Twitter Updates for 2009-07-31

• We should always celebrate freedom. However, today, SMI pays tribute to Milton Friedman at lunch. http://bit.ly/3PcWds #
• Which jersey team will you vote on for Health Reform after recess? Red or Blue? http://bit.ly/NQVRL #
• Lobbyist fight: you rarely get media responses like this. http://bit.ly/4iu79w #
• Business Week breaks down the federal loopholes of lobbyist registration. http://bit.ly/pkz1N #
• City governments: why you need search engine optimization for your tourism development. http://bit.ly/YO9Lz #
• Why being "banned in Bama" is good for your brand. http://bit.ly/2TZccx #
• Domt http://bit.ly/19K9oQ #
• Don't tell anyone: Word of mouth advertising is up 14.2% to $1.54B. http://bit.ly/19K9oQ #
• If You-Tube was a country, it would be the 3rd most-populated place in the world. http://bit.ly/1CmbOX 20 Mind-Blowing Media facts. #
• How social media is changing all forms of travel. http://bit.ly/FZQgx #
• RT @cqpolitics: Political Wire: Gingrich Pulls In $8 Million http://bit.ly/tTTTb #
• @gtoppo Outlines how Teach for America still triumphs over bad teaching, despite unions bashing them. http://bit.ly/ZZyHM #
• RT @digg_politics: "Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to Resign from Senate, Run for Gov" – http://digg.com/d2z6Qv?t8 #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-30

• @dwyerrice Worst game of the year: even evening traffic on Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO #
• DC Recess Update: Cold beers, but no co-pays. Put it on our tab. #
• Listen up "Tan-a-holics." Talk to your dermatologist. http://bit.ly/wCnso #
• RT @johncombest: Allen Icet campaign kickoff tonight, 5:30 to 7:30, Genesis Banquet Center, 2651 Telegraph Road in STL. #
• This proves the Symba "circle of life" idea RT @CoMissourian: Columbia residents push to own backyard chickens: http://bit.ly/10NKIV #
• Poll: Who favor's Michael Vick's NFL Return Career. http://bit.ly/Zl3i0 #
• CFtweet: $20,000 from Tri-Lakes Board Of REALTORS to COALITION TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTY on 07/28/2009 #
• CFtweet: $25,000 from Southwestern Bell Telephone,dba AT&T to MO REPUBLICAN PARTY on 07/28/2009 #
• CFtweet: $5,827 from Axiom Strategies, LLC (loan/advanced expenses) to CITIZENS AGAINST FOREVER TAX on 07/28/2009 #
• CFtweet: $35,000 from TeamSam, Inc to CITIZENS AGAINST FOREVER TAX on 07/27/2009 #
• CFtweet: $9,000 from MISSOURI HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE to CITIZENS FOR A STRONGER 161ST on 07/09/2009 #
• The St. Louis American gives us the worst-kept secret in MO Education: we have administrative bloat. http://bit.ly/98Qby #
• White House Time for Beer 2.0. From Bud Light to Stella Artois, please. Discuss. #
• Here's proof from Mother Nature thinking that bald is beautiful. http://bit.ly/P8Jxm #
• CFtweet: $5,000 from ENGLER FOR MISSOURI to BOB DIXON FOR SENATE on 06/30/2009 #
• CFtweet: $30,000 from Rex Sinquefield to DOOLEY FOR ST LOUIS COUNTY on 07/14/2009 #
• CFtweet: $25,000 from Rex Sinquefield to CITIZENS TO ELECT ALLEN ICET on 07/10/2009 #
• CFtweet: $30,000 from Rex Sinquefield to COMMITTEE TO ELECT REED on 06/30/2009 #
• Technology can frustrate; several of my last CFTweets today were duplicates, not new entries. IT updates; now should be correct. #
• CFtweet: $12,904 from 4th District Senate Committee to JEFF SMITH FOR MISSOURI on 06/30/2009 #
• CFtweet: $12,904 from 4th District Senate Comm. to JEFF SMITH FOR MISSOURI on 06/30/2009 #
• I am conceded to this impossibility: attending any sporting event without @BillGreenblatt shooting pictures. Cards start in 5 #
• Not used to seeing Pujols run into home. Cards up 1. Good start. #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-29

