzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">city center</span>, (central) business district, urban core; <span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; margin-left: 4px;">More</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
While we often think of Downtown as referring to an urban center, "Downtown" is really just the core of business and commercial activity in the area, which is what Groton's "Downtown" is, thus why it is called Downtown Groton. While towns like New London, Norwich, and <a href="http://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/04/a-trip-to-westerly.html">Westerly</a> have more traditional 19th century style downtowns, Groton, like Waterford, has a post-war style downtown area, built along the 1950s and 1960s concepts of separating various forms of zoning to different parts of town: commercial here, residential there, industrial in the other place.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd698ZTlqLg-E-TceOktDlB-wnJU28x2ZTsvL5xvcC8nLcqmmXQrXURtQVJGj08tTcfylSv1_V7OIA7lYyjNruFMEAwbkHgugDXuzcLtRpu9HLkhxc8zy1kOQSdxIWLYeZ4aDW5APxOLi/s1600/Hamburger+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1276" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd698ZTlqLg-E-TceOktDlB-wnJU28x2ZTsvL5xvcC8nLcqmmXQrXURtQVJGj08tTcfylSv1_V7OIA7lYyjNruFMEAwbkHgugDXuzcLtRpu9HLkhxc8zy1kOQSdxIWLYeZ4aDW5APxOLi/s320/Hamburger+Hill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Hill Road is affectionately referred to as Hamburger<br />
Hill, because there are actually at least half a dozen<br />
places along the short stretch of road to get a hamburger.<br />
Some of the burgers are better than others.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it turns out, that form of zoning creates a dependency on cars, prevents neighbors from interacting, and generally causes a colder, less connected community, but that's a story for another day. The point is that Groton has what it has, and what it has is a vibrant, thriving, suburban-style downtown area.<br />
<br />
Downtown Groton contains 5 main shopping plazas plus a number of other freestanding businesses and smaller plazas. Within and near Downtown, a shopper can find nearly anything they seek, including groceries, clothes, Post Office, auto dealerships, a hardware store, hobbies and entertainment, pet supplies, and more.<br />
<br />
Is it a beautiful area with quaint New England charm? No. Is it a downtown hub of commercial activity, absolutely.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXVGY6yTyMy1mdXpcgPSUEULV3LpBMAycOgsYj2zT1VgY6sWX2BIR9-GHVdWrJ8zAX82a6Y46o3ZGLvd5Tz3PtaYwa8cNqmz7mL9TazA4CxaYioPJ-PZxSNHQZMCeI1UHkcbWqFVqJLVb/s1600/Citadel+busy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="994" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXVGY6yTyMy1mdXpcgPSUEULV3LpBMAycOgsYj2zT1VgY6sWX2BIR9-GHVdWrJ8zAX82a6Y46o3ZGLvd5Tz3PtaYwa8cNqmz7mL9TazA4CxaYioPJ-PZxSNHQZMCeI1UHkcbWqFVqJLVb/s200/Citadel+busy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citadel Game Cellar has something<br />
going on almost every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While it largely lacks mixed use development (two small mixed used developments are in the downtown area), and its suburban nature would stretch the definition of the term "walkable," I often walk the area. I frequently walk from my apartment to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Citadel-Game-Cellar-1650307875250836/">Citadel Game Cellar</a>, one of the best game stores I have found in the country, with events happening almost every day.<br />
<br />
While Downtown Groton leaves quite a bit to be desired, it's not an embarrassment either, bringing millions of dollars of economic activity to the town and tremendous revenues onto the tax rolls.<br />
<br />
<br />
In discussing the Downtown designation, Mr. Collins says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #231f20; font-family: kepler-std, serif; font-size: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">
It turns out, I discovered after a search of the town website, the term downtown used for that section of Route 1 was sealed in a 2006 planning study for the town, which envisioned all kinds of mixed-use development around the old shopping centers — development that, of course, never happened.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #231f20; font-family: kepler-std, serif; font-size: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">
The Groton Strategic Development Plan envisioned that construction of more housing and an effort to make the area more "walkable" would transform the area that the study authors conceded, because of its age and design, "can no longer compete as a traditional suburban-style shopping destination."<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #231f20; font-family: kepler-std, serif; font-size: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">
So, as the authors note, it is a tired, old shopping district. And all the development they envisioned that would make it into a downtown has never happened. Still, that's the downtown interstate travelers will be directed to, about the worst of what Groton has to offer.</blockquote>
Let's talk about what we can find in the "worst of what Groton has to offer."<br />
<br />
In this stretch you can find American, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Chinese food.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52vsfSl4Hp7kwU17NEf4w-exKICSVkcqiAUU813GTu0Ph5s2shEaxplZ7g9NuY0ye-ZX1gmaTU-8SHsowE28VjzkCBJ_ssHEg_JFgLBNrJzTfHdxSadfjBEE7QrLmTCI7l6Wf9d_5ufFW/s1600/3+nations+plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="804" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52vsfSl4Hp7kwU17NEf4w-exKICSVkcqiAUU813GTu0Ph5s2shEaxplZ7g9NuY0ye-ZX1gmaTU-8SHsowE28VjzkCBJ_ssHEg_JFgLBNrJzTfHdxSadfjBEE7QrLmTCI7l6Wf9d_5ufFW/s320/3+nations+plaza.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one plaza has Indian, Japanese, and Thai food, plus an<br />
