Photos By John HoffADDENDUM: February 6, 2011. This blog post was written before I and many others in North Minneapolis discovered what a disreputable con man character Don Allen is. I would advise anybody: Do not trust Don Allen. Seek further information about Don Allen from various online sources before having any contact with him.
This information was developed exclusively by Don Allen of IBNN, and merely forwarded to me. However, historically, this blog has been able to get stuff published FAST and this is the kind of information our community needs to know. So, hopefully, Don Allen won't feel like I'm stepping on his toes by publishing his email...
As I reported recently, Don Allen of IBNN has been "calling out" the North Side Marketing Task Force on what Don (and I, for that matter) perceive as dormancy and inaction by the Task Force. I don't think Don received a reply to his previous email to Mike Kestner, but that didn't stop Don from firing off another email. And it's a doozy.
Here it is, unedited.
Dear Mr. Kestner,
This is a follow up email to the one sent earlier. It has come to my attention that the information, i.e. records and data for the NMTF have been removed from NorthWay Community Trust' office and are being stored at an undisclosed location.
These actions are along the same lines of Mr. Jerry Moore, holding info and making decisions without the consent of the board. You remember, last year we talked about how we would partner with the City of Minneapolis and local business to build capacity for businesses and the people of North Minneapolis?
Even with all our ideas, only 4 people on the task force had the capacity to "idea, create and implement" plans. Mr. Moore was not one of them.
At our first "retreat" held at one of the board members houses, we were treated to a "think tank session" about building a direction for the task force by someone that wasn't qualified to do multiplication - later to find out that this woman was a friend of Mr. Moore's and "he" hired her to facilitate the retreat without the consent of the board. Her field was the Health Care arena? WTF!
Secondly, I understand that there was a North Minneapolis Housing Fair that took place sometime this week. Who did the media outreach for that and how come my agency never receives information from the task force. Your media efforts are weak, unskilled and need immediate improvement to actively engage all north Minneapolis residents, not just the few sponsors you invited to fill the room.
(Comment by Johnny Northside: I heard about the housing fair by word-of-mouth. I never saw any kind of publicity for the housing fair)
This is one of the main problems that groups like the task force has; you don't include everyone -- and the agencies in town that could help your cause like myself and the Johnny North Side Blog, you ignore and tell them you don't have any money to spend on a sound product, but if one of your friends come up with an idea for cash - the retreats or Home Tours, the group is quick to spend. I don't necessarily need more friends cause I thought you were my friend, but I would like to do business with you delivering more assets for the task force then you've ever had.
Just for a refresher, V-Media/iNetGlobal was ranked by Google as the Twin Cities #1 internet marketing firm. (I know that frightens some folks when it comes to costs - but we'll work with you.)
As I reported recently, Don Allen of IBNN has been "calling out" the North Side Marketing Task Force on what Don (and I, for that matter) perceive as dormancy and inaction by the Task Force. I don't think Don received a reply to his previous email to Mike Kestner, but that didn't stop Don from firing off another email. And it's a doozy.
Here it is, unedited.
Dear Mr. Kestner,
This is a follow up email to the one sent earlier. It has come to my attention that the information, i.e. records and data for the NMTF have been removed from NorthWay Community Trust' office and are being stored at an undisclosed location.
These actions are along the same lines of Mr. Jerry Moore, holding info and making decisions without the consent of the board. You remember, last year we talked about how we would partner with the City of Minneapolis and local business to build capacity for businesses and the people of North Minneapolis?
Even with all our ideas, only 4 people on the task force had the capacity to "idea, create and implement" plans. Mr. Moore was not one of them.
At our first "retreat" held at one of the board members houses, we were treated to a "think tank session" about building a direction for the task force by someone that wasn't qualified to do multiplication - later to find out that this woman was a friend of Mr. Moore's and "he" hired her to facilitate the retreat without the consent of the board. Her field was the Health Care arena? WTF!
Secondly, I understand that there was a North Minneapolis Housing Fair that took place sometime this week. Who did the media outreach for that and how come my agency never receives information from the task force. Your media efforts are weak, unskilled and need immediate improvement to actively engage all north Minneapolis residents, not just the few sponsors you invited to fill the room.
(Comment by Johnny Northside: I heard about the housing fair by word-of-mouth. I never saw any kind of publicity for the housing fair)
This is one of the main problems that groups like the task force has; you don't include everyone -- and the agencies in town that could help your cause like myself and the Johnny North Side Blog, you ignore and tell them you don't have any money to spend on a sound product, but if one of your friends come up with an idea for cash - the retreats or Home Tours, the group is quick to spend. I don't necessarily need more friends cause I thought you were my friend, but I would like to do business with you delivering more assets for the task force then you've ever had.
Just for a refresher, V-Media/iNetGlobal was ranked by Google as the Twin Cities #1 internet marketing firm. (I know that frightens some folks when it comes to costs - but we'll work with you.)
Don Allen
(Johnny Northside asks: can anybody add more information? Where are the records? Who took the records? Who is currently on the task force. Who is currently the chair?)
Editorial comment: North Minneapolis still has NOMI, thank goodness. We are not without marketing efforts. And this blog continues to publicize North Minneapolis, applying my theory of "Market and Romanticize The Struggle."
(Johnny Northside asks: can anybody add more information? Where are the records? Who took the records? Who is currently on the task force. Who is currently the chair?)
Editorial comment: North Minneapolis still has NOMI, thank goodness. We are not without marketing efforts. And this blog continues to publicize North Minneapolis, applying my theory of "Market and Romanticize The Struggle."