• RT @davecatanese: Physician legislator doubts public option will survive: http://bit.ly/o9p2e #
• It's official: Yahoo meets Microsoft; to face off search by Google. #
• CFtweet: $25,000 from ATT to 0007TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE on 07/21/2009 #
• For those that missed WIlliam Shatner's video spoof on Palin's farewell speech. http://bit.ly/3wMTT Boldly going… #
• VID: What a trillion dollars is worth today. http://bit.ly/Vq3Jh #
• Passing in the lobby of the St. Louis, MO Ritz-Carlton today: @newtgingrich was spotted by several guests this morning. #AmSol #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-28

• #charitytuesday The St. Louis Science Center promotes YES (youth exploring science) fellowships across Missouri. Proven success. #
• CFtweet: $20,000 from I.M.P.A.C. to COALITION TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTY on 07/23/2009 #
• CFtweet: $10,000 from SOUTHWEST REGION MSTA to MO STATE TEACHERS ASSOC LEGISLATIVE IMPACT CO on 07/20/2009 #
• CFtweet: $5,000 from August A. Busch to COMMITTEE TO SAVE OUR SYSTEM on 07/03/2009 #
• RT @stlbeacon: VIDEO: Americans for Prosperity speak out opposing health care reform to staff of Sen. Claire McCaskill – http://bit.ly/JAy3J #
• The most expensive rest stop for America. http://bit.ly/90nvl Endeavour at ISS. #
• NFL Coach Tony Dungy to role model Michael Vick. http://bit.ly/sGDKZ #
• The Atlantic's Daniel Indiviglio weighs the politics of Abortion in today's Health Reform bill. http://bit.ly/D8zbp #
• $669,000 returned to contract lobbyists, foreign nationals, & improper donors. http://bit.ly/4kXPhr #
• Going with the "flomax" of brand name advertising. http://bit.ly/4EHE3u Boehringer Ingelheim's $115M campaign. #
• Amen RT @jrosenbaum: SEE YA BRETT FARVE! You won't be missed by this Bears fan. #
• RT @Missourinet: Missouri joins other states to bid for high-speed rail money http://bit.ly/O8kEj #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-27

• Dueling GOP Brands: Terminator vs. McConnell styles. http://bit.ly/3uZKLX #NYTimes #
• Web advertising. Version 2010. http://bit.ly/RpTal "It's about insight.." AOL, Google weigh in. #
• Key West, FL: And the new winner of the Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest is… http://bit.ly/4800Yd #
• Since MU fball started getting revenge on NE, the Huskers have searched for new ways to find state pride again. http://bit.ly/15VlHw #
• And so, perhaps the longest "political iditarod" ever attempted now begins. http://bit.ly/4wtoOg #
• My personal take on general aviation, FAA re-auth, user fees, & the need for pilots to advocate. http://bit.ly/a5W8s #
• Media developers, artists, & PC-haters: RIM now provides Blackberry 8520 software for MAC users. http://bit.ly/VpCLZ #
• Final healthcare countdown? 13 days to recess, $1 trillion, over 10 years. http://bit.ly/LtbAl #
• RT @cqpolitics: Political Wire: Democrats Need GOP Votes for Health Care Reform http://bit.ly/29uwJ6 #
• From the State that gave us Jesse the Body, comes Pawlenty the Powerful http://bit.ly/wPaKX RNC speech awaits this week. #
• 3 yrs to go Monday, $15B to raise. http://bit.ly/Armw8 2012 IOC Olympics in London, UK. #
• RT @WWR: Heard the NW Gate turned away Shaq when he tried to visit the White House yesterday. Shaq, u must follow procedures @the_real_Shaq #
• Thanks @CEAMOfficial. Sounds like real Education Reform is in the works at US Dept of Ed. #
• RT @ChadLivengood: @AllenIcet is kicking off campaign for state auditor, 5:30 PM July 30 at Genesis Banquet Center, 2651 Telegraph Road, … #
• The official 2009 Princeton Review Party School list is here. http://bit.ly/oj88z @RachelBrown – Madison, WI is #8. #
• The Devil may have went down to Georgia, but Charlie Daniels now wants to be State Auditor in Arkansas. http://bit.ly/LocE2 #
• jrosenbaum Don't shop @Sears. http://bit.ly/1b5v2i Brett Favre wants you there, but still cannot even tell if he's a Viking. #
• I blame several native Texans for my interest in the Kay Bailey Hutchison vs. Rick Perry UFC fight for Governor. http://bit.ly/vUK0c #
• CFtweet: $6,000 from County Investors Group to INTEGRITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT on 07/27/2009 #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-26

