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| | The Clusters: Small Business Group Netweaving Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Lamar, please listen to me....... | Views: 1359 | | Feb 27, 2007 5:06 am | | Lamar, please listen to me....... | # |
Althea Garner | |
You are a revolutionary.
You have come from the big city (Atlanta) to a small rural town and with you, you bring your big city ideas.
How long is it going to take you to accept that Middletown is not interested in big city concepts?
I hear what you say about Talkshoe, Squidoo, Skype and the like, but Middletown residents and businesses are not developed enough to relate to this technology yet. Yes, they will be, but that time is not now.
Fox, Inc taking office space in Middletown? Uh, no! There is nothing there to attract them and there is nothing there to sustain or maintain them there.
Take the wonderful couple who pioneered the repair of water pump equipment, by driving from farm to farm? Lamar, THIS is Middletown! And this is not a bad thing!
You talk about Middletown being equidistant from San Francisco and Sacramento? Again, no..... There is that mountain to traverse and there are the waterways and the toll bridges. There are also many miles of 2-lane traffic that is a total pain to drive, through Napa Valley. The commute from San Jose to Middletown took me 5 hours and I know that Sacramento to Mountain View can be as much as 6 hours - I know because my son drives it twice a week.
Now add to this the fact that Northern California is 'green'. If people have to drive any distance (5 miles or more in the Bay Area), they are concerned about the effect on the environment. So, Middletown is a dormitory for where? Napa? Santa Rosa? Still, no more than 40 miles away - SF is a lot further than that when you consider the waterways and toll bridges.
My advice to you would be to put the city life and the technology on the back burner for now and concentrate on what Middletown residents want. If you give Middletown what they want, it will succeed, but forcing a square peg into a round hole, will only earn you enemies.
As Middletown is 'green', stick with notions that support healthy living. Telecommuting is a great idea, but it will be short lived, I can assure you.
I went to a lot of time and trouble to research Pitcairn Island, the information of which you have never commented on, nor furthered. For an isolated island community of maximum 200 people in times past, now down to 50, who are still self sufficient and happy, I believe that it has much to offer to Middletown by way of ideas.
It is not your fault, but I have written to your local newspaper and not been published... I have submitted a Press Release which went by the wayside.... I have devoted this web site on Ryze for the benefit of local residents (Middletown) and I am giving of my time, money and energy to visit again in June for the Parade weekend. It would be nice to have Middletown step up to the pump and respond, when so many people from across the world have paid an interest in their community.
Middletown residents...... where ARE you?
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
___________________________________________
Remember... I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Feb 27, 2007 6:12 am | | re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # | 
Lynne Cogan | | I agree, Althea.
It doesn't matter what I want or what you or Reg want . . . it only matters what Middletown wants. By that I mean the all residents of Middletown.
It is the residents that have to make a decision what works for them. And if they decide not to decide, that in itself is a decision.
I have never lived in Middletown, I've never even been there, so I don't have the faintest idea what is best for the town.
I do believe the media/business center is a solid idea and has possibilities for places where I've lived.
The place that most closely resembles Middletown is a town 18 miles west and 3500' up from Colorado Springs. However, even though it only had about 16,000 residents, 600+ of them belonged to the chamber. And their free monthly mixers were jammed to the point that it was almost impossible to squeeze through the crowd. The road to Colorado Springs could be treacherous especially in the winter (it went passed the entrance to Pike's Peak . . . what an incredible site), so it might have easily supported a media/business center.
I've lived in a couple of bedroom communities in Maryland, the last in the planned community of Columbia (unincorporated as is Middletown). It is part way between Washington and Baltimore. With the Washington commute long ago surpassing LA as the worst in the nation and with a population of 100,000 in Columbia and 250,000 in the county (quite tiny for that area of the country), it could easily support a media/business center.
But I don't know about Middletown. That's up to the residents.
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Feb 27, 2007 6:37 am | | re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # | 
Reg Charie | | I agree pretty much with what Altea said.
I don't know if it is that the people of MT are undeveloped or that they do not want to change the status quo by bringing in industry.
I would suspect given the income range that it is the latter. (Average $43200)
It seems that despite all your marketing Lamar, that your fellow townsmen are not interested, otherwise at least one of them would have shown up here.
Time to re-evaluate.
The one thing that I have seen come out of all your work is that there is a fair sized building that is not being used.
Why not take this on as a project?
Talk to the principals, do some market research, dont be stuck on what YOU think would be best for the town, let them choose for themselves.
If you can get the principals to agree to putting forth some cash you could turn it into a marketing questionaire, perhaps offering a free chicken feast to those that return the completed survey.
Whatever comes out of it you could do the marketing for the people that take over the center.
Your town has (2000 census report), 136 seniors, 143 kids from 10 to 19. Hardly enough for a senior's center or kid's hangout even if you double that.
If the center could not survive as a tourist info center then it is not likely that it will again.
It might be turned into a weekend flea market or a "green themed business, but those too are longshots.
From what I see in the census MT has 1 bar/pub a country club, and the Lyons club for entertainment.
MT has 2 fitness businesses, one for men one for women.
Looks like about a baker's dozen of restaraunts.
So there you go..
What is left, given your demographics?
Reg
http://DotCom-Productions.comPrivate Reply to Reg Charie | | Feb 27, 2007 7:34 am | | re: re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # | 
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Althea,
Every network has lurkers - folks who like to join but prefer to simply read posts rather than read and respond. We do have some folks from Middletown and the surrounding area on this network. If you click on their names at the bottom of the home page you can determine which ones in the Middleown area (including Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake, Cobb, Clearlake, Lakeport and Kelseyville). Send each one a private message via Ryze. That may be the best way to draw them out.
With regard to your article not being printed in the Middletown Times Star, did you expect them to send you a copy of the article or the newspaper itself if they used it? I do not know of any newspaper that does that. For the record, they do not print everything I send them, either. But then, because I have advertised in the paper in the past, they decided to send me a complimentary copy of the newspaper every week. If you sent a "letter to the editor," I would see your name at the conclusion of your comment. If you sent an actual article, I might not see your name at all. That has happened to me numerous time. Although I wrote the article, there was no byline given. That is simply the way the little newspaper works. There are a handful of people who work at the Middletown Times Star. I think most of them do it as a labor of love or part-time. This is NOT a big-time operation. It is extremely small. In fact, they still have not made up their mind as to whether or not they need a web site.
How are you sending the newspaper article? Are you sending it via email? If not, that is what I recommend. Send it to Kathy Joseph at timesstar@gmail.com. I would not hesitate to ask Kathy if your article was used. That is one way you can know for sure.
