Lesson's Learned from Dan Cathy; President and COO of Chick-fil-A

Dan Cathy (@DanCathy) recently spoke to the Dallas Regional Chamber's (@DRChamber) Leadership Lunch group about the company his father, S. Truett Cathy, founded decades ago.  Having worked for Raising Cane's for nearly a decade, the opportunity to see Dan speak and hear about the purpose, leadership and values of Chick-fil-A from the source was a great experience.  I'm thankful to have joined the DRC Young Professional group just in time.  Here are some of the highlights which you too might appreciate.

The Purpose:

To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

 “The corporate purpose is our True North. It's why we are in business.” - Dan Cathy

Stories:

Dan spoke about how each person has a story and each business has a story. Chick-fil-A is always thinking about how individuals stories interact with their business’s story. Dan shared this video with the audience which he says has been shared with their restaurant staff for the last year:

Every Person Is a Story

The story becomes more powerful when you realize that as a business leader you have the opportunity to influence and "minister" to every person you interact with from the person who delivers mail, to your staff and your customers.

Leadership Tools:

Dan brought with him a very cool leather bag which he said was his leadership tool kit.  I imagine this is the type of speech Dan gives often. He took out about 10 items and ask folks in the room which ones they were curious about.  Each time someone would pick a new item, Dan would talk about the significance of that item and it's meaning to he and CFA.  Since we only had an hour, Dan only spoke about a few. An asterisk indicates items he shared with our audience -- the others I researched a bit online to find. 

*Jiffy Smooth Peanut Butter: Dan said he loves Jiffy peanut butter. He likes the small jars because you get to open the freshest seal more often and enjoy that smell which makes you feel like you’re in the factory where they made the product. His point is that everyone and every brand has to Stay fresh. Stay fresh in their thinking. Constantly keep learning. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.  If you look at CFA you realized they've done just that... from the Dwarf House restaurants, to selling through major stadiums, to malls, to free standing locations.  Using Cow's for advertising (thanks the DFW's The Richards Group) and the big move from shoe string fries to waffle fries.

Relay Baton: Succession has to be on the front of our agenda. Our dreams will be short-lived. Who are we going to hand this baton off to?

• Dan to the Olympic coach: “Tell me about the exchange.”
• 
  
   It’s all about the exchange not necessarily the fastest runner
• 
  
  It’s the team that gets the baton around the track first
• 
  
  The exchange when it is done right, it is a non-event
• 
  
  We have to think of succession as a non-event 
• 
  
  It’s all about continuity 
• 
  
  Cultural expectancy of change
• 
  
  It helps a lot that the person taking the baton actually takes the baton.
• 
  
  The sound of death is the dropping of the baton!

Thumb drive:  Dan showed a thumb drive but did not talk about it (due to time constraints) and I could not find information posted on other blogs/sites.  So, if you know the importance, send me an email. 

Railroad spike with 'Stay on Track' engraved on it: It's one thing to be bold and always fresh; it's an entirely different thing to stay grounded and focused on what you do best.

*Sanitation Hand Wipe: Dan spoke about the practical importance of keeping our hands clean in restaurants. But, he moved to a higher meaning by asking “How many people do we read in business paper that couldn't keep their hands clean.” The real meaning of the sanitation wipe is that we have to do business in the cleanest way possible and avoid taking risks through tainted transactions which ruins lives every day.

*Shoe brush: The shoe brush speaks to the attitude you and I have should have as a leader. We are servant leaders. Jim Collins is right about leaders biggest challenge - it ego.  Dan spoke about the day he called Johnston and Murphy in Tennessee to buy 1400 brushes for CFA's then current Operators.  More powerful, he gave the gentleman who introduced him one of the brushes... and got down on the floor in front of our audience and "showed him how to use it" because you shouldn't give someone a tool without them understanding how to use it. it was ackward and chilling at the same time... one of many moments with a similar feeling during Dan's speech.

*Conductor’s Baton:  Dan said.. "What happens in the business is a reflection of leadership."  He recalled reading Philip Crosby's now celebrated Quality is Free book written over 25 years ago. he talked about when CFA started asking the question "Would you return to CFA" as part of their standard Mystery Shopper form.  1 in 5 Mystery Shop guests said "No".  So, Dan did what most leaders do, he started thinking about what everyone else wasn't doing -- cashiers weren't smiling, Operators weren't touching tables, the back of the house was serving cold fries.  Quality is Free helped Dan realize the critical importance of leaders -- much like the conductor at the symphony.  He urged everyone to develop systems and processes. Practiced and refine those Systems and Processes. Rehearse them in test markets. Set the stage for a perfect performance and wait for the applause.

Quality is Free on Amazon

Side Towel: with the following monogramming: Great Leaders SERVE. The WHITE towel can be a sign of service when draped correctly over the left arm versus tucked in your back pocket with a Spray Bottle dangling from it.

• Great leaders have an attitude of service
• Be humble, gracious, generous and genuine

The Secret of Servant leadership is to: S-E-R-V-E:

• See the Future: Leaders have a visionary role, needing to understand the team's purpose, be able to see down the road, and know what values are needed to drive their team's behavior.
• Engage and Develop People: Once the vision and direction is set you need to turn the pyramid upside down and focus on engaging and developing your people so that they can live according to the vision and position people for success.
• Reinvent Continuously: Leaders are continuously learning, reinventing themselves. But they are also looking at how to get everyone else working more productively, and are open to reinventing their organizational structure where necessary.
• Value Results and Relationships: Leaders realize results and good relationships go hand-in-hand for long-term survival.
• Embody the Values: You develop and earn trust by living the values you espouse. 

Quotes:

• Proverbs 22:1: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
• Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. ~Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (introduction), 1982
• When the rate of external change is exceeding the rate of internal change, that spells disaster. (not cited)
• (not from the lunch speak but noteworthy) On closing on Sunday’s: “Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and directing our attention to things more important than our business. If it took seven days to make a living with a restaurant, then we needed to be in some other line of work. Through the years, I have never wavered from that position.” S. Truett Cathy

Baton Rouge to Dallas Conversion

TO BE UPDATED

This post is being developed for my fellow Baton Rouge converts and visitors to the Dallas metroxplex who have lived in or around, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  If you have any new places to add or comments, let me know.  I'll update this with information on each location including address; website links; etc. over time. 

