Getting creative to support the arts

May 14, 2013 By 1 Comment

By Rebekah Seder, Program Manager

Without a doubt, one of the greatest aspects of our region is the rich and diverse nonprofit arts sector. A recent discussion among WRAG members who fund in the arts and humanities sphere really drove this home. But, as vibrant as this sector is, and as much as it contributes to our quality of life, the recession has had a significant impact on the philanthropic dollars flowing to these organizations.

Funders in our community are committed to supporting, and advocating for the sector, and there were several ideas that came out of this conversation that we thought were worth sharing.

Find creative ways to leverage funding: In our region there is great wealth, and a great number of small, locally focused nonprofit arts organizations. Being home to some of the country’s premier cultural institutions,   however, can make it hard for local groups to compete for philanthropic dollars. Locally- focused funders can find ways to leverage their own grantmaking by helping their grantees build relationships in the donor community, or by getting creative in their grantmaking with strategies like matching grants that encourage organizations to seek individual donations.

Make the economic case: It’s a given in the urban planning field that a vibrant arts scene can help spur economic growth and neighborhood revitalization. Advocates and funders of the arts need to hammer this idea home, especially to policymakers controlling government purse strings. With the rapid growth and expansion of the Cultural Data Project – the D.C. version of which a number of WRAG members helped launch in 2011 – researchers have access to a vast trove of data to help advocates make the case for greater arts funding.

Work at the intersections: While funding art “for arts sake” is always important, taking a cross-sector approach can help break down silos between different kinds of funders.  Recent research has highlighted the benefits of incorporating the arts into health programs and services for older adults. Likewise, arts education is essential for all young people, and there are any number of innovative programs that engage at-risk youth through the arts. Highlighting the impact of the arts and humanities on the full spectrum of life can help bring different, and perhaps unexpected, funders to the table.

A small group of WRAG members plan to meet to strategize ways to more deeply engage the funding community around the arts and humanities in our region. WRAG members: if you’re interested in getting involved in this effort, contact Rebekah Seder.

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Greater Washington region tops online giving rankings

April 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

GIVING | Another day, another list of rankings. According to Blackbaud, Alexandria, D.C., and Arlington rank 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively, in online giving nationwide. (WaPo, 4/12) Watch out, Seattle.

EDUCATION
- Meet the incoming Fairfax schools superintendent, Karen Garza. (WaPo, 4/11) (And apologies to yesterday’s readers: we included this, but linked to the wrong article.)

- A 2009 memo has come to light that suggests that cheating on standardized tests in D.C. public schools may have been more rampant than previously supposed. (USA Today, 4/11)

ARTS
- Local arts advocates, including members of the D.C. Council, are calling for the council to maintain the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ budget at the current level. The mayor’s proposed 2014 budget slashes it to $7 million. (Examiner, 4/12)

- Maryland arts budget back to pre-recession levels (Baltimore Business Journal, 4/11)

YOUTH | The New York Times looks at how placing police officers in schools, ostensibly for security purposes, has led to an increase in criminal charges against students. (NY Times, 4/12)

Related: In case you missed it, the Post had a great piece last week on students participating in the Critical Exposure photography program are documenting similar issues.

TRANSIT
- WMATA has released images of proposed design changes to the interiors of Metro stations. (WaPo, 4/12) Notice there are no trains arriving in any of these pictures.

- Maryland looking at public-private partnerships for Purple Line (Examiner, 4/12)

HOUSING | In D.C., a public housing waiting list with no end (WaPo, 4/11)

EQUITY | Here’s a cool tool that shows the level of access and choice of amenities like groceries, restaurants, and transit across the District. (ChoiceMaps, via UrbanTurf, 4/11)

NONPROFITS | White House Seeks to Force Charities to File Tax Forms Electronically (Chronicle, 4/11)

I love D.C., but sometimes it does seem like everything is better in New York.

-Rebekah

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Majority of nonprofits don’t think they can afford to meet demand for services

March 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The 2013 Nonprofit Finance Fund’s survey of more about 6,000 nonprofits finds that the majority of respondents don’t think they have enough money to meet service demands (Chronicle, 3/25):

- For the first time in the survey’s five years, more than half of the charities said they were unable to meet demands for assistance last year, and even more groups expect to struggle to do so this year.