You, Lynne and Reg want to know what people in Middletown want? I suppose the fact I have lived here for nearly six years is irrelevant because I previously spent 20+ years in Atlanta. Somehow having lived in Atlanta for so long disqualifies me form being a credible source. In that case, I suggest you ask Martha Webster. She is the woman who spearheaded the MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) movement. She is the one who told me she had been trying to get a council to represent the town for 26 YEARS to move the town forward. She is the one who works for the Middletown Times Star in addition to teaching journalism at a local college and working as an X-ray technician at an area hospital. She is the one who until recently has been running the monthly town hall meetings. I created a slide show at her request using information she supplied to me. Then, after I handed it to her she decided she did not want to use it - without even having looked at it. Consequently, the special meeting that was established to showcase Middletown's needs before a gathering of the Lake County Board of Supervisors at the Calpine Visitor Center (it hadn't yet closed) was conducted without the use of any multimedia. But, even the employees representing Calpine expected the slide projector to be used. That is why it was down and ready-to-go when everyone entered the conference room.
I suggest you folks send Martha Webster an email. Introduce yourselves and Project-Middletown. She knows you are out there. I have told the folks at MATH about you at two consecutive monthly meetings. The one coming up in two weeks is going to be focused on "marketing." So, they will all hear about you once again.
Here is the email address for Martha Webster - mathtownhall@gmail.com. If you do plan to contact Martha, please do me one favor. Don't bring up that "Mutiny of the Bounty" island and all the benefits of developing a relationship with an isolated group of people. I really do not believe it would be received in the same spirit you might intend to share it. Please, let's leave that for a time when you are better acquainted.
Let me know how you make out. Feel free to post your feedback from Martha to this network.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 27, 2007 8:17 am | | re: re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Reg,
I have inquired about the Calpine Visitor Center to both the folks at Calpine, Inc. and our county supervisor, Ed Robey. I simply have not heard back from either one. While we do have some county funds available for local development, I doubt anyone want to use those funds to simply keep the Calpine Visitor Center open. This visitor center was a gift to the town by Calpine, Inc. - the town's largest employer. When Calpine declared Chapter 11, a lot of folks (including myself) were suddenly out of work. The Visitor Center closed. However, the County of Lake stepped up to the plate for a brief period of time with funds to keep the visitor center open. That time period has run out. What's next? I do not know. However, I think that if Calpine cannot afford to reopen the visitor center and the county does not want to allocated funds to keep it open, a commercial interest should have a shot at purchasing it.
If Fox News and an office suites company actually WANTED to use it, I would be thrilled. I realize it is a very long shot. But, so was having Fox News travel for 10 hours from Los Angeles to Middletown just to address a parade crowd. But, that is what happened last year. I was there and witnessed it. We also had a wireless ISP shoot a broadband signal into the city park where the festival was held enabling folks with laptop computers and WiFi access to call sons and daughters serving in Iraq for free via Skype.
Although it was not pursued by Fox last year, I believe there remains a great news story hidden within The Geysers. California recalled Gov. Gray Davis due in part to the fallout surrounding the Enron energy crisis. Calpine then had to file for bankruptcy protection. Many people who worked for Calpine lost their jobs. Even the CEO was fired and a new person appointed. Yet, while people were being fired, the board of directors was receiving a raise. However, there are some serious problems within The Geysers that do not have anything to do directly with geothermal energy. They involve security clearance procedures and insurance. I think combined these issues would make a very interesting Fox News investigation.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 27, 2007 3:08 pm | | We want to HELP: | # | 
Mike Fesler BizHarmony | | Metaphorically:
I view this as someone (one person) is in a flooded stream about to be washed away.
Many are standing along the shore throwing a life line. . . but the person is not grasping the line.
You are faced with the problem as to why this person is not attempting to save themselves.
1. Fear
2. Impaired judgment
a. Drugs
b. Alcohol
c. Mental
d. Injury
e. Physical
f. Etc.
The same could be said of the dependencies / abuses / and impairments listed above, if the person is not accepting treatment.
There comes a time that intervention is necessary, and there comes a time that realization of the cause and effect is necessary. At what levels do we come to that realization?
Add to the fact that there are many people that have placed themselves in the stream, and the problem grows.
I am a firm believer that nature / physics are the dominate factors in many forces to be reckoned with. We simply can not save everyone; even from themselves.
The simple fact:
There is a collective a group of free, independent thinking people that are failing to act to redirect or advert a misery level and a perceived path of impending catastrophic failure.
The repeated denial / refusal of any attempts to assist in reducing the facing perils that lay ahead, lead me to believe that the nature / physics will ultimately win.
You cannot force a group of free thinking people to save themselves.
After they have been totally decimated through their misery, hopefully their thought processes will be more receptive to outside observations and guidance even though fueled by fear or humanistic survival instincts, unfortunately for some it must come to this. Many times when this advances this far, the situation can not be resolved amicably. And many will be hurt or washed away.
You can not force them to grab the life line saving them from being swept away.
Yes you could place a safety net to capture them and save them from themselves, would they learn? Could this false sense of success be sustainable?
What would it be next month? Next year?
Nature will take its course. . . .and the strong and the smart will survive, it has been happening for many of millennia and we can not. . . dare I say should not force the change and design of nature.
If collectively they want to follow this train of thought. . . then so be it.
You can liken this to the Transtheoretical Model
Five stages of change have been conceptualized for a variety of problem behaviors.
The five stages of change are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.
1. Precontemplation is the stage at which there is no intention to change behavior in the foreseeable future. Many individuals in this stage are unaware or under-aware of their problems.
2. Contemplation is the stage in which people are aware that a problem exists and are seriously thinking about overcoming it but have not yet made a commitment to take action.
3. Preparation is a stage that combines intention and behavioral criteria. Individuals in this stage are intending to take action in the next month and have unsuccessfully taken action in the past year.
4. Action is the stage in which individuals modify their behavior, experiences, or environment in order to overcome their problems. Action involves the most overt behavioral changes and requires considerable commitment of time and energy.
5. Maintenance is the stage in which people work to prevent relapse and consolidate the gains attained during action. For addictive behaviors this stage extends from six months to an indeterminate period past the initial action.
I would love to help!!!
If you have a group of decision makers that want to talk please have them contact me.
I would not like to waste time on people that do not want help.
There are too many others that desire assistance to get back to solid ground and to not only stand by themselves, but to assist others in their journey to sustainable success and prosperity in their quest of a better life.
Regards,
M.Private Reply to Mike Fesler BizHarmony | | Feb 27, 2007 3:22 pm | | re: re: re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Hi Lamar.
To my knowledge, no one is questioning your credibility for any reason including the fact you've only lived in Middletown for six years.
However, you are only one resident. Even if you know with absolute certainty what everyone wants, it would be most beneficial to ask them anyway. Because not everyone expresses their opinion without an invitation to do so. Because not everyone has really considered what they want. Because it is bound to open up possibilities that would never come to light otherwise.
Lamar, what exactly is your vision for Middletown? How is that different from the way Middletown is today? How many people in Middletown share your vision? How many people are aware of your vision?
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Feb 27, 2007 3:43 pm | | re: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mike,
Please understand. There is progress being made in Middletown. It is just coming incredibly slow. Evidence as follows:
1) Business networking expert, Althea Garner, came here in 2005 and put on a business networking seminar at the Calpine Visitor Center.
2) Nationally syndicated business consultant, Alf Nucifora, came in 2005 as well. He spoke at the Calpine Visitor Center to the local business association. He also interviewed local merchants and spoke at the local high school. (This I believe helped encourage the students to engage in a writing campaign to Fox News the following year.)