Things to Do:

 

LSU Lakes -- Katy Trail

 

Tiger Stadium -- Nothing Comparable (not even Cowboy Stadium)

 

Food and Drink

 

Perk's Coffee -- The Crooked Tree

 

Highland Coffee -- Nothing Comparable

 

Ninfa's -- Manny's; Taco Diner in West Village (Mambo Taxis & Brisket Tacos) or Mia's

 

Chimes -- Nothing Comparable / try The Porch; try TABC; try Breadwinners for Brunch

 

Fleur de Lis -- Campisi's *supposedly where Jack Ruby hung out with other Italian Mafia day before he killed Lee Harvey Oswald; Louie’s; Rocco’s; Campania


Diguilio Brothers -- try Patrizios' - must get the frozen bellini!

 

Tsunami -- Steele (without the awesome view); try Bar Belmont for a great view.

 

Mike Anderson's -- Nate's

 

George’s (best hamburger) – try Keller's on Harry Hines blvd

 

Mansur’s – try Tucker Restaurant

 

Frank’s/Louie’s – All Good Café (Deep Ellum) or Dream Café (Uptown)

 

Zippy’s --

  

TJ Ribs - Heart 8

 

 

Bars and Entertainment

 

Duvick’s – The Loon! Just as smoky and just as stiff of drinks.

 

Ivar’s -- Old Monk or Vickery Park Tavern *get the late night tacos for a couple bucks

Ruth Chris – Bob’s; Perry’s; Nick and Sam’s; Al Berneit

 

Third Street -- McKinney Street

Varsity Sports -- try Run On! on Mockingbird; Luke's Locker

 

Best Live Music Venue/The Varsity -- Granada, Palladium, House of Blues, Glass Cactus

 

Mall of Louisiana - try Northpark Mall

 

Towne Center -- try ?? Highland Park Village **first high end strip mall/Mockingbird Station/West Village; Snider Plaza

 

Forum 35 -- Dallas Regional Chamber Young Professionals

 

Best Annual Events:

• St Patrick's Day Parade
• Texas vs OU Weekend (wear your LSU gear, but still fun)
• Texas State Fair
• Warrior Run
• Addison Oktoberfest
• Grapefest in Grapevine
• North by 35

Place’s Baton Rouge doesn’t have; but you have to try:

• Bolsa
• Neighborhood Services
• Victor Tangos
• Tei Tei

Misc:

 

225 Magazine – D Magazine

 

Best place to by Louisiana cooking ingredients: ??

 

Best Florist: Garden Gate

 

Best Gift Shops: Bishop Art’s District

 

Different but Refreshing Summer Cocktails

A few days ago, I posted a few classic summer cocktails including classic ingredients for your summer refreshment. For those of you who are already fans of the gin rickey and mint julep, but still want to explore something a bit out of the ordinary and equally refreshing, check out one of these two drinks:

Rogue Cocktail: Gun Shop Fizz
Krik Estopinal of Cure in New Orleans

This is a counter-intuitive Peychaud's bitters-based cocktail aptly named.


2 oz Peychaud's bitters
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
2 strawberries
3 cucumber slices
3 swaths of grapefruit peel
3 swath of orange peel
Sanbitter

Add all the ingredients except Sanbitter into a mixing tin. Muddle and set aside for two minutes to allow the flavors to blend.  Add ice, shake and strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass; top with Sanbitter. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Here's a video of the creator talking about and making the drink.  http://vimeo.com/6301982


Sicilian Iced Tea


I picked this recipe up from The Straight Pour (a weekly radio show all things cocktail) on AM 690 WIST in New Orleans.  Very easy to make and extremely refreshing.

1-1/2 oz Cointreau
1 oz Averna Amaro
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Orange Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Splash of Club Soda
Granish:  Sprig of Fresh Rosemary

Add all the ingedients except the Club Soda and Rosemary with ice, shake, pour over ice in a Collins glass, with a splash of Club Soda and garnish.

It's Not You, It's Us [An Open Letter to Whole Foods]

Dear Whole Foods Leadership at the Highest Power,

Like hundreds of your other loyal customers, I make my weekly pilgrimage to your Highland Park store for the highest quality natural and organic products available… (and to check out all of the hot people who show up in their workout attire). Okay, so actually I go bi-weekly just to check out your very attractive customers.


I always start in produce where you’ve trained me to not use those terrible plastic bags for the environment [trust me, I sneer at all those “other customers” who do, too], drop by the seafood and meat counters (where the majority of my pay check is distributed), and on to the wine, cheese and prepared foods where the real magic happens.

I know you and your team work extremely hard to satisfy and delight you customers. But sadly, there is something missing. This something goes against your most sacred value… the “evil” item many of your customers are missing is “Diet Coke.” You might ask… do you know how terrible artificial sweeteners are for you? And we answer, yes… but nothing washes down that calorie-laden beef and gorgonzola sandwich on focaccia bread better than Diet Coke.

We know… you have values. And we respect those boundaries – so tell us what trade off we need to make? We’ll do anything to avoid that Circle K stop we have to make before our grocery trip. How about we buy a carbon offset with each case? Or, adopt a impoverished African child and feed them whole grain for a month? I mean – we’re not Angelina Jolie but we can do our part. I’m looking forward to hearing back from you with your standard “it’s not you, it’s us” letter – but I had to make one desperate plea on behalf of hundreds of thousands of loyal Whole Foods shoppers!


Regards,

Jamie

Great Summer Cocktails

Has anyone else noticed all those media pundits making sarcastic "What Global Warming" comments last winter haven't mentioned how HOT it's been this summer.  Between Dallas and New Orleans, there are few ways to beat the heat.  Fortunately, I've discovered some classic liquid mixes which are refreshing and will help bury a few sorrows.  If you're getting a bit tired of your mojito, check one of these refreshing mixes to cool the summer down a bit!

