(Aug. 20, '08 blog) 

Following the trail of memory can be worth the trip

The trail of memories inexorably leads back to the days of youth, and occasionally it’s worth the trip.

In this case, the “trip” will bring the judge, the law prof and the journalist to a reunion in Milwaukee next month, 50 years since we first met in the athletic facilities beneath old Marquette University stadium, and 48 years since we last saw each other.

War may bring renewed focus to Seattle's U.S.-Russian foundation 

The Russia-Georgia war, with its threat of becoming what one analyst described as “the first shot of Cold War II,” may bring renewed attention to the Seattle-based Foundation for Russian-American Economic Cooperation and its relationship-building programs that foster ties between the two nations.

The 19-year-old organization was born out of a series of Seattle and Washington State initiatives, leading up to and flowing out of the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, to reach out to what was then the Soviet Union.

Making way for Gen-Xers, Millenials on non-profit boards 

Non-profit organizations beginning to think about a broader role on their boards of directors for Gen-Xers might be aghast at contemplating how to deal with an influx of Millenials, or Gen-Yers.

But Alison Carl White, who as executive director of Seattle Works is charged with guiding younger professionals to get involved in community-benefit activities, is enthused about the prospect of the Millenium Generation becoming a factor in the makeup of non-profit and community boards.

Workforce-aging challenge may be opportunity for Washington State 

The issue of workforce aging represents a looming challenge for business, but it may pose a unique opportunity for the public sector, particularly state government, to take a serious look at how services are delivered, how many people it might take to deliver them, and from where.

You don’t hear a lot of discussion about this, despite the fact that, by some estimates, as many as half or more of those currently employed by the State of Washington will be eligible to retire by 2015.

Protect going-green movement from officials' focus on "wrong" green 

Business interests are concerned that the convergence of the going-green movement and a constricting economy could tempt state and local officials to turn their attentions to the wrong green. It’s a concern that the environmental community should share.

The reality is that issues relating to climate change will drive a host of new rules and regulations, at both the state and local levels, over the next couple of years.

Steve Robbins relishes writing and running 

When he’s in his role as the world-famed author of management textbooks, he’s Dr. Stephen P. Robbins, Ph.D. But when he steps into the proverbial telephone booth and emerges in his running tights, he’s Steve Robbins, Superman among seniors -- the world’s fastest human over age 65.

“It’s kind of neat being the world’s fastest Medicare recipient,” Robbins joked when we visited recently and I asked him how it felt to be 65 and excelling on the track against the world’s best sprinters of “M65,” meaning master’s runners in the 65-69 age group.

 
Reynolds reflects on Puget’s proposed merge

Steve Reynolds finds it a bit amusing, but somewhat frustrating, when someone asks him what he’s going to be doing in the future if  Puget Sound Energy’s merger with a consortium of international investors is approved by state regulators.

The amusement stems from the fact that Reynolds isn’t expecting to be out of work once the hoped-for approval from state regulators comes. And the frustration comes from his concern that public misunderstanding of the proposed merger with the consortium that represents patient capital for Puget could jeopardize final approval of the deal.

State’s image for college opportunity for poor kids growing

Washington state is developing a reputation nationally as the state where poor kids, which primarily means minority kids, have the best opportunity to get a shot at a college education.

The organization responsible for that is the College Success Foundation. In its eight years of existence, the foundation’s work has attracted focused attention by some of the state’s most visible business and civic leaders committed to providing college-education opportunity to low-income, high-potential students.

Seattle startup hopes to aid effort to track accuracy on the Internet

   With concern that the internet may be employed during this presidential election campaign like never before as a tool for misinformation and disinformation, a Seattle online startup called Ameritocracy hopes to make a contribution to accuracy and relevance for an information-overloaded public.

    “Brevity may have a lot of merit, but it’s also become a piece of the problem as sound bytes  in the media are part of the deluge of content that’s overwhelming people,” says Porter Bayne. He founded Ameritocracy to level the playing field in political information by allowing any user to report, rate, and respond to brief quotes from politicians, the media, and other organizations

Business concerned economy’s real face masked

Business interests are concerned that policymakers and elected officials may be basking in the glow of national media praise for Washington’s sunny economy and failing to focus on economic storm clouds looming. Foremost among those is the likelihood that the 2009 Legislature will have a $2 billion-plus budget shortfall to deal with.

“It’s great to be able to look in the rearview mirror and enjoy where you’ve been, but you get in trouble if you fail to occasionally look out the front window,” says Dick Davis, one of the business community’s most respected voices on the issue of state competitiveness.

WSU’s new enrollment VP uses theater to prepare Latino students

As WSU’s first Vice President for Enrollment Management, John Fraire is charged with increasing not just the quality, but also the diversity of the school’s student population. But as one who grew up poor in the Mexican-American neighborhoods of Gary, IN, his personal commitment is to enhancing the flow of Latino students into higher-education opportunities everywhere.

And as an accomplished playwright, Fraire is guiding a pilot project in the largely Latino high school in Warden, a Grant County community of 2,500. The program aims to use theater as the ultimate higher-education preparation stage for successful college careers for students who otherwise might have little hope of college.

Milt Kuolt, Thousand Trails, Horizon Air founder, lifelong entrepreneur 

Milt Kuolt, over a lifetime of entrepreneurship, fathered the membership-campgrounds industry with Thousand Trails then created Horizon Air, one of the nation’s first and most successful regional carriers, turning both into successful public companies.

But Kuolt, who died last Friday at the age of 80, might well have suggested that the most important fathering role he played was in his final years, raising his daughter, Jamie, now 17. When Kuolt’s second wife, Kathy, died of cancer a decade ago, Jamie became what one close friend described as “probably the most important thing in his life.”