Village Green/Town²

Over the past several days, I have done the following: • picked up a prescription at a drive-through window • ordered an iced coffee at a drive-through window • purchased a scone at a bakery • taken my car for her 180,000-mile checkup • had a dentist appointment • completed an online registration for a hardware store app • ordered a concert ticket online What do all these experiences have in common? Each action on my part generated an online “customer satisfaction” survey about the process, goods, or services that I experienced with their company. I’m sure I should be happy that they all want to assure the ultimate: a satisfied customer. This may, of course, mean paying attention to feedback and making needed changes, but I am kind of tired of the “how did we do?” query. As an educator, I am quite familiar with evaluation as a standard practice that is part of assuring the quality of the product. Sometimes, though, what is asked on a scale survey (ex., Likert Scale ) should instead be ...

  Many stories or even jokes begin like this.: “There are two kinds of people.”  I’m tempted to provide a few humorous examples here but I don’t want the message of this post to be diluted. There are two kinds of people in Howard County, for example:  *Those who see the deep value of elementary school programs like GT CEUs and 3rd grade strings, most especially in Title I schools, and advocate to keep them there even if budget constraints dictate they be eliminated elsewhere, including their own schools. *Those who are enraged by the thought that “the poors” will get something they won’t.  Remember that story about King Solomon and the baby? While it’s hard for me to believe that any mother would say “cut the baby in half!”, it is not hard for me to believe that there are people who will go to extreme lengths, even if it causes harm, just to guarantee that they get their bit. I raise this today because there’s been some pretty vocal pushback that those* who have ad...

  Let’s start with quick look back from Priorities , April, 2017: First things first. If you live in Columbia and your village is having an election, vote. VOTE. If you live in Oakland Mills you can also buy Spring plants, see an art show, and get a homemade cookie. And of course, there's that whole concept of civic duty. The People Tree can't be passive, folks. Those people are all actively reaching for better things, right? I hate to think what a passive People Tree would look like. Seriously droopy. Wilted, even. An embodiment of community failure. And that's not who we are. Show me that's not who we are. I tell myself every year that I'm not going to get worked up over Village elections. And yet I do, because I feel strongly that we could be doing a much better job at getting residents involved in Columbia community building. Year after year the winners are more than happy to claim victory without acknowledging the ludicrously low turnout. We move through the cy...

  This is the kid. The kid in an elementary grade reading group. The kid in an after school ballet class. The kid playing catch at recess. The kid picking books at the library. The kid in Saturday soccer. If you have children you see and even know this kid. They don’t mysteriously appear in high school or college. They have been there all along. They ate snack in kindergarten, went to birthday parties, enjoyed countless playdates with your kid. They are classmates, neighbors, friends. They might be your kid.  Protect this kid. Image from Protect This Kid campaign* GLAAD and Ogilvy Launch “Protect This Kid” Campaign in Support of LGBTQ Youth , Allison Bloom, GLAAD This quote from GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis jumped out at me: For too long, anti-LGBTQ activists have not only spouted lies by falsely claiming that LGBTQ people are threats to children, but they have erased the existence of LGBTQ youth and their need for content that they can relate to and be inspired by. Ogil...

  I’ve been listening to this episode of Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast: Go To on Infectious Generosity ,  For the Good of the Order, Kelly Corrigan When my girls were young, I must have told them a hundred times: you get what you give. I believe it like I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. Chris Anderson, the genius do-gooder behind TED, believes it too. And with good reason. He’s seen generous giving pay off in big ways — giving his brand to TEDx conferences around the world, giving away TED speeches to anyone who wanted them online, giving attention, support and contributions to the most focused, devoted, strategic efforts on the planet. This is an episode for anyone looking for inspiration. Chris Anderson’s book, Infectious Generosity* shines a spotlight on how acts of giving can spark a ripple effect in cultivating positive societal change.  Howard County is full of examples of infectious generosity these days. Initiatives that are alive in the community throug...

  Almost everything I want to write about today leans a little gossipy. I just want you to know  in advance that I’m aware of that. You have been warned. As always, take any local commentary with a grain of salt.  Who is Lady Savage and why is she inviting local women to a Night Out in May? Why does this mood of this artwork look a little creepy to me? Is this a mystery night? Will the ancients be raised from their slumber? Does Lady Savage have any skeletons in her closet? And where’s Lord Savage? Does she keep him locked in the tower?  The League of Women Voters of Howard County is having their annual meeting on April 25th. Join us for the League of Women Voters of Howard County Annual Meeting on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Miller Branch Library. Purchase a $25 ticket for a wonderful meal. Non-members are welcome, but can't vote. Reserve your spot via our website! The Howard County League of Women Voters is an excellent organization and consistently provides top-qua...

  My “Facebook memories” informs me that five years ago someone called me downright nasty and a member of the radical left and I only vaguely remember the experience. I don’t recall who it was, either. I’ll take that as a win. They must not have hung around to do any permanent damage.  Looking back at Aprils past I discovered that some things seem awfully familiar: Counting Down , 4/12/2018 Almost. It’s almost Spring—the kind of Spring we want, that is. Flowers are coming up and the forsythia is looking good but can’t we just have a warm day that comes back again the next day without the threat of flurries or a startling drop in temperature? Today might just be that day. Wear your jacket this morning but you just might not need it by this afternoon. Once we finally reach that magical turning point we’ll be looking for outdoor experiences. Restaurants where one can eat outside will be a popular destination, even if the views leave something to be desired. Outdoor concerts and ...