Man, I have been energized lately on the topic of business. I think it has something to do with owning a business and the concept that most entrepreneurs, when finding things a bit rough, can always expect to be at their best. It is just that way. I think humans in general are that way, but there are those in every community who stand at the front and shout out encouragement. I guess I am programmed optimistic and am one of them.
So I am experiencing a bit of clarity lately in regard to our economy. And since I am a pattern thinker, I am finding some connections to things that seem to be emerging as patterns and it seems to be an exciting time.
I find the current economy to be favorable, particularly to the entrepreneur (minded) who embraces the sense of urgency and finds the ability to introduce creativity and innovation at a time when everyone has their head in the sand. I am referencing entrepreneurs who were a little more conservative during the last 15 years of false prosperity--those more sensitive towards needing to index and/or diversify market penetration, a little less dependent on what the "financial media market" (those trusted financial adviser/heroes and conventionalist's) who whispered great things to them during the over extending and fleecing of our country by bi-partisan aristocracy.
And I may be wrong about their being great opportunity but who cares? If hell in a hand basket is coming, lets get the game on! If it is already here then let me toss out the first pitch, because I am one fired up lefty. I, like most people, can't stand the culture of a nation who stands so defeated at the hand of their own manifestation. Things can only get better. Why?--because we are Americans, not the American government. American people are entrepreneurs.
The fact is, there is a grand shift taking place in our economic community because of the fallout. The fringe is where its at. The outer circle, where the innovation and unconventional ideology are on stage daily and right now! We the entrepreneurs are working hard to bring something to the table that eventually (big business) will have to grab on to because of their lack of current ability (a lot of the talent is gone) and for their own destiny of "out of the box" re-emergence. That is why there is opportunity. Meet me out there!--we can shape the new direction of things and benefit greatly if we do it right.
Look at Face Book. Not a small business anymore, but look at how this business is changing the way information is shared, the legal standards, the critical mass emerging from the outer circle, the fringe, once a very unconventional means to communicate, now as conventional as the telephone. Now they are embarking on something that will change the standard of how information is owned and shared for decades to come by introducing a voting system for there community of over 175 million. There is a lot of power in that lobby and change will come because of it.
I told some students at Lindenwood University last night to focus on the "Johnny on the Spots" for now (for lack of a better topic of enlightenment)--focus on the digging of crap jobs that nobody wants to do. It told them to go and get one of those jobs, or learn from the owner why his business is good, because it likely is. Learn to fulfill a purpose and make sure it is done uncommonly well in what might otherwise be considered commonly done. Learn to build your personal brand under this standard, because every brand has a point of difference and you need to start developing points of difference as they apply to your personal brand. Points of difference are how you look, what you do, what you've done, how you want to change the world. I think I got to them with this. There was an unusual presence (or lack of) in the room this time around during my annual business dining etiquette seminar. There was no feeling of entitlement by this group of young business people. There was no smug, "I already know that". My guess is that our students have been alerted to the fact that they will need every ounce of "leg up" when graduating, and that they are very focused on gaining what is needed to succeed. This is quite promising, considering they will be at there best when things are the worst.
I told the students, graduating business and marketing degrees, to get their brands out there and use unconventional process to work into the system. Use Guerrilla marketing, help create audiences and publicity engagements where you can "be seen". Get involved with a charity, embark on an authentic path to putting yourself on a pillar and stay there until you can reach a higher place because of your urgency. Perhaps finding a business who likely has run aground during this latest downturn and needs to take all that is left, an unconventional path. I told them to use these principals with their new employer or look for ways to start your own business with the same.
As my friend John Daly puts it, "many companies, large and small with near to nothing left find themselves spending the last of their retained earnings so that they can afford to make the last few remaining payrolls. Then, out of desperation they'll dig in to personal savings to keep things afloat, waiting and wondering when things will change". They don't know when to throw in the towel, they can't reason with the need to invest in a new path. The money would be better spent on an unconventional makeover, ideas from the outer circle, the fringe, the entrepreneurs.
These are the businesses who sat back, got fat, maxed out their lines of credit; took advances on personal pay and bonuses, most of the time the business was taken for granted. Unlike this conventional path, entrepreneurs have fear and urgency throughout the conceptual process, the day to day operation and in regard to future growth. Never are decisions made in relationship to the waiting game for retirement. It is about how our businesses can change the world! This "fringe thinking" is what changes the world and there is a need for business to adopt this standard now! And it wasn't only big business who got sucked in to the vortex, there were medium and small business following suit with the same measurement of common standard. Paradigm.
Those on the fringe of conventional thought are the ones who will come up with the new paradigms. And the more unconventional the thought process the better. This,in order to recover and/or continue to find vibrant silos of opportunity in our economy, ifyouknowhatimtalkinbout.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sausage and the Spirit of Expression
I rocked at the Chesterfield Day School Dining Etiquette classes on Friday. The 4th through 6th graders were absolutely riveted with my presentation. Well, maybe not riveted, but they didn't throw anything at me. And it was truly and honor to speak to these wonderful kids. I was so inspired by their ability to grasp on to the concepts.
I find teaching to be a very inspiring--speaking, giving seminars, lecturing. I have done this for a while, put myself out there, speaking to all sorts of groups as long as I can remember. One time when I was young my father couldn't address a group of chamber people on the opening of one of his restaurants, and I said I would do it. I remember going about it the old fashioned way, writing notes out on 3x5 cards. I was like a robot standing up there in a suit, nervous and jittery. I pretty much butchered that gig, but it was another notch in the buckle for a lifelong comfort level of public speaking. I still enjoy the challenge.
