We get the President we deserve.

Help to start a new neighborhood group:

The Small Business Chamber is creating a new Job-Aid for startups. For a copy attend an SBCC meeting in Denver. For more see www.SmallBizChamber.org 

If there was a healthy small group in every neighborhood it would restore the grassroots. Watch for more here about this soon.

Election Day

RTD University Station

Denver--It used to be that going to the polls on election day was the great American tradition.

No more.

Today the ballots are mailed out weeks ahead of time. What effect does this have on who we elect?

It heavily favors the powerful forces that have the money to do continuous marketing for their candidates and issues.

Mail elections appear to be grassroots-friendly. They are not.

The powerful forces that want to rid us of going to the polls in our neighborhood say the mail ballot is much more convenient, that it's more tolerant of those who just can't get to the polls.

The fact is those who wanted to mail their ballot could before. The convenience was there for those who wanted it and needed it.

Now we all have to vote by mail. Going to the neighborhood polling place used to be a convenient way to stay in touch with neighbors.

No more.

Are you a good neighbor? Do you want to be?

PLEASE SHARE OR TELL US WHY NOT,
CALL (720)495-4949 WE DON'T READ EMAIL.

Do you live in a good neighborhood?

 Whether it is good or not, do you want to help make it even better?

If you do, we invite you to join us in this new effort.

We are forming a network of people across Colorado who want to be good neighbors by taking a couple of hours each month to:

 #1) greet newcomers as they move into your neighborhood; and  #2) email all your neighbors each month to help them learn, initially about our wonderful Colorado Caucus. (What's that? Search on Google or on Wikipedia.org click here.)

As you may know, our Colorado Caucus is the best chance for your neighborhood to be represented by the best people, very often the average, ordinary person who reads the newspaper and votes, but other than that may not have had much if any partisan political experience.

How to become an active citizen:

Come teach for us!

Wren College, dedicated to Randy Wren, teach for us! Check it out: #COPolitics #COleg #education, discuss on #IDEACafeChat at 10 a.m. MDT pic.twitter.com/BFQhMGUGzz

— John Wren +++ Start! (@JohnSWren) July 21, 2017

July 18 looms, SOS deadline.

All comments on new election rules to implement propositions 107 and 108 are due in the Colorado Secretary of States office by this Tuesday, July 18.

The meeting last Tuesday was cancelled. Call your suggestions in now, John Wren (720)495-4949. Please do not email or post here without calling John first.

Thanks for your help.

John Wren
(720)495-4949

Will you help us? Just takes a minute:

I believe most Colorado voters have
no idea of the consequences of 107/8.

If you love our Colorado Caucus, we need your help now!

As I'm sure you are aware, the passage of Propositions 107 and 108, pounded down voters throats with a million dollar ad campaign that was very misleading, along with the Election Rules that are currently being proposed will mean the eventual death of the Colorado Caucus, pushed through a special session of the legislature in 1911 to clean up Colorado politics.

If we form a political committee Secretary of State Wayne Williams has given us until July 18 to tell him why the new rules shouldn't be adopted, of course, we can each individually tell him between now and July 18. Whether we form the committee or not and I hope you will, each and every one of you reading this right now who loves the Colorado Caucus, the best chance the common person has of serving in elected public office, write Wayne and tell him why.

We are going to hold an exploratory committee meeting to consider if we should reinstitute Save the Caucus in the form Ruth Prendergast, the Admiral, Dick Sargent, Phil Perrington and others led it to victory over misguided Amendment 29 in 2002. Despite being outspent 1400 to 1, they won big time, 60% to 40%

If you'd be willing to serve on the committee, please rsvp yes or no for the exploratory meeting that is being hosted by the Small Business Chamber of Commerce at Pete's University Park tomorrow, Thursday, at 1 p.m. Please rsvp at https://www.meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber/

Your rsvp yes or no right now will guarantee that you will receive an invitation to our kickoff party and dance which will also honor the memory of one of the biggest fans of the Colorado Caucus. It's going to be huge! So rsvp now for tomorrow, July 13, at https://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

If you have any questions please call me if you must, but much better to attend tomorrow or read the announcement that will be made there about the party if we do decide to go ahead. Please rsvp now. Thanks!