Three Refreshing Summer Cocktails:

The Classic Gin Rickey

This drink is a great alternative to a Gin & Tonic. The drink was created at Shoemaker's in Washington D.C. and a popular hangout for Congressmen. It was named after Colonel "Joe" Rickey, a lobbyist who died in 1903 and was known for entertaining elected officials in the area lounges.

2 oz gin (I prefer Hendricks gin, but it's your call!)
3/4 oz lime juice
3 oz club soda
lime wedge for garnish

Preparation:
Pour stire the gin and lime juice over the ice.
-- this drink is very dry, lightweights will add a splash of Simple Syrup.
Top with club soda.
Garnish with a lime wedge


The Classic Mint Julip

The key to a classic mint julip is really the ICE. If your local watering hole doesn't have crushed ice, go for something else!

- 3 oz Bourbon [I prefer Woodford Reserve]
- 6 Fresh mint leaves
- 1 tsp. superfine sugar
- Crushed ice

Muddle mint leaves with superfine sugar and (a little water for light weights) in a mint julep cup. Fill the cup with ice. Pour bourbon and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

One of my favorite summer cocktails this year:

Crescent City Cooler
By Flo Woodard

Read more about Flo (who recently passed away) here:
http://lupecboston.com/2010/07/07/crescent-city-cooler-a-toast-to-flo-woodard/

10 mint leaves
1 Dash simple syrup
2 Dashes of Angostura bitters
2 Dashes of Peychaud’s bitters
Juice of 2 lime wedges
2 ounces Bacardi Light rum
2 ounces Ginger Ale
3/4 ounce Cranberry juice
Lime wheel

Place mint leaves into a frosted Collins glass. Add the simple syrup and both bitters and muddle for 10 seconds. Add the juice from 2 lime wedges, Bacardi Light and ginger ale. Fill the Collins glass with ice and stir with a bar spoon. Top with cranberry juice. Serve with a straw.

Garnish: Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig.

THE CATS EXPERIENCE through FORUM 35

As part of Forum 35’s ongoing push to erase the invisible color line, a group of young men and women ventured into North Baton Rouge via the Capital Area Transit System. As a community leader, I’ve long been told of the importance of transit and the mind shift which occurs when one ventures on a city bus but have never been moved to act until last Thursday. In all my experiences, the $1.75 spent traveling each way (to and from The End Zone Bar) was the most valuable, community building experiment of my life.

The trip originated around 6:00 PM at the Transit Hub near the intersection of Florida Boulevard and 22nd Street. As our group assembled, it was striking how many assumptions one could make about who uses transit… moms with their sons and daughters, grandparents traveling home from a long day at work… some clean cut… some not so clean cut. Nothing is more humanizing than to people watch at such a place and realize that community members, too, have important stories to tell of who there are and how are city serves them.

A few minutes before we boarded Bus 41 which would take us toward Plan Road; the gentle reminder of Hurricane Katrina appeared by way of the Louisiana Swift Bus program which still shuttles people (and their bikes, work gear, luggage and other items) between the Capital City and New Orleans. After departure, my first frustration surfaced with the “pace” at which city buses travel and the frequency at which they “stop.” I’m the guy who’s been complaining about the “cycling” of the new downtown stop lights being worse than just having stop signs at each intersection… the guy who’s always making up for five minutes extra at the office by zooming around a few slow moving cars on I-10. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be at the mercy of not only the bus schedules but also the intermittent delays that come with this $1.75 per ride service.

The bus eventually eased onto Plank Road where at one of our first stops three Hispanic women boarded the bus… appearing to be in their late thirties, wearing brightly colored clothes, and strangely reminding me of why I’m proud to be an American. The ladies, speaking no English, quickly chose a fearless delegate to represent their $10 dollar bill to the driver of Bus 41 who only accepted exact change from everyone else. To avoid confusion and delay, the ladies where allowed on the bus to find change and pay at departure (which turned into only three very crinkled dollars) and an audible from the rear of the bus… “fucking Mexicans”… racism and classism clearly have few boundaries.

The cruise down Plank Road was deliberate and uneventful giving my eyes time to wander across the blight in this part of our community that I’ve seen a number of times on my way to Krispy Kreme donuts (really one of the few reason’s I’m ever there). We stop. An older, elegant African American woman prepares to de board the bus along with a young women who appears to be around the age her granddaughter might be. The elegant, mature woman is wearing a grey formal jacket with lapel pins… my friends who work at the Capitol waved hello to her earlier which causes me to assume they’ve seen her there. As she walked away with the younger women in toe, I thought two things: first, this woman is – walking — toward her home which is within the blight I’ve always disregarded; second, the life of this woman is strangely being reflected with less vibrancies to someone two generations away. Whose responsibility is solving the issue of blight in pockets like Old South Baton Rouge, Plank Road, etc? While I’d love to go with the easy answer – the people who live there… I have to realistically ask how much a women who takes the bus to work every day, not because she enjoys mass transit but because she must, can do to reverse the waves crashing in on her, her daughter and her daughter’s daughter’s neighborhood in our community?

The ride continued on to our destination, The End Zone, which was located in a shopping center at 6224 Plank Road. From our stop, we walked from the corner bus stop, across the parking lot of a large new gas station and to the front doors of an unassuming venue façade dominated by tented windows. As we walked in, I was transported to a number of bars you would find in Southdown’s Shopping Center or off O’Neal Lane…. With dark woods, marble, a gracious host/owner greeting our visitors, a great bar, and a number of daiquiri options (it is Louisiana). Thanks to CATS, The End Zone and Forum 35 for the fellowship which occurred inside… discussing our “ride to” experiences and meeting and greeting old and new friends. With a busy evening, the return trip came sooner for me and a handful of colleagues than most.

