FM #384 "A Minister, a Priest and a Rabbi walk into a Radio Station" - LIVE - 11/04/20 (audio)

FM #384 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 384 in the series.

This special edition shares the audio of the live Franklin Public Radio show that was broadcast on Wednesday morning, November 4, 2020:  “A Minister, a Priest and a Rabbi walk into a Radio Station”

This program features an interview format with Rabbi Tom Alpert (Temple Etz Chaim), Rev. Kathy McAdams (St. John's Episcopal Church) and Rev Eric Cherry (First Universalist Society of Franklin).  Jay Horrigan and Pandora Carlucci co-facilitate the discussion. Pete Fasciano and Keith Palmieri handle the technical details. I was honored to be a guest for this episode and share the stats from the unofficial election results Nov 3.

Anytime Listen Audio file =  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDf00XDS

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All episodes of this show can be found on  https://temple-etzchaim.org/community/listen-watch/

 

You can also catch this program repeated  on wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the local dial on Thursday's at 9:00 AM / 12:00 PM / 6:00 PM or Sunday's at 9:00 AM.

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

"A Priest, a Rabbi and a Minister walk into a Radio Station…"

 

 

What great listeners actually do

"A good listener is not a sponge that absorbs but a trampoline to bounce ideas off!"

Sketchnote via @tnvora; Ideas via Jack Zenger & Joseph Folkman

What great listeners actually do

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED/status/1282289868840882177?s=09

FM #210 - Civil Discourse Pledge Discussion (audio)

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 210 in the series. We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

At the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Feb 12, 2020 the discussion started on a proposal to pledge to conduct a civil discourse. Some of the Councilors objected to this “aspirational” proposal and the measure was ultimately tabled to the March 4 meeting to allow Councilor Hamblen to participate. Councilor Melanie Hamblen had been the one initiating this and she was not participating in this meeting due to her mother’s passing.

From my notes reported live during the meeting:

10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-14: The Town of Franklin Civil Discourse Pledge (Motion to approve Resolution 20-14 - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-14_franklin_web.pdf

motion to table to March 4, seconded, passed 8-0

Yes, my notes are sparse as I was on the edge of my seat, following the conversation, ready to jump in. It didn’t get opened to the public. It was tabled for next session.

I have a unique position in that I have been participating regularly for the past 14 years in many meetings each year. I get to watch and observe the behavior and conduct of many of our Town appointed officials (and by that I mean all the board and committee person volunteers) as well as the municipal employees. As a general rule, the behavior is above board, as it should be. Unfortunately, there have been times when I squirmed in my seat due to what was happening. For those times, this measure could help to guide and prevent further occurrences.

A couple of Councilors questioned whether what they have already sworn to or agreed to is changed by this. As Attorney Mark Cerel answered “This is aspirational”. For the few squirmy occasions that come to mind, the referenced oaths and guidelines were not adhered to. Maybe this aspirational item will. While admittedly, this measure has no ‘teeth’ to it, it may not. One can hold out hope that it does!

For reference, I have included links in the show notes for:

• The Role of the Town Council document https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/role.pdf
• The Procedures manual of the Town Council (which includes “The Role of the Town Council” doc) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/procedures_manual_.pdf
• Franklin Town Charter document https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/town_charter_2010.pdf

The link to the proposal text and associated supporting material that Town Administrator Jamie Hellen mentions is also provided.
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-14_franklin_web.pdf



I would encourage you to review and prepare for the continued conversation March 4. If you can’t be in attendance, please reach out to one or more of the Councilors to let them know where you stand on this matter.

The recording runs approx. 22 minutes (which included the full reading of the proposal text).

Audio link -> https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hy6gCj6X



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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

one of the many "Hearts of Kindness" hung around the Town Common by school kids for Valentine's Day

Social Media: An honest conversation about Communication in today's world

The Franklin School Committee is hosting this event about social media on Monday, Oct 21, 2019. This event is aimed towards parents/guardians of FPS middle and high school students and their children.

FHS Media Center 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

See the flyer for additional details:

Social Media: An honest conversation about Communication in today's world

This was shared from Twitter
https://twitter.com/ggzub/status/1184205486092144642

Pineapple pizza? Yes or No?

