When is the last time you washed a rental car?

No one does, there is no ownership

The saying comes from an aircraft-maintenance crew chief, and it was initially popularized in a bestselling book in 1985. The general asked him what the difference was between the old, specialist organization and the new organization, in which the plane and the sortie are the “customer,” where the supervisor (“designated crew chief,” remember) “owns” the plane. The NCO’s to-the-point reply: “General, when’s the last time you washed a rental car?” We think that may say it all. None of us washes our rental cars. There’s no ownership. And there’s no ownership if you’re a specialist, no matter how well trained, if you’re responsible only for two square feet of the right wing of a hundred planes. Only whole planes fly. – The quote investigator

Over the past year I have had the pleasure of working on several projects that I don’t “own”.   I’ve learned new lessons in community and new lessons in the simplicity and complexity that is the paradox of  truly loving one’s neighbor.  More people are volunteering now.  Or are they?    Both the number of volunteers and the volunteer rate rose over the year ended in September 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About 63.4 million people, or 26.8 percent of the population, volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2008 and September 2009. In 2008, the volunteer rate was 26.4 percent.  Economic New Release in January of 2010 It is important to note that in 2005 it was at 28.8 percent.

As I talk to people in my district here in Madison, TN and throughout Nashville I see an optimistic desire to create opportunities.  Even if you don’t have a child in that neighborhood school, you need to know that you own it.  Do you use one city park but not another, do you have that sense of ownership in the entire park system?  If homelessness is an issue in one part of town, it’s time to own the problem no matter where you live.  If the use of mass transit is something you want to be relevant to you, speak up and own the vision of the future for your region. Do you want more public art and music classes?  How do you own these things?

It’s easier to just pull out of the rental lot – use the service and bring the car back dirty to leave for someone else to clean.  Maybe if we all find the time to  find ownership in our communities we will all see them shined and polished like never before.

This post originally appeared on this blog September 2010

When is the last time you washed a rental car?

No one does, there is no ownership

The saying comes from an aircraft-maintenance crew chief, and it was initially popularized in a bestselling book in 1985. The general asked him what the difference was between the old, specialist organization and the new organization, in which the plane and the sortie are the “customer,” where the supervisor (“designated crew chief,” remember) “owns” the plane. The NCO’s to-the-point reply: “General, when’s the last time you washed a rental car?” We think that may say it all. None of us washes our rental cars. There’s no ownership. And there’s no ownership if you’re a specialist, no matter how well trained, if you’re responsible only for two square feet of the right wing of a hundred planes. Only whole planes fly. — The quote investigator

Over the past year I have had the pleasure of working on several projects that I don’t “own”.   I’ve learned new lessons in community and new lessons in the simplicity and complexity that is the paradox of  truly loving one’s neighbor.  More people are volunteering now.  Or are they?    Both the number of volunteers and the volunteer rate rose over the year ended in September 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About 63.4 million people, or 26.8 percent of the population, volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2008 and September 2009. In 2008, the volunteer rate was 26.4 percent.  Economic New Release in January of 2010 It is important to note that in 2005 it was at 28.8 percent.

As I talk to people in my district here in Madison, TN and throughout Nashville I see an optimistic desire to create opportunities.  Even if you don’t have a child in that neighborhood school, you need to know that you own it.  Do you use one city park but not another, do you have that sense of ownership in the entire park system?  If homelessness is an issue in one part of town, it’s time to own the problem no matter where you live.  If the use of mass transit is something you want to be relevant to you, speak up and own the vision of the future for your region. Do you want more public art and music classes?  How do you own these things?

It’s easier to just pull out of the rental lot – use the service and bring the car back dirty to leave for someone else to clean.  Maybe if we all find the time to  find ownership in our communities we will all see them shined and polished like never before.