And as far as I am concerned, I am still not all that good at it, not completely comfortable with what the end will produce. Because that is what you want--to bring it all together in to something that makes sense, sending a message, inspiring change or introducing a new thought process. I think I suffer a bit from what I call, the over forced thought process, maybe it is ADD. It's kind of like a virtual meat grinder, I know all of the thoughts, have them hovering over the force tube, once I start talking and plucking certain messages from the top, the pressure builds and the examples flow inward to the grinder to be forced out below. Out comes the tightly compacted sausage of knowledge, bundled, condensed and packed with influence to be considered...Um, whatever.
I don't every really know how the sausage will turn out, I have to start all over at times, sometimes not. Either way, I eventually get the point across and this has come from throwing myself out there. It is like a journey each time I do this. Always a little bit different. I suppose I have a common theme in all of my ramblings, that being authentic is what stands out the most-that applying knowledge to action is rewarding, that can't means won't, that trying means building momentum, stuff like that. That is what the sausage is supposed to be packed full of.
Lately I have taken up music, another free flow of expression. Sausage plays a role here too. I have dabbled in it for many years, but the last few have been a little more weighted on achieving at a higher level. I like to sing when I play and can get through a song or two, or three. I was playing with blues man Jim Sullivan at Lone Wolf the other night and realized that I was not at all that nervous, playing in front of whomever was watching--I wasn't at all concerned with how I looked or what I might have flawed. And I flawed a riff or two.
It occurred to me that my age has something to do with it. At 47, who really cares? It ain't like high school when a clique of friends start an unsavory campaign against you if you do something stupid or better said, unique. Things seem to bounce off pretty well at my age. It is more like, "yeah, that idiot really knows how to have fun, I wish I had the guts to do that, learn that, be that, express that". It is either that or they are thinking that their kid will never get within a rocks throw of my influence, which is fine too. It is simply about letting go and being who you are.
I was talking to Greenberg the other day. He has his ups and downs you know. I can relate, we all can relate some form of good day and bad day thing. I like to help keep his spirit high, because he is one of the most expressive heroes whom I've ever met. He brought me in a couple pictures of him from the senior Olympics, and a few pictures of his yard, that which has a theme--a tribute to the Holocaust. In case you didn't know, he is the artist who has been pissing off his neighbors for quite a while, in Ballwin, by decorating his yard with his art. Now, as much as I try to find fault in his efforts (I would have a tough time as a neighbor), the one clear thing that stands out about him is his uncompromising ability to authenticate his mission and/or purpose. He actually knows his purpose and it is his canvass to present it to us.
But Lewis told me that I didn't have to put the pictures up on the wall of his home depicting the ar--the ones with the Yiddish and Hebrew sayings written on the frames. It occurred to me that if Lewis went to the trouble to give me the photo's of himself, his art certainly needs to go next to him, just like everyone else. Lewis is his art. We all are an expression. That is what the Lone Wolf is about.
My daughter told me I was acting like an idiot while watching a couple of her friends play some music at The Wolf last Friday. I was getting in to it, tapping my foot, grooving a bit here and there. She was giving me dirty looks and making snide remarks--My guess is that a reserved "coolness" is what is "cool" with the kids while watching/listening to music. She would not have liked to see me at the AC/DC concert a few months ago.
So I grabbed a guitar and spewed out some Albert King with Elliot, another kid prodigy hanging out with the Raskas clan. I did this just to piss her off but I could see that she was groovin in her own way, somewhat proud of my ability to embrace the unconventional father figure. Let me tell you something kids, most adults have some Beatle Bob in them. In fact, I need to put Beatle Bob on the wall. Near Baton Bob and Biker Fox. If you don't know who Beatle Bob is then you don't qualify for the coolness that can only be understood by adults.
So the lesson here is expression. It is good for the soul. It keeps things real, there is a responsibility to taking the stage, making a speech, standing up and telling it like it is, expressing yourself. You have to believe in stuff, you have to understand that there can be fallout, disagreement, criticisms. There are times when it is most uncomfortable, challenging, argumentative. There is a reward.
But isn't that the way it is in everything. Just getting up and doing your thing each day can subject you to the fallout. I say meet it head on, get up and shout, sing, orate. Sharpen your pencil of expression daily, and build your spirit--that which will be around long after your gone. Word.
I find teaching to be a very inspiring--speaking, giving seminars, lecturing. I have done this for a while, put myself out there, speaking to all sorts of groups as long as I can remember. One time when I was young my father couldn't address a group of chamber people on the opening of one of his restaurants, and I said I would do it. I remember going about it the old fashioned way, writing notes out on 3x5 cards. I was like a robot standing up there in a suit, nervous and jittery. I pretty much butchered that gig, but it was another notch in the buckle for a lifelong comfort level of public speaking. I still enjoy the challenge.
And as far as I am concerned, I am still not all that good at it, not completely comfortable with what the end will produce. Because that is what you want--to bring it all together in to something that makes sense, sending a message, inspiring change or introducing a new thought process. I think I suffer a bit from what I call, the over forced thought process, maybe it is ADD. It's kind of like a virtual meat grinder, I know all of the thoughts, have them hovering over the force tube, once I start talking and plucking certain messages from the top, the pressure builds and the examples flow inward to the grinder to be forced out below. Out comes the tightly compacted sausage of knowledge, bundled, condensed and packed with influence to be considered...Um, whatever.
I don't every really know how the sausage will turn out, I have to start all over at times, sometimes not. Either way, I eventually get the point across and this has come from throwing myself out there. It is like a journey each time I do this. Always a little bit different. I suppose I have a common theme in all of my ramblings, that being authentic is what stands out the most-that applying knowledge to action is rewarding, that can't means won't, that trying means building momentum, stuff like that. That is what the sausage is supposed to be packed full of.
Lately I have taken up music, another free flow of expression. Sausage plays a role here too. I have dabbled in it for many years, but the last few have been a little more weighted on achieving at a higher level. I like to sing when I play and can get through a song or two, or three. I was playing with blues man Jim Sullivan at Lone Wolf the other night and realized that I was not at all that nervous, playing in front of whomever was watching--I wasn't at all concerned with how I looked or what I might have flawed. And I flawed a riff or two.