How divisive have we become online? Very.

"What does pineapple pizza have to do with interference by Russia and other trolls in U.S. elections? 

Everything, the head of an American cybersecurity agencies says. Because foreign governments, trying to create divisiveness, want Americans to argue and will go after low hanging fruit, like pizza toppings. 

From a little-known conference put on by Fordham University and the FBI this week, DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs tweeted his own hot take on pineapple pizza: Thumbs down.

....

CISA breaks down the playbook of foreign influencers into five steps: targeting divisive issues (see: pineapple pizza), moving accounts into place, amplifying and distorting the conversation, making the mainstream (see: NBC News story about pineapple pizza), and taking the conversation into the real world.

Krebs said his agency is trying to strengthen the national immune system for disinformation. "How do you take the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the bad guys, and educate the American people? How do you explain, 'This is how you’re being manipulated, this is how they’re hacking your brain?'"

Continue reading the article online: 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-cybersecurity-agency-uses-pineapple-pizza-demonstrate-vulnerability-foreign-n1035296

Pineapple pizza? Yes or No?

In the News: Jones to Haiti again; comfort care and 'conversation project'

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"As a member of the town council, Glenn Jones is among those who seeks to help out his community. 

This week, he spreading that wealth of community service to another community, more than 1,000 miles away in Haiti, considered to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Accompanying him is another generation of community servants: His 17-year-old daughter, Jillian. 

Members of the New England Chapel, the Joneses have been on prior missions, but not together. Jillian, a junior at Franklin High School, went on a Mustard Seeds mission trip to Jamaica last year. 

As for Glenn Jones, Haiti has become a familiar place. It’s his third trip back and he has become such a familiar figure to the people from his past trips that he’s earned the nickname “Dig Dig” -- “because the first time we went all we did was dig.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180416/franklin-councilor-daughter-in-haiti-on-mission-trip

"As she nears death at age 92, former first lady Barbara Bush’s announcement that she is seeking “comfort care” is shining a light — and stirring debate — on what it means to stop trying to fight terminal illness. 

Bush, the wife of former President George H.W. Bush, has been suffering from congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath. 

In a public statement Sunday, the family announced she has decided “not to seek additional medical treatment and will focus on comfort care.” 

The announcement comes amid a national effort to define and document patients’ wishes, and consider alternatives, before they are placed on what has been described as a “conveyor belt” of costly medical interventions aimed at prolonging life."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180416/barbara-bushs-end-of-life-decision-stirs-debate-over-comfort-care

The Conversation Project can be found online  https://theconversationproject.org/

The conversation starter kit will lead a couple through the conversation about end of life planning  https://theconversationproject.org/starter-kits/

The Conversation Project

Lessons from the Beloit Mindset List for the Class of 2021

An annual event is upon us again. As students (and educational professionals) return to school this September, thinking about how to approach this class and the opportunities they present will occupy some time for their reflection.

Three professors from Beloit College started this process 20 years ago by looking at what had happened during the life of the freshman class that they were faced with. Each August, the Mindset List is published. It is interesting to see what the world was for these college freshman as they grew up. The list is not meant to be the end all. It is meant to start the conversation.

"Teachers and counselors alike have used the Mindset List over the years, sometimes as the basis for one-on-one chats, and at other times for class discussions and even personal essays. This year’s List is no different. The annual Lists are wonderful icebreakers for counselors and professors and students. They stimulate intergenerational conversations."

What does the list look like? A sampling follows

• They are the last class to be born in the 1900s, the last of the Millennials -- enter next year, on cue, Generation Z!
• They are the first generation for whom a “phone” has been primarily a video game, direction finder, electronic telegraph, and research library.
• There have always been emojis to cheer us up.
• Donald Trump has always been a political figure, as a Democrat, an Independent, and a Republican.
• Zappos has always meant shoes on the Internet.

As Franklinites prepare for the biennial town election this November. Let's think about 

• Where we are? 
• How did we get here? 
• Where do we want to go? 
• What do we need to do to move forward?

To help with the conversation, the election collection has thus far presented the background info on each of the elected bodies (Town Council, School Committee, Board of Assessors, Board of Health and Planning Board).

