Nov 6 2006
Some thoughts on the Second Annual American Democracy Project South
Has anyone heard whether Sylvia Lovely is Sylvia Lovely’s real name or a well-chosen
pseudonym? (I ask this mock question not to curry undue favor or offend her husband’s
side of the family, but as a way of acknowledging her obvious charm and enthusiasm for
civic engagement and city development). Her admonishment to remember perspective,
place and people, foreshadowed the rest of our time together, I thought.
Gregg Kaufman brings Christine Drummond, Ashley Bohanon, Emily Currington,
Barron Webster, Jake Caldwell, a batch of fresh ideas, and a passion for the polka. He
and Georgia College and State University (I am determined to not mess that up again) are
hard-charging, looking to be Georgia’s answer to Kentucky’s Morehead and Western.
How about those people bringing their campus signs, letting us know their pride? Such
announcements are about as close to commercial as we get, right? It seems something we
might want to promote. Bring your signs to answer Michael Ross at Kennesaw State next
year.
Consider our relationship with the NY Times. We get their financial support, prestige,
passion for excellence and they get the opportunity we offer to unite a number of their
partners for renewal and celebration. It helps greatly for our goals to be similar, to keep
citizens informed and inspired to participate. From “All the News That’s Fit to Print” to
“All the Work That’s Worth our Effort”.
So, how did Dashboard Confessional go? I did not get an account from anyone. Aside
from an intriguing name, what are they about?
George Mehaffy was a shot in the arm. His appearance is the sort of thing that can keep
us going for a while. I had mainly heard him introducing parts of conferences and
speakers. It was good to hear him wax passionate on the subject of Democracy and what
we must do to keep it. I particularly liked his Jerry Garcia quote: “Someone has to do
something and it’s just incredibly pathetic that is has to be us.” (Do such apt words result
from chemicals or are they examples of triumphs over chemicals? I would rather think
such insight comes from freeing your mind of useless things.)
If George Mehaffy is the face of ADP perhaps Greg Granger should be its hair. Gene
Hatfield could be the voice (how did you not wind up in radio or TV Gene?) Bev
McCormick could serve as its heart. (For most of the other body parts we might best turn
to the students.)
Hector LaSala and Geoff Gjertson are two more examples of how evolution stumbles on
happy circumstances, placing so many great architects in the state with the greatest need
for them right now, Louisiana. The thing about these architects is they understand
perspective, place and people.
I had a severe toothache during Ozier Muhammad’s presentation, but I was a real trooper
and did not complain about it, except a couple of times to Gene Hatfield. I am really
something am I not? Despite my pain, I was magnanimous enough to monitor those
around me and I got the feeling from hearing people occasionally gasping for air,
sniffling and other verbal reports, that his presentation must have been quite good indeed,
his pictures penetrating, his words poignant. The pain in my tooth may have caused me
to interpret it all wrong, but I left in tears. Perhaps those of you who were pain free
might be more objective in your reporting. Was it Ozier or my tooth making me cry, do
you suppose? Maybe next year the NY Times can send us a photojournalist with more of
a nack for capturing just the right image and maybe after I visit my dentist I will not have
a toothache (Lynn let’s talk, no offense or anything, but Ozier seemed a little lowpowered for our conference). That might allow for a better test of the impact of
photographs on my emotions.
While I am ranting, does anyone know who this Ken Sexton is and why he walked away
with so much of our hard plastic? I pledge to get to know him and a few others I barely
met at the conference, a little better over the coming years. I get the impression there are
things going on I don’t know about when it comes to inspiring students and other faculty.
Finally, there are the tubas and the polka. Back in the day, I fancied myself a pretty fair
country BBb Tubaists. Not only have they apparently gone to deeper C tubas with more
valves, but apparently these instruments play a lot faster than they did (or at least mine
did) thirty years ago or so. I cannot recall anyone ever dancing the polka when I played.
And by the way, Mary and Gregg appeared to be polka simpatico. What was up with
that?
Next year (evolution willing) we are back in Atlanta (breathe a prayer for Delta if you
pray,… specifically pray that Southwest buys them out). But before that, a number of us
will meet in January for planning, at Clayton State. The only ones who for sure will be in
Atlanta are Randy Manis and Christine Drummond, because Lynn will be paying their
way. Somehow, I get the feeling if they alone make it, ADP South will be in good hands.
Finally, Ashley Bohanon, let’s talk. With your leadership and my followership, perhaps
we can derive the right way for all of us to keep the ADP South conversation going this
coming year.