It occurred to me that my age has something to do with it. At 47, who really cares? It ain't like high school when a clique of friends start an unsavory campaign against you if you do something stupid or better said, unique. Things seem to bounce off pretty well at my age. It is more like, "yeah, that idiot really knows how to have fun, I wish I had the guts to do that, learn that, be that, express that". It is either that or they are thinking that their kid will never get within a rocks throw of my influence, which is fine too. It is simply about letting go and being who you are.
I was talking to Greenberg the other day. He has his ups and downs you know. I can relate, we all can relate some form of good day and bad day thing. I like to help keep his spirit high, because he is one of the most expressive heroes whom I've ever met. He brought me in a couple pictures of him from the senior Olympics, and a few pictures of his yard, that which has a theme--a tribute to the Holocaust. In case you didn't know, he is the artist who has been pissing off his neighbors for quite a while, in Ballwin, by decorating his yard with his art. Now, as much as I try to find fault in his efforts (I would have a tough time as a neighbor), the one clear thing that stands out about him is his uncompromising ability to authenticate his mission and/or purpose. He actually knows his purpose and it is his canvass to present it to us.
But Lewis told me that I didn't have to put the pictures up on the wall of his home depicting the ar--the ones with the Yiddish and Hebrew sayings written on the frames. It occurred to me that if Lewis went to the trouble to give me the photo's of himself, his art certainly needs to go next to him, just like everyone else. Lewis is his art. We all are an expression. That is what the Lone Wolf is about.
My daughter told me I was acting like an idiot while watching a couple of her friends play some music at The Wolf last Friday. I was getting in to it, tapping my foot, grooving a bit here and there. She was giving me dirty looks and making snide remarks--My guess is that a reserved "coolness" is what is "cool" with the kids while watching/listening to music. She would not have liked to see me at the AC/DC concert a few months ago.
So I grabbed a guitar and spewed out some Albert King with Elliot, another kid prodigy hanging out with the Raskas clan. I did this just to piss her off but I could see that she was groovin in her own way, somewhat proud of my ability to embrace the unconventional father figure. Let me tell you something kids, most adults have some Beatle Bob in them. In fact, I need to put Beatle Bob on the wall. Near Baton Bob and Biker Fox. If you don't know who Beatle Bob is then you don't qualify for the coolness that can only be understood by adults.
So the lesson here is expression. It is good for the soul. It keeps things real, there is a responsibility to taking the stage, making a speech, standing up and telling it like it is, expressing yourself. You have to believe in stuff, you have to understand that there can be fallout, disagreement, criticisms. There are times when it is most uncomfortable, challenging, argumentative. There is a reward.
But isn't that the way it is in everything. Just getting up and doing your thing each day can subject you to the fallout. I say meet it head on, get up and shout, sing, orate. Sharpen your pencil of expression daily, and build your spirit--that which will be around long after your gone. Word.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sayersbrook: Entrepreneurs Utopia
I went to SayersBrook Bison Ranch on Thursday to spend a day in the wilderness. Well, it was almost the wilderness. We rode around in that red, white and blue Hummer H1 all day and bounced around on level 3's (jeep lingo for scale of trail difficulty, 10 being the highest).
Skip Sayer was our tour guide, the SayersBrook Bison Ranch owner told his story throughout the day, showed Kevin (the bald guy) and I around the grounds, feeding the bison and living the life of a bison farmer for a short time. Then when lunchtime arrived, we stopped at the house where Connie, Skips wife, cooked up one of the creatures and served it to us in a delightful stew, hearty with potatoes and vegetables, home made cornbread, ah yes. It was quite nice.
I do need to point out that there is something about seeing and loving a bison before you place a piece of its muscle into your mouth and chew. I got through it pretty well, but had my lovely wife Janie been with...well, I ain't too sure about that. I thought that place was really neat and I plan on returning with a group of executives someday; to hammer out what will come of their and my business if things keep headed downward to the abyss. I also want to help Skip and Connie get things going as it relates to this sort of thing. They are real nice people and, as far as I am concerned, way ahead of their time. While I am not in to the killing of things, the guns, the hunting and motor sport stuff and such. I have some ideas for Skip, and John Daley, his friend and confidant.
John (Coach) Daley was our host on the way down and boy, did we have the political rant--that which was our destiny to talk about during the 80 minute drive to the base of the Ozark Mountains: government and politics. We would later consider our trip to be Utopian adventure of sorts, a getaway from the bullshit of today's economic climate. Since we were on our way to the middle of nowhere, a private piece of 2000 acre goodness, the conversation went on to cover a hand full of "what ifs" and "what would you do's" as conversations related to the governments "hell in a hand basket" scenario.
So I can say with all certainty that none of us are too supportive of more government, big government or any government program requiring more funding from our taxes. We own small businesses for christsake! Kevin pointed out more than once how, with more government, the greater the illusion will be portrayed for the need of more rescue, more programs, more spending on programs, more bureaucracy, more handouts to those unaccountable, and eventually, more taxes to support the government. Daley mentioned that the feds have hired a bunch of IRS people to elevate the process of dialing in the governments tax income more vigorously--you can expect aggressive process from them as things fall short in years to come. Well isn't that predictable?
We were all pretty disgusted with things by the time and we had gotten within a half hour or so of the ranch. And I noticed that things were beginning to change a little bit. We saw the occasional confederate flag and there appeared to be an over all feeling that screamed "leave us the hell alone". The nearer we got to our destination, the more we stuck out. I could feel the energy, that which was heightened by our conversation, of course--that which referenced things like "if it gets too bad we will have to hunker down" or "there will sure as hell be a limit to how much we will take if things continue this way, if despair takes over confidence and hope". We agreed that when it comes down to feeding your family, housing our children and now parents, providing care for your loved ones--it will be "anything goes". And the government will find themselves in a position to remedy the situation. Other than martial law and other control measures to thwart an uprising, I am unsure that they will be supported and that can be bad. There are lots of hidden line items in lawmaking nowadays, take the time to see what gets voted on and why. Was it truly possible for law makers to consume 1000 pages of the stimulous plan in such a short amount of time?
