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OLY 2012

Submitted by OlyDowntowner on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 9:19am.

Members of the Downtown Neighborhood Association recently received this interesting communication from Peter Stroble of OLY 2012:

"Dear Readers of OLY DNA, We, the OLY 2012 Steering Committee, are THRILLED that there has been such vigorous discussion about our group on this listserve. Stimulating constructive discourse about Olympia's downtown is key to making it a better place, and we appreciate all of the questions, concerns, and criticisms that have been expressed. In fact, much of the discussion has helped us learn more about how we can do a better job of informing the community about what our mission and approach truly is. As a result, we have created a FAQ section on our website (http://oly2012.org/page26.html), which we have included for your convenience at the bottom of this email. Finally, we encourage all of the members of OLY DNA who believe in our mission to join our network supporters. As the FAQ says, doing so simply means you want to stay informed and be a part of the conversation.
Sincerely,
The OLY 2012 Steering Committee

I hate it when people YELL about how thrilled they are, but it takes all kinds. Anyway, the FAQ is on their website. Funny thing, they answer the questions about their association with Tri-Way and the proposed new building downtown a couple of times (the condos that would start at $600,000), but they don't answer the question that I frequently hear about this group: When are the meetings and are they open to the public?

OlyDowntowner's blog
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I agree, funny thing...

Submitted by enpen on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 12:00pm.

As far as I can tell, signing up for the group (even if it's only because you want to see what they say in the e-mails) gives them you as a number to attach to the name "Oly 2012 is an organization with ____ supporters. ". Every person that signs up joins the army of Oly 2012. Political warfare does not need your physical presence on its battlefield, the number of your name will do fine.

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

Two!

Submitted by The Original Yoda on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 1:00pm.

I think that's a really good question

Submitted by jlw on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 2:13pm.

Especially since Oly2012 is a self-described "grass-roots" organization. Who ever heard of a grass roots organization that doesn't have meetings?

Oh God I'm gonna get even more hate emails for this but...

Submitted by Laurian on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 5:07pm.

Peter Strobe' assertion "that there has been such vigorous discussion about our group on this listserve." is a gross exageration.

Other than a lone posting by our Association President, who is an active member of and Oly 2012, most of the 'discussion' on the DNA list has been chastising me for some unpolitic (and in hindsight unwise) inflammatory language. My bad. Of those, half have been critical of Oly 2012 and/or the Tri Vo condo's for the rich project. A couple even praised my fiery language and said I didn't go far enough.

I think Mr. Strobe's posting is reflective of the half-truths Oly 2012 seems to traffic in.

Is that the aroma of fresh cut astroturf I discern? Or an I just being rude?

I signed up for Oly2012...

Submitted by jlw on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 10:34pm.

... mostly just to see what they are doing. But of course, I'm sure they claim me as a "supporter." In any case, I wrote them with Olydowntowner's question, "why don't you have public meetings?" I received a 254 word response, which I was told was "off the record," so I suppose I shouldn't publish it here, but it did not answer the question. It basically defended Oly 2012's status as a grass roots organization, even though its members don't ever meet. Astroturf seems to describe it pretty well.

The next question is...

Submitted by Matthew Green on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:33pm.

Where does their money come from?

I know, I know, they are a nonprofit organization -- not an openly political one -- so they are not legally required to release their donor information. But it would be the honorable thing to do.

If they won't publicly release their donor info, it is fair to assume that, indeed, this is astroturf.

Matthew

Red herring

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 7:28am.

To be honest, I think that's a red herring. They've said who they are and what there goals are.

If you don't like what their eventual conclusions are or what there goals are, then argue them on their merits.

Ignoratio elenchi

That someone you may not like writes Oly 2012 a check doesn't automatically make their conclusions suspect.

I don't think it's

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 10:07am.

I don't think it's necessarily about "someone you don't like" writing a check. I can't speak for anyone else in this discussion, but my concern would be either

1. that they're sponsored by a single entity, or

2. that their donor list would demonstrate a conflict of interest

I know, I know, they've addressed the Tri Vo thing a hundred times, but what if it's someone else with a similar interest? And, if they're supposedly grass-roots, why NOT share this information with members? What a grand demonstration of inclusivity and transparency that would be! My guess is that it would actually serve to evaporate the concerns that many have expressed about the perceived arcanity (is that even a word?) of this organization.

A study in Newspeak

Submitted by Laurian on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 4:35pm.

The question was: Does Oly2012 accept donations?

Here's Peteer Strobe's answer

From:

"Peter Stroble" <peterstroble@gmail.com>

Thank you for your email! Currently, we are designed to be an effective grassroots organization on a very limited budget. Everything we have do so far - which we think is quite considerable - has been done for less than $100, if you can believe that!

That said, I certainly can think of ways we could utilize capital if it were made available to us. Making the technology side of our web-community more advanced so that the viral marketing approach were more effective would be one area, but I can think of lots of other as well. We would be foolish to turn-down a willing donor, and I am quite certain we could put good money to good use. If you have anything in mind, we are all ears!

Sincerely,
Peter Stroble
OLY 2012

Viral Marketing + Grass Roots?

Submitted by jlw on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 4:54pm.

Seems like kind of a strange combination. Newspeak indeed.

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