Home > Out and About — A Wireside Chat
Goodbye, For Now….
I’ve had the pleasure of blogging for Trib these last couple of months, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.
I’ve had the pleasure of championing the pursuit of education, encouraging everyone to read, and describing why business and education must continue to link together. I’ve even discussed town and gown issues too….
I’ve enjoyed it, but this will be my last blog for awhile. I will return during the event months of One Book, One Waco, and also discuss other chamber projects every quarter. I’ve decided that this is the best way to keep everyone engaged around education, reading, and bringing everyone together.
So, what have a learned from this great experience?
I’ve learned that it takes all of us to make a difference in education - businesses, schools, communities and more importantly - family.
So, what have I gained from this experience?
I’ve gained a greater sense of helping others through my work. But, it won’t stop here. It might be goodbye for now, but I’ll be back when you least expect me to. It might be goodbye for now, but I’ll continue to stand for education, reading, and unity. And it might be goodbye for now, but I will continue to build relationships - constantly being out and about.
Until next time….I’ll be out and about.
Unity in Our Community
Well, it has taken a week for me to recover from Monday night’s presentation of Ron and Denver on their book, Same Kind of Different as Me. It has taken me a while to recover because I wanted to make sure that I captured all of my thoughts as well as other thoughts.
The One Book, One Waco Unity in the Community Event was a great success for Waco, for education and for reading. And, the event was a great succcess for the Baylor and Waco communities - the town and gown! The event was held in Waco Hall, and we had a crowd of over 500 people in the audience who braved the cold weather to hear Ron and Denver’s story. I was pleased to see that the crowd was made up of different people from all walks of life.
Listening to Ron and Denver’s presentation and seeing the crowd, I couldn’t help but wonder: can a book really unite a community? Can we make a difference through one book, whether it’s a fall, spring or summer one? The answer is YES - without a doubt!
So, the event was a success and One Book, One Waco will live on. On a personal note, I was touched by Ron and Denver. They are two unique people who are trying to make a difference in this world. Both of them were touched that the city of Waco would make their book the chosen Spring 2008 read. Also, Ron and Denver made me appreciate all of the unlikely friends that I have in my personal life.
Same Kind of Different as Me will continue to connect our community, our hearts and our minds as we continue to find ways to unite our community. As I have said, One Book, One Waco and all of our chosen books can unite our community and encourage reading on all levels. Encouraging the pursuit of education and reading are personal goals of mine, but it must be more than my personal goal - it must be a community goal.
So, I thank everyone who attended our event because we will continue to make a difference. But, I hope you have no fear because One Book, One Waco will be here. It will return in the summer and fall. Keep reading and keep uniting our community.
Until next time. One Book, One Waco - Unity in the Community!
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MEET RON AND DENVER TONIGHT AT 7 AT WACO HALL
— Meet the authors — Ron Hall and Denver Moore, co-authors of Same Kind of Different as Me, will be at Waco Hall TONIGHT at 7 p.m. to speak about their book in the One Book, One Waco program.
NO TICKETS NECESSARY. THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
COME CELEBRATE UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY…
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MEET RON AND DENVER, MONDAY AT 7 PM, WACO HALL!
— Meet the authors — Ron Hall and Denver Moore, co-authors of Same Kind of Different as Me, will be at Waco Hall March 3, 7 p.m. to speak about their book in the One Book, One Waco program.
NO TICKETS NECESSARY. THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
COME CELEBRATE UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY…
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Quite A Buzz about ‘One Book’
One book, and one story, is creating a buzz in Waco.
The story is of Ron Hall and Denver Moore. The book is capturing attentions, triggering emotions and shining light on our faith. It is making a difference in our community.
Same Kind of Different as Me, the book for this year’s One Book, One Waco, is powerful, poignant and true. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an international art dealer and a homeless man in Fort Worth.
It’s about friendship, loyalty and trust. We all have had an experience with an unlikely friendship in our personal lives.
Whether one is white, black or brown, religious or not, each of us has a story that shows the common bond of love and similarity. In the book, Ron and Denver discover that they are the “same” because they are different. Simply put, they discover the importance of true friendship.
Denver explains to Ron the concept of true friendship when he says: “If you is lookin’ for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”
At that moment, Ron and Denver lower their barriers to become the best of friends. The unlikely friendship centers on love. Forever.