Now that is some fairly spirited negative fodder for a trip down to Potosi, huh?
Let's reference Ann Rand. The author of Atlas Shrugged, a reference to what can happen when government forces the entrepreneur into hiding, creating our own faction/understanding and prescription for our own capitalistic culture--that which stands for less government, is more efficient and disregards/succeeds from the due process of government. Rands perspective, written in the 50's, mind you, seems to be a pretty clear picture of what can and seems to be happening.
As we pulled into the gates of Sayersbrook we all felt relief, like an elixir had kicked in and suddenly come over us "Look at the trout stream?" I said, as the bulging heads of bison turned and slowly walked up to the fence line to see who was coming to visit. And it was suddenly obvious. Sayersbrook is a utopia for entrepreneurs, eerily similar to what is referenced in Rand's Atlas Shrugged. Skip and Conny were waaayyy ahead of their time when moving there in 1996. So it is not surprising that Skip has a thing or two to say when it comes to what he calls "air force one" politics. Ironically, a few months ago a press release in the business journal reported that the place was for sale assuming that the dream might be falling short. That is when John Daley got involved and his life began to change as a result.
I am so intrigued by this gem of a place, what skip and his family have built from generation to generation.
A little about Skip
Herbert Sayers (Skip) is the visionary owner behind the SayersBrook Bison Ranch. Skip started his life in St. Louis, Missouri. Born into the printing business, he enjoyed his youth participating in the family business by week and spending weekends with his parents and grandparents helping to build the ranch. After the armed forces, Skip became President of the Sayers Printing Company, President of the Graphic Arts Foundation, President of Graphic Arts Council of North America and finally President of the American Bison Association. He currently is active in tourism, running the ranch, and hosting events for businesses and club destinations.
My hats off to Skip and Connie, and best of luck to John Daley, Wapiti and the rest of the folks who will be encouraged to see what utopia looks like. You can bet your boots that I am going to do what I can to pass on the message, ifyouknowhatimtalkinbout.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Those Crazy Equines
My lord, this little diddy came across the desk of "that who will remain unmentioned"--a supporter of the right thing to do as is relates to horses and access to certain trails. There is a militant faction out there, trying to gain access to trails that are built and maintained by the active living community: (hiking, biking and trail running). The horses are certainly a part of our unifying the mixed use aspect of our mission. But this email pretty much says otherwise....you be the judge.
House Bill 250 Use of Public Lands Bill has been read twice and now has been sent to the State Parks and Waterways Committee for a hearing on February 19, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. The sponsor of our bill, Representative Larry Wilson, has asked us to provide written statements on why we want access to trails. The bill would give us the same access to trails that hikers and bikers enjoy.
These statements can be a paragraph or two in length and must contain the writer's full name and address so that the district the writer is from can be determined. The short turnaround time is, an attempt to cut us off.
Please send this request out to the WHOAA network and STRESS that I need their trail statements by this time tomorrow! Please e-mail your responses to me at jdoskal@
Successful passage of HB 250 could give us the KATY Trail to ride and Rockwoods Reservation and the Al Foster Trail among others. If you care about trails...this is your opportunity to be counted.
There is a new superintendent at Castlewood State Park. This bill is our opportunity to settle the question of our access to trails BY LAW!!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Pulling hair out?
I am going to slice my wrists if I see another picture of my forehead like this. I have also given specific instruction to my kid that if she ever takes a photo of the back of my head without me knowing it, she will go to "Meremac at best" for her college tour.
Thanks Mary and Rick for doing the story on Rich Love. We all have been touched by his generosity and commitment to active living. Our community chooses to embrace Mr. Becknell, the new guy, as we should. If not anything else, we were able to send a message to the Love's that their contributions to our community left us all the more en-"rich"-ed.
On other notes. The trails today were quite delicious as are the Sandwiches served at www.lonewolfcoffeecompany.com.
Shuck and I got out for a ride and suffered through a little bit of the spongy resistance swell that comes from thaw, rain and then thaw.
So it is my understanding that Local Wrist Snapper, Matt "Casey Ryback" Grottoff is hosting a 93 mile hill ride starting from, where else...the Lone Wolf Coffee Company this Sunday at 9:00 AM. I am putting money on who finishes this ride. It is heinous to say the least. And I fully expect for half of them to bail and sip on mocha lattes always served fresh and hot by Tanya Stark, the manager there.
I will be greeting the riders with a guitar and 20 oz. Full Moon Roast, as part of a send off before traveling to Columbia to watch my daughter play ball sports all afternoon, boring...
By the way. We are so interested in threading some sweet singletrack at Babler, word to the Love man, yo...
From the West County Journal
Rick Graefe photo/ Chesterfield resident Ralph Pfremmer stands in front of a display of his racing tags and holds a petition asking the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to keep Rich Love as superintendent at Castlewood State Park.
By Mary Shapiro
Friday, February 13, 2009 10:55 AM CST
There’s no love for a move by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to send long-time Castlewood State Park Superintendent Richard Love to Babler State Park in Wildwood.
Love has been superintendent of Castlewood, on Kiefer Creek Road just south of Ballwin, for 18 years. As of this month, he becomes assistant superintendent at Babler State Park on Guy Park Drive.
Love did not respond to a telephone call for information.
He’s being replaced at Castlewood by Randy Becknell, who had been superintendent at Cuivre River State Park near Troy, Mo.