3) Fox News came to Middletown for Middletown Days in 2006 and spoke to the crowd in response to an international buzz created by Ryzers around the world! Fox News correspondent Adam Housley gave network exposure to Middletown, CA on that day through the weather report on the network. That was a nice touch. It was also an amazing a FIRST for the town in terms of exposure. Nothing like that had ever been done in the 45-year history of the western parade and festival.
4) This year, MATH (Middletown Area Town Hall) created a MAC(Municipal Advisory Council) in compliance with the Brown Act for the first time in 26 years of making the attempt.
5) Althea Garner donated a Ryze network, Project-Middletown to the town and requested that I moderate it. I am in the process of bringing all major civic organizations associated with the town (and county) under its umbrella. This is not going to happen over night. But, progress is being made. Just look at the links of the folks who have joined. We do have a few Middletown links among them. We need a lot more. We also have Ryzers from around the world participating in the network.
6) Last Friday, we had a teleconference on Talkshoe.com. We discussed the fact that a major local landmark had shut down - the Calpine Visitor Center. I am going to make an attempt to get both Martha Webster (MATH and Middletown Times Star) and my county's district supervisor, Ed Robey on the call this coming Friday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Time, 8 p.m. Central Time, and 7 p.m. Mountain Time). I have not posted an anoucement on my Talkshoe network, yet. But, I will inform this network when it is up - probably tomorrow. I believe folks who were on the call last week already are looking forward to it. I hope you can join us.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 27, 2007 4:25 pm | | We want to HELP: | # |
Mike Fesler BizHarmony | | Precisely,
They are still in the middle of the stream.
They haven’t swallowed enough water, and haven’t seen enough of their own being washed away to want to take definitive action.
Their indecision is the decision that they have made.
What they are saying is that their suffering needs to increase more, before they act on relieving it.
There is an elephant sitting in the middle of the room. Denying the existence of the elephant doesn’t remove the elephant.
For a collective group to simply sit there and not act, or not be able to show any significant deliverables since 2005. . . .Please.
Where is the leadership of the community?
Civic Organizations?
Mayer?
Chamber of Commerce?
Town council?
Police Department Chief?
Fire Department Chief?
ETC.
M.Private Reply to Mike Fesler BizHarmony | | Feb 27, 2007 4:31 pm | | re: re: re: re: Lamar, please listen to me....... | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
You are absolutely right. I am just one person. I do not know what everyone wants in Middletown. This whole ordeal began when I was asked to host mixers for the local business association. The very first mixer I hosted had around 65 people in attendance. It had 12 vendors. This was back in 2005. It made the front page of the local newspaper. I thought things would go UP from that point. They did not. Every month it is like starting over. This makes absolutely no sense to me.
Then, I was encouraged to get involved with a county-wide organization that ended up having to cancel a fund-raiser for "lack of interest" by its own volunteers. The dysfunctionality in this county astounds me. I do not understand why people would pay to join an organization and not attend their own events.
The Middletown Area Business Association hosted a mixer in May of last year in honor of "Middletown Days." All mixers are FREE to the general public - provide food, refreshments and even door prizes. I invited the committee for Middletown Days to attend. I personally gave each person a flier. After all, this event was to pay homage to all their hard work for this annual event which had been ongoing for 44 years at that point. And, keep in mind I am a member of this committee myself. Believe it or not, not one person from that committee bothered to show up. Is that not strange. You plan an event to honor people who do not even bother to show up.
Now, we have this MATH (Middletown Area Town Hall) meeting coming up in two weeks where we are actually going to be discussing ways to better spread the news of MATH. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully, more people will join Project-Middletown and share their thoughts about what this town needs on the network. After all, that is why this network exists. It is definitely not all about what I think is important. You might say I am just "one voice shouting in the wilderness." And, what difference does that make? Time will tell.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 27, 2007 5:01 pm | | re: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mike,
Middletown is an unincorporated area. There is no mayor or local administration of that type. What we have is a county supervisor. Hopefully, I can have him on Friday's conference call. He's a good guy, but has a lot of responsibilities that go to areas outside Middletown. Therefore, he is somewhat stretched. We do now have a town council via MATH - after 26 years of making the attempt. We do have a police chief for the county - not just Middletown and likewise a fire department.
We do not have a local Chamber of Commerce. Instead, we have the Middletown Area Business Association. There is, however, a regional Chamber of Commerce is Lakeport which is about an hour's drive north of Middletown. Lakeport happens to be the county seat. That is where the majority of the county's funds are spent - despite the fact that nearby Hidden Valley Lake is the fastest-growing area of the county in terms of new residents.
I have now updated a request on my Talkshoe.com page. You can go there and find out how to be on the conference call. You will need to register, but the registration is free. Here is the link - Power Networking. I really hope you can be on the call. I truly believe Ryzers can help to create "magic" happen in Middletown. If Walt Disney can drain swamp land and turn it into the Vacation Kingdom of the World; if Ted Turner successfully base a 24-hour news network out of Atlanta that his peers told him would NEVER work, if Joseph Farah can make WorldNetDaily successful by basing that operation in Medford, Oregon (Who has ever heard of that place?) I believe Fox News could do something extraordinary with the now-closed Calpine Visitor Center. They simply need to be encouraged to see opportunity where no one else does - even many folks living in Middletown. Why not give it a shot? What have we got to lose?
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 28, 2007 4:52 am | | re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Althea Garner | | Lamar (and Middletown),
I do agree with Mike, that in order to be saved, the drowning man must admit that he is, in fact, drowning.
You said it yourself: why would people join an organization and then not attend the meetings? Because they joined the organization in the hopes that it would improve business but they never intended to be active. This is a common failing of Chambers of Commerce all over the world - people pay the fees to join, but never attend meetings because they think that just being a member, is enough to drive paying customers to them in droves - it doesn't!
I would like to bet that the members that you have, banked on the strength of a Web site, believing that it would be the magic wand they saw it as, that would transform little or no business into lots of business!
I consulted with a client many, many years ago. His office was a mess, with piles of paper and folders stacked all around his office. His words to me were: "Excuse the mess - the computer will arrive next week and then all this will go away!" No, it won't... and it didn't. As I looked at that mess, all I could see was a similar mess on his hard drive and then another mess in his filing cabinets, assuming those folders ever made it there.
The other mistake that has been made (and I am not sure that it can easily be reversed at this stage) is that so much is free in Middletown. How can one put a value on something that has no cost? If it is free, it will be deemed worthless.
You see, it is so much the way people think. If they think that way, they will live that way. Your townsfolk think that a lot of things in Middletown should be free. Well, if they get it for free, then someone else is expecting that THEY should get what they want for free and before you know it, no-one is charging anyone for anything!
Now that so much has been given away to the residents of Middletown, they expect everything to be free. I can assure you that any company investing in Middletown, be it Fox or anyone else, will not be doing it for free!
You keep using the term 'make magic happen' and I am going to ask you to stop doing that. You are delivering a subliminal message to these people that something 'magical' is going to happen with little or no effort on their part.