Indian grocery store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The newly refurbished Groton Shopping Center is 100% occupied, including a well balanced mix of businesses.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjvys207jRiPeAFWHr1c2wYwNQEd8VjrTBETSrTFRmzVmedSMeI1ka4tDQGWSBJoJJGVNXosW7JfuACvTh1QTSrWw2oCs90qn8UiWtFVgmqmlu8tndJNuD-iFZNLZ23XCWialDBXjgCWl/s1600/Groton+Shopping+Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="994" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjvys207jRiPeAFWHr1c2wYwNQEd8VjrTBETSrTFRmzVmedSMeI1ka4tDQGWSBJoJJGVNXosW7JfuACvTh1QTSrWw2oCs90qn8UiWtFVgmqmlu8tndJNuD-iFZNLZ23XCWialDBXjgCWl/s320/Groton+Shopping+Center.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this plaza, you can work out, buy groceries, buy clothes,<br />
and get a new set of spark plugs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even the most run down of Downtown Groton's plazas, Groton Shoppers Mart, contains many of the key businesses that, while not revolutionary, are the backbone of a commercial district: Big Y, Starbucks, and Gamestop. Even though the properly is somewhat in limbo because of owners who cannot agree on what should be done with it, it still maintains a relatively high occupancy because of the demand for businesses to serve the growing economy of Groton.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqP9qUKVw0ym-6PuvHxopZsMQHWpVew2cbVC9rYEObc4IGTis6zyt9tvDoDBRVfHfCYD6KH1andC-nk638d5ipDOILJCwyZI5SGp2UzVu77pJ8GJwkCqR6K7bKFQTqvKhZZJfsdg8QhjV/s1600/Groton+Shoppers+Mart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqP9qUKVw0ym-6PuvHxopZsMQHWpVew2cbVC9rYEObc4IGTis6zyt9tvDoDBRVfHfCYD6KH1andC-nk638d5ipDOILJCwyZI5SGp2UzVu77pJ8GJwkCqR6K7bKFQTqvKhZZJfsdg8QhjV/s320/Groton+Shoppers+Mart.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groton Shoppers Mart suffers from having too many owners<br />
who cannot agree on how to manage, improve or sell it, so<br />
it just kind of exists.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For those who are not familiar with redevelopment initiatives, they tend to move slowly. This is partly because they are complex and involve many players, and partly because there are many ways that they can go fantastically wrong.<br />
<br />
There are basically two ways to cause redevelopment occur on privately held, developed land. The town can create incentives and try to get buy-in from the land owners, or they can try to use eminent domain to claim the property and force the changes. The eminent domain solution has certain problems.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_ed3Rg2gskO41nvCNP2Kq09JA9ErX7yvZa1o-ZnhjW4hKFXr9fUW45fR3fwYAKQ4Oq0bcNLnFT_qNVokoutK-GFuZUw9eMaZFn8clcHVXj9bnq4SBHLGbnpUe-TGS4xv9IOz-KO7Pmcn/s1600/Little+Pink+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_ed3Rg2gskO41nvCNP2Kq09JA9ErX7yvZa1o-ZnhjW4hKFXr9fUW45fR3fwYAKQ4Oq0bcNLnFT_qNVokoutK-GFuZUw9eMaZFn8clcHVXj9bnq4SBHLGbnpUe-TGS4xv9IOz-KO7Pmcn/s320/Little+Pink+House.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littlepinkhousemovie.com/">Certain problems with eminent domain.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That means that the developers have to want to make the change. It takes years to research and develop a plan, then there is the process of getting buy-in from the land owners. Then it takes years more to make the plans to implement it, financing must be raised, and finally action is taken.<br />
<br />
Did anything happen within the years shortly after 2006 that might have deterred that process?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs8C3IhN9XNa0BdUO2T372QbXVP35sSUpTVd47f9Slz-8fKzcLgiwE8QI4cnM7UWOhuO2fFpsrDx7qgCV5PF3xuuLedDUNOcTAKRBHVAf835T1ZjSAyXtxII74ZqrezTNMm5VyHlzQwqr/s1600/financial-crisis-headlines-7003996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs8C3IhN9XNa0BdUO2T372QbXVP35sSUpTVd47f9Slz-8fKzcLgiwE8QI4cnM7UWOhuO2fFpsrDx7qgCV5PF3xuuLedDUNOcTAKRBHVAf835T1ZjSAyXtxII74ZqrezTNMm5VyHlzQwqr/s320/financial-crisis-headlines-7003996.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, yeah, that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I didn't move to Groton until 2014, so I don't know the full details of what happened around that time, but, given that the <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/plandev/edev.asp">Economic Development Commission</a> and the <a href="http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/plandev/">Office of Planning and Development</a> are working to execute today that very same concept of mixed use development and modernization in Downtown, I would surmise that what we are seeing is simply a situation in which a good idea is moving at the speed of government, interrupted by a terribly inconvenient financial crisis that rivaled the Great Depression.<br />
<br />
Downtown Groton is the second area of the town that will become a <a href="http://www.exploremoregroton.com/groton/site-selection/tax-increment-financing">Tax Increment Financing</a> (TIF) district in order to help finance these developments. TIF is a brilliant policy in which future tax revenues can be used as guarantees against loans for infrastructure necessary for development. The financing is procured by the developers, <i>not</i> the town, and the developer is responsible for it, but they are able to use a portion of the increased tax revenues to pay off the loans. The town only pays if the development happens and the tax revenues increase. The developer gets the loan paid for them as long as they hold up their part. Everyone wins, most of all the people of Groton win.<br />
<br />