The offer to candidates to share their background and info has been made. Several candidates have taken up the offer and that information will be posted when complete.

Several key posts from the archive of Franklin Matters will be shared to remind us of the budget and other items that should be worthy of discussion as we prepare to cast our ballots on November 7.

If you have a suggestion (or two) on what you would like to see to help you prepare, please let me know. You can use any of the following methods:

• send me an email (shersteve @ gmail dot com)
• leave a comment here on the Franklin Matters webpage
• leave a comment on the Franklin Matters Facebook page
• reply to one of the @FranklinMatters tweets

I would also recommend that if you haven't already, please consider subscribing to the Franklin Matters daily newsletter. It is one email per day with all that is posted. You don't need to wait for Facebook to filter the newsfeed for you. The newsletter is delivered daily (approx 10:00 AM) and then you can keep informed.

Note the subscription is a two-step process. (1) Enter your email address (2) Reply to confirm your email address.

the Town Common in the rain Sunday morning

The full listing of the Beloit Mindset list for the class of 2021
https://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2021/

The Franklin Election Collection 2017 can be found
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/election-collection-2017.html

April 4: Make Your Voices Heard, MetroWest!

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Greetings!  It's time to make your voice heard as part of the Massachusetts Senate's 2017 Commonwealth Conversations tour! After a very successful visit to MetroWest last session, my colleagues and I are bringing Beacon Hill back to MetroWest again.  Please join us at a Town Hall forum at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on April 4, 2017. {{{ REGISTER HERE }}} Commonwealth Conversations 2017 is the next step in our ongoing efforts to make your state government even more responsive and accessible to you.  But it can't work without your participation!  Please come to share with us your values, priorities, concerns and ideas. MetroWest is a dynamic and important part of the state, and I hope you will join us in shaping the future of our much loved community on April 4. {{{ REGISTER HERE }}} If you can't make the Town Hall on that day, there are still lots of ways to get involved: Take the online Commonwealth Conversations survey Join the Twitter conversation using #MAConvos & #MWConvos Call, write or email my office I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, April 4th!  For more information, please check out the MetroWest Commonwealth Conversations press release, or visit the Commonwealth Conversations website. Warm Regards, Senator Karen E. Spilka 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today

UNITE to Face Addiction: Important November Dates

Tuesday, November 10th, Dr. Mehmet Oz will once again shine a spotlight on the addiction crisis sweeping the country. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and actress Mackenzie Phillips will join the nationally syndicated show. Tuesday's Dr. Oz show will describe a project, in conjunction with Facing Addiction (FacingAddiction.org) and Drugs Over Dinner (DrugsOverDinner.org) to hold a National Night of Conversation on Thursday, November 19th. On this night, we are asking folks to have a conversation about addiction with the people around their dinner tables. The Dr. Oz Show team developed a parental discussion guide to help with the conversation. It can be found at DoctorOz.com. The guide was created with assistance from Facing Addiction, SAMHSA, NIDA, and the National Council on Behavioral Health. Please post a picture of an empty dinner plate or the below graphic on social media starting today. The plate symbolizes support for this national turning point in our willingness to face addiction and indicates that this particular meal is not about the food. It's about the conversation. Whether or not you plan to host a dinner, please post the plate graphic so that others can see it and take action. Please use #nightofconversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Here are sample posts to circulate over the next 10 days (and please include the plate graphic): We're proud to partner with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Facing Addiction and Drugs Over Dinner in a campaign called #nightofconversation, a national project to get families talking about drugs. Learn more on tomorrow's Dr. Oz show and host a dinner on November 19! More info at DoctorOz.com. See this empty plate? On Nov. 19, fill it with conversation with your family about drugs. #nightofconversation Watch the @DrOz show tomorrow to learn about #nightofconversation, a time for a family talk about drugs. Join @FacingAddiction @DrOz @DrugsOverDinner 11/19 for a #nightofconversation among families about drugs. Thank you for taking part in this life-saving initiative. Sincerely, The Facing Addiction Team         Unite To Face Addiction · The UNITE to Face Addiction rally is being organized by Facing Addiction Inc., a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to finding solutions to the addiction crisis, as well as an independent coalition of national, state, and local non-profit organizations.