My five friends, a group which included only one African American, ventured back off to our stop to catch the next bus (which actually came about 30 minutes later than we thought – next time we’ll learn to read the schedule!). To paraphrase a voicemail left by a passerby for my African American friend… we looked like a black guy and a bunch of Caucasians doing some kind of experiment. The caller kindly offered to pick us up but we stay dedicated to our mission of a round trip by bus across Baton Rouge’s color line.

The return trip was as eventful as the first. There were many different people & lots of stops on a deliberate pace. My three Hispanic friends where waiting for the bus at the grocery store, arms filled with groceries, were passed up at a stop… I assume because they failed to pay full fares earlier. What struck me most about the return trip was the audacity of the conversation I found my group having admist many people whose means only allowed for bus transportation. (I recently read in The Economist that the first major purchase a family makes when they reach a household income over $5,000 is a car!). Our conversation (started by me) was about the new Iphone 3GS without regard for the fact that that phone really could be worth three months or more of ridership on the bus. I’ll never know if the other riders cared but I will regret that we didn’t take the experiment to the next level and spend time with the people who use mass transit day in and day out rather than take amongst ourselves about the latest technology available for cell phones.

We arrived back at the Transit Hub where I’d like to say I hoped on my bike and road back to my apartment a few blocks away. The truth is… I jumped in the vehicle parked near the station that transferred me to the station in the first place. I left enlightened and slightly changed. Will I use transit again?? If I have to. Do I understand the needs of a different part of our community? Better than I did before, but not completely. Will I stand up for better mass transit? Absolutely. Should you do it? As soon as possible!

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

Seth Godin: Why tribes, not money or factories, will change the world

Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so.

Every dream begins with a dreamer..

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

Harriet Tubman

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Dream and Believe

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France

6th Sense

Will this Sixth Sense change your world??



http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

Blessing of the Fleet

Most people do not know that I grew up in deep South Louisiana in Houma, Louisiana. As a kid, my dad built steel hull boats for a vaiety of purposes in Chauvin, Louisiana, which is a few short miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

Today, I revisited an annual tradition in Chauvin... the Blessing of the Fleet or "Boat Blessin'" if you're a local.. and wanted to share some of the pictures from my day.


Each year, people decorate their boats like this...

So, this Catholic Priest can ride by and bless each boat for a safe and bountiful shrimping season...

The procession of boats flow down the bayou toward the lake. Some people ride on the larger boats, others bring out smaller boats or sit along the shore and enjoy the show. This is one of my favorite boats... the sign reads... With God As Your Captain Let Our Sea Prosper... the kids are celebrating by grinding in bikinis.

The boats end up in the lake... with smaller boats roaming around, pulling hydroslides, and "booze cruising".

Everyone ties up and an awesome time is had.

Find out more by going here:
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/main_misc_shrimp_fleet_dec.html

All Pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jamiejgriffin/20090419BoatBlessing2009Chauvin

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”


Source Information:

The “Until one is committed...” quotation often attributed to Goethe is in fact by William Hutchinson Murray (1913-1996), from his 1951 book entitled The Scottish Himalayan Expedition. The actual final lines from W.H. Murray's book end this way (emphasis added): “...which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”

McKnight Principles for Innovation

William L. McKnight, who served as 3M chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966, encouraged 3M management to "delegate responsibility and encourage men and women to exercise their initiative." His management theories are the guiding principles for 3M.

William L. McKnight joined Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. in 1907 as an assistant bookkeeper. He quickly rose through the company, becoming president in 1929 and chairman of the board in 1949. Many believe McKnight's greatest contribution was as a business philosopher, since he created a corporate culture that encourages employee initiative and innovation.


His basic rule of management was laid out in 1948:

"As our business grows, it becomes increasingly necessary to delegate responsibility and to encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. This requires considerable tolerance. Those men and women, to whom we delegate authority and responsibility, if they are good people, are going to want to do their jobs in their own way.

Mistakes will be made. But if a person is essentially right, the mistakes he or she makes are not as serious in the long run as the mistakes management will make if it undertakes to tell those in authority exactly how they must do their jobs.

Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made kills initiative. And it's essential that we have many people with initiative if we are to continue to grow."

Source: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/our/company/information/history/McKnight-principles/

Performance is reality.

“It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations,
promises are promises, but only performance is reality.”

~ Harold Geneen, a businessman famous for his management structure

A Tiny Ripple

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." John F. Kennedy

SOURCE INFO

Your ONE Source...

While some people quench their weekend thirst with a little 225 Magazine... if you want a weeks worth of fun crammed into a page or two from locals who know the drill, check out:
www.myspace.com/cherrybr. Here's the self description from Myspace about Cherry's weekly email list:

We are a totally-non-threatening Baton Rouge events newsletter. This is our less-crappy-than-it-used-to-be Myspace site. The real deal is an email that comes to your inbox on Thursdays. It's filled with things to do, places to go, and people to see in South Louisiana. We like to see live music, go to art shows, support local businesses, and see parades where people in funny outfits throw us underwear. We say "Fight Homogeneity!"--what does that mean? Patronizing local businesses, supporting local arts, celebrating local food, drink, and cultural events, maybe even creating some event of your own (and of course telling Cherry about it). Now, doesn't that sound fun? It's also about standing up, using our voices and demanding change of the things that aren't so great about Baton Rouge. Homogeneity is Seigen Lane at I-10: urban sprawl, asphalt, intolerance and soulless mass-produced consumerism. Whatever part of BR you live in, join us in supporting and celebrating what our community has created and email rougecherry@gmail.com .

I've been a loyal follower for two years now!

Happy's Running Club

Happy's Running Club

“Run…drink…and be HAPPY!”Happy’s Running ClubFrequency: Every Tuesday - Rain or Shine starting at Happy’s Irish Pub on 3rd StreetDowntown Baton RougeDistance: 5kCost: $30 (annual membership)Membership Includes: Drink and Food Specials after RunTechnical Dri-Fit Club ShirtFree Entry into Happy’s 5k Race

Website:
http://www.happysrunningclub.com/

Your ultimate security is your understanding of reality

There is no permanent security on earth, there is only opportunity.