It must be very difficult to write a weekly column, which would explain why Mr. Collins failed to do even the most basic research into the current situation. Research which could have included asking his colleague who wrote an <a href="https://www.theday.com/business/20180503/groton-economic-development-commission-tours-future-development-sites">article</a> on the EDC tour which ran in the same issue as his column.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't know what it's like to write a weekly column like that. I only have experience writing a daily one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-45211416248880893832018-05-05T06:00:00.000-04:002018-05-05T18:09:36.987-04:00Graturday - Thankful for So Many Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s1600/Graturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2gdN50FnfVxK9jvix5o3RbnHZS2Sq99r452p8wzhdqeMG_zPSw52KSOym5EIoxHmC7Dk_Hmrc_wHmvpexb9mR-sjGpNdtDzJLr1TQqt10r3p4VMt7d2JAN1BmhoNuWQUoXHX0RNgfV8q/s320/Graturday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In today's weekly gratitude article, I'd like to express gratitude for the great many wonderful friends and supporters I have.<br />
<br />
I have had one particular occasion this week to be reminded just how many good people there are out there looking out for me.<br />
<br />
The most pronounced occasion was <a href="http://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/05/stop-fking-talking.html">early this week</a> when I received an email from Watch City Steampunk Festival informing me that ConCardia would not be welcome there. Within 12 hours of our sharing that information, Watch City Steampunk Festival had received numerous emails of support for us from people who had heard what happened and were outraged.<br />
<br />
Back in early April, I wrote an article entitled <a href="http://www.michaelwhitehouse.org/2018/04/hurt.html">Hurt</a>, in which I discussed how hurt I was at the fact that some people whom I thought were trusted friends had turned on me. But the fact is that I was suffering from a lack of perspective. While one or two people have unexpectedly left me, hundreds of people continue be there for me and my family. Some of them do so quietly and others do so publicly, but the important thing is that we have an incredible community friends who we now know beyond a doubt will be there for us.<br />
<br />
And, we will always be there for them. That's what a community is: people who can count on each other, and I count myself truly blessed to have such a wonderful community, both online and in our local area.<br />
<br />
Discovering just how much love is in our community made me realize that I do not have room for hate and anger in my life. There is too much good for me to want to focus on the evil.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-82958575036684213992018-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:002018-05-02T12:52:44.529-04:00Steampunk Worlds Fair: The Way It Could Have Been<i>Author's Note: As always, these articles are created with the best information that I have available at the time. Should you find factual inaccuracies, please email me at <a href="mailto:feedback@michaelwhitehouse.org">feedback@michaelwhitehouse.org</a> and I will work to correct the article to be more accurate. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As an additional note, the purpose of this article to discuss a specific alternate way that events could have gone which would have resulted in a more desirable outcome for all involved. This article is not intended to discuss whether or not people were right to attack Jeff Mach and his company, nor is it discussing the allegations at all. It is discussing what actually happened and the results thereof. Other articles may address those other issues.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I woke up quite rested this morning for the first time in a long time. I woke up at 6:00 AM, but I fell asleep at 9:00 PM. That's the key to a good sleep: not waking up late, but getting an early start. Like sleep, the outcome of many things comes out of how it began.<br />
<br />
For those who are not familiar with the company, Jeff Mach Events was a company that ran geek events primarily in the New Jersey area. Their main events were Wicked Faire (a general geek festival), Steampunk Worlds Fair (the largest Steampunk event in North America), and Geeky Kink Event (an event which is accurately described by its name). In all, they ran 7-10 events per year of various types.<br />
<br />
<div>
On March 13th, I had the unpleasant duty of announcing to the Steampunk community that Silver Phoenix Society would be stepping away from running Steampunk Worlds Fair and that, as a consequence, the event would likely either not happen or not happen as they expected.</div>
<div>
But to really understand what happened on March 13th, let's rewind two months to mid January.<br />
<br />
At the time, Amy and I were rank and file department heads. In fact, until I was invited to a department head meeting, I didn't even know that we warranted the title. We ran the Info Desk, sold merch, and ran ConCardia at the events. We didn't talk to a lot of the other staff between events. I spoke to Jeff as much as I needed to for my role. Amy was hired to be his "assistant", but that mostly just meant some simple office work like assembling rooming lists and updating the social media Buffer feeds.<br />
<br />
It seemed like just another week, but what we did not know was that the house was full of gas just waiting for a spark to ignite it.<br />
<br />
That spark, as it turned out, was a post from Jeff Mach seeking new staff and volunteers. Jeff's detractors seized on this, screen-shotted the Facebook post and placed a caption on it warning that no one should work for that company because it mistreated people. From these small pebbles the avalanche began.</div>
<div>
I became aware of this on January 23rd when I first started seeing the posts. The posts were on the pages of former staffers who had previously and publicly declared their desire to see Jeff Mach and his company destroyed, so I perceived this to be nothing more than an attack by those who had promised to do so, but it was much more complex that that.<br />
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">History and Alternate History</span></div>