- One in four groups is running so close to the bone it had less than 30 days’ cash in hand.

- Thirty-nine percent of the charities said their financial situation is so challenging they plan to change how they raise and spend money.

Another key finding is that nonprofits are trying to cope with cuts in government funding by turning more to private philanthropy. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation sponsored the survey and it’s president, Kerry Sullivan, says:

Philanthropy and government can’t cover the costs and expenses needed to deliver on the increasing demand…The challenge, and what we’re thinking about, is looking at new ways to drive capital to help nonprofits.

Related: It’s important to consider the size of the nonprofit sector when having discussions about its financial health. According to the Urban Institute, there are about 2.3 million nonprofit organizations operating in the United States.

GIVING | Did you know that Americans who earn in the top 20 percent only give an average of 1.3 percent to charity? And those in the bottom 20 percent give 3.2 percent? The Atlantic asks why that is and uses our region as a case study. The bottom line: “[I]nsulation from people in need may dampen the charitable impulse.” (Atlantic, April 2013 issue)

If that theory is indeed true, then the phrase “ignorance is bliss” seems perfectly appropriate for significant parts of our region.

HOUSING
- Yesterday we wrote about former HUD secretary Henry Cisneros’ observations of housing trends. Today, Rebekah shares Cisneros’ ten recommendations for our region’s funders. (Daily, 3/26)

- Is the Washington, D.C.-area housing market bubbling again? (WaPo, 3/26)

- Washington-area foreclosure rates lower (WTOP, 3/26)

YOUTH | The DC Alliance of Youth Advocates is conducting a survey of currently and formerly disconnected youth. If your organization serves members of this population, they need your help collecting survey responses. [More info.]

EDUCATION | The latest on the Prince George’s schools situation is that legislation has been introduced in the Maryland Senate. The bill does give County Executive Rushern Baker more direct control over the school system, but not nearly at the level he was seeking. It basically splits the responsibilities between Baker and the school board. Baker is hoping that amendments will be added in his favor. (WaPo, 3/26)

As we know from the federal government, split political power is the elixir of successful reform. No wait, I meant poison. Sorry.

ARTS/BUDGETS | The District’s FY2013 budget includes the biggest increase in arts funding of any state in the country. The increase is an excellent 133%. (Elevation DC, 3/26)

CORRECTION | I accidentally called LISC by the wrong name yesterday. Please note that their correct name is the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. I wrote “Collaborative.” Apologies for the mistake.

Breaking a law in Egypt is near the top of my list of things I’d avoid like the Ten Plagues, but that’s not the case for some Russian photographers. They climbed the great pyramids and took some truly spectacular photos of the view. They also made the mistake of taking pictures of their own faces, which seems like a terrible idea.

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Montgomery County schools chief calls for a nationwide focus on implementing the Common Core Standards [News, 2.8.13]

February 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

EDUCATION | In an op-ed in the Washington Post today, Montgomery County public schools superintendent Joshua Starr explains the value of the Common Core Standards, and calls for school systems to back off standardized testing and teacher accountability reforms until curricula based on these standards are successfully implemented (WaPo, 2/8):

The Common Core State Standards should be our primary focus. But districts around the country are spending so much time implementing new accountability measures and other supposed reforms that they are not developing the system capacity to change teaching and learning in the classroom in ways that will enable our students to achieve Common Core’s promise. School districts are not investing in new curricula, assessments, professional development or data systems… A moratorium on standardized tests would give our school systems the ability to implement the Common Core with fidelity.

ARTS | The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has issued a call to artists seeking ideas for “a unique landmark that expresses the character, strength and vibrancy of the Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood.” (ART202, 2/7)

HEALTH | Virginia lawmakers are moving forward with including the state in Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, contingent upon reforms to the program. If it ultimately passes, 300,000 Virginians would qualify for Medicaid coverage. (Examiner, 2/8)

HOUSING | The D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute points out that Mayor Gray’s one-time commitment of $100 million to affordable housing production isn’t enough to reach his goal of 10,000 units. (DCFPI, 2/6)

GIVING | Because it’s Friday and a slow news day, here’s Stephen Colbert’s take on trendy new bars that donate their proceeds to charity (like D.C.’s Cause PhilanthroPub). (Colbert Report, 2/5) This weekend, remember: friends don’t let friends drink and donate.