The book brings our attention to issues of homelessness and our perceptions of the unfortunate.
In Waco we struggle with issues of homelessness and our perceptions about the people afflicted. This book helps to change our perceptions — our own judgments of the plight of the homeless.
May we learn to look at the homeless through the eyes of Ron and Denver: with love and consideration.
The power of this book is the sharing of Ron and Denver’s deeply personal story. In its honesty and starkness it causes our emotions to flare. Then it encourages us to make a difference.
Same Kind of Different as Me also is a spiritual journey. It does not matter what religious background you have, because it can inspire each of our journeys of faith and spirituality. Each of us can give back and make a difference in our communities. And, each of us can love and care for one another.
Please join us as we continue to bring unity in the community with One Book, One Waco. Please join us at 7 p.m. March 3 at Waco Hall to honor Ron and Denver.
Help us continue the buzz that One Book, One Waco has generated.
— Meet the authors — Ron Hall and Denver Moore, co-authors of Same Kind of Different as Me, will be at Waco Hall March 3, 7 p.m. to speak about their book in the One Book, One Waco program.
Reaching New Heights….
This past week, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce had its membership banquet, and it was a wonderful time to discuss “Reaching New Heights.”
The Chamber hosted a presentation by adventurer Jamie Clarke who discussed his travels to Mount Everest. Also, Mr. David Lacy recapped a wonderful and passionate history of Waco, and why we are part of a “golden age” as we reach new heights in our city.
I couldn’t help but note the symbolism of Mount Everest and our new building, and I couldn’t help but note the symbolism of Mr. Clarke’s story with the story of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.
Then, it hit me. We are reaching new heights in education through our LEAD mentoring program, business leadership in schools program, and of course One Book, One Waco. We are reaching new heights in economic development, sports and special events, and leadership in our community. These are new heights!
Well, Mr. Clarke challenged us to lessen our fears, take more risks, and stay focused on what we want to do. He said, “don’t look down at the crevasses under you, but keep focusing on the rungs of the ladder as you climb to reach your goal.”
As I champion reading, education, and unity, I keep reminding myself of the challenges, but then I focus in on the vision and mission of why I’m trying to accomplish what I set out to do. These past weeks have been tiring and filled with many challenges - and yet more successes.
One Book, One Waco is reaching new heights - bringing the community together through a book. This communitywide reading program is changing lives from high school students to adults, and I can clearly say: the best is yet to come.
We will have our last book review and discussion before the author’s visit at 4 p.m. on February 26 at the MCC Conference Center. You are invited to hear Bob Anne Senter and Barbara Cunningham as they review Same Kind of Different as Me.
Don’t forget that Ron and Denver will be coming to Waco at 7 p.m. on March 3 at Waco Hall. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets necessary.
So, sometimes the way seems hard and the road is long, but never give up in reaching new heights. Whether it’s education or unity, all of us can lessen our fears, take risks, and reach for new heights.
“The Needs of the Many…”
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one, or the few.”
For all of you Star Trek fans, you will recognize this memorable line from Mr. Spock from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. For others, this memorable line will strike a chord in each of us: the idea of sacrificing our all for the greater good of humanity. In essence, this line should serve as a reminder that we must value and work for the good of all our community - not just the one or the few.
As I travel out and about, I am challenged each day to impact the “needs of the many”. Whether it’s One Book, One Waco or participating in our Business Leadership in Schools program, I see the value of sacrificing my time, energy and my all into making a difference in education in our community.
This week I saw the “needs of the many” take place.
We had an event for high school students as part of our One Book, One Waco program, and to my shock we had 50 people at Barnes and Noble, discussing Same Kind of Different as Me. A majority of those 50 people were high school students, and it was great to see them engaged in the text of the book and in community together. We thank our sponsor Barnes and Noble and Craig Nash for their support and generosity in hosting us.
I moderated the event, and I was so amazed at the depth of their answers. I was amazed at their dedication to reading and our community. And, I was amazed that this book touched the “needs of the many.”
Another event happened this week to help “the needs of the many.” I visited Waco High, and I participated in an interviewing session for their Career Development program and AVID program. I interviewed students about possible employment opportunities in their future, and I gave them advice on being in the real world. I was not alone. There were other business leaders there, making a difference - focusing on the “needs of the many.” These leaders gave their time, energy, and effort to help educate our local students about future opportunities.