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The best way to give a good understanding of what happened is to discuss what should have happened. I have spent a lot of time pondering how this could have turned out right. Nobody wanted Steampunk Worlds Fair to fail, so why did it fail? What they wanted was for Jeff Mach to be out of it, but they didn't understand that you couldn't transfer ownership of an event from a debt-loaded company to new operators 10 weeks before the event was to run. Even we didn't understand the full complexities. No one had ever attempted anything like this before.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
There is a scenario in which this could have turned out well for everyone: a form of negotiated settlement. If Jeff Mach had agreed to be bought out of his company before the great angry mobs of the Internet were brought into things. Of course, this would have required there to be two parties to form an agreement. The department heads of the company were speaking regularly and could have agreed to something, but who was there who could have negotiated for the other side?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBElwlp1TrEmbaTmt-g529ldapR3OXzn9-EiOQHJkisv0JLuyPMO7RVdwmpG8bT_Zz-i5cPdW5ZT4bqEVpfwX3J2aPRJR_J_AlJ3_QjEEzNTMGuEtWHlMWk0RuNqYNWKnkVHFI3RgFKpsZ/s1600/Elise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBElwlp1TrEmbaTmt-g529ldapR3OXzn9-EiOQHJkisv0JLuyPMO7RVdwmpG8bT_Zz-i5cPdW5ZT4bqEVpfwX3J2aPRJR_J_AlJ3_QjEEzNTMGuEtWHlMWk0RuNqYNWKnkVHFI3RgFKpsZ/s200/Elise.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elise Potenza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
As it turns out, there was one person who was playing both sides to the middle and could have facilitated such an outcome: Elise Potenza.<br />
<br />
We later discovered that she had been orchestrating things in a significant way on both sides, either for vindictive purposes or as part of a play to take over the company, the details of which we'll discuss tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Elise was on the Consent Team in 2017 and was privy to all the personal allegations against Jeff Mach. She was in regular communication with the former staff who were working to see him brought low. She may have been feeding them information during the crisis in January, and she certainly leaked the confidential chat log which was the action which most directly led to the decision to step away from Steampunk Worlds Fair.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
She and her boyfriend Jakal Blackwell had also been on the Executive Committee in 2017, so were privy to a great deal of operational information and would have been able to leverage that perceived authority.<br />
<br />
How could it have worked?<br />
<br />
On the Thursday one week prior to Wicked Faire, in January, she could have contacted all of the department heads to a meeting of vital importance. At that meeting, she would present the accusations which had been made public as well as any other information that she was able to share. She could then have presented anonymized versions of any other accusations she was privy to. Naturally, she could not include names or identifying details, but simply broad strokes to give us the picture. She might have also explained that she knew that strong forces were assembled to take down Wicked Faire if action was not taken.<br />
<br />
At that time, this meeting would have contained the same people that the actual department head chat contained. Most of that staff was there to do a job for the attendees. We wanted the events to continue, for the people to have a safe and fun event, and to go back to our lives on Monday having had a good weekend. How that happened wasn't terribly important.<br />
<br />
She could then have presented some kind of buyout plan. It could have taken any number of forms from a non-profit to a group forming an LLP. The purchase would have been funded by a fixed payment over time from the new company to Jeff Mach, similar to the agreement that was almost adopted in February.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD9xiUSP5W0cZHqk3y6Ilz6h13eSkVLt10kWa7-7SKzHNtYMjCLIXwMOtEk2MCidhsBfVdbnxUn00XifymI5o26fle2HE50Xtt2WLo6qQmhPWwezzQ4CYE3ijX2QAx0UIf4tU-KHB467F/s1600/SPWF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD9xiUSP5W0cZHqk3y6Ilz6h13eSkVLt10kWa7-7SKzHNtYMjCLIXwMOtEk2MCidhsBfVdbnxUn00XifymI5o26fle2HE50Xtt2WLo6qQmhPWwezzQ4CYE3ijX2QAx0UIf4tU-KHB467F/s200/SPWF.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People having fun at Steampunk Worlds<br />
Fair, which will no longer be running.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The response from the department heads, after some initial pushback and sharp questions, would probably have been, "OK, whatever, that's above my paygrade. See you next weekend."<br />
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<br />
Elise could have then told her friends on the other side what was happening and gotten them to call off the attack dogs as the process wound slowly through the legal channels, allowing the events already on the schedule to continue successfully under transitioning management. <br />
<br />
Why would that have worked when we didn't listen to Elise when she assured us that she had some kind of evidence?<br />
<br />
In this alternate history, rather than saying more or less "I know something you don't know, so you need to trust me," she would have shared what she knew.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre;">I Know Something You Don't Know Makes a Poor Argument</span></div>
Since Elise was on the Consent Team, it might be asked why we did not take her word that there were serious allegations and action needed to be taken. We didn't trust her because she was not trustworthy due to her past actions. She had used dubious information to remove a superior so she could be promoted into his former role.<br />
<br />
A couple years ago, Noah Smith was the highly competent and very effective Company Manager of Jeff Mach Events. There were some supplementary tasks that he was responsible for, such as human resources and other technical business duties which he didn't do a great job of, but that was Jeff's fault for giving Noah duties for which he was not qualified, rather than Noah's fault for not being able to do them.<br />