Next week an asteroid will be flying past Earth with a margin of error of only 17,200 miles. In the grand scheme of the universe, that seems uncomfortably close to this. Sounds like a good reason to head to the bar, have a beer, and donate to a local nonprofit tonight!

-Rebekah

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DCPS announces new career ladder for top teachers…The possible future of the 11th Street Bridge…Don’t miss CFNCR’s Invest2Compete event on September 13 [News, 9.5.12]

September 5, 2012 By

EDUCATION
- The Post has an interesting Q & A with the public school chiefs of D.C., Alexandria, and Montgomery, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties about how they approach teacher evaluation and training, class sizes, and other issues in their respective districts. (WaPo, 9/2)

- D.C. Public Schools announced a new program yesterday that will allow high performing teachers in high poverty schools to receive salary raises at a much faster rate. The goal is to attract quality teachers and reduce turnover. (WaPo, 9/5)

- Northern Virginia schools open; surging enrollment projected (WaPo, 9/5)

ARTS | The Old Town Theater in Alexandria, which was going to be redeveloped into retail shops, will remain a theater and reopen in November. (WAMU, 9/3)

DISTRICT | Here’s a look at the effort to redevelop the 11th Street Bridge in southeast D.C. as a park that would link Navy Yard with Anacostia. (WAMU, 9/4) Needless to say, this would be very, very cool.

PHILANTHROPY
- Paul Carttar, the head of the Social Innovation Fund, will be leaving his post at the end of September. (Chronicle, 9/4)

– Opinion: Foundations Are Wise to Offer Grants and Management Coaching (Chronicle, 8/19)

COMMUNITY | Nicky Goren, of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, reflects on her experience watching the women athletes at the 2012 Olympics. (WAWF, 8/3)

EVENT | To unveil their new report, the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region and the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s Invest2Compete Initiative is hosting a briefing and panel discussion on how area employers are supporting their workers through tuition assistance programs, and why these programs are critical for our region. More information will be available soon on www.cfncr.org.

When: September 13, 8:30am – 10:30am | Where: The University Club, 1135 16th Street NW| RSVP to bmurphy@cfncr.org. 

Cutest. Animal attack. Ever.

-Rebekah

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Will the tech sector lead our region’s economy?…A look at Ivy City…New affordable housing project moves forward [News, 8.13.12]

August 13, 2012 By

ECONOMY | We know that our economy’s reliance on the federal government isn’t sustainable. So, how do we fill the void? Capital Business says that a growing technology sector could be the answer. (WaPo, 8/13)

Related: A Nonprofit Technology Leader’s Reading List (Chronicle, 8/13)

LOCAL | The Post profiles the struggles of D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood (WaPo, 8/13):

On any scale, Ivy City is a 98-pound weakling among District neighborhoods. It measures only 1.7 square miles near the Maryland border in Northeast and has some of the city’s poorest residents, with an unemployment rate approaching 50 percent.

But that has not stopped the D.C. government from placing a heavy burden on Ivy City’s scrawny shoulders, making it a base of operations for large projects other neighborhoods shun, “a dumping ground,” residents say.

HOUSING | Developers have lined up financing for a $65 million project near the Minnesota Avenue Metro station. The mixed-use project includes 376 residential units – 92% of them affordable housing – and 20,000 square feet of retail space. (WTOP, 8/13)

EDUCATION | D.C. adding classrooms for special needs students (Examiner, 8/13)

ETHICS | D.C. employees were asked to sign an ethics pledge earlier this year. When an employee felt that his boss had violated the pledge, he wrote to the council asking what to do. A staffer from Mary Cheh’s office wrote back, “It seems to me that [the pledge] is more of an aspirational set of goals.” (Examiner, 8/13) Of course it is.