Why am I sharing these examples?
I am sharing these examples because I believe in the future. I believe in our local students and that they will succeed if we as a community continue to give them the resources to succeed. And we are doing a great job so far. I am sharing these examples because of my personal campaign to make a difference in education and champion reading in this community.
Another alarming statistic about reading is that 38% of employers find high school graduates “deficient” in reading comprehension. One in five U.S. workers read at a lower rate than normal. This is according to the National Endowment of the Arts.
So, this is why the “needs of the many” are important: We must continue to provide opportunities for students to expand their horizons through reading programs, discussion groups, job shadowing, mentoring, and through guest speaking opportunities of our business/community leaders.
We must do these things because the needs of the students, the needs of the teachers, the needs of education outweigh the needs of the one or the few. This must be a collective vision - a collective mission.
Because yes we can make a difference. We can.
So, being out and about has given me a new realization of the “needs of the many.” It has given me a lifechanging new perspective about our role in the grander scheme of things. It has given me a passion for youth, education, reading, and doing all I can to help our students and teachers succeed. And, it has given me a new challenge, mission and vision.
Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one or the few. There are needs out there for our students, and I hope that we as leaders can continue to make a difference by putting those needs ahead of the one or the few.
Please stay tuned to our updates on One Book, BLS and other programs as we continue to join other educators and community leaders who champion, support and underscore the importance of education and reading in our community.
That’s out and about. That’s the “the needs of the many.”
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Man on a Mission: The Case for Reading
Yes, I’m a man on a mission. It is a mission that I choose to accept. The mission is encouraging the pursuit of education and reading in our community.
In a larger sense, that is how we promote unity in the community: education and reading.
We had a wonderful turn out to our Book Review and Discussion about Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Bob Anne Senter and Barbara Cunningham did a fantastic job reviewing the book and answering questions. We also had a great teacher appreciation reception for the high school teachers that are participating in One Book, One Waco. We would like to personally thank the Waco-McLennan County Library, James Karney and the Baylor Library System for their support and for hosting the events.
Next, week at 7 p.m. at Barnes and Noble we will have an event for high school students, and we will introduce them to the book.
So, why am I on a mission? Well, the stats are alarming, and the following information is taken from the National Endowment of the Arts:
Only 47% of adults read a work of literature. Literary reading has decreased at all educational levels - young adults are declining rapidly than the general population. And there are more interesting facts about reading that I will share periodically. I’ll save room for the next facts for you.
But, the answer is clear: no one reads like they used to. So, we have to do something to encourage reading while at the same time promoting education.
That’s why One Book, One Waco is important. It is a communitywide movement that will inspire many to pick up a book. It will inspire unity in the community. It will inspire making a difference. It will inspire an engaged community that is focused on reading and education.
It will inspire you to read. Period.
And that is my hope. That is why I’m the One Book, One Waco man. A man on a mission that I choose to accept. I feel like a presidential candidates who is running a campaign, but this campaign is not political. It is an educational mission, mixed with hope and unity.
So, what about you? Will you choose to help me? Will you promote reading and education?
Will you join the mission?
Take a look at the mission here and schedule of our events.
Book Review and Discussion! Tonight!
Please mark your calendars for tonight at 7 p.m. at the Waco-McLennan County Library for a book review and discussion about the One Book, One Waco Selection for Spring 2008.
Everyone is encouraged to attend.
I will be back tomorrow with a full update on One Book and the case for reading….
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Out and About, One Book, and One Legacy….
It’s been awhile! But, as you know, I have been out and about.
As I describe a day in the life of Allan Marshall, it is one of being “out and about” - building relationship, getting out of the office and circulating among the people. It is so great to be able to discuss One Book, One Waco or tell the stories of business leaders who are telling their stories to students in our school districts.
But in a larger sense, this out and about concept is far more than just talk - it’s action, and it’s about leaving a legacy. This legacy could be about creating a giant “Oprah’s Book Club” - encouraging the entire community to unite and read a book. Although, I am not Oprah by any means.
Or this legacy could be about telling the importance in education, and why one must about obtain a higher form of education.
In addition, this legacy could be about “Same Kind of Different as Me”, telling the community of unlikely friendships or discussing with PTA members and educators the importance of a fundamental concept called reading. Maybe, this legacy could truly be about making a difference in this community or promoting a WE DO spirit to our community.