<br />
Noah did a fantastic job at something Jeff had never been able to do, leading the company in a way that led the staff to feel appreciated and like they were part of a well organized team.<br />
<br />
Elise wanted Noah's job. She wasn't actually qualified for it in temperament or experience, but she wanted it nonetheless. She knew two things that would help her get it:<br />
<br />
1) She knew that Jeff Mach took consent violations very seriously and tended to give credence to the accuser over the accused regardless of evidence or lack thereof.<br />
<br />
2) She knew that Noah Smith had seasonal depression and as the winter approached, his ability and desire to deal with stress diminished.<br />
<br />
Using this information, in the late fall Elise found charges against Noah. (I'll explain my choice of verb in a moment.) She brought these to Jeff with the suggestion that something should be done. Jeff approached Noah and told him that there were two allegations against him and asked what he'd like to do about them.<br />
<br />
Noah surprised Jeff (but not Elise) by saying that if he could get a small severance package, he'd resign quietly. Jeff was not trying to push Noah out and was quite surprised by his reaction. His intention was to investigate the allegations because he worked closely with Noah and the allegations didn't match his personal perceptions. Noah believed that Jeff was taking advantage of his depression to push him out of the company with the threat of a scandal that he did not want to deal with.<br />
<br />
Noah left the company, believing that Jeff had maneuvered to push him out. Elise's name stayed out of it. Jeff lost a competent Company Manager. Numerous staffers followed Noah out of the company as he spread the story that Jeff had forced him out, and the seeds took root which would subsequently destroy the company.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
But for all the damage, Elise got what she wanted. She was promoted to "Manager on Duty", a job very similar to Company Manager, and a job she took over others who remained in the company with greater qualifications.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFBO92TNsUkJ2XI3JShrdg_e2bP8zSoLw-VvFtW4a8oF2ChLNiMcBk_w8q82RFFo7jkh0rXDOmcc5QwqNVVIzWITqFpUKlep4knzdCUkIdKuPpc2eHOWaUIRypvD0LEUWBJ-ihdkBQNgc/s1600/noah+fired.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="519" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFBO92TNsUkJ2XI3JShrdg_e2bP8zSoLw-VvFtW4a8oF2ChLNiMcBk_w8q82RFFo7jkh0rXDOmcc5QwqNVVIzWITqFpUKlep4knzdCUkIdKuPpc2eHOWaUIRypvD0LEUWBJ-ihdkBQNgc/s320/noah+fired.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was some question as to whether or not<br />
Noah's departure was due to consent<br />
allegations. This is an excerpt from the Div<br />
Head chat which Elise conveniently<br />
redacted when she shared it with Brenna.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I say "found" allegations, I do not know where they came from or if they were true, but I do know from something that happened a couple of weeks ago that Elise does not believe they were true. At Dark Side of the Con this past March, after she was fired from Security on Friday night, she decided that the four EMTs on staff were not sufficient and called in a friend to volunteer. That friend was Noah Smith, an individual that she had reported allegations of sexual misconduct against two years earlier. This means that she either knowingly brought a dangerous individual to an event in a staff role (for which she did not have the authority) or she knew that the allegations were false and she lied to Jeff two years earlier to rise in the organization.<br />
<br />
We did not know what would happen at Dark Side of the Con in January, but we did have our strong suspicions about what had happened to Noah and Elise's "allegations," which is why we refused to act on her word which we all considered quite dubious.<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who Killed Steampunk Worlds Fair</span></div>
There are many people involved in destroying this very popular event that we worked desperately to save, but there was one person who was in a position to offer a solution to save it who did not, and that person is Elise Potenza. What was her motivation in destroying the events rather than attempting to buy them? We can never know that. Maybe she lacked the sophistication to see such a solution. Maybe she wanted to let if fall apart so she could step in to create a new company to rebuild from the ruins. Maybe she just wanted to see the world burn. I leave such speculations to the reader.<br />
<br />
<i>A Note about Dark Side of the Con: Many conventions do not have any medical staff present. If there is a medical event, they call 911 like anyone else. Almost no club nights have EMTs on staff. Jet, the owner of Dark Side of the Con, went above and beyond to have any EMTs present, and having 4 on Saturday night (5 with Noah) was exceptional. While the EMTs were kept busy, most of the issues they deal with at an event like that are people who have had a few too many drinks. Without EMS, Security would give them some water, sit with them a bit, and walk them back to their rooms to sleep it off. With an EMT present: they check their blood pressure, take a pulse, do a couple other quick checks, then give them a glass of water, walk them back to their room and let them sleep it off.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i></i>
<i><br /></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-6379227125573393522018-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:002018-04-30T08:39:56.045-04:00Deceit Without LyingBefore going on, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/04/26/nbc-news-tom-brokaw-allegedly-made-several-unwanted-sexual-advances-toward-women-including-anchor.html">please read this article from Foxnews.com discussing allegations against Tom Brokaw</a>.<br />
