Annual People's Fair Tanks.

Capitol Hill People's Fair has been "put on hold" for 2019.  Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) Team Player Productions will no longer produce the event. 

"The CHUN board of delegates will take the next few months to assess the situation, and we will reevaluate where to go from here." 303.830.1651 or Travis.Leiker@chundenver.org

Philosophy for CEOs, Startups and Serial Killers.

Socrates Cafe this evening at the University of Denver was excellent. Topic was Jung's idea that if we don't deal with the unconcious mind, we will never escape the shadow side of life.

Serial Killers? We may start including that in the title of the group, which is now "Socrates Cafe: Philosophy for CEOs, Startups, and Other Pioneers." Why the change?

Check out Netflix "MindHunters" if you haven't seen it already and you will understand. True story of FBI agents profiling serial killers who are joined by a psychologist who reads some of their interviews and realizes they fit the profile of the group she studies, CEOs. Really.

Join Julie Monday evening for the new Socrates Cafe near the Tech Center in the Castlewood Library, I'll be at the Englewood Library Tuesday evening, check them and others out at www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society 

Jordan Peterson is here in Denver tomorrow. Amazingly it is not sold out as is the usual case at all his talks, and I've not seen any advertising. I just Tweeted President Trump, suggested he join Peterson on the stage tomorrow. We'll see.

I'll post my reaction to what Peterson shares tomorrow right here and on the Startup Show. Have a blessed Sunday. +++

Want to make this your startup week?

Do you want to start a new career? A new project or campaign? A new business? This life is short, start now! Here's how I can help you:

Take a short break each morning Monday thru Friday with me as I talk about startup, live at 10 a.m. MDT, 9 Pacific, noon Eastern or any time after via recording, both on my Facebook Page John S Wren MBA+ (click here.) Your Facebook Message to me there will be answered the same day during or after the live broadcast at 10.

Read my little book on startup Daring Mighty Things, the Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business. (click here)

Check out the free face-to-face meetings with me here in metro-Denver through my Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc (click here) and ask me about helping your local chamber start similar free meetings with our help (I'll help for free if you will, or we can split the net proceeds, call me for the details.)

Questions? Call me and leave a complete, confidential message for me, I'm the only one with the code to the voice mail box. Take as much time as you need, be sure you tell me what you are hoping I can do for you. Call now, 24/7, while it is on your mind. I'd hate us to miss this opportunity to work together. Call now (303)861-1447

If you post a message on my Facebook Page or send me a message from there, post a question during my live 10 a.m. broadcast, or leave a telephone message, I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

If you'd prefer to not leave a telephone message and would rather meet together attend on of the free SBCC meetings here in metro-Denver. For more see our SBCC Meetup site www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber 

Startup Show at noon today!

Join us via link right here at noon for the Startup Show.
Link will be posted right here just before noon.

If there is a technical problem and it's not possible to post a link:

Check our www.Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber
Twitter @IDEACafe

Or see the Small Business Chamber site
www.SmallBizChamber.org

Join us this evening or tomorrow or next Tuesday for
Socrates Cafe see www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society

Today on the startup show: self-directed learning as a tool for
doing well while doing good. To be a guest on the Startup Show
call me to schedule a date and time for my interview with you.
Call over the weekend or Monday (720)495-4949

New! Free! Better Online Franklin Circle.

A new Better Online Franklin Circle (click here) is now forming. Join Better, the new app, by clicking to the left, if you like it join (it's free) and check out our new Better Online Franklin Circle and consider co-leading or joining!

Want free help? See my new offer on Linked In Profile (click here).

The SBCC (Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc click here) Join us! We offer real help from real people to business owners, entrepreneurs,  consultants, accountants, and lawyers who want to find their first or  next great customer.

The SBCC Method is comprised of  7 Practices: Recover, Imagine, Think, Learn; to Start, Grow, and Flourish. 

Contact me if you want to start a new hyper-local SBCC branch office in your neighborhood to help your neighbors start new careers, new projects or campaigns, and new businesses.

The first step towards opening a new branch office is for you to take an hour or so and read my little book Daring Mighty Things, available to down load right now on Amazon (click here.)

Then attend a free meeting in Denver, and if you like it we will give you free help to start a SBCC group in cooperation with your local community newspaper, local bank, association and service club or other group offering a free monthly IDEA Cafe (Imagine); free Socrates Cafe (Think); and Franklin Circles (Learn.) 

