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September 22, 2006
New Important Civic Group Forms!
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| Let me start this
post by saying that "Friends" groups can do very good things for the community.
Even those that I disagree with from time-to-time. But there seems to be a glut of "Friends" groups in Chico. There are Friends of the Arts, Friends of the Foothills, Friends of Downtown, Friends of Baroni Park, Friends of Bidwell Park, Friends of the Library, Friends of the Arboretum, Friends of Chico Community Ballet, Friends of the Honors, Friends of Soccer, and Friends of the River, to name a few. In order to bring a new era of creative naming for groups of people who like or support things, I'm forming the Friends of the Friends Don't Let Friends Start "Friends" Groups non-profit organization. We'll be selling T-shirts to help get the word out that it's time to start being more creative in expressing support for things. You can sign up on this blog. I'd also like to schedule speaking dates for "friends" groups who would like to hear about our concepts in alternative naming. Examples: Compadres of Chico Community Ballet, Lovers of the Library, Bro's to Baroni Park, and Dudes and Dudettes of Downtown. Please get involved now...for the children! |
Posted by Lon at September 22, 2006 04:45 PM
Comments
Lon--
Interersting observation. It seems like a lot of the "Friends of..." groups are more about what they're against than what they're for. If they were honest, for example, the "Friends of Downtown" would be called "Enemies of Commerce", or the "Friends of the Farmer's Market" would be named "Enemies of Parking". Fact is, when a group calls itself the "Friends of" something, it's probable that they are trying to perfume a pig so that they aren't recognized as just another narrow special interest with an axe to grind.
--Ax
Posted by: Alan Chamberlain at September 23, 2006 07:46 AM
Hey Alan,
I would suggest you form the "Friends of Groups Who Are Friends of Things But Have Failed in Excercising Friendliness".
Or FOGWAFOTBHFIEF for short (pronounced FOG-WAA-FOTE-BEH-FAFE).
Normally I would volunteer to start the group. But since I created "The Friends of Friends Don't Let Friends Start "Friends" Groups", I would be working in direct contradiction of our mission statement.
In fact, since I consider you a friend I really have to retract my suggestion that you start any "friends" group at all. Sorry.
Posted by: Lon at September 23, 2006 11:45 PM
Friends don't need to convince you that they're your friends.
Posted by: Gregg Payne at September 24, 2006 07:15 PM