Many things in your life will changeduring your journey to success.

Accept that change will take place.

You become secure, not by standing still, but by growing, moving, and being energized.

Be secure in the knowledgethat you can deal with what happens to you.

Have the courage to bet on your ideas, to take calculated risks, and to act.

You are secure to the degree that you can accept change.

Your security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.

You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.

Your ultimate security is your understanding of reality

--Daily Motivator

Not the Critic Who Counts...

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high acheivement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory or defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt - "Citizenship in the Republic" Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910.

A Favorite: Reindeer Run and Downtown Festival of Lights

The 2007 Reindeer Run is a family event.
Held in conjunction with the North Boulevard Festival of Lights. Other than the run, events include: classic Christmas movies, choir performances, Baton Rouge ballet theater, Louisiana Youth Orchestra, the lighting of the cities Christmas tree, Santa Claus, street dance, Bethlehem Village, Live Nativity Scene, third street restaurants and shops will be open, Old Governor’s mansion open house, and fireworks


Awards Go To:
Overall 5K Winner Male and Female
Overall Masters and Grandmasters
Overall Jog Winner Male & Female
Age Group Awards to Top Three Finishers Male and Female


Awards:
Overall winners receive a pair of Mizuno shoes
Grandmaster and Masters winners receive a 3 month membership to the YMCA
Top three finishers in each age group will receive a sweat shirt
$100 Youth Bike Certificate will be raffled courtesy of Dave's Bike Repair Shop

Food and Drink:
Food will be provided by Time's Grill and Raising Cane's and Jambalaya will be provided by Schexnayder's Acadian Foods
Drinks will be provided by Mockler Beverage, Baton Rouge Coca Cola, and CC’s Coffee


Toys for Tots:
This year will be the second year we are partnering with the U.S. Marines to do Toys for Tots. Please bring a NEW unwrapped toy to early packet pickup or on race day to be entered in a raffle for a $75 gift certificate to Varsity Sports. Please no Weapon toys. All toys benefit the Children of the Baton Rouge Area. Monetary donations can be made out to Toys for Tots and mailed to 8410 General Chennault Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. More information can be found at http://www.toysfortotsbatonrouge.org/.

Cost:
$15.00 entry before race day
$20.00 on race day
Entry fee includes a t-shirt and ditty bag
Family Plan: $12.00 a runner with a minimum of three runners from a family (can be a combination of Fun Run and 5K participants)
Children 5 and under run free!

Date, Location and Directions
This year's Reindeer Run will be on Friday, November 30, 2007.

Registration will take place on the median of North Boulevard in between 4th and 5th Streets.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Jog begins at 7:00 p.m.
The 5K race begins at 7:15 p.m.
Post race food and festivities start at 7:30 p.m.
Awards Ceremony begins at 8:15 p.m.

Online registration ends at 10:00 p.m. on November 28th.







This is a general idea of what the race route will be (click here). The start and finish points will vary to make the race a 5k.

Louisiana Gives Thanks

LRA Launches "Louisiana Gives Thanks"

CampaignPublic Urged to Sign Online Letter as Part of Campaign aimed at Washington, American People

The Louisiana Recovery Authority announced today a public campaign to say "thank you" to members of Congress, President Bush and the American people for their support of the state's recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign is designed as an easy way for Louisianians everywhere to voice their appreciation for the commitments that officials in the nation's capital have made on their behalf. The LRA is joining Louisiana's elected officials and a growing list of supporting organizations to encourage the public to visit the Louisiana Gives Thanks website, www.lra.louisiana.gov/louisianagivesthanks, where they can sign a thank you letter to members of Congress and the President, thanking them for continuing to support Louisiana's ongoing recovery efforts. The deadline for signatures is Wednesday, November 21.
Also Tuesday, there will be a full-page advertisement in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, thanking Congress for passing legislation last week that included $3 billion for the Road Home program and for authorizing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Listed on the ad will be Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Governor-elect Bobby Jindal, members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation and organizations that are partnering with the LRA in the "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign. The website and advertisement are being funded through private donations to the LRA Support Foundation.

The website launch and ad placement will coincide with the start of the Governor and Governor-elect's thank you tour to Washington, where they will meet with Congressional leaders to express appreciation for their bi-partisan efforts in support of Louisiana's recovery.
"Last week's banner news was an answer to prayer for so many people who are fighting every day to rebuild their lives. We know they will want to join us in acknowledging the actions Congress took on their behalf," said Governor Blanco, an honorary chair of the campaign.
Governor-elect Jindal serves as an honorary co-chair, along with other members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation: Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Richard H. Baker, Rep. James O. McCrery, Rep. William Jefferson, Rep. Rodney Alexander and Rep. Charles Boustany, Jr. and Rep. Charlie Melancon.

Congress made two major investments in Louisiana's recovery last week. It put into law the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorized nearly $7 billion to restore critical hurricane and flood protection infrastructure in Louisiana. And it passed the Continuing Resolution attached to the Defense Appropriations Bill, making a $3 billion pledge to Louisiana homeowners to ensure they receive their Road Home grants to rebuild and recover. This appropriation, which the President is expected to sign, will cover 90 percent of the Road Home's projected $3.3 billion cash deficit. The LRA and Governor Blanco have worked with the Congressional delegation and Congressional leaders for months to secure the funding.
"The $3 billion toward the Road Home Program included in the defense funding legislation recently passed in the House and the Senate is a great victory for our state and a critical step in ensuring the federal government keeps its commitment to the people of Louisiana," Governor-elect Jindal said. "We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the American people and our government as they aid in the continuing recovery of thousands of Louisianians. Many people have put their lives on hold, waiting to rebuild on the promise that they will receive the recovery funds they need. We must do everything we can to make sure this promise is kept.
"This funding toward the Road Home Program along with the override of the President's veto of WRDA - which works toward securing $3 to over $7 billion in hurricane protection and coastal restoration - is a vital step in advancing our state's recovery and strengthening our future. Additionally, these victories show that Louisiana's leaders are committed to working together, and I want to express my personal thanks to Governor Blanco and every Louisiana member of Congress, from every party and every part of our state - all of whom voted for this legislation. We are united by our dedication to helping our state and that common commitment will continue to benefit Louisiana for years to come," he said.