More info and optional rsvp (walk-ins welcome) at https://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber (click here) 

If you have questions call me right now while it's on your mind. Leave a complete confidential message, I'll have a volunteer get back to you ASAP. Call now, I'd hate for us to miss this opportunity to work together.  (720)495-4949

Startup Show

Start a Socrates Cafe in Your Neighborhood.

"Lilly" Allie Wren 2017

Starting a new group is like learning a new medical procedure, just more fun.

A nurse attended an IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop. We usually talk about the value of getting a job in the direction of your dream, to learn from people who are already doing something similar to what you want to do.

"That reminds me of what they taught us in nursing school," she said. "When a new procedure came out we were told to watch one, do one, and then teach one."

To start a new Socrates Cafe, I suggest you attend one, lead one, start one. Or just read Chris Phillips book "Socrates Cafe." That's what I did.

There is a great need here in Denver and across Colorado for new Socrates Cafes. Right now there is one on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Tuesday evening. Attend one soon, you are very welcome to lead one whenever you want, then start one at a time and place that will word for you. See www.Meetup.com/Socrates-Cafe-Society.

Call me if you have any questions, or post your question here as a comment. If you post, please call to let me know to look for it if I don't answer by the end of the day.

John Wren
(720)495-4949

Are you happy? #2

Why I fight for the grassroots.

Or maybe a better headline would be "DO YOU want to be happy? #2"

It occurs to me that to understand what happened next with me and George (see yesterday's post) you need a little bit of background about me. Even if you are in my family there are things you probably don’t know.

First, I believe this little book about startup was divinely inspired. It’s been selling online ever since it first came out and I’ve never had a negative review. Check it out: click or copy and paste into your browser: 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=John+Wren+Daring+Mighty+Things

Did you have a chance to read yesterday's post? I’m not sure why there were no comments, according to Google it was downloaded over 100 times. Did you see it? I hope you'll share it and this post with any of your friends who are starting in a new direction with their work or who want to make a career change.

I’ll talk more about my background, how my little book came into being, and what all this has to do with happiness on today’s Startup Show. Link to it here at Noon MST (2 p.m. Eastern) or you can watch live or by recording via the same link.

Your positive comments, including constructive criticism, are welcome below:

If you are in Denver now or if you will be soon, join me at one of our Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc's free, live meetings (click here.) No rsvp is ever required, but if you do we will save a seat for you until the start of the meeting. If you have a question about them or anything I post here, call me ok? John Wren (720)495-4949

See you back here tomorrow?

Socrates Cafe, join us!

We pick a topic, share our thoughts, ask each other questions.
Fridays and Saturdays, more info and optional RSVP at

More info and optional RSVP at http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society

Martha Jane (Janie Edwards) Wren

Jane Wren, 89, of Denver passed away on September 20, 2014. A memorial service, “Tutu’s Aloha” will be held at 11am on Monday, September 29, 2014 in the Chapel of Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80222 with the Rev. Dr. John Bell and Rev. Dr. Cynthia Cearley officiating, A private family burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery.  Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery of Denver is in charge of arrangements. Hawaiian attire is optional. There will be a public viewing on the day before, Sunday 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Crown Hill Mortuary located at 7777 W 29^th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.

Martha Jane “Janie” Edwards Wren was born in Cave Springs, Arkansas on July 21, 1925 unto Fitzhugh Lee and Myrtle “Myrna” (Glass) Edwards.

Jane grew up in Amarillo TX, graduating from Amarillo High in 1943. She participated in various school activities including cheerleading and she was crowned “Queen of Amarillo High” in 1943 and later voted Most Popular.  It was while in high school she met her sweetheart John (J.E.) Edgar Wren. They were married on March 16, 1944 in the parsonage of First Baptist Church in Amarillo.

They moved to Loveland in 1949 to start J.E.’s new business, Western Merchants Wholesale Co.. Then in 1950 they moved their home and business to Denver. They were blessed with three sons, John Scott, Randy Mack and Jay Robin. J.E. passed away on November 15, 1979.

