Saveyour.town
I hear often “our downtown is dead, what can we do about that?” It’s a question many chamber executives ask in rural America. A Little History It used to be the county seat was where people came and did their shopping. Women didn’t work outside of the home so shopping in their downtown was easier…
Save Feature in Facebook
I save articles on Facebook (little gray down arrow to the right of the article and you can choose save) and read them later. It’s an eclectic group of saves. I wanted to just give you an idea of the different things you can choose to read later. Sometimes I’ll save videos to watch on…
Sunday Update: 60
Let’s talk about life changes and how important it is to keep your head above the water line. Monday I turned 60. No big deal, just another year. Well .. apparently not. Mark Horvath said today “just because you bury toxic waste that doesn’t mean it goes away.” This whole business of being happy no…
Mini Course: Pop ups
Becky McCray, cattle rancher, liquor store owner and primary at www.smallbizsurvival.com, and I have partnered to bring you a mini course on popups – how to plan one, make it successful and have some fun while doing it. We are the proud owners of www.saveyour.town and our first course is a mini one. One of…
Sunday Update: Fargo
I’ve spent the last week since Wednesday in Fargo for the Misfit Conference 2015. A group of 150 people, all misfits, gathered together to experience culinary delights, art of all kinds, Shakespeare, speakers and each other. It was go go go from beginning to end. This is the 3rd year for the conference and as…
Sunday Update: Gator
It’s JunqueFest weekend in my town. It’s sponsored by the Chamber and Iowa Antique Network, hosted at Wilson Brewer Park and three days of fun. Over 80 vendors set up and sell their junque – architectural salvage, repurposed furniture, yard art, rusty metal, old farm pieces — you name it, it’s there. My job this…
Urbanism
Marc Winn and his co-founders recently launched the Dandelion Project in Guernsey which is all about bringing a community together to help create a better place for everybody to live in Dandelion Project. 65,000 inhabitants live on the island of Guernsey off the coast of Normandy, France. This dedicated group is changing their world – and…
The Power of Participation
I’m headed to Fargo next week. This is the third year for me, headed to the Misfit Conf. It’s a handcrafted event for artists, troublemakers and general riff raff. Designed, organized, crafted and presented as a true art treasure that it is by the Misfits, headed by AJ and Melissa Leon. AJ says “Misfit is a…
Tattoo: Peony for 60
I turn 60 June 1. It’s a real right of passage and one I’m ready to make. Last year at this time I got my 3rd tattoo – it was a misfit bird with the word ‘fly’ on the tail. My artist friend Jackie drew the design for me, and a local tattoo artist in…
Sunday Update: Rain and Shoes
So what do you do when it rains all the time? I want to ride my bike, but the roads are mushy and it’s raining. I get up every 45 minutes and walk around the office. I wear my UP band, and I’m consistently hitting 4,000 steps. But my goal is 10,000 steps. I’ll get…