• Children of the corn at rising risks? http://bit.ly/vshhw Farmer suicides. #
• How much would you pay for premium tweets? Economist breaks down the business of social networks. http://bit.ly/jrWAD #
• Dark realities from brokering organs. http://bit.ly/PkCdE #
• Met a hometown friend, now 83, who served WWII and knew General MacArthur while taking back the Philippines. Help our veterans. #
• This same guy later became a St. Louis ironworker; scaled the Arch; and built Callaway's 1st nuclear plant. Amazing service. #

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Private Pilots: Lobbying for A Better General Aviation Brand

By Travis Brown, Pilot & Lobbyist

Alan Klapmeier, former CEO of Cirrus Designs, may be right:  perhaps promoting general aviation, or what he calls Flying 2.0, is truly missionary work.  With everything at stake inside the next FAA reauthorization bill in Congress, now is the time for every AOPA pilot to tell their story to the public.

Fortunately, private pilots are not doing it alone.  Thanks to the AOPA campaign “General Aviation Serves America,” famous pilots and celebrities like Harrison Ford and Morgan Freeman are providing us a stabilized approach towards effective issue advocacy.  Just in case you haven’t seen either of these short ads, both are included here.

It Starts with Your Personal Story:

For several years now, I have enjoyed the privileges of my private pilot certificate as a direct part of my frequent travel, across Missouri and all over this great nation.  Staying sharp as a pilot is an awesome personal freedom given to Americans, as well as an incredible responsibility.

As an entrepreneur, state lobbyist, and owner-operator of my own plane, nothing comes close to being able to respond quickly to issues and opportunities like utilizing general aviation.  In the Show-ME State, this means taking off and landing in a wide variety of situations:  accessing our rural communities, supporting small businesses for fueling & maintenance, and becoming frequent retail customers inside mid-size terminals.

Missouri is fortunate to have many state & federal elected officials who also understand this benefit through their own professional travels.  Virtually every statewide campaign at one point or another relies on their own private plane, a charter service, or assistance from an ally to get from place to place.  Most clients come to appreciate what faster response times and greater productivity can mean to their cause, campaigns, or issues once they understand how general aviation is typically-used.

The Big Picture Today:  FAA Re-Authorization Bill in Congress

Last week, the U.S. Senate took a great step forward with the FAA Reauthorization vote.  In the weeks ahead, the Senate must vote it off their floor, and take it to Conference Committee: the small, poorly-lit kitchen that usually has lots of sharp legislatives knives that most often determine a bill’s final fate. 

Inside this debate rests the future of NextGen, what type of guidance systems North America can expect to keep all users – public and private, as safe and accurate as possible.  General aviation pilots must remain a strong, unified voice in the ears of their Members of Congress now to ensure that a) NextGen systems remain a priority, b) our elected officials receive first-hand opinions and insights from real users, and c) conversations about user fees are balanced within the context of what every owner-operator pays for now through fuel tax consumption.