There is no magic to true success - it is borne of hard work, dedicated people and sound ideas - not to mention planning and yes, money!
You quote Walt Disney.... the only magic in anything that Walt did, was in the perception of the viewers. Walt Disney not only paid a TON of money to achieve what he did, he employed experts from around the globe to help him. He went outside of his own sphere for the expertise he needed to achieve his goals and he wasn't afraid to pay the going rate. Basically, he dreamed, he planned, he employed, he expedited and he succeeded. He did not spend 26 years talking about it and he didn't give it away for free when he finished his projects (when last did you go to a Disney theme park? I almost had a heart attack at paying $120 for a day pass!)
The problem that most small towns have is that everyone agrees that a course of action is needed but they all leave it to someone else to achieve. With everyone thinking this way, nothing ever gets done. I know, I lived in a small town with a population of 4,000 residents (I was Chair Person of the Rate Payers Association, the local Council, if you were) and that was the mentality. Everyone was quick to complain, but slow to action, if it meant that they had to DO anything.
I so want to see Middletown succeed and flourish, but I fear that if residents don't start actively participating in their own futures, they're going to wake up one day, scratching their heads and say "Wow, we have NO idea what happened to this town!"
If Reg's stats are correct (and there's no reason why they shouldn't be) and approximately 300 residents are either under 18 or seniors, that still leaves 800 able bodied people who can successfully carry the town and make sound decisions for it.
The 'Mutiny in the Bounty' island that you speak of, is Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific - an island of just 50 residents who are completely self sufficient, deriving their income from the sale of Pitcairn Island postage stamps and more recently a bee keeping project which is currently supplying large quantities of the purest honey available today. Middletown has FAR more opportunity than that - it also has 22 times the number of people. Other things that Middletown has that Pitcairn Island doesn't have, are land line telephones, TV (advertising), vehicles, gas stations, a bed and breakfast, a coffee shop, a supermarket and restaurants. Pitcairn does not have a Chamber of Commerce either.
I am not sure why you don't want me to mention this island to your colleague - I would think that it would provide a wonderful opportunity to cross pollenate (excuse the pun) ideas!
Instead of looking at Atlanta or San Francisco for a role model for Middletown, rather look to other small towns, with similar infrastructure, that have been successful and find out what they did to overcome stagnation.
Believe me, I am on your side (that of Middletown), but I also believe that if you want to win the lottery, you have to buy a ticket!
Best!
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
___________________________________________
Remember... I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Feb 28, 2007 7:29 am | | re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Althea,
If you want to find a small town role model for Middletown, you don't have to look to a small Polynesian island in the South Pacific. All you have to do is travel south about 15 minutes to Calistoga from Middletown's main street (Hwy. 29). Calistoga is a small town that really has its act together. It works. People stop and support the local storefront merchants. When people come into Middletown they typically do not stop. They just drive through the town. What is Calistoga doing that Middletown is not? While I do not want Middletown to turn into a clone of Calistoga, I think Middletown can learn from the successes of others in grooming its own success.
Now, I will let you in on a little secret. Walt Disney was not the business man that made Walt Disney World happen. It was his brother, Roy. I met Roy Disney at the grand opening of Walt Disney World back in 1971 as a student photojournalist on assignment for my school, what was then Why Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida). Walt Disney was the dreamer. He was the one with the amazing imagination. But, merge the dreamer and the business man together and amazing things (I call it "magic") can happen.
Some people see possibilities where others do not. How many people would look at swamp land in Central Florida back in the 1960's and think to themselves, "Some day there is going to be an amusement park here that is bigger in area than the island of Manhattan?" Not many I assure you.
I lived in Atlanta for more than 20 years. I can recall folks saying how crazy Ted Turner must be for thinking he could build a successful 24-hour cable news network and base it in Atlanta. Most people did not even have cable back then. And, here's a guy who wants to build an exclusive network that carries nothing but news. How crazy is that? Why everybody knows Americans don't watch TV just for the news. They need to be entertained. Plus, everyone knows a television network has to be based out of New York City.
Back in the late 1970's people said Ted Turner was just trying to be different. And because he was trying to be different, he would fail. Since when is being different and going against conventional wisdom better? Well,l did Ted Turner fail? No. On the contrary, he succeeded far beyond just CNN. He even purchased the MGM film library, colored much of it and converted all of it to video.
I do not subscribe to the idea that a small town cannot service the needs of major corporations. There is already evidence that a small town can be a tremendous benefit to a major corporation. Look no farther than Medford, Oregon - the home base of WorldNetDaily. Most of the news you read on WorldNetDaily.com comes out of Washington, DC. But, when you want to write to the company, the address is that small Oregon town, not our nation's capital.
I am not suggesting that Fox News suddenly make the Calpine Visitor Center its corporate headquarters or even a major office. What I am saying is that they might be interested in buying into it in some fashion to create a tourist attraction or something else for Fox itself. Universal Pictures has the Universal Studios Tour. You will find this tour in both California and Florida. What does Fox have in comparison? Have you ever heard of a Fox Studios tour? Well, the closure of the Calpine Visitor Center could be Fox's opportunity to do something special both for themselves and in the process add to the revenue coffers of this unincorporated area.
I do not mean to imply that Fox should be the only major company to take over the Calpine Visitor Center. I like Lynne's idea of a telecomuter's business center with office suites. And, if you are going to have a major corporation like Fox and a business center with office suites, you might as well have a cafeteria to go with it. I think all three could work very nicely in a single complex. However, the complex would need to be a lot bigger than it is now. There would need to be additional construction. Fortunately, there is room on the property for expansion.
Please understand, this is not simply a matter of a building that is closed and needs a buyer and occupants. This situation has the making of an amazing news story for the world. Headline: "Fox Comes to the Rescue of Small Town USA." Fox News breathes new life into small town by purchasing the Calpine Visitor Center from bankrupt Calpine, Inc, operator of the world's largest geothermal region.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 28, 2007 3:04 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Lynne Cogan | | How are Middletown and Calistoga the same? How are they different?
* Size
* Type of people living there (commuters, business owners, families, singles, age, interests), etc.
* Wealth of the community
* Incorporated vs. unincorporated
* Location (on a major highway, first to be reached from major cities, etc.)
* Types of businesses
* Local activities
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Feb 28, 2007 4:50 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
Middletown was initially a stagecoach stop between two larger populated areas. It grew from there, but did not have any real direction. Calistoga, on the other hand, was focused on the tourist trade. If you visit the town, you will notice how the town is laid out. You don't just pull over to the side of the street to park your car. You turn in and park. There are even parking meters. That is not a coincidence. That is by design. Calistoga has a DESIGN that caters to its public. The messaged is, "Stop and see what we have to offer." And, people do. Middletown does not project that kind of message. There is no real accommodation. When Althea traveled to Middletown for the first time, she used her cell phone to contact the coffee shop where we were to meet. She asked for the address to the coffee shop so she could find it. The girl working in the coffee shop did not know the address. Perhaps I am too much of a city mouse for my own good, but I think people should know the address of where they work.