AGING | Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs put on a special show at the county fair over the weekend – a senior flash mob! Awesome. (ArlNow, 8/10)

NONPROFITS | From our friends at the Nonprofit Roundtable: Save money! Go Green! The Nonprofit Energy Alliance uses collective purchasing power to secure electricity at lower cost and protect the environment by building a greener economy. Since 2010, 60 nonprofits have participated, and saved over $500,000 – 10-15% in savings for each organization.

There is no fee to participate. Click here for more information and to register for an optional info webinar. Applications are due Sept. 14.

HOLIDAY | To any fellow southpaws out there, Happy Left Handers’ Day!

Thoughts on the Olympic closing ceremonies? There was some truly weird stuff (a fat Batman and Robin confusedly escaped from an exploding taxi?), but there was one particular segment that was epic.

In possibly the best Olympic ceremony moment ever, a human cannonball failed at his task, rolled pathetically back out of the cannon, and then revealed himself to be legendary Python Eric Idle. Then he began singing Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” It was perfect.

Anyhow, hope you all had a nice weekend. Our final all-day staff retreat is tomorrow, and then we’ll be back on Wednesday. So, see you then!

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D.C. gives developers $2.6 billion in tax breaks…AARP Foundation trying crowdsourcing to fight food insecurity…CYITC seeking permanent CEO [8.8.12]

August 8, 2012 By

BUDGETS | An investigation by the Washington Post finds that the District’s Office of Tax and Revenue has reduced tax liability for some of the city’s influential developers, through various settlements, by $2.6 billion dollars in 2012 alone – which is a massive spike over previous years (WaPo, 8/8):

In a city chronically strapped for cash, the settlements represent a $48 million reduction in potential revenue for the 2012 tax year.

The FBI is now investigating, but the Post nails it on the head. $48 million is a massive amount of money for the city to just forgo.

Think back to Mark Bergel’s question – What if D.C. made an Olympic effort to end poverty? If there is a legitimate reason for the gigantic tax breaks, then fine. But it would be a true shame to say that we can’t even consider the answer to Bergel’s question due to improper behavior.

YOUTH | Fairfax is seeking $1 million from the state to support early intervention services for developmentally challenged infants and toddlers. (Examiner, 8/8)

HOUSING | Street Sense’s Robert Warren points out that the DC Council has labeled itself a “Human Rights City.” To that end, he calls on the council to declare some form of housing a human right. (Street Sense, 8/8) What do you folks thing? Is housing a human right?

COMMUNITY | The DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation is seeking a permanent President and CEO. The Trust is working with a professional recruitment firm to search for candidates nationwide. If you or somebody you know would be a good fit, be sure to check out the job announcement (and feel free to circulate it to interested parties).

The Trust’s board appointed Judge Mary Terrell to serve in the position in an interim capacity. She’ll remain in the position until a permanent replacement has been found.

AGING/FOOD | The AARP Foundation’s president, Jo Ann Jenkins, talks about the foundation’s partnership with InnoCentive to explore how crowdsourcing can address food insecurity in aging adults. (Innocentive, 8/1)

Why did the Foundation decide to work with InnoCentive, and in particular, consider the use of crowdsourcing to help solve food insecurity Challenges?

AARP Foundation is interested in seeking solutions to the problems of older adult hunger from a variety of sources, including local anti-hunger groups, state SNAP officials, and well-known hunger researchers. But that isn’t enough. The problem of hunger is one of the most basic and certainly one of the most difficult to solve, and we need to widen our base of potential problem solvers by a considerable margin. Crowdsourcing through InnoCentive will help us do that.

TRANSIT | For any bus commuters out there (like me), the Region Forward blog looks at the places in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia where buses tend to be delayed. (RF, 8/8)

ARTS | Washingtonian chats with local film critic Arch Campbell about a range of issues – including the quality of theater management in the region. When asked if he complains to managers about things like nitwits who bring infants to adult movies, he says:

Why? The theaters are run by a bunch of teenagers who aren’t paying attention.

He’s exactly right. I had to stand up and tell a woman that she was ruining a screening of Prometheus at Gallery Place because she kept answering her cell phone. She then proceeded to curse me out. No theater employee bothered to even see what the ruckus was about.

Fun fact: As a 15-year old, I walked up to Arch Campbell at the Uptown and told him that he was wrong to give Star Wars: The Phantom Menace a bad review. He wasn’t, but I was 15 and a Star Wars nerd.