As a state-based lobbyist with sixteen years of experience with the legislative process, I know how easy your local grassroots voices can be displaced unless you are organized.  Despite the tendencies to drift to important corporate matters, or to resolve union debates, our Members of Congress do really want to hear from everyday constituents.  When you speak up with your call, your donation, or your blog, today’s technology affords you a “glass panel cockpit” of options to reach them. 

 

Here are Five Suggested Ways for You to Engage:

1) Tweet your Member of Congress:  Missouri’s U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who sometimes flies in a Pilatus PC-12, stays in touch with nearly 30,000 followers by @clairecmc.  Social media or networks are mainstream channels for how busy executives share their thinking, and effective staff want to make sure you can connect.  I tend to prefer using my twitter account  since it offers up exponential growth to 23M users, and its speed of use is transforming micro-blogging as a whole.

2) Call, write, or arrange a meeting:  Missouri Congressman Sam Graves is a private pilot himself.  Offices like his have a process in place, either in Washington, DC, or back at home in Tarkio, MO, to schedule a personal meeting.  Don’t be discouraged if it takes several attempts to find the right procedure that enables your contact.  The pace and rhythm that most legislator calendars keep is pretty ambitious and often at odds with itself.

3) Get your local airports engaged in grassroots: The vast majority of Missouri public officials often travel in and out of our state capitol airport, courtesy of charter services like Jefferson City Flying Service. You might be surprised to learn how educating travelers each day with AOPA Online legislative updates, information sessions, and calls to action can make a difference.  Letting local celebrities know that you know what is going on can be extremely helpful.

4) Remind your local charities to weigh in their useful load:  Your freedom to operate without harmful user fees won’t simply limit your small business.  When private pilots cut their hours flown, volunteer flights for important charities usually suffer as well.  Two local examples of volunteer organizations committed to transporting children in need is Angel Flight Central, in Kansas City, MO (KMKC), or Wings of Hope, based from Chesterfield, MO (KSUS).  Find out if they are weighing in with calls to action.  If you’re a pilot waiting for return your passengers home via one of these great causes, then finding three minutes to call your Congressman on their behalf seems like a worthy use of ramp time.

5) Keep fun in general aviation.  Invite others to become a part of the solution.  Of course, this means inviting friends who know to become a pilot or to join you at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI.  Why not bring home some extra literature to educate your Member of Congress in the process?  Maybe some pictures about the future of very light jets, modern avionics, or ice protection systems?  However, it’s also about doing what you can outside the hanger, and off the runway.  Our local science centers can be a teaching resource, where flight academies inspire first graders to master flight simulators.  Our local history, like Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, needs to be retold to the next generation. 

If America’s private pilots can improve upon these outreach efforts, the future of our general aviation will improve out of this tough economy with more innovation, better ideas, and a strong infrastructure.  However, just like real flight, final authority and command for our grassroots journey rests with us.

Twitter Updates for 2009-07-25

• Just passed a sign for Freedom, MO. There has to be a naming story in that town, just like Peculiar or Frankenstein. #
• 3-on-3 shout out: My mercenaries informed me that our team got cut. At least they looked good with their team jerseys. #
• RT @joelrubinson: interesting PEW study. Dem affiliation DROPPING;, Indepen way up; gap in views WIDENING http://bit.ly/tI5rB #
• Ok, so everyone out there tonight knows someone who needs to turn in their ride. http://bit.ly/fmfwd Cash for Clunkers. #
• Go Ziggy go. http://bit.ly/hpIBr One of MU's best defensive juggernauts. #
• "MEDPAC on Steroids." Why Congress will need performance enhancers to pass reforms in August. http://bit.ly/3BayqY #
• As far as I'm concerned, Lance is still living strong @ 3rd place, at 37, after 3.5 years off retirement. http://bit.ly/12o6YO Way to go. #
• Why PGA's Phil Mickelson smokes Tiger Woods on math & science centers. http://bit.ly/NGWIG #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-24