"What is democracy for the Internet era?" (video)

Pia Mancini gave a TED Talk recently on "How to upgrade democracy for the Internet era." During her talk she says:

"it seems like the 18th-century slogan that was the basis for the formation of our modern democracies, "No taxation without representation," can now be updated to "No representation without a conversation." We want our seat at the table."

To extend her idea to an app some Franklin folks are already using, we could incorporate the feedback and conversation into the app that we used to report potholes or broken street lights. Imagine having such a poll and conversation with a tool in most folks hands. Yes, it is not in everyones' hand but access is available on desktop and laptop computers.

Franklin Smart Phone app

For more about the Commonwealth Connections app visit here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/yes-franklin-has-app-for-that.html


For more about Pia and her efforts to update democracy in Argentina follow this link
http://www.ted.com/talks/pia_mancini_how_to_upgrade_democracy_for_the_internet_era/

talking about the elephant in the room

Do you know the story of the blind men and the elephant? If you want to get a quick refresher on it, this Wikipedia link is quite good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant

You can follow the link and then return. I’ll wait for you. How this relates to the ‘elephant in the room’ will be revealed.

What elephant is in the room? The one each of us can see partially (like the blind men). The elephant in the room was raised during the recent parent meeting held at Franklin High School.

What do we know about the allegation? One can put together the timeline as follows:

• Something occurred between a male teacher and a female student that was inappropriate
• The incident seems to have occurred some time ago
• Students were having a conversation about it via Twitter and texting
• Someone reported the conversation to the School Dept
• The School Dept immediately took action to suspend the teacher and report to DCF, and Franklin Police
• The incident become news recently when someone tipped the news media to it, the news media contacted the School Dept, the released their first public announcement on Monday, Aug 26 so parents would be aware before school opened
• High school teachers were aware the week before, other teachers found out on Monday
• The DCF and School Dept investigations continue, apparently Franklin Police have no investigation underway (Fox News)
• There is no estimate on how long the investigations will take to reach a conclusion

Maria Trozzi, the crisis counselor brought in by the School Dept, advised that parents have a conversation with their students about what is appropriate.

How do you start the conversation? 

There are plenty of examples all around us to draw from. Miley Cyrus’ performance at the recent VMA and broadcast via TV might be one to talk about. While much conversation has focused on Miley’s performance, what about Robin’s role?




Another and perhaps easier conversation would be with the recent Dunkin Donuts hot and spicy commercial.

• If the two people in the car were co-workers, is the conversation appropriate?
• Does appropriateness change if one were the manager of the other?
• Does it change, if the two were friends and lovers?

Keep the conversations civil and anger free. Do not end up like one of the versions of the blind men and the elephant where they were fighting each other insistent that their version was true. None of us know what the true story is today. We need to be patient, let the investigation and legal due process run its course.

Ernesto Sirolli: Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!

"What you do [to provide better aid is] you shut up. You never arrive in a community with any ideas.” (Ernesto Sirolli)

TEDTalks are great sources of ideas. The speakers effectively deliver their ideas with a story. Ernesto Sirolli tells his story with good humor.




Well worth spending time with (17 minutes).

Summer time. Crickets. Waves.

Song birds.

Kids laughing and playing.

What do you like to listen to during the summer?

Sound expert Julian Treasure says, "We are losing our listening." In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening -- to other people and the world around you.




Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video.

Content, conversation, community, and conversion!

I have referenced the three C's (content, conversation and community) many times. Todd and Ted cover them in this interview and show how they lead into the fourth C - conversion. I think this presents a great opportunity for us here in Franklin. Only 25 minutes!

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Our Message to Skeptical CMOs: Fresh Ground #25

via The Fresh Ground Podcast by freshground on 11/17/10

Ed Gaskin interviewed Fresh Ground co-founder Todd Van Hoosear for his "Up Close with CMOs" segment on The Pulse Network. Todd gives an overview of how Fresh Ground helps with the Four Cs: Content, Community, Conversation and Conversion. Ed does a great job at playing the skeptical CMO, and what results is, I think, an interesting discussion on social media marketing. We hope you like it.

Powered by Podbean.com

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Franklin, MA

Content within context

This is a relatively quiet week this week.

