Probability high that 1Si's "think local" box lunch will contain red herrings.

The Green Mouse has been hacking on-line again. I keep telling him to stop, but he just will not listen. Bad mouse.

He's learned that One Southern Indiana is keen to help small, local business owners, although the single most logical step -- doing away with 1Si, which is the perennial defender of the oligarchs, whose monopolistic interests collide with those of small, local business -- appears to have been omitted from the action list.

It's fairly hilarious to note that two looming threats to small business health, which 1Si now seeks to play a leading role in protecting, are downtown bridge construction and subsequent bridge tolls, both of which 1Si has (of course) enthusiastically endorsed. Physician, heal thyself ... although I don't see THAT on the agenda, either.

Wouldn't you just love to see the invitation list?

Full disclosure: I ain't on it.

---

Greetings!

As I approach my six-month mark as President of One Southern Indiana, I am working with our Board of Directors and many members and volunteers on developing a Strategic Plan which will help guide our organization’s direction over the next 3-5 years. I am excited for the many opportunities for businesses in Clark and Floyd county to thrive, and we are looking for ways to add value to the good work that many of your organizations are currently doing. We are also sensitive to not duplicate your efforts, but instead to enhance the business climate for our smaller and locally-owned businesses.

Therefore, you are invited to a Luncheon meeting to determine the opportunities and concerns of the locally-owned businesses and the merchant organizations that are working on their behalf. In today’s competitive marketplace it is imperative that communities are proactive in determining the challenges of our local businesses, and through a unified effort, address these issues to foster local buying habits and make Southern Indiana the destination stop for the region’s needs. We believe there may be areas in which we can collaborate to contribute to a successful business environment.

Please join One Southern Indiana, Think Local and the other merchant associations to share your association’s strategies and to identify those areas where help is needed.

The Luncheon meeting will take place at One Southern Indiana Tuesday May 7th from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. We will provide boxed lunches. Please RSVP by email to dannyj@1si.org.

The suggested agenda would be as followed:
1. A welcome and introduction (All)
2. Purpose of the meeting (Wendy Dant Chesser)
3. Strategic Direction of each Association (All)
4. Collaborative Opportunities (All)
5. Next Steps (All)
6. Adjourn

Thanks, and I hope you can join us!
Wendy

Wendy Dant Chesser | One Southern Indiana
President & CEO
4100 Charlestown Road
New Albany, Indiana 47150
812/945-0266
www.1si.org

Thinking "local," and ROTFLMAO.

I glanced at Think Local Southern Indiana's page at Facebook, and noticed a tout (from Think Local's very own page administrator) for networking:

Networking Opportunity: Connect Clarksville's September meeting will be at Chuy's, one of Clarksville's newest dining hot spots!

A quick web search revealed this January bit from Business First:

Chuy’s, a Texas-based restaurant chain that opened its first Louisville location last fall, already is expanding its local presence. The company is slated to open one of its Tex-Mex restaurants on the Clarksville side of Veterans Parkway in April, said Chuy’s marketing manager Hilary Delling.

Good work, One Southern Indiana! Your embarrassingly faux "buy local" group apparently has no clothes, either ... and your former honcho is bicycling to work.

It's likely we're shooting fish in a barrel.

(Thanks to Wampla for the comment)

Earlier today, we considered the advent of Think Local Southern Indiana: I get no kick from champagne ...

At Facebook, in a major victory for non-deleted dialogue, I politely asked two questions and actually received two answers. Italics are mine.

Roger: Hi. Can you tell us whether this is a grassroots movement, and if not, reveal who or what is sponsoring this organization? Thanks!

Think Local Southern Indiana: Roger, this group is made up of representatives from several networking organizations in the Southern IN area, as well as local business owners.

Roger: Thank you. Is this the same concept being discussed by One Southern Indiana a while back? Can you provide the list of participating organizations? Thank you.

Think Local Southern Indiana: Yes, I believe it is likely the concept discussed by One Southern Indiana and they do have representatives on the committee. I have been participating for a few months b/c I lead the group Connect Clarksville. Other organizations involved... are Grow Jeffersonville, Develop NA, UPS Store, NuYale Cleaners, Insight Media etc. I know I am leaving some out....we will be posting a website soon which should also have info & businesses involved. ***IF you are involved and see this post, I didn't intentionally leave you out! Please feel free to add your name!!

Regular reader Wampla subsequently provided us with the fruits of cursory Internet research, which show just how "likely" the connection to One Southern Indiana really is.

About Us: THINKLOCALSOUTHERNINDIANA.COM

Registrant:
one southern indiana
4100 Charlestown
New albany, IN 47150
US

Domain Name: THINKLOCALSOUTHERNINDIANA.COM

Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :
one southern indiana
dawnb@1si.org
4100 Charlestown
New albany, IN 47150
US
Phone: 812-945-0266

Record expires on 20-Apr-2013
Record created on 20-Apr-2011
Database last updated on 20-Apr-2011

Wow. That's very likely, isn't it?

I get no kick from champagne ...

... but I'm always thrilled at exciting new concept launches that lead to blank web sites.

The blank page above comes to you from Think Local Southern Indiana, which is also on Facebook. Although we already know the answers, I've commenced asking the questions:

Hi. Can you tell us whether this is a grassroots movement, and if not, reveal who or what is sponsoring this organization? Thanks!

I'll take this opportunity to remind readers that to my knowledge, precisely one grassroots organization currently exists to bring together independent, small, local businesses in the city of New Albany, and unlike 1Si, New Albany First does not advocate oligarch enrichment policies (bridge tolls, exurban sprawl, et al) and pursue various other vapid appeasements that actually damage the very concept of thinking local.

New Albany First is on Facebook. I believe in it, and so should you.