<br />
OK, hopefully you read it.<br />
<br />
Pop quiz. Is Tom Brokaw accused of "exposing himself to one woman while the two were in his office and asked her to touch him" or having "sex in the middle of the day in his office?"<br />
<br />
If you answered yes to either, then you've made my point. If you had to go back and check the article, ditto.<br />
<br />
It's no secret that Fox News would like to discredit more traditional news outlets like NBC, and a good way to do that would be to discredit news icons like Peter Jennings or Tom Brokaw.<br />
<br />
Here we have the allegations about Tom Brokaw behaving inappropriately, and given the nature of his position over the women he is accused of being inappropriate with, these are very serious allegations. However, it would appear that Fox did not feel they were serious enough. What to do?<br />
<br />
Go back to the article, and you'll see that there is an article about Tom Brokaw. That article ends with this sentence, "Brokaw stepped down as an NBC news anchor in 2004." Other than a random paragraph that does not seem related which talked about Lauer in the first half, you could end the article at that point because no additional information about the story comes after it. What follows that is a rehashing of Matt Lauers much more serious and gross allegations, which does not appear to have any direct tie in to the Tom Brokaw story above.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4-y5JRiFXY85-zSkeHDfxdHPzAn0ZqdWWF8eKX-qbnTS5bZRJatPk0qFi1K-2nYwzmjqOJeFE0HPWwpZD9jaBXunndK3UrfPdGKhU7uVbiFjj2SwXWEEViVBzr_DKwW1WL0C6zloCkH8/s1600/Brokaw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="819" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4-y5JRiFXY85-zSkeHDfxdHPzAn0ZqdWWF8eKX-qbnTS5bZRJatPk0qFi1K-2nYwzmjqOJeFE0HPWwpZD9jaBXunndK3UrfPdGKhU7uVbiFjj2SwXWEEViVBzr_DKwW1WL0C6zloCkH8/s400/Brokaw.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
So why would they do that? Because they know how people read. Mostly they read on their phones, quickly, while multitasking and not paying attention<br />
<br />
When I first read this article on my phone because someone had sent it to me, I had to go back and read it a second time to confirm who had sex in an office.<br />
<br />
Four paragraphs discuss specific details without using Lauer's name, meaning that scanning the article, which is the way that many people read, could lead one to conclude that Brokaw had been the one revealing himself and having sexcapades in his office.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6hGhWsAuiIgsvA2lZJIatiQYkwu2ReGR-S9gq9MFR4lv2IAXAzmuUDKEYzyDP9lCgk0-Bssm5rOmBdmaEUEOkhhvPyEU2KTQI5gXEoUJ09b2trXL-UWxTGzOG6V5O1otYwXyclumvNCs/s1600/not+lauer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="768" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6hGhWsAuiIgsvA2lZJIatiQYkwu2ReGR-S9gq9MFR4lv2IAXAzmuUDKEYzyDP9lCgk0-Bssm5rOmBdmaEUEOkhhvPyEU2KTQI5gXEoUJ09b2trXL-UWxTGzOG6V5O1otYwXyclumvNCs/s400/not+lauer.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
While every part of the article follows basic principles of journalistic integrity, concatenating the two unrelated stories together without explanation causes another form of deception.<br />
<br />
One might argue that the stories are related because they are both about sexual misconduct at NBC, but it that's the case, why not mention Cosby or other celebrity abusers? Why not mention that the two sets of allegations occurred in different decades? Why not include a paragraph linking the two stories? It's on online article, it's not like there's a word-count limit.<br />
<br />
This is not a right-left thing because people on both sides do it. It is done using all manner of topics. It is done to all kinds of people by all kinds of people. Deceit is merely a tool, which anyone can pick up to manipulate you as a reader, and we should all be alert to its use.<br />
<br />
Not all forms of deception require falsehoods. Sometimes it can be as simple as framing and presenting the truth in a different way.<br />
<br />
<br />
Full article text, for reference:<br />
<i>Legendary NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw allegedly made unwanted sexual advances against multiple women in the 1990s, a bombshell set of reports revealed Thursday, months after a separate set of accusations led to the downfall of longtime “Today” anchor Matt Lauer.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>According to The Washington Post, Brokaw, now 78, made unwanted moves on Linda Vester, a former NBC correspondent and former Fox News anchor, twice during the 1990s, including a move to forcibly kiss Vester, who was in her 20s at the time.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The report also detailed the claims of an anonymous woman who told the outlet Brokaw acted inappropriately toward her during her time as a production assistant in the 1990s. Brokaw was the anchor of “NBC Nightly News” at the time.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>He has denied all the accusations against him.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I met with Linda Vester on two occasions, both at her request, 23 years ago, because she wanted advice with respect to her career at NBC,” Brokaw said in a statement issued by NBC that was provided to The Post. “The meetings were brief, cordial and appropriate, and despite Linda’s allegations, I made no romantic overtures towards her, at that time or any other.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Before the accusations against him went public, he actually spoke out about the #MeToo movement on MSNBC -- without mentioning his own behavior. “I do think we need to have a healthier, well-defined dialogue, if you will, and I’m not sure how we launch into it,” he said in December 2017.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A Fox News request for comment was not immediately returned by NBC.