Live at 12:30 p.m., the Startup Show Today, how to start a political career.

Watch here live at 12:30 p.m. Mountain each day Monday thru Friday or any time by recording.

Today the focus will be on serving in elected public office. Watch, then post your comments here.



Sponsored by John Wren's Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
"We cooperate with local chambers to provide more real help to startups."
For more check out www.SmallBizChamber.org
Membership is free, just post an intro as a status update, on our Facebook Page, then Like and Share:
http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber Follow us on Twitter @IDEACafe

Socrates Cafe: Get ready for Colorado Caucus!

 Don't forget to affiliate with the political party of your choice by January 4 to participate in the March 1 Colorado Caucus. Socrates Cafe is a great way to get ready for it!

This evening (Sat, 1/2) at 6:30 p.m. at DU or other times and places (we'll help you start a meeting at a time and place that works better for you after you've attended one if you want) no RSVP is required at your first meeting, walk-ins are always welcome, more info at http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society (click here.) 

Also, mark your calendar for January 17, Ben Franklin's birthday. We are planning a party, but don't tell Ben! Details to follow. If you'd like to volunteer to help or sponsor, please call me, ok?

John Wren  (303)861-1447

Colorado primary election

Low turn out was astonishing. Denver had less than 10 % of registered voters cast a ballot, disgraceful. That's 10% of registered voters and most aren't registered.


Big opportunity of the county political party that starts aggressively reaching out now in anticipation of the 2016 Colorado Caucus.


GOP Governor's race was bound to be a surprise, no matter what happened. See my comments, posted at bottom of this Denver Post editorial that's worth reading, too:  http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_26027687/second-chance-bob-beauprez 


President Eisenhower told us that in our system of government politics must be the part-time occupation of every citizen.


Let's all promise to do just a little bit more in our part-time job between now and the Colorado Caucus of 2016. You can start right now just by taking a couple of minutes to read the above editorial, reading my comment there, and then letting me know what you think, and more importantly what you are going to DO.

Me? What am I going to DO? I'm going to start by renewing my subscription to the Denver Post.


Post your comment here, or call me. (303)861-1447.


Life is short, but it's only too late if we don't start now!

My network is my net worth?

That's what I was told last night. 

But it's true only if I'm making regular deposits to the relationship account, doing meaningful work for them that results in their being delighted and me getting compensated.

In politics, where networks are sand castles, the question voters, volunteers and contributors ask is "what have you done for me lately?" 

In business, even more so that politics, it's the same question with a sharper focus. Having a name, contacting the name and staying in touch has no impact on my net worth unless I've received pay from the customer for doing work that delighted him or her, and who as a result has become a good client who gives my repeat sales and referrals to qualified prospects, people who have good potential of going through this cycle with me.

Of course none of this applies to my family, nor to a handful of my very close friends, nor to work I'm called to do by God when the order is to burn the bridge and give it my all, whether that is sponsoring/mentoring one person or fighting for some cause. In this realm my network is my negative net worth, and it is in this realm that I've labored for the last 23+ years. What I've learned from these thankless days, especially the extraordinary time spent with my father, is that it really is true, if you want gratitude, get a dog.

Denver voters: Just vote NO on A thru I!!!
Where to drop off your ballot?
See bottom of this entry.

It's not enough to just vote NO. Many discourage voters are not returning their ballots. Send emails and make phone calls to your friends, encouraging them to vote, and to just vote NO. This election may be closer than is generally thought, taking a couple of hours of your time now could make the difference.

Read over my posts here the last few weeks, then take action TODAY!!!
Here's a recap of some points you might want to make in your emails and phone calls:

1) THE MAYOR IS NOT MEETING DIRECTLY WITH VOTERS TO ANSWER THE MANY QUESTIONS.

It wasn't a face-to-face town-hall meeting, but a 21st century "virtual" version in which Mayor John Hickenlooper fielded voters' questions about his plan to create "a better Denver" by raising property taxes.
A week before Election Day, Hickenlooper connected with more than 2,000 voters Tuesday in a conference call.

"It's much more difficult than talking to a room of 300 people," Hickenlooper said of his third such event in recent weeks.

I wasn't invited to this, were you? Is the Mayor afraid of a live face-to-face meeting with the voters? He says it's more difficult online, then why not call an open meeting to answer questions?

We've invited the Mayor to the Denver Grassroots Rally, but he's declined.
http://cocacop.meetup.com/2

2) THE LOCAL MEDIA IS SPINNING TO STORY, NOT REPORTING IT FAIRLY

Click here: Rocky Mountain News series on A thur I

My letters to the editor put online, never printed in the paper:

Vote no on A through I
John Wren of Denver writes:

Denver voters should send a clear message with the ballots now being received in the mail.

Just like the hippies put women & kids up front in confrontations with the police in demonstrations in the 60’s, Mayor J-Hic forms , staffs, and then marches behind “citizen committees” which stifle any organized opposition from forming.
Preschool kids, the arts, Denver teachers, a new jail, have all been subject to J-Hic’s “women & children up front” campaigning. Is Denver better? No.

