A budget of line items and amounts would make sense to some. Ultimately such a list is
only nearly correct in hindsight. I have rarely seen one as an accurate predictor. I put
the story forward to illustrate the fact that we need to flexibly take advantage of whatev-
er opportunities may be presented; as long as they promote our basic goals of building
creative community and economy.
only nearly correct in hindsight. I have rarely seen one as an accurate predictor. I put
the story forward to illustrate the fact that we need to flexibly take advantage of whatev-
er opportunities may be presented; as long as they promote our basic goals of building
creative community and economy.
Our original plan was to import expertise into the area by sending people off on scholar-
ships to schools were high quality crafts were taught. Despite thousands of mailings, we
got only one application for the scholarship. That one granted, we heard not one more
word from its recipient. Not what we had in mind for community building. We are now
presented with an opportunity, still far from concrete, too purchase large quantities of
high quality books on subjects related to creativity, for outlandishly low prices.Our
plan is to use them to “import expertise into the region.” First by building a library here
at the Homeplace, then by selling them cheaply to interested parties, and lastly by pre-
senting them to the parish library systems in the region.
ships to schools were high quality crafts were taught. Despite thousands of mailings, we
got only one application for the scholarship. That one granted, we heard not one more
word from its recipient. Not what we had in mind for community building. We are now
presented with an opportunity, still far from concrete, too purchase large quantities of
high quality books on subjects related to creativity, for outlandishly low prices.Our
plan is to use them to “import expertise into the region.” First by building a library here
at the Homeplace, then by selling them cheaply to interested parties, and lastly by pre-
senting them to the parish library systems in the region.
One young man who comes regularly to community days has offered to teach caning, or
rush seat weaving. It is not a skill on the list we most wanted to promote, but we have
ordered his material. We will take advantage of the expertise that is offered and share it
as broadly as possible.
rush seat weaving. It is not a skill on the list we most wanted to promote, but we have
ordered his material. We will take advantage of the expertise that is offered and share it
as broadly as possible.
We were offered, and accepted, a large collection of material used to tie flies. I accepted
it hoping that it would find some good use. Not long afterward, a guy showed up to
teach tying flies.
it hoping that it would find some good use. Not long afterward, a guy showed up to
teach tying flies.
Japanese Proverb: Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a night-
mare.
mare.
I can imagine few things more nightmarish than hundreds of creative people bringing
forth thousands of creative ideas, with no practical nuts and bolts method to record
them, evaluate them, safeguard them and turn them into wealth. We have a vision, and
some method of how to prime the creative pump of our region. The thing that makes
that exercise worthwhile, however, is building an organization competent to handle the
creative flow.
forth thousands of creative ideas, with no practical nuts and bolts method to record
them, evaluate them, safeguard them and turn them into wealth. We have a vision, and
some method of how to prime the creative pump of our region. The thing that makes
that exercise worthwhile, however, is building an organization competent to handle the
creative flow.
I have heard it said that working at Microsoft, certainly a creative community, was like
trying to drink from a fire hose.
trying to drink from a fire hose.
One of the first things we have to do is build a group of competent people to organize
and run Starr Homeplace. We have a lot of talent on our Board. Our Vice-Chair is a cor-
porate attorney, our Treasurer is a CPA, our
and run Starr Homeplace. We have a lot of talent on our Board. Our Vice-Chair is a cor-
porate attorney, our Treasurer is a CPA, our
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