On March 5, the RTP, NC Chapter of FOCM met at the micro-brewery, Bombshell Beer Company in Holly Springs, NC.

In January, I met Ellen, one of the co-owners at a hotel bar outside Philadelphia. We were both up there on business travel and she told me about the brewery, so I decided we would have a FOCM event there.
Ellen, Jackie and Michelle all received their FOCM membership cards that night.

We had a good turnout, big surprise, huh? Micro-brewery, beer, friends of mine, okay, so not a big surprise. In attendance that evening were: Renee Brown, Josh Davis, Chad Pollio, Carrie Gallagher, Gayle Grandinetti, Sarah Meister, Wendy Revenaugh, Mike Burrows, Mark Mickunas, Chris Dapolite and a friend of his in the insurance business and Jeff Manning.

So an interesting observation was made about how people taste flights of beers – all but one person who ordered a flight fully drank each beer before moving on to the other. The one person who took a different approach was Jeff Manning, an accountant/CFO by trade: he drank a taste out of each of the 4 (or was it 5) glasses, keeping the glasses level as he worked his tasting each to the bottom.

I highly recommend Bombshell Brewing Company; open to the public Thurs-Sat and very tasty beers.

Another good article by Jeff Haden; an excerpt

when someone does something that helps you, even in the smallest way and even if it’s their job, go out of your way to say thanks. Make it your mission to recognize the people behind the tasks: the people that support, that assist, that make everything possible.

Interesting article by Jeff Haden of Inc Magazine and a LinkedIn INfluencer

He contends that people who have tattoos or wear flashy clothes are inviting that others look at them. Here’s an excerpt:

“The same is true for anything unusual (by “unusual” I simply mean outside the norm) that people do to look good, stand out, or make a statement. It’s on purpose.

But I’m not judging — far from it. I’m too insecure to purposely call attention to myself. My clothing choices say: “Just blending in. Nothing to see here!” I envy anyone with the confidence to dress or act differently. I wish I was like that.

So by all means express yourself. Make a statement, bold as you like — professional setting or otherwise — with your apparel, your accessories, your tattoos, your piercings, or your actions. I think it’s great.

Just don’t get mad when people look for a beat longer than usual… and occasionally even stare.

That must be your intention.

After all — you invited us to.”

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140505122803-20017018-but-you-asked-me-to-stare-at-your-tattoos?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

On February 22, 2014; the twice annual Wilmington Beer and Wine Walk (http://www.coolwilmington.com/) took place. Rather than go on that exact plan, we created our own. Some of the places were the same and some were new places we wanted to check out. A few pictures are shown below. Many people received their FOCM Card that night.

We started at the Blind Elephant and were joined there by Don and Carol Lewis, Chris Diehl, Polly Decker, Brian Frankel, Gayle Grandinetti, May Singh, Sheryl Browne, Angie Lee and Mike Berry. Surprise, surprise, but we ran into Trish Murray and her sister, Marlise and several of their friends who were doing the Wilmington Wine and Beer Walk. Trish is a member of the FOCM RTP chapter. We were later joined by Mike Byrd at Costello Piano Bar and he joined the group for dinner at 9 Bakery and Lounge. Mike received a handwritten FOCM membership card, written on a napkin or a scrap of paper, but he cherishes it just the same. When his probationary period is over, you can rest assured that he will get a true membership card. It was at this point that we began to lose a couple people at each stop, but there remained a core group who pushed on to The Duck and Dive, The Pour House and ended up at Cape Fear Wine and Beer. What’s interesting about Cape Fear Wine and Beer is they serve no beer that you see advertised on TV. All small brewery product from around the country.

We had a good turnout on February 19, 2014 at Trali in Brierdale Shopping center. Trali is an Irish pub with several RTP area locations. John Clark, Nick Macaulay, Mike Markowitz, Jeremy Zickus, Sherran Brewer and I know I am forgetting some people who were there. I know Alison Taber, nor Tricia Bland didn’t make it because they were either getting their hair or their nails done. That is an excuse that is only allowed once per FOCM year.

Invoices for membership may be sent out at the discretion of the organization founder.

On February 18, a few of the RTP Chapter of FOCM members gathered at the Page Road Grill in Durham to welcome May Singh to town. May was in town for a conference and it as he likes to do, Chris (that’s me) organized a dinner for May to meet fellow FOCM-ians. We were joined that night by Gayle Grandinetti and Mike Burrows.

January 29, 2014, while in town for the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials, Claudia Kunzler, Debbie McCoy and I had dinner in San Mateo at KingFish. We all ordered the special, whatever it was, I no longer remember, we had such a good time talking and laughing. While none of us are at ICON any longer, the friendships formed from that long working relationship are treasured, indeed.

Here I am networking with Marilyn Monroe:

Wow, am I ever behind on publishing the meeting minutes.

On January 30, 2013 Claudia Kunzler, FOCM Member in good standing for several years, Johnny Murphy, newly inducted member, and I had dinner at TasteVin Wine and Cheese in San Carlos, CA. The owner is FOCM member in good standing of several years, Sue Simpson. You will notice that TasteVin Wine and Cheese is one of FOCM’s recommended businesses and a 10% discount is given to anyone stating they know me or showing their FOCM card.

Had this thought this week while traveling on business.

You know this whole “1% vs 99%” topic and “income inequality” and “raise the minimum wage” debate – well I saw this quote from Pope Francis in Time Magazine, February 3 edition: “I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it.”  That gave me the idea to leave a $5 or $10 dollar tip on the morning I check out of the hotel.  I tip when I’m out at a restaurant or in a bar while on business travel.  The servers are making a comparatively low hourly wage as are the housekeeping staff at the hotel.  Maybe some of you already do this, I know that I may have done so only once or twice ever.

So then I thought, what if a lot of us who fit this description: work full time, travel occasionally for business or pleasure with some discretionary income (eg, kids out of college and on their own), did the same thing.  Rather than having the government engage in forced redistribution of wealth, citizens would be helping citizens for the betterment of society and the economy.  Lower wage earners would have additional income with which could help them buy additional food, goods, services, thereby improving the economy.

I believe it has a spiritual impact (it’s better to give than to receive).  Am I naïve? Do you think this has merit economically or would it be a drop in the ocean and have no or minimal economic impact?