However, some regular patrons of Castlewood, including local mountain bicyclists and others Love has helped, are circulating petitions and writing letters to the state to try to prevent the transfer.
Ralph Pfremmer of Chesterfield offers a Thursday Night Short Track series through his Pfoodman holding company at Castlewood. His Lone Wolf Coffee Co., 15480 Clayton Road in Ballwin, is named after the Lone Wolf Trail at Castlewood.
His petition states “Taxpayers and users of Missouri state parks protest the transfer of Richard Love from Castlewood. He has worked hard, managed well and made Castlewood a destination park for the whole area. He’s always friendly, helpful and accommodating. It would be a terrible shame to see Castlewood revert back to the way it was before, and his services will be sorely missed.”
Pfremmer said his business counts on the active living community, and Love’s move affects more than just the park.
“If this is a political move or a favor for someone else, it sure would be a shame,” he said.”
Pfremmer said Love has “embraced mountain biking, an unconventional sport that has grown by leaps and bounds, and allowed us to race bikes at the park and have our volunteers build and maintain trails.”
“We definitely are worried about whether we will be able to use mountain bikes on trails our volunteers built and maintained in Castlewood,” he said.
To see Pfremmer’s blog on the topic, visit the website www.pfoodman.com, go to the “meet the Pfoodman” section and click on his blog there.
Sue Holst, information officer with the Missouri Department of Natural Resource’s division of state parks, insisted Love’s move has nothing to do with politics.
“And there are no plans at all to reduce mountain bike trails at Castlewood,” she said.
Holst said Love’s official transfer was effective Jan. 12 but “there are transition issues as Mr. Love moves out and Mr. Becknell comes in.”
She said there’s “no opportunity to reverse this change.”
“We recognize mountain bike trails are very important in that area, and we realize a lot of people are upset, but we don’t feel there’s a reason for that,” Holst said. “Mountain bike trails won’t be impacted, nor the operation of Castlewood.”
She said Don Fink, superintendent of nearby Route 66 State Park, will still oversee Castlewood, as he’s done for several years.
Mark Laytham, owner of Ballwin Schwinn, 15340 Manchester Road in Ellisville, said he already has many signatures on the petition to keep Love at Castlewood. Numerous other bike shops have the petitions, he said.
Laytham said a recent Journal story on a teen’s rescue of a man and his dog in the Meramec River in Castlewood brought Love’s move to light.
“My conversation with Rich is that he didn’t want to leave Castlewood,” Laytham said. “He’s supported the cycling community, and the park has become a mountain bike mecca in the Midwest. We don’t know if the new superintendent will be receptive to what our community has done to improve the park by building new mountain bike trail networks and doing trail maintenance.
“Fifteen years ago, there were hardly any mountain bikers in Castlewood. I remember, as a teen in the ‘70s, going to Castlewood, and nobody was there but a bunch of hippies. Now, people are coming from many states away to ride bikes. We’ve been told things won’t change after Rich leaves, but we don’t know that.”
At the website http://stlbiking.com/forum, there have been comments about Love’s departure.
Christopher Shirley, principal of Oak Brook Elementary School, 510 Big Bend Road in Ballwin, said petitions are being circulated among faculty to try to prevent the Loves’ move from their home at the park.
“Both Richard and his wife, Susan, have been very involved in Oak Brook,” Shirley said. “They’ve helped us with the school carnival and also with our Naturezania Committee, which helps to take care of the grounds. They’re just the kind of people who, no matter what you need, they’ll be there for you. Their departure would be a loss not only to Oak Brook but to the whole community.”
In Babler, Love will be assistant to Superintendent Jeff Robinson, Holst said.
“For Rich, the move gives him more opportunities because Babler is much larger than Castlewood, with a campground, visitors center, outdoor education center and lots of events,” Holst said. “From time to time, changing personnel around is good for the superintendents and parks, giving some new perspective. Rich didn’t request this transfer, but I understand he has no problem with it.”
Thanks Mary and Rick for doing the story on Rich Love. We all have been touched by his generosity and commitment to active living. Our community chooses to embrace Mr. Becknell, the new guy, as we should. If not anything else, we were able to send a message to the Love's that their contributions to our community left us all the more en-"rich"-ed.
On other notes. The trails today were quite delicious as are the Sandwiches served at www.lonewolfcoffeecompany.com.
Shuck and I got out for a ride and suffered through a little bit of the spongy resistance swell that comes from thaw, rain and then thaw.
So it is my understanding that Local Wrist Snapper, Matt "Casey Ryback" Grottoff is hosting a 93 mile hill ride starting from, where else...the Lone Wolf Coffee Company this Sunday at 9:00 AM. I am putting money on who finishes this ride. It is heinous to say the least. And I fully expect for half of them to bail and sip on mocha lattes always served fresh and hot by Tanya Stark, the manager there.
I will be greeting the riders with a guitar and 20 oz. Full Moon Roast, as part of a send off before traveling to Columbia to watch my daughter play ball sports all afternoon, boring...
By the way. We are so interested in threading some sweet singletrack at Babler, word to the Love man, yo...
From the West County Journal
Rick Graefe photo/ Chesterfield resident Ralph Pfremmer stands in front of a display of his racing tags and holds a petition asking the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to keep Rich Love as superintendent at Castlewood State Park.
By Mary Shapiro
Friday, February 13, 2009 10:55 AM CST
There’s no love for a move by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to send long-time Castlewood State Park Superintendent Richard Love to Babler State Park in Wildwood.
Love has been superintendent of Castlewood, on Kiefer Creek Road just south of Ballwin, for 18 years. As of this month, he becomes assistant superintendent at Babler State Park on Guy Park Drive.
Love did not respond to a telephone call for information.
He’s being replaced at Castlewood by Randy Becknell, who had been superintendent at Cuivre River State Park near Troy, Mo.