Whatever it is - this legacy must be about something more than just me. It’s about us - all of us. The common good.
As I reflect on the weeks past and the weeks ahead, I am reminded of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr as we reflect on his life. What a legacy! What a spirit! What a man!
As times are changing, we could reflect on his spirit, wisdom, and his actions. So, the question is what about your legacy? What will you leave behind?
It might be a giant book club, a community book club - encouraging people to read. It might be telling your story in a school. It might be about making a difference.
Whatever it is may it be something bigger than yourself, bigger than a particular organization, and bigger than a few individuals. It must be about everyone. That’s what Dr. King wanted: everyone to work, play, and live together in a world filled with differences. It is “Same Kind of Different as Me.”
So, it is about being out and about, one book, and one great legacy. May you be inspired.
Tell Your Story
This week I have been out and about, telling my story. And others have too.
Everyone has a story.
Whether you are from the Piney Woods of East Texas or from Central Texas, your story is important. It is essential, and it can make a difference in someone’s life.
I hope that everyone shares their story - the struggles, the triumphs, the setbacks, the failures and yes the successes. So, tell your story.
I had the opportunity of telling my story at Waco High to a group of students, and it really made my week fulfilling. We started a new program called Business Leadership in Schools where business leaders are telling their stories at Waco High, LaVega High and Rapoport High and offering students advice on future career opportunities.
The program is a “hands-on” approach to sharing stories, being role models, and shaping our youth, and more importantly, the program encourages our students to pursue a higher form of education after graduation. It exposes students to the business community, and it helps them see how their classwork relates to their future opportunities.
I hope that our stories can make a difference in the lives of our students.
Let me know if you are interested in participating in this exciting endeavor or if you have suggestions on our program.
Of course, you get the point: tell your story. It can change the world.
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Town and Gown…..
I attended the 2008 President’s Community Prayer Breakfast, and I was inspired to write an entry about the town-gown relationship (the Waco community and Baylor University).
The community prayer breakfast was held at the Ferrell Center, and the event was a success because it brought the community and Baylor together for the New Year. I am glad that former president Herb Reynolds had the foresight to strengthen the university and community relationship when he started the breakfast during his presidency.
I am always encouraged to see how the town-gown relationship has evolved over the years. But, the truth is everyone must continue to strengthen the relationship between our community and Baylor. It takes everyone to make the change - to make a difference. It takes everyone to be change agents and find ways of collaborating with the community as well as Baylor.
It was exciting to see the energy of the community and Baylor coming together. There are a lot of good things happening in Waco as well as Baylor, and I am excited to be a part of something truly special. But, it takes you and me to strengthen the town and gown relationship.
A special thanks should go out to Baylor University, President Lilley and all of the many community members who attended this morning’s prayer breakfast. We should be happy that Baylor is continuing in the traditions of the past while focusing on the future of the town-gown relationship.
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A New Year: Making a Difference
Yeah, it’s a cliche….making a difference….
Everyone says it, but few people really mean it.
I spent most of my holiday break watching college football, my favorite tv shows, and talking to many family and friends on the phone. Yes, my favorite teams did win; my tv shows were the same; and yes, I loved catching up with family and friends.
But the new year should always being a new me, a new you, and a new year to make a difference.
As you begin a new year, I hope you take the time to discover ways in which you can be a positive influence in this world and make a difference. It doesn’t matter where you work, but what you do to make a difference.
For me, I will make a difference through my job with the Chamber. I plan to be a strong advocate for reading and literacy through our One Book, One Waco program. Please pick up a copy of Same Kind of Different as Me at local bookstores. Also, I plan to be active in the schools as I participate in our Business Leadership in Schools program. This program will enable business leaders to share their careers with some classes at Waco High, LaVega High, and Rapoport High.
In addition, I will continue to participate in our LEAD program where I will be mentoring students from WISD. Please let me know of any other ways I can make a difference in Waco. I am open.
Hopefully, I can be a role model. Hopefully, I can encourage reading, and hopefully I can make a difference.
So what will you do? How can you make a difference? You can get engaged with some of our projects or you can create your own projects. You can provide our school districts some assistance with your time, support, and enthusiasm or you can find other areas to support our community and provide a WE DO spirit.
