The Idea Factory

Sometimes I really just cannot get my brain to stop. Camp TapWater is an idea factory and it is the most exciting thing about working for this band. We all believe our music to be special, and we believe that we were given this gift to make a difference. Here are some of the ideas we are currently kicking around:

1. A partnership between Portland's City Repair and Hopworks where we throw an event to raise money and recruit volunteers for City Repair. They are a fantastic nonprofit with tons of personality that reclaims public space. They help communities create public gathering spaces. They help neighborhoods build tea houses and pizza ovens out of cob, create public gardens, and rip up concrete that really isn't needed. And Hopworks is a totally green, organic brewery with the kindest most down-to-earth staff. They are perfect for each other -- lots of overlap between our fans, City Repair supporters, and Hopworks customers.

2. A partnership between us and SolTrekker, this amazing nonprofit that has converted an RV into an environmentally sustainable show room. They use this beautiful RV as an educational tool and a symbol of the change in energy that is approaching. We would like to write a grant with them, buy a tour bus, have them go to town on it and then give tours of it while we tour, using it as an educational piece. Did you know we can make biodiesel from algae and that there is enough right now to free us from reliance on foreign energy? Check out their web site.

3. A partnership with Joe Trippi, the legendary campaign manager for Howard Dean who knows how to build and mobilize web communities around issues the people find important. He is a true believer in democracy and believes that America can be a beacon of light to the world. His book The Revolution Will Not Be Televised has changed my life. I finally understand what the web means for us as a country, and what it means to really embrace technology. So I have now committed to learning how to create online communities that have a say in the future they want to create.

That's just a few of the ideas spinning around. The challenge of course is turning those dreams into reality. It is what we all work for each day. And what keeps us going is that we do believe we can make a difference for each other and the world.