Several organizations have joined the "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign. They include the African American Leadership Project; America's Wetland; Baton Rouge Area Chamber; Center for Planning Excellence; Citizens Road Home Action Team; Community Foundation of Acadiana; Fleur de Lis Ambassadors; Friends of New Orleans; Greater New Orleans Community Data Center; Greater New Orleans, Inc.; Greater New Orleans Foundation; Jefferson Chamber of Commerce; Jeremiah Group; La. 1 Coalition; Levees.org; Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation; Louisiana Family Recovery Corps; LouisianaRebuilds.info; Louisiana Speaks; Louisiana Serve Commission; NewOrleansBlack.com; New Orleans Chamber; NewOrleansOnline.com; New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity; New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce; Office of the Lt. Governor; Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance; St. Bernard Economic Development Commission; St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce; and Urban League of Greater New Orleans; and Women of the Storm.
"As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to show members of Congress, the President and the American people how much we appreciate their continued support. We know that Louisianians everywhere will want to join us in the effort," said David Voelker, a member of the boards of both the LRA and the LRA Support Organization.

The Lieutenant Governor's Office oversees the Louisiana Serve Commission, whose mission is to coordinate volunteer efforts, national service and Americorps activities across the state. "The people of our state are particularly thankful to the volunteers and faith-based organizations that have taken part in the rebuild of the Gulf Coast. In all, more than 500,000 have volunteered," Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu said. "The American spirit of service has rekindled hope in Louisiana - fueling our recovery and helping a piece of American soil stand up."
To sign up your organization as a partner in the Louisiana Gives Thanks campaign, contact christina.stephens@la.gov.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

Supporting BluePrint Louisiana

Greetings everyone, Last week was a busy one for Blueprint Louisiana. The steering committee has formed legislative action teams charged with drafting legislation encompassing each of the five reform items we are all championing. These teams meet periodically and are composed of key members of the house and senate, subject matter experts on various issues, members of Blueprint Louisiana's steering committee, and a host of other individuals. Last week these teams met to begin drafting legislation and the results were extremely positive. In the weeks to come, i'll continue to keep everyone up to date on the activities of these important teams. Additionally, one of Blueprint Louisiana's College Captains has initiated a campus organization at LSU to support our efforts. Blueprint Louisiana at LSU will recruit members to meet periodically to discuss Blueprint Louisiana's recommendations and carry out promotional activities on campus. This is a great effort that we hope can be replicated on other college campuses across the state.As a reminder, we've created a new web page for the young leaders initiative that requires everyone to re-register as a Regional Ambassador. If at all possible, please take a minute at some point today to register if you have not already done so: www.blueprintlouisiana.org/youngleaders
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE:Growing our team of Regional Ambassadors and College Captains is extremely important to Blueprint Louisiana's mission. While we have a healthy and growing group of Regional Ambassadors in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the Northshore; we are very weak in Monroe/Ruston, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Houma/Thibodaux, and especially Shreveport.I want to ask everyone to please invite other community-minded, young leaders to join our effort, especially in the weak areas mentioned above. Any help on this would be tremendously appreciated...Thanks to everyone for your continued support, please don't hesitate to call or email with anything. It's time to create the state we deserve!!!!Wes
Wesley A. GautreauxBlueprint Louisianawes@blueprintlouisiana.org
Office: 225.408.1965Toll Free: 866.483.3920Mobile: 337.519.8301 Fax: 225.767.6802

Boards and Commission Service

Have you ever complained about a city government issue or groaned about the betterment of our Baton Rouge? New plan of government changes have ushered in new opportunities for municipal boards and commission service. We probably all agree that there is a significant opportunity gap between the “old” folks wishing they could give up some of their extra community service and young folks hungry for change. Now is your time to stop groaning and engage in Baton Rouge and get involved. Service on boards and commission is a great way to experience public service and begin your assent. Please review and share the information below and consider applying for any of the number of B&C openings for 2008. Baton Rouge needs your leadership.

UPCOMING OPENINGS

Library Board of Control has 2 new vacancies. Applications are due on January 3rd, 2008. Council will consider on January 9th, 2008.
Planning Commission has 2 new vacancies. 1 appointment is required to be within the City limits. 1 appointment is required to be outside the City Limits within Parish. Applications are due on January 3rd, 2008. Council will consider on January 9th, 2008.
Find other upcoming vacancies online: http://www.brgov.com/dept/council/expire.asp

HOW TO APPLY

Persons interested in serving should contact the Council Administrator-Treasurer’s Office at 389-3123 for additional information. I called Dorothy at the listed number was faxed the attached information. Please call to assure all steps for your application are completed timely.

SEVEN STEPS FOR SUCCESS

IDENTIFY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF INTEREST
Get the list of Boards and Commissions and identify the boards you may be interested in. Visit http://www.brgov.com/dept/council/boards.asp for all boards and http://www.brgov.com/dept/council/expire.asp for upcoming vacancies.
INVESTIGATE
Is there a vacancy? What are the requirements for that vacancy?
When and where does the Board or Commission meet?
Who appoints members?
GET SUPPORT AND APPLY
Contact local organizations you’ve served and ask for letters of recommendations.
Contact your state senator, representative, political party leaders, city manager and community supports for letters of recommendation.
If possible, attend a meeting of the Board or Commission of interest and get support from current board members or commissioners.
MAKE CONTACT
Visit with your Metro-Council or local representative and make sure they are committed to championing you through the process.
Arrange phone conversations and sit-down meetings with as many appointers (including all metro-council members if necessary) as possible to promote your application, interest, and experience.
BE PRESENT
Make sure you and as many of your supports as possible attend the vacancy appointment meeting. Say hello to anyone you know to keep the pressure. If you’ve done your contact work, everyone in the room should know how serious you are about your public service commitment.
DON’T BE DISCOURAGED
Sometimes the Boards and Commissions you have an interest in do not have any vacancies, or there may be several individuals who are also interested. Look at other possibilities while keeping an eye on your first choice. The appointment process can take time. Have patience and check frequently on the status of your application.