So, making a difference is being an active and engaged citizen of Waco - being engaged in several fields to make positive and effective change.
Yes, college football is still on and my favorite tv shows will reappear. But, for me and hopefully for you, we will make a difference.
It’s more than a cliche. It’s an action. We do.
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Going to MARS….
No, not the planet, but the land of Starbursts, Skittles, and Snickers to be exact….
Last week, our LEAD program visited MARS Snackfoods in Waco, and it was a great time for local WISD students to be exposed to one of our major businesses and its employees.
The LEAD program (Leadership, Education and Development) is a business and education partnership that is being sponsored by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to develop business leader-student relationships for educational improvement and life success. The relationships are expected to educate and expose students to the various business fields and applications that businesses are successful at doing.
MARS is a great place for anyone with a sweet tooth. But more importantly, it was a place where students learned why obtaining an education is important.
“We enjoyed having the students and mentors in the factory last Friday. Our hope is that the students take away some information that will help them in their future education and/or careers,” Larry Todd, vice president of personnel and organization said.
We are trying our best to make a difference in education - exposing students to new opportunities. Our LEAD program believes in relationships, exposure, and helping our students to graduate and pursue a higher form of education.
“My girls had an amazing time. One of my students is interested in marketing and she said she would look to that as a career,” Sarah Collins, LEAD mentor and WISD employee said.
Everyone is in this thing together: making a difference in education. I, for one, appreciate all that our school teachers do for each student in McLennan County, and they should be acknowledged for their hard work and dedication. I am appreciative of the mentors, our chair Joe Nesbitt, and others who are involved with the LEAD program. Their devotion is significant, and it is making a difference.
We hope to grow our program next year and continue to be positive role models to students. Let me know if there are other businesses or opportunities to expose our students to in Waco.
Please check out this website about our LEAD program.
Be Out and About. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
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Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
What is that saying….time to get back to the basics.
In education, it’s time to get back to the basics, and one of those basics is reading. We must encourage reading on all levels from students to adults.
When I restarted One Book, One Waco, I knew that we needed to start a community discussion about education, reading, and literacy. What better way to start a communitywide discussion than to select a community book to engage students and adults.
You see reading is the common denominator…it is the common ground that we can come together. No matter what one’s political or religious faith, reading is a universal constant that seeks to engage one’s faith, political stance, and life.
Communitywide reading programs and other initiatives are trying to combat the lack of reading in our country. Please check out this website for more information about the general lack of reading in our country.
So, I ask you as I am out and about: why is reading important from a community’s standpoint? Let’s chat…..
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REMINDER! ONE BOOK!
Just a friendly reminder for the holidays….
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is a great book for a holiday read. I recommend this book, and we have selected it as the community wide reading selection for the Spring.
So, when you have a chance visit our local bookstores and libraries and purchase a copy! Trust me, it is a great story.
Remember, One Book, One Waco…..
Let’s Chat and Read too…
'ONE BOOK, ONE WACO'
I’m Allan Marshall, and I hope we can have a wireside chat.
I’m passionate about education, the town-gown relationship, and what we can do together to make a difference in our community. I invite you to leave comments, questions, and concerns that you have for me. I value your input and your suggestions.
On another note, we restarted the community-wide reading program, One Book, One Waco, and we selected Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore as the community book for Spring 2008. It is a great story about an unlikely friendship: an international art dealer and a homeless sharecropper.
So, let’s chat and read too…I look forward to hearing your responses from the questions below.
Two questions:
- What are your thoughts about our selection?
- Have you had a an unlikely friendship that you would like to chat about?
Latest comments
Thanks for your comment…I’m sure you’ve got a lot to learn too just like all of us.
... read the full comment by Allan | Comment on Goodbye, For Now.... Read Goodbye, For Now....
So, what have a learned from this great experience?
You have not learned to have a proof reader check your work before posting…still lots to learn, buddy.
... read the full comment by lelalynnlake | Comment on Goodbye, For Now.... Read Goodbye, For Now....
The event is open to the public and free. No Tickets necessary.
... read the full comment by Allan | Comment on Quite A Buzz about 'One Book' Read Quite A Buzz about 'One Book'
Are there tickets for Book, One Waco or is it free?
... read the full comment by Kelly | Comment on Quite A Buzz about 'One Book' Read Quite A Buzz about 'One Book'