John Wren (720)495-4949

Used with permission, no longer logo
of the University of Denver. Designed
by Walt Disney.

Media release just made by John Wren:

Contact: John Wren (720)495-4949

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 11, 2017

WREN PROMISES FIGHT AGAINST PROPOSITIONS 107 AND 108 IMPLEMENTATION.

“MY brother Randy’s unexpected death from heart attack prevents me from attending today.”

DENVER—Long time community activist John Wren today promised a fight if Propositions 107 and 108 aren’t put on ice by Legislature and Secretary of State.

“I submitted testimony that I don’t believe has been considered. Perhaps it is in the information submitted today.

“If not, I’m not able to attend today because of the tragic, unexpected death of my brother Randy. https://Facebook.com/RememberingRandyWren ;

“I have asked the Secretary of State for a continuance of today’s Election Rules hearing before a final decision is made,” said Wren.

###

John Wren has been involved with various personal and group efforts to preserve the Colorado Caucus since 2001. John Wren (720)495-4949

Political disaster looms.

CLICK FOR COPY OF RELEASE, ALL THE DETAILS +++: "Political disaster looms:.:

Click above to see media release sent to AP, Colorado Statesman, etc. last Thursday, none have picked it up. This is a very real problem, totally unreported. Please share, attend this Tuesday  (7/11) if you can, ok?

John Wren
(720)495-4949

Why we need to preserve the Electoral College.

Release: Impact of Election Changes on Small Business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2017

The Undoing of The Colorado Caucus

What It Means For Small Business

DENVER, COLORADO—"Changes in the way citizens get on the election ballot may be devastating to small business in Colorado," says long-time community activist John Wren. "Large businesses have lobbyists who represent their point of view, small businesses in Colorado have primarily communicated with their representatives through the Colorado Caucus process."

"Here’s one suggestion for turning this negative situation into a positive. Local libraries have an opportunity to get involved by holding workshops

Startup Show: Colorado Legislators Kill 107 and 108.

New! Facebook Group for Members Only.

At last!

A way to join us and show your support for our wonderful Colorado neighborhood system for nominating to the primary ballot. Check it out. http://www.Facebook.com/COCaucusCommunityOfPractice

Save the Caucus has dissolved

This site is now educational, not political. If your group would a speaker about what it means today to be a good citizen call (720)495-4949

Colorado Caucus Article in Wikipedia

Colorado Caucus article on 3/21/17
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Caucus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Colorado Caucus is the electoral process used in the state of Colorado to appoint candidates for certain political offices and to start the process of electing new leaders for political party leadership.[1] It takes the form of a series of precinct caucuses, meetings of registered electors within a precinct who are members of a particular major political party.[2] The purpose of precinct caucuses is to elect precinct committee persons and delegates to county assemblies, including those that elect delegates to the presidential nominating conventions.

History

The caucus system was adopted by the Colorado legislature in a special session called by Gov. "Honest John" Shafroth in August, 1910 as part of a package of progressive reforms. It was seen as a way to limit the power of party bosses and to attract more grassroots involvement. The caucus system was abolished in favor of presidential primaries in 1992, but restored in 2002 with the defeat of Amendment 29[3] and co Clerk.[5]
Strengths and weaknesses

Research carried out in Iowa indicates that a well-designed caucus system "brings candidates’ arguments, strengths, and weaknesses into the open".[6] However, it has recently been claimed that the system "is a poor way to begin the party nominating process in Colorado",[1] in that it "is complicated and often disenfranchises all but the most politically motivated participants."[7] Others feel that the Colorado Caucus is the best tool for the common person, the average, ordinary citizen, to be able to serve in elected public office.[8][9] The late Sue O'brien, Editorial Page Editor of the Denver Post, who some called "the conscious of Colorado" was particularly fond of the Colorado Caucus because it creates repeated opportunities for average, ordinary people to take the first steps toward become political leaders.[10]

Regulation

Caucuses are held in 3,000 neighborhoods across Colorado and are open to the public. Some now meet in homes that are accessible to disabled people, but many meet in public spaces such as schools.