However, some regular patrons of Castlewood, including local mountain bicyclists and others Love has helped, are circulating petitions and writing letters to the state to try to prevent the transfer.
Ralph Pfremmer of Chesterfield offers a Thursday Night Short Track series through his Pfoodman holding company at Castlewood. His Lone Wolf Coffee Co., 15480 Clayton Road in Ballwin, is named after the Lone Wolf Trail at Castlewood.
His petition states “Taxpayers and users of Missouri state parks protest the transfer of Richard Love from Castlewood. He has worked hard, managed well and made Castlewood a destination park for the whole area. He’s always friendly, helpful and accommodating. It would be a terrible shame to see Castlewood revert back to the way it was before, and his services will be sorely missed.”
Pfremmer said his business counts on the active living community, and Love’s move affects more than just the park.
“If this is a political move or a favor for someone else, it sure would be a shame,” he said.”
Pfremmer said Love has “embraced mountain biking, an unconventional sport that has grown by leaps and bounds, and allowed us to race bikes at the park and have our volunteers build and maintain trails.”
“We definitely are worried about whether we will be able to use mountain bikes on trails our volunteers built and maintained in Castlewood,” he said.
To see Pfremmer’s blog on the topic, visit the website www.pfoodman.com, go to the “meet the Pfoodman” section and click on his blog there.
Sue Holst, information officer with the Missouri Department of Natural Resource’s division of state parks, insisted Love’s move has nothing to do with politics.
“And there are no plans at all to reduce mountain bike trails at Castlewood,” she said.
Holst said Love’s official transfer was effective Jan. 12 but “there are transition issues as Mr. Love moves out and Mr. Becknell comes in.”
She said there’s “no opportunity to reverse this change.”
“We recognize mountain bike trails are very important in that area, and we realize a lot of people are upset, but we don’t feel there’s a reason for that,” Holst said. “Mountain bike trails won’t be impacted, nor the operation of Castlewood.”
She said Don Fink, superintendent of nearby Route 66 State Park, will still oversee Castlewood, as he’s done for several years.
Mark Laytham, owner of Ballwin Schwinn, 15340 Manchester Road in Ellisville, said he already has many signatures on the petition to keep Love at Castlewood. Numerous other bike shops have the petitions, he said.
Laytham said a recent Journal story on a teen’s rescue of a man and his dog in the Meramec River in Castlewood brought Love’s move to light.
“My conversation with Rich is that he didn’t want to leave Castlewood,” Laytham said. “He’s supported the cycling community, and the park has become a mountain bike mecca in the Midwest. We don’t know if the new superintendent will be receptive to what our community has done to improve the park by building new mountain bike trail networks and doing trail maintenance.
“Fifteen years ago, there were hardly any mountain bikers in Castlewood. I remember, as a teen in the ‘70s, going to Castlewood, and nobody was there but a bunch of hippies. Now, people are coming from many states away to ride bikes. We’ve been told things won’t change after Rich leaves, but we don’t know that.”
At the website http://stlbiking.com/forum, there have been comments about Love’s departure.
Christopher Shirley, principal of Oak Brook Elementary School, 510 Big Bend Road in Ballwin, said petitions are being circulated among faculty to try to prevent the Loves’ move from their home at the park.
“Both Richard and his wife, Susan, have been very involved in Oak Brook,” Shirley said. “They’ve helped us with the school carnival and also with our Naturezania Committee, which helps to take care of the grounds. They’re just the kind of people who, no matter what you need, they’ll be there for you. Their departure would be a loss not only to Oak Brook but to the whole community.”
In Babler, Love will be assistant to Superintendent Jeff Robinson, Holst said.
“For Rich, the move gives him more opportunities because Babler is much larger than Castlewood, with a campground, visitors center, outdoor education center and lots of events,” Holst said. “From time to time, changing personnel around is good for the superintendents and parks, giving some new perspective. Rich didn’t request this transfer, but I understand he has no problem with it.”
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rich Love forced out at Castlewood?
Rumors pretty much have a way of getting out there nowadays. That with all the electronic media and communication device stuff. I hate it when I hear a rumor that I can't confirm or bust. Mark at Ballwin Cycles got hold of a rumor that was heard from a source that heard a bunch of rumors. This went out on a message board and Thrasher called me with a couple rumors that he had heard and then at breakfast my wife asked me whatever came out of that Rich Love thing that I had pooped her way the night before last.
I told her it was done. It was confirmed that Rich Love was moving to Babler State Park and that Mr. Randy Becknall (sp?) is the new Superintendent of Castlewood State park (already effective). Mr. Becknall comes from Cuivre River State Park. We were able to get this confirmed but there were still was some confusion as to why.
I called Rich Love the other day but didn't get a call back. My guess is that he didn't return my call because he does not want to draw attention to that which others have surmised as a conspiracy to remove him from by his supervisors. His post as Superintendent at Castlwood State Park. I wouldn't have returned the call either. In fact, the whole thing would make me nervous considering the fact that somebody else had started the rumor mill.
I got to thinking about this, now that it is a done deal and all. Rich's children go to school in the Parkway School District. Rumors were confirmed that he is moving to Babler State Park in Wildwood, Rockwood, a different school district. Now that is a shame. I remember Rich stopping what he was doing to get his kids off the school bus several years back. He held their hands and walked up the driveway to the small home back along the ridge of the Lone Wolf Trail. I have seen the bus come and go for the last ten years. It was something one expected to see while charting the days ride. Rich's kids yard is Castlewood Park and have grown up in what some would consider unconventionally conventional surroundings. Now his family will be forced to move, the kids needing to get used to another school. We the mountain bikers, a special kind of kin will remain. Perhaps.