Jane was a homemaker who loved caring for her husband, their children and their home. She was a wonderful cook and while she enjoyed bowling, bridge and various games, her true love was golf. She was a longstanding member of the Ladies Golf Association at Pinehurst Country Club and the El Jebel Shriners Sand Blasters Golf Club. Jane especially loved to travel to various places but her favorite was Hawaii. She was affectionately called “Tutu” by her grandchildren, which means Grandmother in Hawaiian.  Jane was a member of Wellshire Presbyterian Church.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter in law, Mary Colleen Kenefick Wren, two grandchildren Jason Christopher Wren and Victoria Jane Wren, a brother Scott M. Edwards, Sr., her stepfather Mack D. Quarles and her close personal and family friend Ernie Snell.

Survivors include her sons, John Scott, Randy Mack and Jay Robin Wren all of Denver, her grandchildren, Regan Jane Wren Hall and her husband Tim of Denver, Brooke Elizabeth Wren Sisan and her husband Ned of Houston, TX John Thomas Wren, Allie Eliza Wren and Kathleen Jean “Katie” Wren Petcock and her husband William, all of Denver, her great grandchildren, Joshua and Monica Hall of Denver and Tyler and Jeffrey Sisan of Houston, TX, six nieces Sue Soltis of New Braunfels, TX, Karla Kay Mullins, Joan Carder, Ginger Rowell and June Miller all of Amarillo, TX, Betty Brashor of Carrollton, TX, two nephews Scott M. Edwards, Jr. of Amarillo, TX, Jack Barnwall of Las Vegas, NV, one great nephew David McCune and a great niece Kim McCune Jackson, one great-great nephew Dawson, two great-great- nieces Jennifer and Maddie , one great- great-great nephew A.J. and a great-great-great niece Sadie.

The family suggests memorial contributions to The American Cancer Society, Porter Hospice,  Al-Anon, or Wellshire Presbyterian Church.

Lessons from a Desperado Poet

Starting? Get this Baxter Black book about how he launched, we hope to get him on The Startup Show. http://baxterblack.com/ he's at Denver's National Western Stock Show and Rodeo tomorrow (Sun, Jan 19), noon to 3 pm Blue Ribbon Books booth.

I just emailed this to the 600 people who have joined our Small Business Chamber Meetup site. If you haven't yet, join now, whether you can attend this afternoon or not. See http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

HELP OUR ECONOMY! PLEASE FORWARD TO A FRIEND WHO IS STARTING IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH THEIR WORK. BETTER YET, CALL AND INVITE YOUR FRIEND!


Friday, November 29, 2013

Life is too short for any of us to learn from just our own experience!

Join us this afternoon for the Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop at 3:45 p.m. or the Denver IDEA Startup Salon at 2:30 p.m., both at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant.

Our Small Business Chamber IDEA Cafe is the workshop that I've led here in Denver for nearly 20 years. 5280 Magazine says it's infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for it any time you're headed in a new direction with your work. We say if we're successful you'll be too busy to come back the next week.

Our new IDEA Startup Salon is an open discussion meeting, we share startup experience about topics that are brought by those attending. Join us anytime you have a problem with your work as you start in a new direction, starting a new career, a new project or campaign, or a new business. Most who attend have already attended an IDEA Cafe, but that is not a requirement.

Right now we also have meetings in Englewood and Boulder County here in metro-Denver, we are getting more serious about getting groups kicked off in other parts of Denver, across Colorado, and possibly beyond. If you'd like our help getting a new group started in cooperation with your local chamber or other group give me a call.

For more information and to RSVP for an upcoming meeting, see http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

See you this afternoon?

John

John S. Wren, MBA+++
Co-Founder & CEO, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
www.SmallBizChamber.org   *  John@SmallBizChamber.org
960 Grant St. #727 * Denver, CO * 80203

Call 24/7, I'll get back to you ASAP (303)861-1447

Go+Groups, a new program for startups to generate earned income for Small Business Chamber, scholarships based on need will be offered.

This information went out to the local Denver media last

week. I didn't receive any calls about it, we'll try again.

It would be great to have you in a public Go+Group, no

cost, RSVP on  http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Those in these first public meetings will become our Go+Group

leaders. Call me if you have any questions. John (303)861-1447 

Longtime Denver Community Activist Asks for Volunteers and Donations.