WE NEED ENGAGED PEOPLE TO MAKE BATON ROUGE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY!

A FEW SIDE NOTES

BREC released a preliminary pathway corridor map: http://www.capp-online.org/
Forum 35 host upcoming (re)Inventing Redstick on Tuesday to discuss diversity in the capital city (press release attached)
Forum 35 with All Star Automotive hosts Reindeer Run 2007 along side the Festival of Lights downtown: http://www.reindeer-run.com/


PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE AND HELP US STACK THE DECK FOR 2008

Share with friends through a private message.
Share with your organizations and have the message included in emails.
Share with colleagues at work or professional affiliates who may have an interest in a particular opportunity.

This Is My Symphony...

"William Henry Channing's Symphony"by Arthur Brisbane(an editorial from the Hearst Newspapers, ca. 1920)

THE THOUGHT--

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.

Best Places to Drink...

Need I say More?


Dive Bar Tour...

• FROM DOWNTOWN TO COLLEGE DRIVE...
• Start at the Thirsty Tiger Tavern - downtown Baton Rouge under The Little Village Restaurant. 140 Main St Baton Rouge, LA 70801(225) 387-9799. It's a great "right after work spot." Usually pretty quiet.
• Past Time Lounge: – Dive Bar and restaurant in downtown. It is a bar and also serves pizza, poboys and light food, an LSU legend. – 252 South Boulevard
• After you eat, make your way over to the Perkin's Road Over Pass - see a list below. You can walk around and check out Zee Zee's, Duvics, Ivar's, and Chealsea's
• Happy Note Lounge - strongest mixed drinks in town - 3753 Perkins RdBaton Rouge, LA 70808(225) 383-1269
• Port Royal Bar - it's a complete hole in the wall right next to Waffle House. 2363 College Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70808(225) 201-9900. It's a great spot to end the night with Waffle Houst next door and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers 'round the back.

Sports Bars:

• Ivar’s – ( Sports Bar with a big screen TV and 16 TV monitors, Dive bar – 2954 Perkins Road, http://www.ivars.com/
• Champs Restaurant and Bar (it's a chain) at Townecenter. Little more upscpale, but good setup. http://www.champps.com/ 7425 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge - (225) 248-9333
• Sammy’s Grill – 8635 Highland Road, 8635 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge - (225) 766-9600
• Zippy's - home of the Rednick (half icee and half bourbon) - 3155 Perkins RdBaton Rouge, LA 70808, (225) 388-9000

LSU:

• Varsity Theatre - Is a bar is located in Baton Rouge just outside theNorth gates of LSU. It is a great bar which host a variety of events. TheVarsity has concerts by some of the biggest names in alternative/rockmusic. It also features retro, latin and other dance nights - 3553 Highland Rd.
• The Chimes - all-time classic with tons of beer on tap. Do not leave Baton Rouge without visiting The Chimes!

Under the Overpass:

• Zee Zee Garden’s - Popular Irish pub, play your own music on the juke box,drink green beer on St. Patrick’s Day - 2904 Perkins Road
• Duvic’s– Great place to get a martini – 2854 Kalurah Street
• Ivar’s – lots of premium draft beers- 2954 Perkins Road

Favorite Places to Shop

My personal favorites are below:

Buying unique furniture:

Christian Street Furniture
Address: 7474 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: (225) 925-3320


Shopping for groceries without going to Wal-Mart:

• Bocage Market: Locally owned - Calvin's Bocage Market has THE BEST CHICKEN SALAD. You can buy it in containers near the Deli. Great for picnics. (225) 927-2051 7675 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge, LA
• Calandro's Supermarket
  (225) 383-7815
  4142 Government St Baton Rouge, LA
• Whole Foods (corner of Corporate Blvd and Jefferson)

Great Places for Slightly Upscale Shopping

• Bocage Market: (Corner of Jefferson and Corporate)
• Carraiges for Men and Ladies
• McLavey's for Men
• Paper N Things for Stationary
• Towne Center at Cedar Lodge (corner of Jefferson and Corporate)

Sporting Goods/Outdoors

• Varsity Sports on Perkins Road for running shoes and gear.
• The Backpacker on Jefferson Hwy near Bockage for Hiking/Camping Gear

Gifts

• The Royal Standard on Perkins for gifts.

Favorite Things to Do...

Favorite Places to Eat

Best and “Most Classic” Places to Eat in Baton Rouge:

Casual:

• George’s (Classic)—PoBoys - best oyster and shrimp poyboys and onion rings – 2943 Perkins Road or 8905 Highland Road
• The Chimes—An LSU tradition, at the N Gates of LSU, great food and tons of beers on tap – 3357 Highland Rd.
• Boutin’s– nightly Cajun bands to dance to, back deck that opens onto a bayou that you can feed the fish from the gum ball machine of fish food - 8322 Bluebonnet Boulevard
• Sammy’s- Classic neighborhood hangout, Great boiled seafood, Great place to grab a beer on Sunday’s - 8635 Highland Road
• Walk On’s—Good LSU atmosphere, overlooks Tiger stadium in the distance – 3838 Burbank Drive
• Past Times – Downtown Institution – 252 South Boulevard

More Upscale:

• Mansur’s - Great Crab & Brie soup, Seafood— 5720 Corporate Blvd.
• Juban’s - Creole, Seafood— 3739 Perkins & Acadian

Breakfast:

• Franks– best homemade biscuits and gravy - 8353 Airline Highway
• Louie’s – Best breakfast in town and an LSU Classic - 209 West State St.
• Coffee Call - must try the beignets – 3132 College Drive

Steak:

• Ruth’s Chris – 1st Franchise was based in Baton Rouge, It's the sizzle that sets them apart from the stuffy, stodgy, old-line steak houses – 4836 Constitution Avenue

Italian:

• Digulio’s—Great neighborhood restaurant, Small, Italian— 2903 Perkins Rd.
• Ruffino’s—Great Italian and Louisiana food, owned by Ruffin Rodrigue— 18811 Highland Rd.
• Gino’s—Italian, Upscale— 4542 Bennington, off College Dr.