The Colorado Secretary of State is charged with the responsibility of providing information about the system. Caucuses are regulated by Colorado law, but expenses for it are paid by the major political parties that use the system. At this time only the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have enough registered voters to use the caucus-assembly system.
The 2016 Colorado Caucus

On March 1, 2016 (Super Tuesday), each of the two major parties (determined by number of votes in previous election) held a caucus in each precinct. Members of both the Democratic and Republican parties chose delegates to represent their precincts at the county conventions. Additionally, Democratic party members participated in a presidential preference poll which determined the allocation of delegates based on their stated intent to vote for a given presidential candidate. Regardless of party, delegates are bound neither to their stated intent nor to the preference given by the population they were chosen by.[11] On the weekend before March 1 caucuses both major political parties had state chairs who unilaterally announced they wanted to see an end to the Colorado Caucus, the system that had been entrusted to their care.[12] Partly as a result of poor leadership, the Colorado Caucus this year was chaotic.[13] st considerations, the fully restored Colorado Caucus was in 2004.[4] To find your precinct number contact your Colorado County Clerk.

For citations see this article on Wikipedia.

Release: Ben Franklin's group model for new effort.

This release just sent to our Denver Media friends. If you would likie to be on the list let us know.

The Social Capitalist, March, 2017

New! Be our distributor in your neighborhood. Print out a few copies, see if you can sell them for $1, you keep the money as a thank you.

Write for us?

Ask about being a columnist or reporter. Best way to apply, submit something for publication for our next issue. No deadlines, we will produce issue number 2 when we have the first few submissions, this could become a daily publication if we get enough response from distributors and writers.

Questions? Call John Wren (720)495-4949 If you have news of interest (announce opening or closing of a business, a new small group of interest to someone starting or growing a business, an article you've written about the economics and/or the "how to" of startup or small business.

 Post here or on our Google+ site, then send snail mail hard copy so we will be sure to see it, along with the date and time you posted here.

Send to Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. c/o We Works Union Station, 1550 Wewatta Street, Denver, CO 80202 or bring it down, call for an appointment first, (303)861-1447

Click below, then go to "View" to join our publication team online. Thanks!

Great tips on good dialog. Best ever TED talk.

This is perhaps the best TED Talk I've ever seen, maybe that's because it is exactly what we try to do at Socrates Cafe. Watch this excellent short talk then join us the next time you are in Denver, Colorado or Google Socrates Cafe and the ZIP code of where you are, they are world wide. Thank you Chris Phillips!  http://Meetup.com/Colorado-Socrates-Cafe-Society

Learn more, faster, and have fun learning it!

Franklin Circles, since 1727, updated with latest research on adult learning. Sample meeting each Friday in LoDo Denver, check it out http://Meetup.com/Franklin-Circles or call 303-861-1447

Trend on Google Search: Clinton vs Trump

How Donald Trump Became President.

If you don't understand how President Trump won the election, you owe it to yourself to watch
this 2 hour documentary, it shows the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Holy Simplicity

From today's Give Us This Day, free print copy or app at http://www.GiveUsThisDay.org

Reflection

Single-Minded Simplicity

Simplicity is vitally important nowadays, because people are so complex, so filled with fears and inhibitions, so fragmented. The dictionary tells us that simplicity means consisting of one thing; sincere, artless, and free from affectation, which correlates with innocence rather than sophistication. Apply this to the spiritual life and we see a person who is single-minded, whose mind goes to the essence of things without embellishment and complicatedness. It conjures up a person innocent of guile, truthful and direct, who—psychologically speaking—lives directly, which is a sign of maturity.

Now “holy” simplicity is the state of mind and soul that is totally occupied by God. The colloquial word for holy simplicity would be childlikeness and would bring us immediately to the Gospel verse, “Unless you become like children (single-minded, uncomplicated, humble, trusting) you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven!” To be simple also means being emotionally or psychologically simple, in the right sense of the word. It does not mean being naive or foolishly ignorant. Intellectual simplicity should blend with this psychological simplicity, and be practiced in a way that will help us to become spiritually simple—or childlike—as Christ wants us to be.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Grace in Every Season

Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896–1985) was a Russian-born aristocrat who dedicated her life to “the gospel without compromise.” Author of numerous books, she established the Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario.