Middletown is like a weed in some respects. It exists here because it can. Keep in mind, I said Middletown is "like a weed." I did not say it "IS a weed." I think Middletown could turn into a truly amazing place - just like Central Florida did. No, we don't need an amusement park to be built here. But, we do need a DESIGN. What is our message? People call this place "Small Town USA." Our Main Street may even remind some folks of Disney's "Main Street USA." However, our main street is real - not a fabrication. But, so what? Disney's Main Street is extremely functional and it is a fake. Middletown needs to capitalize on its uniqueness and attract businesses that can add to it.
Our most famous resident - Calpine Visitor Center - is closed. We need to find a way to reopen that place, expand it and make it more attractive. I think Fox might be able to do that were they to have an interest. Granted, it might take some convincing. It obviously took some convincing to get them to travel from Los Angeles to Middletown (10 hours) to speak at a little parade. But, because an international buzz was created, they did. So, why not approach them about the Calpine Visitor Center situation? The worst they can say is "No interest."
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 28, 2007 5:19 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar,
What tourist attraction draws visitors to Calistoga?
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Feb 28, 2007 5:50 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
Believe it or not, massages and mud baths are what Calistoga is famous for around the world. My Australian friend, Des Walsh (who is a member of this network) told me he had never been to Middletown, but he had a mud bath in Calistoga.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Feb 28, 2007 5:53 pm | | re: re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Althea Garner | | Lamar, you mention Calistoga being a role model for Middletown, so let's examine this.
Please take the following as constructive criticism:
First off, the town is FIVE TIMES the size of Middletown in population.
Secondly, it's location provides passing traffic, being as it is at the end of a famous and well publicized wine route. To get to Middletown, one has to turn from the main highway onto highway 29 at Calistoga, and then across the mountain.
Thirdly, Calistoga has a Chamber of Commerce which is linked to the main town web site. Calistoga's web site is professionally and attractively designed. With the right webmaster, Middletown could achieve the same result with the MAA.
Now, looking at the content of the Chamber site, it appears as though Calistoga is making the most of it's resources, trades a lot on the health industry (hot springs, spa's etc), there are no less than SIX art stores, TWO antique stores, NINE clothing stores, and.... they have a center that holds 50 outlet stores.
Consider this text from the Calistoga Chamber site:
"Trendy -- yet friendly, laid-back -- yet luxurious, Calistoga is THE place to be in the wine country. Come, kick back, and enjoy our wine, water, and wellness."
That's alluring! This sounds like a place I'd like to visit because it conjures up a welcoming mental image.
Calistoga gives people a reason to stop and spend money. The reason that people don't stop in Middletown is that there are really no stores that compel the traveler to take the time there. Middletown reminds me of Running Springs (where we own a mountain cabin) - lots of little stores and none that actually GRAB you!
If you look at the Shop Middletown directory, many of those merchants are not in Middletown, but from Clear Lake, Cobb etc. Examine only those merchants that are IN Middletown and you will see that it is still a farming community that revolves around feed and equipment repairs. There are far more services offered than stores to attract travelers.
In short, Calistoga is a community of store fronts, which Middletown is not.
As far as the web site is concerned, Middletown's need a good shake up! There is absolutely nothing on the home page that would induce me to click any further. Try getting your webmaster to change the colors (while brown is appropriate for the town, it does not foster excitement in the reader).
Furthermore, I feel (and this is just my personal opinion) that the home page could say a lot more about Middletown - I had to dig as deep as Eagle & Rose Inn in the merchant directory and then choose the one in Middletown (since there is more than one Eagle & Rose), by first delving into a selection process, in order to find what Middletown offered the visitor.
The pictures of Middletown are too small to get a feel for the ambience of the town. Too much space is wasted on text links to other parts of the site and the pictures depicting links to neighboring towns (Hidden Valley, Cobb etc) are too big, considering that they are not in Middletown. I understand that these towns are part of the Merchant Association, but should they be given that much premium real estate on Middletown's home page?
Given Calisotga's opening (Text on their home page):
"The City of Calistoga is located 80 miles North of San Francisco in the scenic Napa Valley. It is found
at the top of the Napa Valley, at the foot of Mt. St. Helena, which rises 4500 feet above the city.
Calistoga, population 5,000, is a popular destination for visitors to the heart of the Wine Country.
Calistoga is best known for its geothermal hot springs, mineral water, and is home to California's
Old Faithful Geyser. It is also the home of the Napa County Fairgrounds. Calistoga has maintained
its small town atmosphere while still being able to accommodate many tourists each year. This is a
Web site for City Government with links below to other areas of interest including the Chamber of
Commerce, current weather, and other web sites in the area.
This Web Site is intended to establish a better understanding of the City of Calistoga Government
Services, to improve communication between the community and those who serve the residents and
visitors alike."
...and compare this to Middletown's:
"Welcome to the Middletown Area Business Association Website! Thank you for visiting us.
Middletown, California is the southern gateway to Lake County and an impressively beautiful place to visit or live."
Weak!
Now, I think that the graphic advertisement to the right of this text on the home page is supposed to change to a different merchant with each page load, but my page view constantly displayed the somewhat satanic logo of AAA Computers!
So, what we have here is the tranquility and relaxation and healthy aspect of Calistoga to the satanic theme of Middletown. What impression is Middletown trying to give it's web viewers?
Let's look at the Events page. It ends with Christmas in Middletown - 2006. Lamar, tomorrow is MARCH 2007! And you wonder why your events are not well supported?
'About the Area' contains the following text:
"Middletown is the southern gateway into Lake County. Coming from the Napa Valley, over the St. Helena mountains, on highway 29, Middletown is just minutes from the Napa Valley. From affordable homes and great schools to restaurants, glider rides and rentals to our own hometown brewery and casino, Middletown has a lot to offer folks considering moving up to Lake County or just for a weekend visit...."
What this is actually telling me, is to visit St Helena mountains and Napa. A lot more could be done with this page to actually SHOW people what Middletown offers and the map, while useful, is just not doing that.
Middletown needs to make a decision as to whether to remain a feed and tack town or move into attracting tourists, as Calistoga has done. It can move into the realm of Calistoga's health and wellness industry very easily because Middletown has all the makings ~ it's just a matter of presenting the options to residents and getting them to vote on it. Or is Middletown the only place in the US that doesn't vote? (I am being facetious, of course!!)
What you need to impress upon Middletown Merchants is that there is no point in paying for advertising, if the ads are weak. This is just a waste of their money and by this I mean sites such as Merchantcircle.com.
While we are at Merchant Circle, take a look at the Middletown map (below) - where the heck is Middletown? It's not even on the Middletoen map and you're wondering why people drive straight through? I did, and I had a very good reason to stop!
http://www.merchantcircle.com/directory/CA-Middletown/map
Walt Disney may have been a dreamer but he had the good sense to employ people to DO the job for him in order to make his dreams, reality. Middletown could hire a management company to plan a successful town that holds future growth, or it could remain the Walt Disney of California and continue dreaming and simply talking about it.
I think that you have a good point in looking at Calistoga as Middletown's role model, but how far is Middletown prepared to go, to improve it's own lot?