Just a reminder – WRAG has a planning retreat tomorrow, so we won’t have a Daily. But Rebekah will have an awesome edition for you on Friday.

In the meantime, check out this cool video about the evolution of Olympic sprinters over the last 116 years. It’s fascinating to think about why we are so much faster than we used to be.

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DCPS announces changes to IMPACT teacher evaluation process…Income segregation rises in the region [News, 8.3.12]

August 3, 2012 By

EDUCATION
- D.C. Public Schools has announced changes to its IMPACT teacher evaluation system that will reduce the weight of standardized test scores in teachers’ overall performance ratings. The changes also include a new rating category for “developing” teachers, and reduce the number of classroom observations. (Examiner, 8/3)

- While the changes might take some of the pressure off teachers, many are concerned that the new “developing” performance category will make more teachers eligible for firing. (WaPo, 8/3)

ARTS | The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities has announced a new permanent public art installation along the super drab stretch of Connecticut Avenue between K Street and Dupont Circle, featuring colorful LED lights intertwined with the landscaping along the median. (DCist, 8/2)

DEMOGRAPHICS | A new Pew report shows that rising income inequality throughout the country has led to an increase in income segregation between high- and low-income residents in metropolitan areas. (WaPo, 8/1) Our region ranked 7 out of the top 10 largest metro areas in terms of both the percentage of low-income households located in low-income census tracts, and upper-income households in upper-income census tracts. (Pew, 8/1)

PHILANTHROPY | New York will be the first U.S. city to pilot social impact bonds, as Goldman Sachs invests $10 million in a nonprofit program aimed at reducing the recidivism rate, which the city will repay if the program succeeds. (NY Times, 8/2)

Related: On October 4, we’re continuing our Brightest Minds series with Dr. Susan Raymond, who will discuss how the social sector is innovating in response to the economic downturn. Registration and more information.

AGING | 10 best cities for ‘successful aging’ (CNN, 8/2) Somehow Washington lost out to Omaha.

DATA | Did you attend the Brightest Minds program with Cole Nussbaumer back in May? Today on her blog she offers a chance to practice what you learned to help out a community foundation looking for some data visualization assistance. (Storytelling With Data, 8/3)

I’m sure hosting the Olympics is pretty much the most exciting thing that can happen in a city, but there has to be something cool enough going on in the Greater Washington region to get an elected official to try this…though hopefully with more success.

-Rebekah

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DC Government agencies graded … Virginia dragging its feet on health care exchange … Maryland communities newly eligible for state grants [News, 7.25.12]

July 25, 2012 By

GOVERNMENT | Mayor Gray released the first round of reviews from the Grade DC Initiative, where residents can grade the performance of various city agencies. Most agencies fare in the B-to-C range. In a gift to D.C. stand-up comedians, the worst faring agency is the DMV, with a C-minus. (WaPo, 7/24)

HEALTH | Virginia is dragging its feet in adopting a health care exchange, as required by the recently upheld Affordable Care Act. Failure to do so could cause federal officials to create the exchange for Virginia, meaning state officials would have much less say in how the exchange is structured. (Connection Newspapers, 7/24)

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT | The State of Maryland has recently designated a cluster of inner-beltway communities along the Blue Line as “Sustainable Communities.” This means they will be eligible for state grant funds to make their communities more walkable, transit-friendly, and environmentally friendly. Designated communities include Capitol Heights, Fairmont Heights and Seat Pleasant. Previous recipients of this designation include Hyattsville and Laurel. (Gazette, 7/24)

ARTS & CULTURE | Fiesta DC, D.C.’s annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, will be held on Pennsylvania Avenue this September. D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham says that the festival has outgrown its original Mount Pleasant location, but he and others are concerned about the impact of pulling the festival out of the historic center of D.C.’s Hispanic community. (WaPo, 7/24)

HOUSING | As we shared yesterday, the Arlington County Board approved moving forward with a street car on Columbia Pike at its meeting on Monday night. At the same time, they approved the Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Area Plan. ARLnow has an in-depth look at the discussion around adopting the plan, especially how they intend to preserve affordable housing in the area.

