Write a plan for quickly form a network of independent business partner who I’m partners with who each partner with their favorite local public library. The revised plan will be the first page on my “partners only” blog. Our purpose, to strengthen the voice of the common man in his family and with his friends. The only requirements for membership, which is free, and to follow our traditions and concepts, in part borrowed from our friends who are also active members in Alcoholics Anonymous or Alanon, and who have read Richard Roar’s “BREATHING UNDER WATER.”
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Sunday, September 01, 2024
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Memories
Written and posted here in 2002:
Did you read this Wall Street Journal column over the weeked? In the WSJ google link to it we are told that “amid disruption and decentralization, don’t neglect the benefits of hierarchy.” In other words structure beats chaos.
This after decades of being told to thrive on chaos.
I’m face-to-face with the question of hierarchy again thinking about the hubris of writing this to you right now, instead of just sharing these thoughts at a Socrates Cafe or a Franklin Circle as I have for this past couple of decades. It seems like I’ve wrestled with hierarchy and authority ever since my bride walked towards me and our classmate from Cornell College started playing Trumpet Voluntary.
Ronald Rolheiser in his meditation this morning on the baptism of the first Christian that we are each the beloved. And we have been, just as John the Baptist had been, but in Rolheiser’s gospel passage this moring John said he was a slave. What gives John this humility?
Anyone who has watched MindHunter on Netflix knows the answer: his mother.
John the Baptist was born a few months before Jesus, but he never has the financial success Jesus enjoyed. (If you don’t think Jesus had to worry about money just because he could make water into wine and the rest didn’t think carefully about what happened immediately after Jesus’ baptism, spending 40 days in the desert and getting clear it was not ok to use his power like a North Korean dictator.)
Two Jewish mothers, one telling those around him just before his first miracle, when his fundraising project was just getting off the ground, “do whatever he tells you.” Is it any wonder John stayed humble?
As a consultant I’ve helped newspapers convert from free to paid circulation. It is very difficult. We all find it difficult to start paying for what we’ve alway gotten for free. There are other examples of this. One in particular comes to my mind.
But it is not impossible. I know because of my newspaper experience, among other things.
Years ago I tried to get contributions from those who attended one of the Socrates Cafes I’d organized. Made a compelling, I thought, argument on a flier, gave it to everyone at the end of the 90 minute gathering along with a 30 second “elevator talk” about why I deserve to be paid. Big mistake. One man who had been attending regularly himself and had even started bringing his wealthy parents never came back.
Maybe it would have gone better if I’d served them wine.
All this to warm you up for my new, big, free idea: why not franchise the Colorado Caucus? Don’t judge this until I give you the details. But don’t forget, if you want to get in on the ground floor you have to affiliate with one of the major political parties by midnight today. You can do it online. In Denver I suggest you become a Democrat, In Douglas County a Republican, at least I think that’s still the majority party there.
I’ll tell you more here tomorrow.
In the meantime, share this with your friends. Print copies, share it on the Internet, feature it in your newspaper. Whoever reads it because of you will most likely thank you, and so will I tomorrow right here if you let me know what you’ve done.
“I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” Will Rogers
John Wren www.JohnWren.com is a long-time community activist. He has created front page news throughout his life, starting when he was a Senior at Thomas Jefferson High School and his picture was on the front page of the Rocky Mountain News and featured in the Denver Post. When he was in graduate school at the University of Denver he helped Karl Rove give College Republican workshops that were so effective they were called “dirty tricks” in the Washington Post. Yesterday he became a Democrat. Again. You can too, click here to register to vote or to change your party affiliation. After reading the Wall Street Journal this weekend and thinking about the baptism of Jesus this morning he has decided to try a daily newspaper column one last time. We’ll see.
Tears come to my eyes as I write the above as the thought of my friend Gene Amole saying, “Good luck with it pal. Be sure to sit by a Catholic girl if you can, that’s the only reason to ever let some paper force you into he newsroom.”
Saturday, July 20, 2024
KILLING TIME
Online with John Wren +++
(303)861-1447
FROM ChatGPT
Here's the revised preface with the additional footnote for Tim McGovern:
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## Preface
Writing has always been a significant part of my journey, and the inspiration to take it seriously came from an unexpected source during my tenure as the Public Relations Director for Sentinel Newspapers. It was there that I met Tim McGovern, a remarkable man whose passion for writing was palpable. Tim held weekly brown bag sessions for all the reporters and editorial writers, which I had the privilege to attend. His reference point was William Zinsser’s seminal work, *On Writing Well*, a book that he credited with honing his craft.
Over the years, I delved into Zinsser’s other books and numerous articles, one of which was particularly impactful. In an article for *American Scholar*, Zinsser discussed the art of writing an autobiography, emphasizing the importance of crafting it one chapter at a time. This piece resonated deeply with me, laying the groundwork for the journey I am about to embark on with you, dear reader.
This book, "Killing Time With Wren," is not just a collection of stories; it is a chronicle of moments that have shaped my life, each written with the intention of sharing the wisdom and insights I've gathered along the way. The title reflects a whimsical yet profound journey through time, one that I hope will resonate with you as much as it has with me.
Each week, I will sit down to write, sharing my thoughts, experiences, and reflections, which will then be posted on my blog, [JohnWren.com](http://www.johnwren.com), or on a new blog specifically created for this purpose. This process will also be the foundation of my new weekly podcast, aptly named "Killing Time With Wren."
The plan is straightforward: I will self-publish these chapters on Amazon's Creative Commons, as I have done with previous works, with the hope of eventually attracting a traditional publishing house. The goal is to produce a best-seller, not just for the accolade, but to enable me to buy meaningful and cherished Christmas gifts for my family and friends—a gesture of love and appreciation that I hold dear (or so I've heard; this will be my first, and at age 77, possibly last, time doing it myself).
This book is dedicated to Tim McGovern, who, God bless his soul, inspired me to embrace writing with the seriousness and passion it deserves. It is also a tribute to William Zinsser, whose teachings continue to guide my pen. I invite you to join me on this journey, one chapter at a time, as we explore the myriad experiences that make up a life well-lived.
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*Footnote:*
Tim McGovern (October 22, 1947 - December 24, 2020) was a distinguished writer and editor who worked at Sentinel Newspapers, owned by Cowles Media in Minneapolis, MN. Known for his dedication to the craft of writing, Tim contributed significantly to the journalistic community through his prolific writing and editorial work. His career spanned various roles, including city hall reporter for The Denver Post, managing editor of the Durango Herald, and editor-in-chief of the suburban Sentinel Newspapers. He also founded Power Points, Inc., which ran successful sports contest promotions for newspapers nationwide [oai_citation:1,Tim McGovern Obituary (1947 - 2020) - Denver, CO - Denver Post](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/denverpost/name/tim-mcgovern-obituary?id=7563715) [oai_citation:2,Tim McGovern Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information](https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/tim-mcgovern-obituary?pid=197408201) [oai_citation:3,Tim McGovern Obituary (2021) - Legacy Remembers](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/tim-mcgovern-obituary?id=7568476).
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Is there anything else you would like to add or adjust?
Monday, May 20, 2024
Dialogue Groups: Watch1 Lead1 Start1. For free membership write JohnScottWren@gmail.com.
If you have a question that doesn’t get answered stick around after or call John Wren and leave a message while it is still on your mind. 25/7 call (303)861-1447.
John Scott Wren has invited you to join a video meeting on Google Meet.
Name: Socrates Cafe Society Open Dialogue
Time: Friday, May 31, 6 or 6:30 – 8:00 PM MDT
Join the meeting: https://meet.google.com/kym-ftfd-rzq
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