Looking forward to getting down to the nitty gritty of this thread.
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
___________________________________________
Remember... I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Feb 28, 2007 6:06 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar.
From what you and Althea wrote, Calistoga seems like a town I would enjoy visiting.
Now, what does Middletown have to offer tourists in addition to the visitor center? Are these things also available in Calistoga?
Lynne
Private Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Feb 28, 2007 6:43 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: | # |
Althea Garner | |
Lynne,
I don't think that Calistoga has a cutlery store. The one owned by the Ferguson's in Middletown is extremely good and offers a comprehensive selection of knives, blades as well as collectibles.
A store well worth visiting!
I would dearly love some of the Middletown stores to introduce themselves here, because I think it would go a long way to helping us understand what is available there and why we should visit/move there.
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
___________________________________________
Remember... I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Mar 01, 2007 1:15 am | | re: re: re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Althea,
I agree with your comments about Middletown. Action does need to be taken. But, do you have names of companies in mind? If you do, please share them.
I recall a company named Destination Development being used several years ago to contact a special survey of what needed to be done to revive the entire county, but I do not know what was accomplished by all their work. It certainly does not look to me like much has changed since I moved here in 2001.
I am hoping on Friday's conference call to actually have some folks from Middletown participating. But, you never know about these conference calls. It's the same with business mixers. People will say you can count on them and then the event comes and they don't. So, we shall see what happens on Friday, over at Talkshoe's Power Networking site (just type 1833 in the search text box). Be sure you are registered. Registration is free at www.talkshoe.com. You can log on 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start. That is what I plan to do. I do not plan to mute anyone on the call. So, once you are on the call you should be able to talk freely or textchat, whichever you choose.
Now, just as a reminder. Although I gave Calistoga as a nearby role model, you must remember there are some big differences between the two towns. First and foremost, there is the local government. Calistoga is in Sonoma County. Middletown is in Lake County. Second, Calistoga is incorporated. It pays higher taxes and has a mayor and adminsitration to prove it. Middletown is unicorporated. It has no broad base of locally-elected political leadership. The closest it has is a district supervisor. His name is Ed Robey. I hope to have him on Friday's call. If I am able to pull that off, we are indeed fortunate. Ed was actually at the MABA Mixer last month introducing another fellow politician. Ed was also among the few Lake County residents to actually call the Fox News Channel last year at my request. So, he already has something in common with some of the Ryzers on this network.
Regarding the ShopMiddletown web site, I agree it needs a face lift. But, I think ALL web sites need a face lift sooner or later. What our webmaster, Derek Hall, did was design a database-driven site. That means individual members have the ability to update their own content. This includes uploading their own pictures as well as text. But, what has happened here is that our members have been given what they requested, but are not using it to the best of their ability. We cannot fault Derek for this. Our members need to take responsibility.
The situation with ShopMiddletown.com is not all that different from Project-Middletown. Both have members that are not using the web sites as effectively as they could. Why is it not everyone who is a member of Project-Middletown has taken time to introduce himself (or herself) at least once?
Finally, for those who do not live in Middletown or the surrounding area and want to learn what kind of shops reside within Middletown, just click this link - http://www.merchantcircle.com/directory/CA-Middletown/map">Middletown, CA and type 95461 in the search box and hit your Enter key. You should see a list of business links as a result.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 01, 2007 2:14 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Althea Garner | |
"What our webmaster, Derek Hall, did was design a database-driven site. That means individual members have the ability to update their own content. This includes uploading their own pictures as well as text."
You are talking apples and oranges here. The database is a separate issue to the web site although it is reflected on the same screen. Changing the look and feel of the web site, should not interfere with the database or the members ability to make changes.
In the two years that I have been viewing the Shop Middletown web site little has changed (the introduction of the scrolling members ads on the right hand side of the home page is one). I cannot see any new concent, save for the events page and even that is horribly outdated.
In order to maintain interest, web sites need to change regularly. Popularity of colors changes too.
I was looking at some of the neighboring town/cities web sites after my previous post - nice photos, happy people, children playing, the excitement of a good 'catch' from the lake - all these things are alluring to the viewer.
It may not be Calistoga (although that was the example that you provided so I just went along with it) but it could be any small town in the US - just pick one and I'll illustrate the differences and why people choose to stop at those towns.
For goodness sake, Calico, (http://www.calicotown.com/) a ghost town near Yermo, CA has not been inhabited since the early 1900's and yet it is still raking in money! Hmmm.... NO residents there!
Like I said before, I truly want to see Middletown succeed, but there are times that I have to ask myself how many of our suggestions ever make it to the ears of those who are able to do anything about it. We might just as well be building a city on Mars, for the feedback that we get and the progress that we make (no-one on Mars to take action either).
When all is said and done, I think that a lot of the complacency that exists in Middletown is due to the 'instant gratification' mindset of todays lifestyle and this mindset is not limited to Middletown by any stretch of the imagination - pay the money and get the result. Well, that may work in some instances but it doesn't work in business, because there is no magic bullet - no place where you can pay once and reap the benefits for all time in the future.
Could you tell us what happens to our suggestions? Do you print out our communications and submit them to anyone? Do you communicate them verbally at your meetings?
There have been some sterling suggestions made in the past, that have never even been commented on (by you), and this causes those who have an interest in this small town to turn away and devote their mental energies and valuable time to projects where they can see progress.
Lamar, I think John Veitch and I have beein your most loyal crusaders for Middletown, but even we will run out of ideas and patience, eventually.
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
___________________________________________
Remember... I am NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Mar 01, 2007 5:36 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # | 
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
You do know taht both Disney complexs almost bankrupted the companies. the CA was saved only by the TV network.
Ted Turner used his family forune to achieve what he wanted.
TBS was also a superstation, like wor in NYC.
Gates also started with lots of mOney. His Mom was on teh board of IBM.
It is not magic, it is applying of assets you have.
Figure out what resources you can tap in Middletown. They do not care about our letters at all.
Scott Wolpow
http://www.publiccto.com
http://www.myfilm.com
http://www.discountjewelry.com Use Promo ryze to save even morePrivate Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Mar 01, 2007 6:15 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: We want to HELP: | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Scott,
Ted Turner's Dad committed suicide. He had a billboard advertising business. Ted took it over and made it a bigger success than it had been and then decided to branch out into television with the SuperStation. It was after the SuperStation got up and running that he decided to go for the 24-hour cable news network.
Yes, Gates started with money, but Steve Jobs did not.
What do all three men have in common? A lot of drive and passion for what they want to achieve.
Letters do matter. They are a form of marketing. Of course, like any form of marketing, just going through the process does not guarantee success. Walt Disney approached 300 banks before he got funding for what became Walt Disney World. Now, I would say you have to be pretty determined to go through all that. What if Walt had decided to quit at bank 299?
Are you familiar with The Foundation Center? There is a library in New York City by that name. It is unique in that it is a library devoted entirely to philanthropy. That is to say, nonprofits seeking grants and philanthropic organizations looking for grant-seekers. Money is available for people who have ideas and know how to write grant letters. Grant-writing is like programming. It is a learned skill. You have to know how to do it to make it work.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 01, 2007 2:43 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Hi Lamar.