How well has J-Hic’s “citizen committee” worked with the homeless problem in Denver? Take a walk through civic center park and decide for yourself.

$1 million has been amassed from those who will get the $550 million from what has been called by one concerned leader, “an alphabet soup grab for cash.” The million dollars is being called “a good investment.” This is an end-run around representative democracy. It is Enron-style politics.

Wake up Denver! Stop the insanity! Just vote no on A thru I.

This letter has not been edited.
Posted by denver-admin at 02:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

And this, which I'd sent as an individual, the News added
the GOP info, clearly to try and minimize the impact:

Anti-bond issues comments diluted

Did the city pay for the series the Rocky Mountain News ran about the upcoming Denver election — what Denver GOP chair Mary Smith has told reporters is “an alphabet-soup grab for cash”?

I spoke with a reporter several times and made it clear that the election should be seen as a referendum on Mayor John Hickenlooper’s poor performance and people should just vote “no” and that perhaps it was time to Kick Hick.

My comments were watered down dramatically (“A backlog of upkeep/Mayor says mill levy hike offers ongoing fix, but foe questions past maintenance efforts,” Sept. 29), and Smith’s comments were not reported at all!

What has happened to the idea that our newspapers are watchdogs on city government? Ever since the Rocky-Post joint operating agreement came into being, it has become just one dysfunctional family — the newspapers, Denver city government and the bonding companies, contractors and others who end up with the cash.

Denver voters who want to send a message should just vote no.
John Wren
House District 5
Republican chairman
Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack


There were no comments to my letters BECAUSE COMMENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED!!! And neither letter was actually printed in the paper. The search engine on the Rocky Mountain News website doesn’t bring up the letters when searching on DENVER ELECTIONS or any other term I try. The News is clearly using their website to further spin the story in favor of the mayor.

3) BALLOTS NEED TO BE RETURNED NOW, AND A FEW VOTES COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Click here: Reasons to vote NO on A thur I.

Denver voters can now drop their ballots off at one of 16 drop-off sites.
The drop-off locations below will be open:
Through Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 5, 2007 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

1. Athmar Recreation Center, 2680 W. Mexico Ave.
2. Barnum Recreation Center, 360 Hooker St.
3. District 3 Police Station, 1625 S. University Blvd.
4. Eisenhower Recreation Center, 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave.
5. Glenarm Recreation Center, 2800 Glenarm Pl.
6. Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, 4890 Argonne Way
7. Harvey Park Recreation Center, 2120 S. Tennyson St.
8. Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center, 3334 Holly St.
9. Montbello Recreation Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave.
10. Montclair Recreation Center, 729 Ulster Way
11. Scheitler Recreation Center, 5031 W. 46th Ave.
12. Tattered Cover BookStore, 1628 16th St.
13. Tattered Cover Book Store, 2526 E. Colfax Ave.
14. Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.
15. Westerly Creek Elementary School, 8800 E. 28th Ave.
16. Elections Division Office Lobby 303 W. Colfax Ave. (Colfax & Court Place)
(The Elections Division Office will be open at 8 a.m. on the above dates and drive-thru ballot drop-off is available beginning at 7 a.m. on Election Day on Court Place between Colfax and 14th St.)

I just sent out this email to a few of my friends:

(Please forward to anyone who might be interested
in helping me decide what to do next that will be helpful to
the Denver GOP, OK? Ask them to send me their
thumbs up or thumbs down on going ahead with
this. Thanks! John)

Did you see this on p 4E in today's Denver Post?
Entire column by Fred Brown devoted to the
Anyone but J-Hic idea:
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5552132

My barber has committed to running. He figures he
can get about 400 votes from his customers.

If Everyone Runs for Mayor we might be able to
force a run-off. There will be no extra expense because
there is going to be a run-off anyway for many of the
city council seats where there are more than two
candidates.

Seems to me this could really energize the GOP in
Denver. Which District Captain can get the most votes
from his or her District? How many votes can Mary Smith
get? Will a very substantial candidate emerge we can
all get behind? What a great way to get all the precinct
and block worker positions filled by May 1.

What's our best next step?

Here's my idea:

I'm going to invite the Mayor to a news conference next
Wednesday or Thursday at the State Capitol where we
will announce a series of weekly forums. Everyone running
as a write-in candidate will be given 2 minutes of time at
the mike, and a table where he or she can distribute literature
and/or talk with people. The Mayor will be given the final word,
as much time as he wants to respond to what he has heard.

Here's my questions to you:

1) If the Mayor agrees to do it, would you attend the news conference?

2) Should I invite Mike Rosen to MC?

3) Is this the best next step, or should I put my energy into something else
in your opinion? If something else, what?

Thanks very, very much for your feedback.

John


de gustibus non est disputandum"
In matters of taste there is no disputing."

