BASE-ees

BASies? BASE-ys? base-E?

BASErs.... We can play BASEr Tag! Whatever that entails...

Anyhow, sorry for not getting right back in touch with those that attended launch party. We love you all and look forward to having many more good times.

One thing that I learned while planning the event was that non-regulated events are a lot of fun and a lot more interesting than anticipated. The diversity was amazing... age, interests, activities. Wow.

So, now it's your (the future BASErs) turn to make a 'wow'. We are not about giving labels and organizational roles to each other, we simply want to collaborate for the greater-good. We couldn't have done any of this without such a diverse talent pool and willingness to see it through.

So, I invite you all to come play again soon. Look for an email from us, and then it's up to you!

BASE - not as mean as dragging Jonathan and Kevin onstage just to make fun out of them

I've had a lot of people come up to me in the last couple of weeks, congratulating me on throwing a great launch party for BASE. Some of these people were there, some of them weren't. Some of them were younger than me (which is getting easier these days) and some of them were older. Congratulations, congratulations...

...congratulations.

So two things:

1) No "congratulations" are necessary. We didn't win anything. No trophies were handed out. No one was handed a microphone and forced to choke through an emotional song after what had to be one of the longest and most drawn out and most blatantly and grossly commercial finales of any show ever (seriously, did you see that? Joe Perry? with that no-talent dude? a god-awful Bette Midler? anyone want to buy a Ford? and Clive Freakin' Davis out there, too, back-slapping the "accomplishments of the franchise"??? I barely ever watch that show. Really.).

And I'm not trying to be unappreciative:

it's just that BASE isn't about the launch event, and the launch certainly was a success only because of alllllll the people who helped put it on and the people who came and the people who supported it. So giant garish wall plaques and congratulations are either reserved for Carrie Underwood, or for all of you.

2) People dig this. And that's cool. I think it's especially cool because a lot of people don't really even know what "it" is... but they feel that it's needed. It's a feeling. It's what it feels like to know there are more of "you" out there. Who want to do more. Who want to channel their passion.

Who want to live large.

When asked, I always define BASE as the hub where ideas and resources come together. Some people have visions, crazy-ass dreams and ideas. Some people have time and the desire to be part of something bigger than themselves. BASE is about bringing them together to see what happens.

So let's do it. Let's see what happens. Our city, our state, our country, our world and our lives are just different sized collections of individual efforts. In other words, you are what you eat.

I think another get-together is happening sometime soon, and I think some of the ideas you all threw in the idea jar are going up here soon as well. It's a place to start.

What happens is up to you, but I hope - no, I promise - that it will be more exciting than a stage full of "stars" slaughtering one Beatles song after another.

Except Kelly. She kinda did bring the rock.

Iowa City's BASE is strong!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the BASE launch party last night. What a blast. I had to leave to get some food at 8pm, but the party was still going strong.

I had some great conversations, and heard some great things, like "If I had to sum up what I've been missing lately, BASE is what I needed."

The response was overwhleming, and I hope BASE can build quickly after a strong start. See you all again in the near future!