I have an idea. It is a way to start small with little or no capital and with or without the active support of a large number of Middletowners and it would be in keeping with the smalltown atmosphere.
That is why I asked whether there were things currently in Middletown that would attract visitors to it in addition to the visitor center. Things that do not exist in Calistoga.
In one of Althea's posts, she pointed out reasons that outsiders are attracted to Calistoga and not Middletown. That is the location. Another is there are things to do that tourists/visitors enjoy.
So what if people had a reason for coming to Middletown. What if there were a regular tour bus/van that shuttled people from Calistoga to Middletown, creating an extra outing/event for Calistoga visitors. The tour could start with as little as once a week.
You said that Middletown and Calistoga are only 15 minutes from each other. There is already a shuttle van company in Middletown that might be interested in participating.
This could lead in several directions or stay small.
More importantly:
(1) it would get the town into action
(2) without requiring a large amount of support or money
(3) it will enable you and others to determine the feasibility for expanding this into other areas; an opportunity to gain support
(4) and it would also bring some revenues into the town
Any thoughts?
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 01, 2007 3:30 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
I suggest you share that suggestion directly with the owner of the shuttle service, Michelle Tennison. She is a member of this network. Her shuttle currently does winery tours in Lake County, trips to the Sacramento airport and the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. By the way, this resort is first-class, located on California's oldest and largest natural freshwater lake, Clearlake. There is even a huge outdoor amphitheater. I think the upcoming music act is ZZ Top. Therefore, the area as a whole has a great deal to offer. But, the resort is in Kelseyville, not Middletown.
I hope you can make the teleconference on Friday. I really appreciate your being able to participate in the one last week.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 01, 2007 5:28 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar.
The question still remains: what currently exists in Middletown or easily could to attract outsiders on a regular basis? All I know about to date is the cutlery store and Broaster chickens.
You see, before organizing shuttle services, there has to be a reason for shuttling people into Middletown.
Is there a picnic area and all the fixings for tourists to stop and have a picnic or would the convenience store have a way of making a nice spot for people to eat there and again provide all the fixing for a full meal?
Are there artists and craftspeople who have works to exhibit? Is there an existing place or is there interest in having a weekly craft fair to attract people?
Is there a great place to fish?
Or coming from the other direction: is there a place for people to stay such as a bed & breakfast, so that tourists stay in Middletown and venture out to surrounding areas? If there isn't one, is anyone interested in developing one?
Is there a camping ground or an RV park?
You can start off small as I'm suggesting here and create interest for the residents by doing so, while generating revenue.
Slow as it may be, it will get things moving along far more quickly than it ever has. And the townspeople will join in if they can see what's in it for them. It's something that can be built upon as you and they see what works and what doesn't.
* * *
Or you can do it the way Disney did, which has some similarities to what you are proposing and yet there is are major differences.
ONE: is for you to own the project. It isn't the town's project. It isn't your friends on Ryze's project. It's your project. You can and certainly will need to create team, but the project is yours. It's yours to do or not do. It's something that you'd be willing to risk everything you own to accomplish, just as Disney did.
TWO: you have to have a clear vision of what you want the town to become. You have to imagineer, visioneer as Disney would have said and did.
THREE: you will need to develop team of experts. Right now you have what is basically a visioning team here on Ryze. This is good. It is always helpful to have people help with the visioning process. And you will also need a power team of experts to implement your vision.
FOUR: you will need to raise the capital to make it happen.
You are extremely passionate about Middletown. You obviously see something other than what is there now. Are you willing to be the one to recreate the town? Or, if the townspeople refuse are you willing to create an entirely new town based on your vision?
Lynne
Private Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 01, 2007 5:55 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
The shuttle is located here to take people from Lake County to places of interest like wineries, the Konocti Harbor Resort in Kelseyville or to the Sacramento Airport. It is not here to deliver folks TO MIDDLETOWN. There is nothing major for folks to see or do here since the Calpine Visitor Center closed. When the Calpine Visitor Center was open you could take an air-conditioned bus out the world's largest geothermal operation and actually tour a working power plant. That was actually worth a visit to Middletown. But, that place is closed.
During Middletown Days there is actually a parade, festival and rodeo. That too is worth experiencing. But, that is about it.
I am in no way in a position to do what Walt Disney did. However, I cannot help but wonder if a corporation like Fox, Inc. might be in such a position to in some way salvage the Calpine Visitor Center and make optimal use of the undeveloped property that surrounds it. You never know about such things until you ask. So, I will ask. Don't be too surprised if someone from Fox News just happens to be on Friday's call. Why? Because I intend to call the network and issue the invitation. I already placed a call to many of the folks listed to the teleconferencing thread. I actually spoke with Alf Nucifora. He plans to call me back later today. I am hopeful others will be calling me back as well. If you would like to issue some words of encouragement, feel free to send those folks an email message. That information is available in bold on the thread. When even a small group of people begin to act in united fashion wonderful things can happen. I am very optimistic with regard to this upcoming teleconference.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 01, 2007 7:03 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | "I am in no way in a position to do what Walt Disney did."
I beg to differ.
Disney was a so-so cartoonist from the Midwest. But he had a dream. Many dreams. And as Disney said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." What did he do first? He duplicated and improved upon his work by getting the most talented cartoonists on his team.
What did it take for him and his team to create all those incredible animated features that are as popular today as when they were made? It took a dream, passion, and commitment. The plan, the team, the funding came as a result.
Do you know that in attempt to live his dreams, Disney went bankrupt at least once. Don't know if that was when he was working on Disneyland or not, however, at that time, he did mortgage house and furniture. So, when I say he was willing to risk everything he owned, I mean he was willing to risk everything.
Even if you don't have the passion and commitment, you are right in that you can give this idea (or sell it) to someone else. And it would be most helpful to have a clearly defined vision. Not necessarily the entire plan of how it will come into being. But the vision needs to be sufficiently clear that it can be envisioned by others, including how it will benefit the person/entity you want to run with the idea.
By the way, why do you keep working with Fox, when it would seem to be more natural to work with the ABC affiliate San Francisco or Sacramento. Your allusions to Disney would be much more powerful with them. And if not ABC, it is a step toward the main Disney organization.
Oh, and there was a question I asked in my last post that you didn't answer. Is there any place for visitors to stay in Middletown: bed & breakfast, camping grounds, RV park, motel? Any place for them to eat? So they can use Middletown as their home base while visiting the area.
Private Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 02, 2007 3:20 am | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
Yes, Middletown does have places to eat and places to stay. Just go to the bottom of this page link and you should see a listing of places to say in Middletown - Lake County Accomodations. The home page to Lake County should also direct you to places to eat in Middletown.
While I am not opposed to reaching out to ABC or any of the major networks, the fact remains that last year Fox came to Middletown. They responded to the campaign which was started by high school students. There is a saying that you stay with those who "brung you." I intend to reach out to Fox again this year. In my opinion, Fox really did something special last year by both acknowledging the effort of the high school students and bringing worldwide attention to Middletown, CA via their weather report.