John S. Wren, MBA+
Grassroots Educator & Consultant for Startups.
Inspired action since 1979.
960 Grant Street, #727 Denver, CO 80203
(303)861-1447
http://www.johnwren.com/
JohnSWren@aol.com
What's new? See John Wren's eJournal
http://wrensjournal.blogspot.com/

Denver Socrates Cafe
Good discussion about interesting topics.
2nd Thursdays, 7 p.m., Trinity Church, 18th & Broadway
RSVP http://socratescafe.meetup.com/82
Possible topic at our next meeting: Who should govern us?

Denver IDEA CafeHelp to turn your inspiration into action.
Fridays, 2 p.m., Panera Bread, 13th & Grant
RSVP at http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1
Brainstorming topic at next meeting:
"How to get the most votes as a write-in candidate."

Do you sincerely want to be Denver's next Mayor?

I just sent this email to KOA Radio's Mike Rosen in response to his email to me when he got my email yesterday (see yesterday's post here, below) that includes a link to the radio interview with Mayor J-Hic that's in question:


In a message dated 3/29/2007 12:40:24 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, MikeRosen@850koa.com writes:

So it was you who called and harangued Hick about the art museum.

Indeed.

You sounded angry, irrational and petty. The mayor isn't responsible for running the art museum, the bond issue or for leaks in the roof. I'd say the same thing if the mayor were a Republican (which is virtually an impossibility in Denver).

I agree that my call was sub-par. But if the Mayor isn't responsible for the DAM's $59 million city-debt, who is? He approved the final decision to go ahead with the project, it was one of his first official acts.

Just as he bears final responsibility for last fall's election fiasco, he bears final responsibility for the poor construction that was allowed and the problems that is causing now. It is my understanding the contract that he approved was poorly drafted and the contract is trying to wiggle out of making the massive needed repairs. The contractors inspector was afraid of heights and she inspected the welds
on the roof with binoculars!


Given the practical alternatives, Hick is the best we, as Republicans, can hope to get in Denver. Perhaps I should know better than to expect practicality from you. Grow up.

Seems to me there will be a mounting fury about the mayors poor performance as we move towards May 1. A strong write in candidate would have a great chance of winning if it was done in the middle of an Anyone but J-Hic campaign. We'll be brainstorming the idea at my weekly IDEA Cafe meeting this afternoon at 2 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant. Would you join us? Would you invite your listers to RSVP at http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1 ?

One of the ideas I'm considering is selling a special report and or a short seminar,
"How to run for Denver Mayor as a write-in candidate." Would you have someone from KOA contact me about advertising it on your show?

By the way, did you see the news release the DAM made Tuesday about the massive layoffs? I may have missed it, but I didn't see the release reported in any of the local media. Why not? Seems everyone is trying to get out front and serve Mayor J-Hic now that he seems assured of victory. Are you on his campaign team? Sure seemed like it on the call I made last Friday.

John

Here's the release from last Tuesday made by the DAM:



For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrea Fulton
720-913-0116 Pager: 303-640-0991


Denver Art Museum Undergoing Mid-Year Evaluation
Staffing and Other Operations Likely to Change


The Denver Art Museum announced today it is reassessing its operations, including staffing, following the opening of the Frederic C. Hamilton Building in October 2006. Museum officials conducted a planned six-month evaluation of the institution’s performance needs for the new campus, and have determined that some changes will be necessary in the near future.

The Museum increased operations to an unprecedented level to carry out the opening of the Hamilton Building last fall. After the first six months of operation, the DAM is making adjustments to better suit visitor needs and the future program. Some staff attrition of contract employees brought on for visitor ticketing and front-line services has already taken place.

As part of its move to adjust staff to a more appropriate level, the Museum offered a voluntary resignation option last week. Staff members taking this option will receive an extended compensation package. The results of that offer will not be known until next week, at which time, further staff evaluation will take place as necessary.

“The Museum has undergone a dramatic change in the last year,” said Museum director Lewis Sharp. “We staffed up greatly for the opening and now we are assessing our future needs and making changes to ensure efficient, successful operation in the years to come.”

The Museum is on track to achieve its best attendance in more than 30 years and despite the harsh winter, particularly over the holiday period, overall attendance has remained healthy. An early goal of 750,000 to one million visitors was predicted by the museum in 2004 and it hopes to reach that range by the end of its fiscal year in late September. To date, more than 350,000 people have visited the Museum complex since it opened last fall. However, the Museum estimates that extreme winter weather kept more than 50,000 visitors away, causing lower holiday revenues than expected.

# # #

How could Mayor J-Hic possibly have not known about this?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My friend Dmitry made a very good observation about all this (see his comment to yesterday's post below).

An Anyone but J-Hic campaign probably doesn't make much since unless a real, substantial, electable candidate emerges quickly that the GOP and others (like Mike Rosen) could really get behind. How about you? If you are interested, please email me at JohnSWren@aol.com.