If you live in Nashville, here is a great way to help

Hands on Nashville Day September 25

Wow – you would think that Facebook had announced that all Fan Pages were being removed.  The  panic being  invoked by Non Profit Tech 2.0 and Wild Apricot and The Chronicle of Philanthrophy and others, is really premature.

Yes – there are changes coming, there will always be changes coming. The problem is, too many non-profits are still treating their social media tools like bull-horns.  The answer to all change will be strategy. Facebook and Twitter are viable tools for non-profits only if the  friends, volunteers, loyal volunteers and advocates  of that organization are telling their own social networks about the work and progress of the organization(s) they support.

Don’t forget that Facebook generates revenue from all that direct advertising and it may be time for non-profits to stop free-loading and  put a little investment dollars in providing the tools to your supporters to build that network.  Its time to stop using social media because it’s free. Use these wonderful tools because it is part of your strategy.

Are you ready for change?

photo by Chad McClarnon from Project: One Song

For nearly nine years (1998-2007) I worked at the worlds largest performing rights organization, Broadcast Music Inc (BMI). I enjoyed my time there working on behalf of  songwriters and publishers.

I will forever be thrilled to hear of fairness and equity in the appropriate compensation of those that make up our creative class.

I recently attended a seminar sponsored by The Arts & Business Council of Nashville‘s  program Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for The Arts. I did a live tweet as a way of taking notes for my musician friends.  Here is the run down – it’s in reverse order as it came from Twitter over the hour that I was there.

1. “The direction of the music biz is moving toward capturing listeners and away selling hard product” -Sam Reed
2. SoundExchange is created by statute & governed by the copyright gurus in Washington. I am thinking- if his happens then that company needs a Nash.office
3. Pro Public Relations Perf Rights Act www.musicfirstcoalition.org
4. The Local Radio Freedom Act is a non binding resolution that speaks for the supported of the NAB. It has not been voted on.
5. Conyers Amend-supported by Cooper. Passed 21-9 Sen markup passed by voice vote & added songwriter language and established platform parity
6. Songwriter reps are supportive of bill
7. SoundExchange would collect the royalties. 45% will go directly to the featured artist. 5% goes to union for bkg musicians and 50% to labels
8. S.379. & HR 848 … Look it up
9. Davidson Co creators: If you sent in a copyright for registration. And it’s taking more than 9 mo to be processed call Rep Cooper’s office, ask for Sam, he can help.
10. Sam Reed from Rep. Cooper’s office is leading the seminar on The Performing Rights Act for TN Vol Lawyers for Arts

So what are your thoughts?  Having managed a record producer I can tell you that producers will be playing instruments on more records so they can get in that pool.  However, I don’t think it will necessarily take away work from anyone.  More studio musicians will  be joining the union to get in the pool.

As it is written now, there would be no fees imposed for 3 years after it because law so that radio stations can start adjusting to the extra line item cost.   The parties are sitting down to talk more on November 17th, 2009.  It will be interesting to see this continue to unfold.  What do you think are the important things to look for?

Download the Presentation:  New Music Royalty Presentation

Funding Shortage Could Threaten The Nashville Shakespeare Festival
WSMV reports on how a reduction in funding due to the economy could potentially impact this free summer festival. The report features an interview with Executive Director of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nancy VanReece.

image: walking on a wire – by NancyVanReece’s watercolor postcard project 7/7/08. (c) 2008 Contemporary Expression, all right reserved, Used By permission.

Note:
There are some inaccuracies in the story:
To clarify. Our annual budget in recent years, including in-kind donations, is nearly twice the fee mentioned. Our education work is year round and includes our Winter Shakespeare production in The Troutt. To be more accurate, the budget for Shakespeare in the Park in recent years has been 250,000 including in-kind donations. Also, we produce for 4-5 weekends but it is usually only one play. This year’s schedule is on our website, where you may also make a donation: http://www.nashvilleshakes.org/
Nancy VanReece

addthis_url=”; addthis_title=”; addthis_pub=’NVanReece’;