• Cultural Council meeting Monday at 7:00
• Historical Commission meets Tuesday at 6:30
• Recycling Committee meets Wednesday at 6:30
• Town Council meets Wednesday at 7:00
• Board of Assessors meets on Thursday at 9:00 AM
• Conservation Committee meets on Thursday at 7:15
• School Budget Subcommittee meets on Friday at 7:30 AM

Take a few minutes (16 actually) to watch David Bryne talk about music's evolution as influenced by the architecture of each time/culture.



With context so important for the content, how do we create the proper context for a civil and honest discussion?

More on context and content here
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2009/08/job-search-notes-feedback-letter.html

here:
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2005/09/blogversary-part-2.html

and here:
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2005/08/real-actors-real-sex-porn-or-art.html


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video

Franklin, MA

When was the last time you were called 'childish'?

In this delightful eight minute talk, Adora Svitak raises some good questions. Now, I have Peter Pan as one of my heroes (yes, I don't want to grow up) so this admittedly does appeal to me.



The reciprocal relationship I think is key. Dealing in an environment of mutual trust and understanding can generate wonderfulness. It starts with respect for the other. It deepens by listening to the other. Within the conversation, understanding can develop and enrich both sides. The 'power of we' can grow far greater than either one alone could have achieved.

What do you think?


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video


Franklin, MA

"It's very simple to use real time"

The Globe West section of today's paper has an article on local police departments use of Twitter featuring Franklin and Wellesey!

This immediacy drew Wellesley and Franklin police into the fold in 2007, ahead of many departments nationwide.

"We started it to keep the public up to date on traffic conditions, especially the morning and afternoon routes," said Wellesley Sergeant Scott Whittemore. "I was trying to figure out a way to put information out there in real time, and Twitter answered the call."

At the time, it was "kind of a radical idea," Whittemore said. "People didn't know what Twitter was. Now, we're hearing, 'You guys were really on the forefront.' "

"It's catching on like wildfire in the police and fire department communities," said Gary Premo, communications director for the Franklin Police Department. "It's a unique way of using a service not meant for police."

Read the full article on the police use of Twitter in the Boston Globe here

You can learn more about Twitter here.

You can sign up for Twitter here.

You can follow the Franklin Police here.

You can follow me here.

helping people get together

A slide show following the social networking phenomenon ends up concluding that the networking tools available today are helping people get together. From my own use of the social media tools, I have learned enough about someone so that when I do meet them in person, the conversation doesn't have that expectant pause. After we have greeted each other, the question "where do we go from here?" doesn't come up. We are already deep into a conversation.

The Micro-Sociology of Networks

View more presentations from David Armano. (tags: behavior human)

Enjoy!


Thanks for the link to Education Innovation and in particular to Angela Maiers for the tweet tip.

WASTED - available for replay

Did you miss the W.A.S.T."E".D. meeting?

No problem, the very powerful information session held at Franklin High on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 is still available for you to listen to.

Click here to find all six segments of the evening.

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The number of people who have listened since the session continues to grow.

Item	Content	Mins	# Replays
Wasted 1	Intro; FHS Students	23	28
Wasted 2	Bill Phillips	25	19
Wasted 3	Nick's story	24	34
Wasted 4	Josh's story	17	14
Wasted 5	Nick's parents view	10	17
Wasted 6	Q&A; next steps	26	41

I am a little surprised by the results thus far. As impressive as Nick's story was, Josh's story is short and to the point.

Likewise for Nick's parents point of view.

Don't miss interpret what my intention is, this is not a superficial popularity contest. These are real life stories. All the information was freely presented. It took courage and effort on the part of Bill, Nick, Josh, and Nick's parents to get up on the stage in front of 100 or so people.

You should be able to find 2 hours (especially with the segments broken up into approx 20-25 minutes apiece).

Skip a movie.
Have a listen.

Then have a good conversation with your son, daughter, neighbor, etc.

Franklin needs to be talking about this.
We (adults) need to show that our children matter to us.

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One quote that I love comes from Kirk Weisler and one of his T4D:

"Our example to our children, to our families, and to the world around us is constant. The question is not whether or not anyone is watching, the question is what are they learning as they watch."