Think big for 2009 ...

Happy New Year.

Let's think big for 2009.

More Long Island Idea Factory ideas coming soon, although we're well over 300 pages or so of ideas right now. Maybe its time to turn it into a book ... mmmmmmmm?

Also working on Buckram Road II scheduled for an April/May 2009 release. Thanks to all of you who have sent me kind word on Buckram Road I.

So much to do, so little time.

We'll try to get at least few "One Long Island" projects done in 2009.

Thanks again for all your help and support.

Long Island Meta News Service: Part One

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Making the Transition: Part One

The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations
Roman Emperor, A.D. 161-180 (121 AD - 180 AD)

We harp quite a bit on structure the Long Island Idea Factory in the form of the One Long Island series of projects.

Why?

Because without the proper flexible, dynamic structure sustainable positive change is difficult to achieve.

I have my own ideas about what change is important, but so what?

No one person or organization has all the answers. We have to believe that with the correct structure and methodology the correct change will occur, in whatever form that change manifests itself.

So how to go about change? How do we transition from where we are to where we wish to be?

How do we go from mere rhetoric to substance?

How do we create a Long Island "meta-transition?"

More in Part II.

LIA Breakfast ...

I attended the LIA breakfast this morning featuring the Nassau and Suffolk County Executives as I do most years. It is always a well run, well attended event and this morning was no different.

Both individuals are bright fellows, it seems, and their hearts are in the right place. But I came away more convinced than ever of the need for better communication and collaboration along the lines of the efforts we're engaged in with our One Long Island series of projects.

Without going into too much detail, there is a disconnect between all of the various projects, commissions, ideas, between organizations, between the various levels of government, between existing projects and proposed projects ...

Healthy competition is great, so long as we can shake hands after the competition and get things done. To the victor belongs the responsibility to reach out and collaborate, even with his or her oppponents. Long Island requires this type of magnanimity to move forward.

Whether its the new "tax cap" commission" leaving out school administrators (there may be good reasons for this) or Suffolk and Nassau talking about creating alternative energy centers when Stony Brook is already in the lead on that issue (again there may be valid reasons for this) or a whole host of issues which require the type of "dynamic collaboration" we've been promoting, again, there is just a "disconnect" which prevents us from acting as a region while the reasonable amount of autonomy and local control that residents seem to like and demand.

For all the talk about consolidation and streamlining and all the benefits it may bring, we don't seem to be able quite yet to consolidate or streamline our ability to organizate projects and ideas for the greater good.

The good news is that more folks are recognizing that we're in this together, regardless of affiliation of whatever type, and that we must find a way to "get things done." And as I stated many times previously, I'm always impressed by the sheer number of bright folks we have at our disposal her on Long Island.

We just need to break this "cycle of stagnation" which impacts on all Long Islanders.

I'll keep trying to do my small part.

Long Island Podcast Network ....

The Long Island Podcast Network fills an important role in the Long Island communications "matrix" and are to be commended for their ambitious agenda and success thus far. The more independent voices we have the better.

As with all new ventures they could use your support. They have an anniversary party on February 9th.

I think they are a project that is well worth your support. As you can see, "One Long Island" has already become a sponsor.

By the way, if you don't have a podcast yet, you should really add it to your "arsenal" of communication tools.

Long Island Meta-Advocacy Council: Part One

What if Long Island could speak with one voice on the important issues of the day and on the issues that will shape our future?

How powerful would that be?

More in Part Two.

Thanks to the LI Biz Blog ...

Long Island Idea Factory in the news

November 15, 2007 by Henry E. Powderly II

LI Biz Blog has been keeping an eye on the Long Island Idea Factory for a while, even listing it in its list of must-read blogs. Though, we have to admit, to call the ideas featured on the site dense would be an understatement.

LIIF, run by Louis G. Savinetti, is a eccentric application of scientific methods to civic responsibility, including meta-charts, wikis and plans for integrating technology into the attempt to fix the woes of Long Island.

And above all, the site wants collaboration, unity, on Long Island, evidenced by its “One Long Island” slogan.

But LI Biz Blog is not the only news organization to track the site. In fact, as of today you could say we’re one of the smaller news organizations to track the Long Island Idea Factory.

Today, The New York Times ran a feature article about Savinetti’s brain-child.

Check out the story. Here’s an excerpt:

Asked to sum up on his blog what it’s about, he wrote: “Simply stated, ‘One Long Island’ is a series of interrelated projects designed to foster productive collaboration on Long Island through the utilization of common technology, interdisciplinary education, public participation and a shared Long Island philosophy. In short it is a way to change the way we solve problems on Long Island in a sustainable manner.”

He figured he needed a reality check before he went too far. “I’m out there writing this stuff, and maybe I’m insane. You don’t know,” he said. So he sent it off to some serious people, who took it seriously.

John Murcott, a successful Long Island software entrepreneur, whose current project, 411Karma.com, is a social networking site for the nonprofit world, and Yacov Shamash, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University, both said the site filled a void and reflected a logical intersection of technology and public policy.

Dr. Shamash, in fact, is meeting with Mr. Savinetti to forge a partnership with Stony Brook that would build a Long Island virtual think tank with more technological sophistication than Mr. Savinetti’s homemade one. “There are great ideas here, but the question is, what kind of controls are you going to put on, and what kind of structure and organization do you put up around it?” Dr. Shamash said.

(http://libizblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/15/long-island-idea-factory-in-the-news/)

Posted in Long Island Idea Factory, Web sites, action | No Comments »

"One Long Island" Metachart 10.17.07

(Click on the image for a larger view. Go here for a brief summary.)

The role of Long Island colleges and universities

Here is a good overview and perhaps some part of a model for Long Island colleges, universities and high schools and the role they might play in a Long Island "renaissance."

Again, a central theme in Long Island 3.0 is to make the highest and best use of all Long Island resources for the common good.

Certainly all our educational institutions (including our library systems) will play a vital role in Long Island's future.

Perhaps it is time for a new type of "Long Island Studies" curriculum. One that focuses on Long Island 3.0 (or Long Island 3.0 type) concepts.

After all, if we are sincere about wanting our young people to stay on Long Island we should really give them seat at the table and integrate their ideas and concepts into the mix.