Thanks and kudos to the 40-plus persons in attendance last night at the "NA First" independent business/buy local meeting, and to Andy and Ann for their legwork. Special thanks to Wick's for their generosity.
There were many good ideas offered and connections made.
The overarching theme: Prepare the organizational foundation first, with clarity about intents and objectives, and only then proceed toward implementation. This is a long-term process, and as we know, New Albany wasn't built in a day.
The gathered information is being sorted, and there'll be a more detailed report once the mailing list is updated. Patience, please ... we all have indie small business day jobs, don't we?
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12 comments:
Hey Roger,
I hear a local business owner brought up that Clark and Floyd Co. should work together on a macro scale instead of a micro. I also heard you did not agree. I thought the idea was to buy local and grow Southern IN.
I know a lady at 1Si that is working on that as we speak.
(insert big ass smile here).
So are you really a buy local guy or gust buy NABC.
If you set you pride aside, I bet you could get some help from 1Si.
VM, I'll try to explain.
As an aside, and if I'm not mistaken, Jeffersonville's Main Street program already promotes a Buy Local strategy there.
Anyway, my arguments against having anything whatever to do with the politically partisan, pro-tolls, claim-credit-for-all-economic-development One Southern Indiana are documented and need not be repeated here.
At last night's meeting, we spoke of forming an independent locally owned small business association for the entire city of New Albany. It comes first. The buy local campaign comes second.
This group would be conceived and dedicated to the interests of independent and locally owned small business within the city limits of New Albany.
This is the very core of our mission, our selected and specific niche, the precise thing that sets us apart from other existing economic development organizations … and anything we do in the future that does not incorporate this core mission of NA locality is (a) probably destined for failure, and (b) something I've no personal interest in assisting, not that my participation is necessary.
In the future, once fully constituted, funded, weaned and off the ground, our "NA First" group surely will be in a position to consider cooperative ventures with other, existing organizations: DNA, UEZ, the downtown merchant’s discussion group, perhaps others. As long as 1Si continues its journey off the rails, it's hard to imagine it mattering, but of course matters change. Maybe even 1Si, some day.
NA First needs to be independent, to advocate the interests of independent members, and to pursue a program that helps us all. We will be economically developing ourselves.
For all these reasons, most importantly in the beginning, we need to keep all other currently formed entities out of the equation – not out of our meetings, not out of the flow of information; in fact, we need to keep them very informed and to be very open about the flow of information, since in the future, there’ll likely be ways for them and us to help each other.
This is an eercise to see if NA merchants want to take charge of their own destinies. Naturally, there’s no reason why member businesses of NA First cannot also belong to 1Si or DNA. These various entities form circles, and at a certain point, they all overlap.
I hope that helps explain my views. The knowledge that I've always practived micro as a means of carving flesh from macro might also help.
Thanks.
Off topic
VM,
Would have done this by email but you don't have one attached to your profile.
Please note that I did not say that you lied. You went out of your way to mislead. You stated several times that you did not work for 1SI--not just once. Exactly what was your intention by doing that? To show that you had no connection and were unbiased? If you want to get technical, Jeff and Roger didn't out you--they never used your name. Yeah, I think it was wrong and I think what you did, just as bad.
Oh, and you are welcome. You did notice that at least a couple of us came to your defense, didn't you? We don't march in lockstep around like you seem to think. Honest dissent is allowed and always has been on this blog. At least as long as I have coming to it.
Iamhooser,
I did notice that some people did not like what Roger did but I was not going to go out of my way to point this out because of problems that could cause them. (but thanks)
The reason I used the line (I don't work for 1Si) was not to mislead anyone. I wanted it to be clear that what I was saying is not comming from 1Si or my wife.
It's all me.
Like I told Roger, I wanted this to be about my views and (not the person I married to). I asked Roger not to make this personal. (so much for that)
The fact is now that everyone knows who I am, just puts a sharper point on it.
FYI,
Thought a few people would be interested and yes this event is hosted by One Southern Indiana.
Will your business be impacted?
Find out what issues will impact Indiana businesses and generate debate during the 2011 General Assembly by attending the Indiana Chamber Legislative Preview.
At this event, Chamber representatives will examine 2011 legislative issues that will impact businesses and their bottom line. These topics include: the state budget, taxes, local government efficiency, the health care dilemma, as well as economic development incentives and education enhancements.
EVENT DETAILS:
December 2, 2010
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
American Commercial Lines
1701 E. Market St, Jeffersonville, IN
Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch.
As a further FYI:
The Indiana Chamber is even more politically active and opinionated than 1Si.
Obviously go if you like, but don't expect an unbiased consideration of the issues to be a part of the agenda.
For instance:
The educational "enhancements" mentioned include tax breaks for donating what would otherwise be public money to private school scholarship funds, including for religiously affiliated schools. Indiana Chamber lobbyists helped push that through the legislature.
Hmm, didn;t see anything in that list about the negative impact of tolling on independent local business in Southern Indiana, or, in fact, on the economy in general.
That ORBP Kool-Aid is powerful shit, indeed.
The state chamber's campaign donations to Clere and Grooms were probably spent expecting help with other legislation.
Just so everyone knows, my post was not to stir up shit or to create a opening for cheep shots against a organization. It was information for small business inline with the original post.
The response so far from locally owned businesses has been really good. A common theme in my conversations with many of these folks is "Why hasn't this been done before?" I don't have an answer to that question, but a lot of these business owners have been craving something like this buy local/independent business project. Why the organizations that would seem to have the resources and staff to do it have sat on the sidelines for so long is a valid question, but one I don't care to speculate on. All I know is that this is moving forward and it's exciting.
My response was informational as well, VetteMan. I'll never understand why they can't just call these things what they are-- attempts to drum up support for certain initiatives. If people want to go, that's certainly their prerogative. The Indiana Chamber has a clear political agenda, posted by them, not me.
And it's good to hear that local small businesses are taking up their own reins. I'm just a patron, but it makes me hopeful.
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