What is your #1 priority?

This Lent, during this difficult time when it is almost impossible to see what really is the truth, let's all pray for Donald Trump and our own discernment. We can all do better.

Good practice, and it's free!

Socrates Cafe, join us here in Denver tonight  (Tue, 2/21), 7 p.m.  at Trinity Church in downtown Denver, Friday at 6 p.m. in LoDo, or Saturday at University of Denver. Complete details and optional rsvp if you'd like us to save you a seat on http://Meetup.com/Colordo-Socrates-Cafe-Society or call (303)861-1447 

My letter in today's Colorado Statesman Newspaper

Online Letter in Colorado Statesman: Click

Detroit Caucus Club reopening.

Coming soon to Motor City: http://caucusclubdetroit.com/

Slow start...

I'm off to a slow start. More tomorrow.

John Wren

In the meantime, watch this, one of my inspirations for this new project:

Want to start or join a small group in your neighborhood?

Tomorrow John Wren will start trying to form a healthy small group in his neighborhood. Check back here each day to see how he is doing. If you you live in ZIP Code 80210 please call John Wren if you'd like to be a part of the new neighborhood group. His number is (303)861-1447

If you already have a healthy small group in your neighborhood which is important to you, great! Tell others about it on your blog or website, then please post a link to what you have written below.

Together we can make sure there is a healthy small group in every neighborhood helping to turn familiar strangers into real neighbors.

Starting tomorrow...

Posted by John Wren. www.JohnWren.com

MEDIA ADVISORY

From: Caucus Clubs, Inc. a Colorado not-for-profit corporation.

For more contact: John Wren (303)861-1447

MEDIA ADVISORY
February 5, 2017

Announcement coming at 3 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

                                 ###

Citizenship in a Republic

 THE MAN IN THE ARENA

CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC

"The Man In The Arena" Speech at the Sorbonne Paris, France
April 23, 1910

The Famous Quote

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

For complete text:

http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html

Startup Show, noon Fridays. Then 4:30p at LoDo Panera in Denver.

Startup Show each Friday, noon MST, today on http://Twitter.com/IDEACafe 

Today we'll talk about the new Caucus Clubs, hyperlocal education and communications, the stumbling start, what's ahead. Then discuss it with us if you can this afternoon at 4:30 p.m., Panera Bread Cafe, with Small Business Chamber's IDEA Cafe see http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber for more info and optional rsvp. Walk ins welcome!

March for Life! Love your neighbors!

https://t.co/W1XS9AqhNp @March_for_Life #COPolitics #COleg

— John Wren +++ Start! (@JohnSWren) January 27, 2017

WATCH LIVE: President Trump speaks from GOP retreat Starts at 27:00

LIVESTREAM: FULL President Donald Trump Coverage Plus Signings Of Execut...

What do you think?

New Caucus Clubs. Join us!

Startup Show: Hyper-Local Marketing

What do you think?

JohnWren.com Practices of Bounce, Imagine, Think, Learn to; Start, Grow, and Flourish. +AMDG+: Watch the Startup Show Noon Mountain Time each Fri...

Starting a new campaign? New project? Check this out:



JohnWren.com Practices of Bounce, Imagine, Think, Learn to; Start, Grow, and Flourish. +AMDG+: Watch the Startup Show Noon Mountain Time each Fri...: We talk about startup each Friday. To be a guest on the show Tweet your 140-character startup story @IDEACafe then call to schedule a date. ...

Give who a chance? Hope?

Give Trump a Chance! Then hope for the best, prepare for the worst! How? See www.GrassrootsRules.us 

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. How?

Startup Show via link right here a noon MST. New Caucus Clubs, Inc. a Colorado Corporation is facilitating the formation of neighborhood groups, new and existing. Join us at noon for more.

There is no unity without God, me, and you. +++