Articles for January 14th, 2010
Lucky Shakes His Money Maker for Office Happy Hour
As mentioned earlier, the good folks from Bolsa were kind enough to bring their special brand of mixcraft to our staff meeting. You see here a gentleman by the name of Lucky mixing up a Kentucky buck for me (Maker’s, white peach purée, lime, Peychaud’s bitters, ginger beer). I highly recommend it. (Statement of material connection: Lucky and I are now dating. And he didn’t charge me for the drink.)
Very Little Work to Be Done in D Offices for Remainder of Day
We are having our all-staff quarterly meeting this afternoon for the first time in our fancy new office (thanks, Gensler!). Afterward, we will have refreshments. I bring you two pics of what the boys from Bolsa have done to our kitchen.
Ben Fountain on How to Help Haitians
Noted local author Ben Fountain has spent a lot of time in Haiti. He has made more than 30 trips to the island nation. So I asked him where his head is at right now and how people can best donate to the relief effort. He said he’ll have an op-ed piece in the DMN this Sunday and that he’s trying to wrangle his way down to Haiti right now. Also:
A few of my friends are accounted for and seem to be basically okay (as of now). But no word of or from many others. Haiti is a very tough place to live, and it just got a lot tougher. The best thing that most of us in Dallas and North Texas can do for Haitians is to send money to one or more of the very fine aid organizations working in Haiti. Here are two suggestions: Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org) and Partners in Health (www.pih.org). The Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Save the Children, St. Joseph’s Home for Boys — all of these groups are also doing outstanding work, and any one of them would make good use of your donation.
AT&T, Dr Pepper Shut Out of Super Bowl XLV Fun
After our discussion about the sponsors of Super Bowl XLV, the CEO of the North Texas Host Committee, Bill Lively, told me today that there are seven other possible “founding $1 million sponsors” in some stage of negotiation. While it’s unlikely that all seven of those will come through, he said he’s confident that they’re close to securing deals with at least two of them, possibly a third.
Two North Texas companies that won’t be among those are AT&T and Dr Pepper. Both would love to be involved with supporting the efforts behind the Feb. 6, 2011, game at Cowboys Stadium, according to Lively. The Host Committee would love to accept $1 million donations from each of them, and believes that it would have already, except that the NFL’s rules have gotten in the way.
Gretel C. Kovach Leaves Our Fair City for San Diego and the Union-Tribune
Loyal readers of the “print product” will recognize the name Gretel C. Kovach from her byline in the magazine. Gretel was a contributing editor for us for two years, during which stint she wrote about the nasty Hunt vs. Hunt battle, the rise and fall of Eleanor Mowry Sheets, and, most recently, some unsavory goings-on within Dallas Fire-Rescue. Her last story for us will appear in the March issue, as Gretel has accepted a new post that will take her to beautiful San Diego. It is with some sadness that I tell you she’s taken a job as a military affairs correspondent for the Union-Tribune. She hopes to travel to Afghanistan this summer to report on the Marine Corps surge of troops from Camp Pendleton.
Gretel is a fine writer, a dogged reporter, and a joy to have a beer with. We’ll miss her, and we wish her safe travels.
Russ Martin to Deliver Donation to Widow of Fallen Arlington Officer
Yesterday, I pointed folks to the Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation, if they cared to contribute. The foundation gives money to the families of police officers killed in the line of duty. As you know, Arlington motorcycle officer Craig Story died Wednesday in a crash. Martin e-mails to say:
Today I’ll be driving to Arlington to drop off a check on behalf of my listeners/supporters for $35,000 for Danielle Story. Ain’t meeting the chief, family, nobody — just dropping off an envelope at the front desk. I don’t like meeting people.
Good on Russ Martin and the folks who gave the money. Our thoughts are with the Storys.
Of Haiti and Lessons in Leadership
By all accounts American Red Cross president and CEO Gail McGovern (pictured) has done a stellar job buffing the group’s image and whittling its deficit from $209 million to $35 million. But the former Harvard Business School marketing prof, in town this week to hobnob with a former president and some of the area’s biggest corporate chieftans, seemed to miss some opportunities for leadership as the Haiti crisis broke late Tuesday afternoon. (more…)
Did Those Conventioneers Really See the Best Dallas Has to Offer?
It has been my long-held belief that one of Dallas’ draws for conventioneers is its upscale topless bars. Don’t believe me. Educate yourself. So I asked Michael Precker, PR man for the Lodge, whether anyone from the recently concluded Professional Convention Management Association’s convention made it out for a lap dance or three. He wasn’t in town this past weekend and can’t say for certain whether anyone from the PCMA dropped by, but he did say this:
We actually had a very strong weekend and first part of this week. If it’s conventioneers, we’re delighted to have them. Whether or not the city acknowledges us, we’re proud of Dallas and the part we play in bringing people here. Too bad we couldn’t be part of that video. Our favorite convention, by the way, is the Promisekeepers. When they’re in town, this place is packed.
He assured me that he was not making up that last part, which makes me happy.
Evan Grant Named Texas Sportswriter of the Year (Again)
Evan Grant, who, as you know, now works for the Dallas Morning News (again), has been named the Texas Sportswriter of the Year. Again. The award is given out by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. If memory serves, he has won the honor two of the past three years. The body of work under consideration for the award was InsideCorner, our short-lived and dearly departed sports blog. Congrats to Evan. And again to the Morning News: you’re welcome.
Leading Off (1/14/10)
1. You know what’s unfortunate—being bad at your job. Especially when that job is being a robber. Watch Mr. Robber in this video. You’ll see him get reprimanded repeatedly by Marian Chadwick, feisty store owner. A man is standing in front of her, aiming a gun at her, and she squares up her shoulders and tells him, “In the name of Jesus, I command you to get out of my store right now.” She looks like a mom scolding her child. And unlike Mr. Robber, she’s good at what she does.
2. Holly Bridier is thankful for Doc David Genecov, who is very good at his job. He’s giving Holly an ear (she was born with one and with a condition that caused half her face to grow at a different pace than the other half of her face). And the best part? Dr. Genecov is even piercing her ears, so for the first time in her 10 years, she can wear earrings.
3. While some are frantically trying to get loved ones out of Haiti, others are trying to get back in. One family from Southlake heard from their son in Haiti, who’s fine. When Gail McGovern from the Red Cross in Dallas promised $1 million Wednesday to help those in Haiti, she had no idea that that number would be exceeded in the same day because of oh-so-handy technology. This is one of those examples of everybody doing the best job possible in order to help others.
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