The Way I See It - Wanted: Creators

By Dennis Lane

"This has got to be the best title ever."
I was commenting to my colleague T.W. about a title that was bestowed upon me by Facebook. I had set up a group page called "Google Howard County" to promote the county as a possible test site for Google's recently announced ultra-high-speed Internet demonstration project.
After setting up the page, I noted that Facebook gave me the title of "Creator."
How good is that?
Out of all the titles I've held over time, "Creator" has got to be the best ever. Sure, I know that just about anyone can be a creator on Facebook. Any member can set up a group page for practically anything. For example, there is actually a Facebook group called "If One Million People Join This Group Nothing Will Happen." So far, they have attracted more than 600 members.
That kind of makes the 130 or so members of Google Howard County look rather paltry. I still like the title, though.
Creator, after all, implies someone who makes something happen. I happen to think that's a good thing. Nowadays, it seems that some people spend an inordinate amount of time and energy trying to keep things from happening.
Take the Columbia Council, for example. In a recent budget meeting straw vote, elected members of the board of directors voted to cut off funding for the Columbia Festival of the Arts. For several years now, the homeowner's association board has made a contribution to the 22-year-old festival that was used primarily to fund the three-day LakeFest celebration in Town Center.
Over the years, the festival has successfully leveraged this contribution to attract even more grants that have allowed it to stage free world-class music, entertainment and children's programming.
This is actually a good value proposition for the Columbia Association. In the past, when the association has tried to stage its own festivals, like the ill-fated City Fair, it typically came up short and lost more money than it budgeted. By making a contribution to the independent festival, it has essentially outsourced the community's most popular summer celebration and limited any liability.
So why is it threatening to cut off funding?
I don't know, but I suspect one reason is that the current elected board is dominated by those who do a better job of arguing and complaining about things than creating and doing things.
Coincidentally, one of these board members, Russell Swatek of Long Reach, is also leading the charge to overturn the recently passed legislation that will create a dynamic, eco-friendly downtown for Columbia. His so-called "Taxpayers Against Giveaways" group has ignored all of the expert advice and studies that suggest the plan would be good for both Columbia and the county. They have their opinions and that seems to be all that matters.
I wouldn't call Mr. Swatek a creator.
With the notable exception of setting up a Facebook group, it's actually not easy to be a creator. In order to create something, you need to have an optimistic vision of the future. You need to see possibilities, where others may only see problems and obstacles.
Liz Bobo is one of those who see problems and obstacles that others don't. At her recent legislative update, the state delegate for District 12B was asked about her position on the Columbia Town Center redevelopment legislation. General Growth Properties' plans have already received acclaim from nationally recognized experts in community planning.
In the past, she has said that Alan Klein, the spokesperson for the Coalition for Columbia's Downtown, speaks for her on issues relating to the proposed redevelopment. Alan Klein's group is an outspoken opponent of the plans and had unsuccessfully lobbied the county council to vote against it.
I wouldn't call Mr. Klein a creator, either.
Liz responded that her main concerns are state issues, not county issues; but when pressed, she admitted that while she was hopeful about the plans, she still has "concerns."
But she didn't elaborate on what those concerns were. I'd have to say that Ms. Bobo is no creator, either.
At that same meeting, Liz introduced a group of young people that have started a group called Pick Up America. They are traveling across the country picking up trash and raising awareness of the massive waste generated by mass consumption. Davey Rogner is the leader of this effort. He simply refers to himself as campaign coordinator.
Mr. Rogner is a creator.
On the other hand, one thing I've learned over the years is that titles, though often good for a chuckle, are basically meaningless. As a college student, I spent my summers mowing grass and picking up trash in Columbia. Back then, we'd sometimes call ourselves "terrestrial engineers." Other times, particularly after cleaning up the messes following rock concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion or the 4th of July fireworks in Town Center, we would call ourselves "garbageologists."
T.W. came across another good one the other day in a press release from The Brick Companies in Edgewater. It announced that Melissa Franko had been promoted to "Steward of Brand Promise."
Now that's what I call a title.

Dennis Lane blogs about stuff around here at www.wordbones.com.