• CFtweet: $20,000 from Ron Richard 2008 to HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE INC on 07/23/2009 #
• CFtweet: $69,453 from Carpenters District Council Of Kansas City & to CARPENTERS DISTRICT COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY & VICINITY POLITICAL FUN.. #
• Pouring concrete is still as much work as I remember it to be. At least it's beautiful weather. #
• My old days in Pharma land: never would have thought Wyeth would roll into Pfizer, just like the USA rolling to a single payer. #

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Twitter Updates for 2009-07-23

• POTUS: Already showing signs of premature aging: grey hair, eye lids. Or maybe it's just HD TV. #
• Some municipal lobbies call CA budget a "Ponzi scheme." http://bit.ly/Nggy2 What about munis that raise taxes w/out approval? #
• Calling all studs. Wheaties Fuel is here. http://bit.ly/SJT6v Co-Branding with Peyton Manning, Kevin Garrett. Web videos roll it out. #
• Bill Gates @NCSL: "Use measurement to drive quality (in teacher instruction.)" http://bit.ly/Qdg9C Publish graduation rates. #
• Charlie Kruse, MDFB, really likes the word "navigable" in the Clean Water Act. http://bit.ly/w6dbx Here's why. #
• Walking the walk: Why the Sen. Robin Wright Jones' district should help new teachers, with new merit pay, this year. http://bit.ly/YrndJ #
• AT&T wants you as a new wireless subscriber so much, that they support the cost of your new iphone. http://bit.ly/16eL0M 6.7M new users. #
• What Iron Man 2 & Marvel Comics are doing to expand video game brand marketing & blended media. http://bit.ly/ZV32K #
• VID: Educate, Communicate, & Advocate for your economic freedoms. http://bit.ly/DpTyt Cong Graves town hall #
• MU Jayhawk pluckers: Mark down 3/6/2010. Columbia, MO. http://bit.ly/3WyBJ4 #BorderWarShowdown #
• St. James, Vichy, MO: You can hear me now. http://bit.ly/2zBI3 #Verizon #
• Illegal immigrants: Now may be the perfect time to slip into MO. No one's sure who's in charge. http://bit.ly/8SMW9 #
• Can/should Congress save Big Ben? http://bit.ly/3lAuKp #
• @Oprah has 1,941,170 followers today. http://bit.ly/v3UdC Maybe I need a puppy on my avatar instead of a propeller. #
• You just don't get this St. Joseph, MO KC Star headline too often. http://bit.ly/13gKcw #
• CFtweet: $6,000 from South County Anesthesia Associates LTD to MO SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE on 07/22/2009 #
• CFtweet: $7,400 from U.S. Bank to CIVIC PROGRESS ACTION COMMITTEE on 07/22/2009 #
• CFtweet: $24,214 from Hulshof for Governor, Inc. to MO REPUBLICAN PARTY on 07/21/2009 #
• @KMOX It's been 25 years this week since the US drinking age was set at 21. http://bit.ly/2CYpmr Should that change? #
• This plane crew, with their own skin in the game, shows how to keep passengers engaged by creative video. http://bit.ly/th3eB #
• When accountability falls short in Missouri public schools, you're bound to get what Liberty, MO has now. http://bit.ly/hXhCr #
• Over 9,000. http://bit.ly/eS9tU The Dow's first time since January. #
• WSJ Opinion: "obsession with income redistribution has destroyed California's tax base." http://bit.ly/gAPBC #
• RT @jack: Google Voice allows me to SMS from 35,000 feet. That's great. #
• DeKalb, IL: Paraplegic pilot has "no words" after first solo flight. http://bit.ly/FFduo Former Police officer flies again. #
• I think KFC's Colonel Sanders must have been like Santa Claus. Occasionally, I see someone that must be his stunt double. #

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