Asian:

• Tsunami– Upscale, trendy scene, best view in Baton Rouge overlooking the Mississippi River Bridge – Downtown at 100 Lafayette St.
• Koto (3023 College Dr.) or Kamado’s (4612 Bennington) —Sushi

Burgers:

• Riverside Patty – huge bacon cheeseburger & fried pickles – Downtown 336 3rd St

Pizza:

• Fleur de Lis – Most classic and best pizza in Baton Rouge – 5655 Government

Home Cooking:

• Zeeland St. Market – Home cooking - 2031 Perkins Road

Mexican:

• Superior Grill – Great Margarita’s – 5435 Government Street
  

Bar-B-Q:

• T.J. Rib’s – best ribs in town, LSU institution – 2324 South Acadian Thruway
  

Downtown Scene:

• Tsunami – Great Asian cooking and sushi. Has a lounge in addition to the restaurant. It also has a cool outdoor patio that looks out over the Mississi River. - 100 Lafayette St.
  
• Roux House – The Roux House features a lounge in addition to a restaurant that serves cajun food. It is a small club that is popular with the 20’s & 30’s crowd. It has added a great outdoor patio that is really packed on no-rain nights - 143 Third Street

Downtown Adventures

Things to Do Downtown...

Stop Window Shopping for Change!

Ya know, as the guy who likes to champion causes in town, I enjoy the adventure of visiting different cities and exploring them in ways that our community's infrastructure might not allow… in Chicago it’s checking out Navy Pier, looking at incredible architecture, and attempting to dent a piece of deep dish pizza!

Last weekend, I made a quick trip to Houston, whose public image is strongly connected to Enron, Exxon Mobil, Halliburton, and other oil giants. It’s so easy to overlook the Astros, the cities new light rail transportation, one of the most concentrated theatre districts in the country (second only to New York City), an impressive 300 miles of networked bike trails, a growing downtown, and much more. In my short visit, I managed to meet up with an old friend at his new loft downtown (a studio which used to be two hotel rooms in the Historic Rice hotel – renovated in the 90’s), checkout the incredible night life downtown, and head to Montrose Blvd (comparable to Spanishtown here). On Sunday, I took a few hours and biked downtown and jogged at the incredible Hermann Memorial Park with hundreds of other Houstonians.


It is hard to leave a great city without thinking… I wish we had or I wish things were more like this back home. In fact, nearly a hundred and fifty community leaders make an annual best practices pilgrimage to do just that – the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s annual Canvas trip heads to Portland this year and my bags are already packed!! I realized something on this trip to Houston, though. As I rode my mountain bike aside hundreds of bikers in Houston all wearing helmets, crazy spandex, and riding bikes that cost much more than my great bike from Dirt Road Bikes, I realized that in that moment, what Houston had to offer couldn’t satisfy me. Familiar faces, seeing families playing together at the park or sitting on their porch, and the sense of being home. Instead, there was no pretense to my presence, I was window shopping… an outsider looking inside.

Oddly, my visit taught me much more than I expected. The lessons went beyond BR’s potential and into personal perception. First, window shopping is what it is – marketing. How often do you venture into a store and realize that there was a major discrepancy between perception and the reality – the environment wasn’t right, the clothes didn’t fit, or the people inside sucked! From now on, I want to go “inside” the city, veer away from the guided tour, and meet the real people who live and work and play there. Second, I realized that I’ve fallen into a vicious trap life often sets for us. How often do we think if we could be more like someone else, we’d be happier? If we had a nicer house or if we looked as good as someone else, we’d be happier? As we mature, some of us are lucky enough to realize that we as individuals must be responsible for creating our own happiness and not allow others to control such an incredable feeling.

Just like people, cities too have their own personality… strengths… and weaknesses. Unlike people, the source of those traits is not connected to individuality, but to the collective will of large group and their manifestation of that will. Baton Rouge is no where close to having the 300 miles of bike trails that Houston has… but could we be using some of the same Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act funds they used to network and improve our current trails or invest in expanding the levee path to New Orleans as previously suggested? Spanishtown might never being booming in the same ways as Montrose Blvd – but Montrose Blvd is never going to have a Spanishtown Parade and we’ll let them keep the prostitution, too. We might not ever have a Herman Memorial Park, but we’ll have an incredible city park, next to our LSU Lakes, next to the incredible Louisiana State University. Now, can we clean up the lake, add a dog park, and add some landscaping? – absolutely! We just have to make a collective push to do so. My question to you is... how do we get a critical mass behind issues and what are the “right” issues for our community to change?

The Splendid Torch...

A quote by the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw..

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations”.

The duty of our generation...

This qoute by Elie Wiesel...

This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century -- solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.

Crops without plowing up the ground...

A quote from Frederick Douglass in a Letter to an abolitionist associate...

"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will."

• Source: Douglass, Frederick. [1849] (1991) Letter to an abolitionist associate. In Organizing For Social Change: A Mandate For Activity In The 1990s. Edited by K. Bobo, J. Kendall, and S. Max. Washington, D.C.: Seven Locks Press.
• Visit http://www.buildingequality.us/Quotes/Frederick_Douglass.htm

Our deepest fear...

The Original Quote by Marianne Williamson in her book A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Where You've Seen It:

• Mandela: Inauguration Address - Cape Town, 09 May 1994, via South Africa Government Online Official Web site.