Denver— Community activist John S Wren today asked for help to expand the work he’s been doing for the last 20 years to “strengthen the grassroots in business and politics.”  For more see www.JohnWren.com or contact Wren at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447

            Making the appeal Wren said, “For nearly 20 years my purpose has been to strenghten the voice of the common person in business and politics,  

            “I’ve had a TV or radio show off and on since the early 90s, I’ve just started a YouTube “Channel” where I’ll be posting new episodes and some of the old. I’ve held hundreds of startup workshops that 5280 Magazine says have ‘infused Denver with an entrepreneurial spirit.’ New Go Groups provide consulting for the price of a workshop, and they will be made available for free to as many as possible. For more about the new Go Groups, see http://www.meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber/events/133753932/

            “The Rocky Mountain News named me in their editorial that recognized Save the Caucus for defeating Amendment 29 in 2002 which would have killed our wonderful neighborhood caucus-assembly system, the best friend of the common person who wants to serve in elected public office.  I continue encourage informed participation with COCaucus.org.

           

            “As I have since 1994, I continue to invite you to call me if you want help starting in a new direction with your work. But now also please contact me if you’d be willing to help with this work with startups as a volunteer or if you’re willing to contribute financially,” said Wren.

###

John S. Wren, MBA+ www.JohnWren.com John@JohnWren.com (303)861-1447 has done business consulting since 1979. He is past President of the University of Denver Graduate Student Association, the Denver City Club, Metro South Optimists, and the founding President of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association and the new Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Wren has been a candidate and local leader as a Republican and as a Democrat, he is currently registered Unaffiliated, something he rarely suggests for others. He’s an active member of Denver St. Ignatius of Loyola Church and 1311 York Street Club. 

Join us for Faith Sharing 6 pm Saturdays

Denver Loyola Church, 5 pm Mass each Saturday, then our Faith Sharing group at 6 pm. Topic today, why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepard and not the Good Carpenter http://Meetup.com/Jesuit-Guide-Sharing-Groups

Holy Ghost 5:10 p Mass

The body has many parts...

I just verified with Susan that Nigel Clayton (in picture to the left) will be with us this afternoon at the Small Business Chamber's Denver IDEA Cafe (click here for more info and optional RSVP.)  The meeting is free and open to everyone who is starting in a new direction with their career, starting a new project or campaign, or starting a new business. It's a learning group, not a networking group. This should be a great meeting, join us if you're starting something new, and please let any of your friends who might like a boost at the end of a hard week know about it.


Facebook is changing the way they do Groups, so this may be the last time you'll be getting a Facebook Denver IDEA Cafe reminder.

Because of the Facebook Group change in policy, I'm (that's me, John Wren, in the picture to the right), I'm now going to start posting a message to you here each Monday that will include information about the Small Business Chamber and our Denver IDEA Cafe, our South Metro IDEA Cafe, our Boulder IDEA Cafe, and any other SBCC activities that might be of interest to you.

I'll be posting here each Monday morning, so just check back. If you'd like an email reminder about the post, just enter your email address in the "subscribe" form to the left.

Finally, Robert Schwab, Scott Rodgers, and myself are looking for a few beta testers for our new PioneerHQ.com Colorado Business Almanac and Small Business Directory.  Take advantage of the current free listing offer, and we'll get more information about how we can help you in other ways to connect with good prospects for your business.

The mission of the Small Business Chamber and all that I'm doing now is to help local chambers of commerce be even more useful to people who want to start new businesses, and to strengthen the voice of their small business members. If you'd like to help, give me your email address here, and then "Like" our Facebook Page at http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber

This life is short, let's get started!
 

This is a media release I just sent out about the new, free, open
Franklin Circle. Let me know if you want a copy of the attachement
"What is a Franklin Circle." Here's the release:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2010

Contact: John Wren cell (720)495-4949

FREE SAMPLE OF A FRANKLIN CIRCLE EACH FRIDAY.
Powerful adult self-directed learning technique may have been Ben Franklin’s best invention, says John Wren.

DENVER— Franklin Circle Denver Open Group, each Friday, 4 p.m. at Panera Bread, 1330 Grant, Denver. Free. Optional RSVP at http://meetup.com/CommunityRoomCollege or contact John Wren at (303)861-1447 or John@JohnWren.com.

“Everyone who wants to learn more is invited to join us,” said entrepreneur and long-time community John Wren announcing the free, open Franklin Circle that now meets each Friday.

“Those attending are given enough information to start a new Franklin Circle or to use the format in another existing group such as a service club or chamber of commerce. If anyone wants to start a group for free for their friends and neighbors, I’ll help them for free. Or if they want to start a tuition-based group I’ll provide help beyond this open meeting for a fee that is based on the help they want from me,” said Wren.