I have worked with Rich on a bunch of things, the success of Short Track races, one of the most popular mountain bike race events in the city. Rich was responsible for that. Hell, the emergence of mountain biking in the city of St. Louis is a direct result of Rich embracing the culture that surrounds him. There must be thousands of people who come to the park each year to ride bikes. I know I am there three to four times a week shaping my fitness, helping others learn the sport, helping maintain the trails, making sure people stay safe. We have learned to help Rich in his efforts to handle the volume cultivated by his efforts. I have volunteered many times to help those injured or work an occasional work day on behalf of the park. I am a registered volunteer there.
It is sad. We know he doesn't want to go, that appears to be fact. Rumor has that it is political, a favor returned by a local politico. We also heard rumor that the agenda was to lose the mountain biking in the Park--that the new guy wants to limit it. Heh, that would be a most wonderful exercises in public relations for the new superintendent, the backlash for the state. I really can't see that happening. But I can tell you this. I will certainly stand against anyone taking away what took years for Rich to build at a park where so many active living memories have been forged. That is fact.
I told her it was done. It was confirmed that Rich Love was moving to Babler State Park and that Mr. Randy Becknall (sp?) is the new Superintendent of Castlewood State park (already effective). Mr. Becknall comes from Cuivre River State Park. We were able to get this confirmed but there were still was some confusion as to why.
I called Rich Love the other day but didn't get a call back. My guess is that he didn't return my call because he does not want to draw attention to that which others have surmised as a conspiracy to remove him from by his supervisors. His post as Superintendent at Castlwood State Park. I wouldn't have returned the call either. In fact, the whole thing would make me nervous considering the fact that somebody else had started the rumor mill.
I got to thinking about this, now that it is a done deal and all. Rich's children go to school in the Parkway School District. Rumors were confirmed that he is moving to Babler State Park in Wildwood, Rockwood, a different school district. Now that is a shame. I remember Rich stopping what he was doing to get his kids off the school bus several years back. He held their hands and walked up the driveway to the small home back along the ridge of the Lone Wolf Trail. I have seen the bus come and go for the last ten years. It was something one expected to see while charting the days ride. Rich's kids yard is Castlewood Park and have grown up in what some would consider unconventionally conventional surroundings. Now his family will be forced to move, the kids needing to get used to another school. We the mountain bikers, a special kind of kin will remain. Perhaps.
I have worked with Rich on a bunch of things, the success of Short Track races, one of the most popular mountain bike race events in the city. Rich was responsible for that. Hell, the emergence of mountain biking in the city of St. Louis is a direct result of Rich embracing the culture that surrounds him. There must be thousands of people who come to the park each year to ride bikes. I know I am there three to four times a week shaping my fitness, helping others learn the sport, helping maintain the trails, making sure people stay safe. We have learned to help Rich in his efforts to handle the volume cultivated by his efforts. I have volunteered many times to help those injured or work an occasional work day on behalf of the park. I am a registered volunteer there.
It is sad. We know he doesn't want to go, that appears to be fact. Rumor has that it is political, a favor returned by a local politico. We also heard rumor that the agenda was to lose the mountain biking in the Park--that the new guy wants to limit it. Heh, that would be a most wonderful exercises in public relations for the new superintendent, the backlash for the state. I really can't see that happening. But I can tell you this. I will certainly stand against anyone taking away what took years for Rich to build at a park where so many active living memories have been forged. That is fact.
Norba and....not Norba
A little catch up...
Last year the promoters of St. Louis Mountain Bike racing scene met and determined that an alternative source for insurance be found. Bobby of the DRJ has been running the NORBA sanctioned series and was looking to hand over the reigns in order to see a true state wide series where all the riders in MO compete in a multi race series. Midwest Fat tire (MWFT) was an excellent choice for the group. MWFT is what one might refer to as one of the "franchises" of the states mountain bike race organizations--one of the three or four organized bodies that provide a consolidated series or multiple races combined into a series statewide or region wide.
MWFT has been promoting awesome races for quite some time and I have always enjoyed competing against new faces when traveling outside of St. Louis, which (in the St. Louis region) has been primarily NORBA sanctioned. Because of the insurance issue, the St. Louis group elected to go with MWFT in 2009, merge efforts, in order to take advantage of what some consider to be a better alternative for liability, thereby building a cohesive racing body with better attendance. What has been the NORBA sanctioned series in St. Louis is now folded into the MWFT group forming an actual statewide series, non-NORBA, non-USA Cycling and consequently leaving the state without a USA Cycling Mountain Bike State Championship. In addition, virtually all NORBA licensed riders are now not licensed (because there is no need). So call me sentimental.
NORBA is part of USA Cycling and sanctions events and programs which include the reporting of earned points for national qualifiers, junior development programs, rider insurance, lots of other things as it relates to the sport. Riders have to be licensed in order to compete in a NORBA event, not the case with the MWFT folks. Licensing requires more out of pocket for the racers, that which helps support USA Cycling, the programs, all the stuff. Let's face it, Mountain biking is a bit of a different bird, loose knit in the upgrading and downgrading, leaving most of the rule making up to the promoters in regard to combining fields at races and managing categories. We need some flexibility and we are a square peg fitting into a round hole in regard to the insurance. Because we don't get the numbers that road races often get.
USA Cycling has a problem; they have not been too helpful dealing with the insurance issue--the fact that an additional 500 bucks is required for the additional coverage necessary to comply with park standards in MO is a tall order. We have been asking for help, not a thing has been done to provide us with solutions. Not until MOBRA just stepped up and agreed to cover the 500 bucks necessary to have this years Missouri State Mountain Bike Championship Race. Otherwise, we wouldn't have it.