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lauer’s former co-host, Ann Curry, who left amid turmoil inside the network, also said in The Post report that she told network management about complaints regarding Lauer's alleged sexual harassment, in 2012. However, NBC News Chairman Andy Lack previously said there were no formal complaints lodged against Lauer in his two decades with the network.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I am speaking out now because NBC has failed to hire outside counsel to investigate a genuine, long-standing problem of sexual misconduct in the news division,” Vester told The Post.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vester spoke of an alleged January 1994 incident in a New York hotel room with Brokaw. She had plans to leave New York ahead of an impending snowstorm but Brokaw discouraged her, she said, and suggested that the two get a drink.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I only drink milk and cookies,” Vester claimed she said as a way of skirting Brokaw’s alleged intentions.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Former 'Today' co-host Katie Couric told BuzzFeed she hasn't 'reconciled' the Lauer she knows with the Lauer accused of sexual assault.Video</i><br />
<i>Katie Couric parsing truth from fiction regrading Matt Lauer</i><br />
<i>“It was the only thing I could think of at the time, hoping the reference to milk and cookies would make him realize I was 30 years his junior and not interested,” Vester said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>But when plans to travel to Washington D.C. got canceled, Vester said, Brokaw tried again in a 3 a.m. phone call to her hotel room.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Once in my room . . . I received three phone calls,” she told The Post, citing diary entries she made at the time. “One from a friend, another from a source; the third was Tom Brokaw. He said to order milk and cookies and he was coming over.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“My career at NBC would be over before it even got going,” Vester said she remembered thinking if she turned Brokaw down. The anchor soon knocked on her door.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“What do you want from me?” Vester claimed she asked Brokaw.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“An affair of more than passing affection,” Brokaw allegedly replied.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“But you’re married,” she said. “And I’m Catholic.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Brokaw urged Vester to sit next to him on the sofa, she claimed. He proceeded to press “his index finger to my lips and said, ‘This is our compact,’” The Post said she wrote in her diary.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“My insides shook,” Vester said. “I went completely cold.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Brokaw then allegedly placed his hand on the back of her neck and grabbed her head in order to “show” Vester “how to give a real kiss.” </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"I could smell alcohol on his breath, but he was totally sober," Vester told Variety in a detailed account of the alleged interaction. "He spoke clearly. He was in control of his faculties."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vester said she forcefully wiggled away from Brokaw in reply.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I said ‘Tom . . . I don’t want to do that with you,’” she wrote.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Following a brief silence, Brokaw decided to leave, Vester claimed. “I think I should go,” she said he said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A similar incident between Brokaw and Vester took place over a year later in London, Vester claimed, but she again avoided Brokaw’s advances.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A second woman, who once served as a production assistant at NBC News, claimed Brokaw encountered her in a hallway in the mid-1990s and encouraged her to meet him on the side of the walkway. Brokaw then allegedly held her hands, spoke of how cold they were, and proceeded to place them under his jacket.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“He put my hands under his jacket and against his chest and pulled me in so close and asked me, ‘How is your job search going?’” she told The Post. After replying, Brokaw allegedly suggested the woman “come into my office after the show and let’s talk about it.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Conflicting accounts over fired anchor</i><br />
<i>The woman said the implication in the conversation was obvious and she skipped the invite. She ultimately left the network.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Neither Vester nor the anonymous woman reported the incidents at the time, The Post reported.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Brokaw stepped down as an NBC news anchor in 2004.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Curry described in detail the claims against Lauer.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“A woman approached me and asked me tearfully if I could help her,” Curry said. “She was afraid of losing her job… I believed her.” The anonymous woman, Curry told The Post, said she was “sexually harassed physically” by Lauer.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I told management they had a problem and they needed to keep an eye on him and how he deals with women,” she said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lack was not with the network during the time Curry said she went to management.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In interviews with The Post, 12 NBC employees claimed to have been sexually harassed by Lauer, who was fired in November 2017.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lauer exposed himself to one woman while the two were in his office and asked her to touch him, an anonymous woman told The Post.