In 1727, young Ben Franklin formed a group in Philadelphia for “the purpose of mutual improvement” as Franklin puts it in his famous Autobiography. In 1996, inspired by Franklin, activist John Wren formed the first Franklin Circle here in Denver, and he’s now actively working to spread the concept.

“I’ve conducted startup workshops and done consulting with small businesses for years,” said Wren. “This experience has convinced me there is a real need for these peer advisory groups for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creative managers. The intention is to help people to start and grow their own business, and to help them become better citizens through active participation in local government and politics. In my opinion, the powerful format for these meetings may have been Ben Franklin’s best invention.”

Wren has studied adult education at Regis University and has had numerous teaching assignments, ranging from Arapahoe Community College and Casper Junior College to the American Management Association and Colorado Free University.

Each group is autonomous, and free help to start a new group is also available online at http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Franklin-Circle-Adult-Self-Directed-Learning-Group

For more information contact John Wren at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447.

###
Attachment: What is a Franklin Circle?

John S. Wren, MBA http://www.JohnWren.com is the founder of the Denver Socrates Café, Denver IDEA Café and Franklin Circles. He is a business consultant and adult educator. He is the new Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Inventors Association http://rminventor.org. He is also conducting a free online Action Class in Practical Politics to help newcomers to Colorado politics to learn about the Colorado Caucuses http://www.COCaucus.org.

Why hasn't a crime report been filed on A thru I?

This morning both Denver daily newspapers glorify the Mayor's massive manipulation as he stole the A thru I election. He spent an incredible $1 million on an advertising and promotional campaign to sell Denver the big lie that a citizens committee of 115 wanted A thru I.

This massive campaign, an "investment" of those who would split up the take, used telemarketing to contact every one of the 470,000 voters in Denver, and this telephone sales campaign identified the gullible and feeble minded, and then stayed in touch with those 50,000 or so suckers until they returned their mail-in ballots, going to their door to pick up the ballot when necessary!

420,000 voted no or were so discouraged they didn't vote at all. 420,000 out of 470,000! The Mayor has perfected this technique, and now it is glorified in your very biased coverage of the campaign.

In the past one of our daily newspapers would have spoken out about this obvious manipulation. But now that there is no real competition between the papers, the people have lost their watchdog. I think that is the reason for the declining circulation of both papers.

Denver citizens need to organize now to prevent the next assault. We need an early warning system, a citizens grassroots network that can spot these efforts as they begin and mount an organized campaign to see that the election truly reflect the will of the majority of Denver citizens.

Those who are concerned are invited to join us each Friday at the Denver Grassroots Rally. Our first project is to encourage concerned citizens to register by the December 5 deadline to be able to participate in the February 5 Colorado Caucus. It will be held this Friday, 4 p.m. at Panera Bread at 13th & Grant near the Capitol. For more information or to RSVP to get on the speakers list, see http://cocacop.meetup.com/2

This just went up on the online Denver Post:

Bond, tax package grabs lead
By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Launched: 11/06/2007 09:54:01 PM MST

Early tabulations showed that Denver's $550 million infrastructure bond and tax increase appeared headed toward passage tonight, but the portion that would raise revenue to expand cultural facilities led by only a thin margin.

As of 9 p.m., the $70 million expansion of cultural facilities garnered the favor of 51 percent of the voters in early returns, with 49 percent of the voters rejecting the measure…

John Wren, a Republican who had appeared on radio talk shows in opposition to the campaign, said Hickenlooper may have trouble passing future measures. Wren said he plans to organize opposition, which appeared fractious during the bond campaign.

"People will need to take notice and organize to oppose an end run against a representative system of government, or we'll just continue to see steady increases like this," Wren said. "We need a grassroots citizen network to watch these things as they form."

It appears that the H cultural question here in Denver is too close to call. The city website isn't being updated. www.denvergov.org.

All of the other A thru I questions are passing easily. Encumbents have been reelected on the school board. An the pot question has passed.

The Mayor's million dollar manipulation worked. All voters were called, postitives identified, and their ballots were picked up.

The lesson? Organized opposition needs to be mounted early. Legislation needs to be tracked like hurricanes with an early warning system.

Also tonight Denver Republican's held one of the most postive meeting I've seen here in the last decade. Chair Mary Smith and Vice-Chair did an excellent job of sharing information and motivation with the lively audience of Republican volunteers from across the county.