I am getting a little bit of feedback on this, nothing too bad but I thought it might be helpful to outline the purpose of MOBRA, the local organizing party for the advancement of cycling in our region. I feel strongly that they made the right decision to help out the promoter in order to have the race, which will be announced soon. I don't see anything that excludes helping out promoters who would like to put on a USA Cycling event but need the help of the local organizing committee to send a message to USA Cycling that it is now necessary to subsidize the races from licensing funds rather than expect promoters to pay for the insurance. MOBRA gets its income from a portion of licensed USA Cycling Members, of which some pay dual for both NORBA and Road Racing. Just a review from the www.mobra.org site:
The corporation is formed for the following purposes:
1. To conduct, coordinate, promote and seek the advancement of amateur bicycle racing in Missouri.
2. To create programs to assist riders in the development of their competitive skills and to ensure safe competition.
3. Be organized to provide fair representation, directly or by affiliation, for all individuals and organizations that participate in
the sport.
4. Coordinate an organized and balanced race calendar with minimal overlap of events.
5. To foster effective communication between racers, clubs, race promoters, USA Cycling, Inc. (USAC) and the public.
6. And all other legal powers permitted a Nonprofit Corporation.
This is not Road Race specific.
Last year the promoters of St. Louis Mountain Bike racing scene met and determined that an alternative source for insurance be found. Bobby of the DRJ has been running the NORBA sanctioned series and was looking to hand over the reigns in order to see a true state wide series where all the riders in MO compete in a multi race series. Midwest Fat tire (MWFT) was an excellent choice for the group. MWFT is what one might refer to as one of the "franchises" of the states mountain bike race organizations--one of the three or four organized bodies that provide a consolidated series or multiple races combined into a series statewide or region wide.
MWFT has been promoting awesome races for quite some time and I have always enjoyed competing against new faces when traveling outside of St. Louis, which (in the St. Louis region) has been primarily NORBA sanctioned. Because of the insurance issue, the St. Louis group elected to go with MWFT in 2009, merge efforts, in order to take advantage of what some consider to be a better alternative for liability, thereby building a cohesive racing body with better attendance. What has been the NORBA sanctioned series in St. Louis is now folded into the MWFT group forming an actual statewide series, non-NORBA, non-USA Cycling and consequently leaving the state without a USA Cycling Mountain Bike State Championship. In addition, virtually all NORBA licensed riders are now not licensed (because there is no need). So call me sentimental.
NORBA is part of USA Cycling and sanctions events and programs which include the reporting of earned points for national qualifiers, junior development programs, rider insurance, lots of other things as it relates to the sport. Riders have to be licensed in order to compete in a NORBA event, not the case with the MWFT folks. Licensing requires more out of pocket for the racers, that which helps support USA Cycling, the programs, all the stuff. Let's face it, Mountain biking is a bit of a different bird, loose knit in the upgrading and downgrading, leaving most of the rule making up to the promoters in regard to combining fields at races and managing categories. We need some flexibility and we are a square peg fitting into a round hole in regard to the insurance. Because we don't get the numbers that road races often get.
USA Cycling has a problem; they have not been too helpful dealing with the insurance issue--the fact that an additional 500 bucks is required for the additional coverage necessary to comply with park standards in MO is a tall order. We have been asking for help, not a thing has been done to provide us with solutions. Not until MOBRA just stepped up and agreed to cover the 500 bucks necessary to have this years Missouri State Mountain Bike Championship Race. Otherwise, we wouldn't have it.
I am getting a little bit of feedback on this, nothing too bad but I thought it might be helpful to outline the purpose of MOBRA, the local organizing party for the advancement of cycling in our region. I feel strongly that they made the right decision to help out the promoter in order to have the race, which will be announced soon. I don't see anything that excludes helping out promoters who would like to put on a USA Cycling event but need the help of the local organizing committee to send a message to USA Cycling that it is now necessary to subsidize the races from licensing funds rather than expect promoters to pay for the insurance. MOBRA gets its income from a portion of licensed USA Cycling Members, of which some pay dual for both NORBA and Road Racing. Just a review from the www.mobra.org site:
The corporation is formed for the following purposes:
1. To conduct, coordinate, promote and seek the advancement of amateur bicycle racing in Missouri.
2. To create programs to assist riders in the development of their competitive skills and to ensure safe competition.
3. Be organized to provide fair representation, directly or by affiliation, for all individuals and organizations that participate in
the sport.
4. Coordinate an organized and balanced race calendar with minimal overlap of events.
5. To foster effective communication between racers, clubs, race promoters, USA Cycling, Inc. (USAC) and the public.
6. And all other legal powers permitted a Nonprofit Corporation.
This is not Road Race specific.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Well now
That's right. Two days in a row, nothing but hills. Shuck thought well enough of the wind to take off on the first 200 meters dropping the group of "1st road riders of the year". I covered most of his breaks but found my "14 pounds lighter than last year at this time" dragging on the last climb. All in all around 5000 for the weekend. Hey Eric, eat some gravy. 157 in February is gay.
Ploch joined us today. Mark hipped me to his yearning to ride and I caught him stuffing pizza 20 minutes before ride time. We didn't get out until 230 in the afternoon because Thrasher had to get out of bed and all. I didn't try and attack today, rather keep pace with the tempo and then suffer through the climbs. At one point I told Eric and Chris, while coming up Bouquet "Thrashers off". And damn if I didn't find myself apologising. Thrasher has a lot of power this year. Last years season and stable base fitness through the season seems to have helped us.
As for Ploch, Bobby came swinging around us just before the Allenton Loop. I was thinking he was watching us the whole time, waiting for me to slap a Lone Wolf sticker over the DRJ logo on Chris's butt.
Oh, litte buddy has one of those "I love my new boat" crockpot things going. Mark, if you miss out on your Mr. January training, the spring will be your busy season and then you will be pissed that this fat guy is wasting you on the hills again. Just my thoughts.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Windy
It was quite the journey getting to the top of the 13000 peak. I Wanted a 14000 but it would have to wait. This is right outside of winter Park. My boy Adam got me up from the road on a snowmobile and we hiked to the summit the remaining 1500.
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