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Another said they had sex in the middle of the day in his office.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lauer, who has remained mostly mum following the allegations last year, provided a forceful response to The Post.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I have made no public comments on the many false stories from anonymous or biased sources that have been reported about me over these past several months,” he said. “I remained silent in an attempt to protect my family from further embarrassment and to restore a small degree of the privacy they have lost. But defending my family now requires me to speak up.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I fully acknowledge that I acted inappropriately as a husband, father and principal at NBC,” he continued. “However I want to make it perfectly clear that any allegations or reports of coercive, aggressive or abusive actions on my part, at any time, are absolutely false.”</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1688421745511963931.post-17011135085581045622018-04-29T21:20:00.000-04:002018-04-29T21:24:53.696-04:00What's Next?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzeKztbrxLiwleyznmM3vnvHfhBZaFS5hq1MtM4Kj88x40XxsFYBr8ELXfTiYPfXgAat-eo3sA5e_TVR1luxPFTWM5Vyf6Np-53_NfFe8JwaFbdqr9pGkJxP-qMnLYVZ5sMewEbL3BmgN/s1600/A_fork_in_the_road_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1005053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzeKztbrxLiwleyznmM3vnvHfhBZaFS5hq1MtM4Kj88x40XxsFYBr8ELXfTiYPfXgAat-eo3sA5e_TVR1luxPFTWM5Vyf6Np-53_NfFe8JwaFbdqr9pGkJxP-qMnLYVZ5sMewEbL3BmgN/s320/A_fork_in_the_road_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1005053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every road is the right one if you don't know where<br />
you are going.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A friend of mine posted on Facebook today that they were trying to figure out what the next step in their life is. Since I felt like my answer might be relevant to more than one of the 1600 people I reach with a Facebook post, I thought that I might as well answer it in a column.<br />
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I often use an analogy when discussing this question. Imagine you are sitting in your car in your driveway wondering which way you should turn when you drive out. Should you go right or left? Of course, the natural question is "where are you going?" since that will inform the answer to which way you should turn.<br />
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If, for example, you decide that you'd like to go to Boston, there are few ways to get there. Some are better than others, but, ultimately, many roads lead there.<br />
<br />
It's the same way in figuring out what you might want to do next. What are the big picture goals. Where do you want to be in 20 years? 10? 5? 1 year? People often go to the wrong aspects of this question. They think about geography, jobs, details, etc.<br />
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Ten years ago, I could not have predicted one single element of my life. Not the state I live in. Not my career. Not my family status. Not my income. If you had asked me where I would be in 10 years, I would have guessed every element wrong. But I would have told you one goal: "To acquire money and/or influence to use to do something which creates a positive change in the world."<br />
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Although there have been many fits and starts and sideways lurches, I have moved progressively in that direction. I now have more connections than I ever have, and I use those connections to benefit everyone that I can. My income is comfortable, and I publish a magazine which is of benefit to almost 10,000 people. I seem to be moving in that direction.<br />
<br />
That one, simple, abstract goal, provided a beacon in the distance so whenever I came to a crossroads and wondered what was next, I would know which way to turn.<br />
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Once my daughter was born, a second beacon was lit: providing her every resource and education to achieve the greatest possible success, however she might define it.<br />
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This does not mean that I have been perfectly focused. I have spent entire years wandering in the wrong direction, heading down some blind alley or simply forgetting about my greater goals. When I have realized the need for direction, however, I always knew what direction I should reorient myself to, and that has made all the difference.<br />
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For anyone wondering what the next step is in their own life, I figure suggest developing your own simple, abstract goal. One statement that describes where you want to end up. Once you have that beacon, you can look at every decision and ask yourself how well it moves you towards that goal.<br />
<br />
Under that goal, there are objectives. This is where you get more specific about the things which you know make your life better or more meaningful. If your happiness requires making pretty things and working with plants, then doing so becomes an objective. You figure out what that would take. How much money would it need? Where would you need to be to do it? Who would you need in your life to allow it to happen, if anyone? What education or skills do you need?<br />
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Below the objectives are strategies to achieve those objectives. If the objectives require education, the strategy is the big picture plan of how you will get that education. If it requires money, then you strategize how to get that money.<br />
<br />
Without knowing where you are ultimately trying to end up, a roadmap is merely an artistic representation of roads. But if you know your destination, then you don't even need a map, just a compass to guide you in the right direction.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0