What is truly disappointing to me is that even though Fox's Adam Housley addressed the parade crowd from the reviewing stand, thank the students for writing those letters and told everyone Middletown's festivities would be mentioned ALL DAY LONG by Fox's weatherman, not one Lake County publication bothered to acknowledge Fox's presence at the parade. However, Sonoma County's Press Democrat Newspaper in Santa Rosa had news of Fox's presence on the front page of their Sunday edition.
I received a call from Jeff Barone of Kimco Development, a Lake County real estate developer; Ed Robey, Lake County's District 1 Supervisor and Alf Nucifora, nationally syndicated small business consultant. All three told me they would try to make the conference call tomorrow. I hope they all do. Alf told me he received an email from New Zealand. That must have been John Stephen Veitch. I do believe such reinforcement helps convince those who are invited to the teleconference to attend.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 02, 2007 5:29 am | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar.
An inn, a hot springs, a resort, and a campground. Wow! How's business? Is there any interaction with the town itself? Do these, can these play any part in your vision for Middletown?
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 02, 2007 7:23 am | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
I must confess I do not have a grand scheme for all of Middletown. I am no architect. But, I am an observer. And, what I have observed during my six years here is a high turnover in local business merchants. I do not believe this is a coincidence. I believe it is due in part to the way the area has designed itself. Hidden Valley Lake, the gated residential community began as a retirement community. It was not intended originally to be a place for young people to come and raise their families. But, by and large, that is what it is today.
To have the nice home and to be able to afford to live in Hidden Valley Lake, people must commute long distances. Why? Because that is where the jobs are that can provide the funds to raise a family and live in a place like Hidden Valley Lake.
If we could bring commercial interests into the area - if only with some sort of telecommute business center (think Calpine Visitor Center), for example, we might be able to generate more revenue for Middletown merchants and at the same time save folks commute time which could result in better family time and community service involvement. The way things works now, the community stagnates, the local merchants suffer as does quality family time.
There must be a better way to do this.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM
http://www.squidoo.com/CDMM
Attract more customers! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 02, 2007 3:59 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar.
The businesses may not have been developed to succeed in a small town environment.
It is possible that the existing businesses might just need a few ideas for how to increase their customer base into include areas outside of Middletown.
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 02, 2007 5:47 pm | | re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Lynne,
You are absolutely correct in my opinion. Why not learn to better utilize the Internet to draw in some business? It's lot easier to change one's marketing strategy than it is the way the state highway enters your town. Why not join Project-Middletown and promote your business with display ads, audio links, etc.? Reason. They do not know how to do it and when people are complacent in their ignorance, it is difficult to get them to learn something new which might actually add to their quality of life. I see this sort of thing all the time around here.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM
http://www.squidoo.com/CDMM
Attract more customers! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Mar 02, 2007 6:11 pm | | re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Lamar.
If Althea's idea of making this network a member of the business association comes into being, this should open the door for this kind of support for the entrepreneurs of Middletown in a more direct way and
We'll be able to learn more about what they want.
Thanks, Althea, with coming up with such a terrific idea and for the willingness to take on the added work and cost.
Lynne
Founder/Owner
Insta-Team
Coming Spring 2007: DREAM REALIZATION COACHINGPrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Mar 02, 2007 6:23 pm | | re: re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Althea Garner | | Lamar, I think that is only part of the problem, but moreso, I believe that it is (as I just related to you in a PM) a matter of being threatened by change.
As you said yourself, developers have moved into Lake County, carrying the white flag, emblazoned with "We are here to help you" and once their profit was made they left the area.
Middletown is leery of newcomers for this reason - not only do they want to know that they can trust newcomers, they need to know that they will not be left to clean up the mess afterwards.
I can certainly understand their suspicions.
Change is difficult for many people because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Middletown would rather read the local newspaper than hop on-line and read the news via MSNBC, as an example. They know what is involved in committing to a local newspaper - the newspaper company has a vested interest in the town and he/she has proven that they can be trusted. With anything on-line, comes the threat of viruses, spyware etc that the media tends to blow out of all proportion (for the most part).
I feel certain that there are some very savvy computer users in Middletown, but perhaps they want to use those computers the way that THEY feel safe.
If I told you that I could do a complete brain transplant on you, that would make you the most intelligent person in the world, would you do it? Of course not, because you are not guaranteed that it will work, nor are you guaranteed of the improvement. I would like to bet that your response would be: "No, I am comfortable with my brain - I know it's capability and I am satisfied with that".
Such are the people of Middletown. They know what they can see and they trust that which has a track record with THEM (not reports from others).
Middletown would rather remain as it is, than risk making matters worse through drastic change and unfortunately, your innovative ideas of technology running their lives, is just too much change for them. It is too different to what they have done in the past.
Forcing Middletown to adopt technology or insisting that they take part in something they have not done before is counter-productive. Middletown must do things in THEIR time and according to THEIR pace, if they are to do it at all.
All you can do, is to illustrate how things can benefit them - you cannot force others think the way you do. To expect this would be grossly unfair.
I believe that Middletown would be better served by brainstorming ideas that allow them to maintain their healthy air, slow pace (and there's a place for everything in life, yes?) and allowing progress in ways that feel comfortable to them. For example, running a six lane freeway through the town would certainly come up against resistance even though it could mean greater business opportunities for local stores. Resurfacing the existing road, might not.
Middletown wants improvement - I don't believe that they want change.
:)
ALTHEA GARNER (Star Real Estate)
Realtor
http://www.altheagarner.com
http://www.OCstaarz.com
Search over 38,000 homes at my web site: http://www.OCSTAARZ.COM
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Private Reply to Althea Garner | | Mar 03, 2007 1:08 am | | re: re: re: re: Lamar: We want to HELP: -- AN IDEA | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Althea,
I am in agreement with most of what you are sharing here. However, I doubt a six-lane highway would make people want to slow down, park, and shop in Middletown. Yes, it would bring more traffic to the town...but would they stop and shop? I doubt it. They don't stop and shop now. Why would having more lanes make them want to stop and shop - especially if the layout of the town remained the same. And, where would the money come from to change the layout of the town to accommodate the six lane highway?
The problem is not simply one of trust for the folks who might be new and have innovative ideas. The problem, as I see it is also CARE for those who are already here. The number of businesses here that have come and gone is really significant. In some respects, I feel it is a revolving doorway. And no, I do not believe it is the same everywhere you go. Middletown was here long before Hidden Valley Lake. The folks who live in Hidden Valley Lake should contribute to the folks in who are merchants in Middletown as it is the closest town. But, for the most part that is not happening. Why? Because most people who live in Hidden Valley Lake do not work in Middletown. They simply drive through it on their way to work in their daily commute to a larger town that offers job which pay them enough money to be able to afford a home in Hidden Valley Lake.
Something needs to be done to draw commercial interest in Middletown. Someone needs to take over the closed Calpine Visitor Center and do something special with it. I live Lynne's idea of a telecommuter business center with executive suites. Even a 24-hour Kinkos operation would be a step up for Middletown.
Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | |
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