HIV/AIDS | Thousands of protesters marched to the White House to call for more resources in the HIV/AIDS fight. 13 people were arrested in front of the White House. (Examiner, 7/24)

Related: “The Normal Heart” raises funds for the Washington AIDS Partnership. (Washington Examiner, 7/24)

Also Related: Jennifer Jue, Program Officer with the Washington AIDS Partnership, shares this cool, interactive look at the AIDS quilt, created by Microsoft Research Connections.

EDUCATION| The Fairfax chapter of the NAACP and an advocacy group called Coalition of The Silence have filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County, a science and technology magnet program, claiming that black and Latino students are being shut out of the prestigious high school because of the county school system’s systemic failure to identify gifted minority students starting in early elementary gifted-education programs. Black and Latino students currently comprise 4% of the student body, despite making up  32% of the county’s student population. (WaPo, 7/23)

I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but be a bit unnerved by the extremely sudden and massive melting of Greenland’s ice sheet. When an event is described as a “freak event that surprised scientists,” that’s usually not a good sign. At least we’re having some relatively mild weather here today!

- Robin

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Meyer Foundation’s Kristen Conte to retire [News, 6.20.12]

June 20, 2012 By

COMMUNITY | After thirteen years at the foundation, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation’s vice president for finance and operations, Kristen Conte, will retire. Foundation President and CEO Julie Rogers offers these words of praise:

Kristen Conte

It has been an enormous privilege to work with Kristen for the past 13 years…Although she has not been highly visible to our grantees, her work has been the bedrock on which everything else rests. Kristen has created impeccable systems and policies that have kept the Meyer Foundation stable and well managed even in challenging times. She has also been a wonderful friend and colleague, and will be sorely missed.

WRAG is proud to have counted Kristen as a member, and we send our best wishes and congratulations on her retirement.

ARTS | Ten years ago, the Lorton correctional facility was creatively converted into a regional arts center. It provides theater and studio space, as well as galleries where local arts can showcase their work. But the center is in major financial trouble. (WaPo, 6/20)

HEALTH
- Kaiser Health News notes that if the healthcare law is struck down by the Supreme Court, Medicaid could be severely impacted as states would gain more control over the program. (WaPo, 6/20)

- How Cities Can Help Fight Obesity (Atlantic, 6/19)

- Lead Exposure Affecting Certain Kids In Montgomery County (WAMU, 6/20)

GIVING | Million-Dollar Donations Are on the Decline in 2012 (Chronicle, 6/20)

NONPROFITS | William C. Basl, executive director of the Washington Commission for National and Community Service, will be the new head of AmeriCorps. (Chronicle, 6/20)

BUDGETS | Opinion: The District Should Fully-Fund and Reimburse Interim Disability Assistance (DCFPI, 6/20) “Although $270 may not seem like a lot, recipients depend on this money for rent (often rent shared with others), prescriptions, and necessities like toothpaste.”

WEBINAR | PolicyLink is hosting a webinar titled The Power of Regional Equity Networks next Wednesday. The session will “explore the formation [and maintenance] of effective regional equity networks and coalitions” and look at how these networks can be instrumental in the public policy arena. [More info.]

TRANSIT | Marion Barry wants to stop work on the District’s streetcar plans. Of course, the tracks have already been laid, stations built, and cars ordered. So when he says the new system isn’t well thought-out, one might wonder why he didn’t voice his concerns when the planning and implementation was taking place over the last few years. (WaPo, 6/19)

Related: Greater Greater Washington points out that a streetcar line on H St. was actually Barry’s own idea 15 years ago. (GGW, 6/20)

POLITICS | Well, it has been a full seven days since I used the word “scandal” in the Daily. But following yesterday’s nomination of Michael Kelly to take over the D.C. Housing and Community Development agency, it has been revealed that Kelly resigned his last job in Philadelphia over a sex scandal. (WAMU, 6/20)

Today is officially the first day of summer and, wouldn’t you know it, also Brian Wilson’s 70th birthday. So grab some slices of watermelon and a cold beer (or a delicious watermelon beer), slip on your flip flops, and feel those Good Vibrations! I love summer. 

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