Don't worry, North Minneapolis...you don't need a marketing task force. You've got JOHNNY NORTHSIDE!
oh no! not more missing records and equipment!!!!
ReplyDeletegosh darn it north minneapolis deserves BETTER than this kind of treatment!
we must raise the bar and raise the standard of expectations from EVERYONE
Dear Johnny Northside,
ReplyDeleteI think we should come together and use our platforms and develop a "true" media, advocacy group that has the "putz" to put on a suit and go to the private sector to collaborate successful outcomes for the residents and businesses in North Minneapolis.
We have been affected to many years by groups and people that say they have the best interest in mind for North Minneapolis - later we find out that it's not the case.
I do not work for a non-profit organization. The rules of passive non-compliance do not affect me in the least. We should call a meeting for all concerned and develop a LLC which can make money while providing a service to North Minneapolis.
If folks are paying close attention to the news (drive-by) they say we are in a recession, not so! Hennepin County is one of the top 5 riches counties in the USA with more millionaires per cap than California.
The disparity comes in when you look at the Black race - we are fourth from the bottom of the poorest people in the country.
Our local politicians have decided that what the people want is not important, but we vote the same congressman in because of his "Rock Star" status rather than what he has done for North Minneapolis. Don't get me wrong Rep. Ellison is a nice guy, but if you look at the 2008 Federal Earmarks, how much of the $70 Million went directly to north Minneapolis social service agencies or programs?
Business practices that yield no positive results, like the lack of information to the General Public about the housing fair is a violation of civil rights, which we now come to find out has not worked for us in over 6 years.
The City of Minneapolis should be ashamed of the practices of it's Civil Rights Contract Compliance department and we should demand from the years 2006 to present, every contract that was not in compliance before, during and after should be penalized 11% of the total contract and put in a set-aside fund governed by our group to assist business in North Minneapolis to build capacity and the amount of dollars this would take in (millions) would be enough to partner and start youth employment programs with after school and summer study groups to assist ALL our children in the ART of learning. Which is something the Minneapolis Public School System left behind with No "Administrator Let Behind."
NUFF SAID!
More like Northside Marketing Task FARCE.
ReplyDeleteI know that the North Minneapolis Housing and Home Improvement Fair was advertised on an insert in the water bill citywide and through the several Community Education programs on the Northside. KMSP-TV had a reporter there for most of the morning before the event opened and they aired several reports from the site. I don't know who else was publicizing it.
ReplyDeleteKCz
To Don: Yeah, we should talk. Call me and we'll have a late lunch. Maybe we should involve a few other folks, too.
ReplyDeleteOk, here it goes....
ReplyDeleteThe paper files of the Northside Marketing Task Force are in my possession. They consist of one box actually. Almost all of our necessary documents are in digital format shared amongst executive board members. Northway understood that the NMTF needed access to these files, and since we don't have an office (yet), there really wasn't another option. Mystery (not controversy) solved.
Earlier today, as I have requested on more than a few occasions, I asked Don Allen (and this may include Johnny Northside as well) to not be too quick to rush to conclusions about the bogeymen (and women) of the Northside. North Minneapolis deserves a community where all of it's more involved citizens begin to see a common cause and work through our disagreements, rather than be so quick to draw battle lines. There are, after all, potential investors.....in the form of homebuyers, business owners, developers and foundations who are watching and listening to our dialogues.
It's a bit more than just 'heroes' and 'villains'. There are those I disagree with, but I try everyday to find a new way to engage productively. I respect an intellectual, informative and entertaining approach to journalism, whether it's a blogpost or any other media outlet. I just hope that we don't fall into a mindset of suspicion, trial, judgement, hanging and burial all in a few paragraphs or posts....without the patience and investigation that brings a little bit more reality (much less humanity) to each situation.
As far as the Northside Marketing Task Force is concerned, I can only speak for myself in saying that it has been an honor to stand up for this community and meet the challenges that come my way. This has always been an all-volunteer effort that is a major investment of time and energy, with obviously little given or expected thanks. And quite frankly, we never had a largesse of financial capacity to do all that some people expect us to do.
We also were elected as a board in November '07 at a community meeting, something that most goal-specific startups wouldn't burden a new board with. But that's hindsight. There are those who are accomplished, caring and valuable assets to the community, but not necessarily the best fit for a marketing initiative. Regardless, you work with those around the table in decision-by-committee fashion. With two-hour monthly board meetings in which there is much to accomplish, eventually the pace must pick up in order to accomplish anything.
This is when working committees are formed, and members decide whether the time and effort fits their priorities and schedules. A few eggs get broken, some board members resign (to put talents elsewhere), other workers and leaders emerge, decisions get made, work begins to get done, and you move on to the next challenge. It ain't easy, and it's often not much fun, but you do it because you believe in the cause.
Our work in helping organize the North Housing and Home Improvement Fair is just one of four projects we have been working on and towards. It's never really been about the NMTF; it's about others, and how we can assist through public affairs and advocacy. We support the good work of positive Northside organizations (like those involved with NOMI), and look to ways to collaborate in the future. I'd just say the 'struggle' that Johnny Northside refers to is far from over, and let's help each other take it on.
A few last thoughts: Can we once and for all leave the Jordan politics in Jordan, and not confuse them with other organizations (like the NMTF)? And Johnny, don't be shy about posting my email reply to Mr. Allen's concerns regarding the Housing Fair marketing. It's only fair ;)
Mike Kestner
Native Northsider and NMTF member
The Jordan politics are INTENSE and it is very hard to keep something that HOT from spilling over into other areas. I'll try to find your email reply and post it...
ReplyDeleteMike, the quickest way to publish your email to Don is to just include it in this comment box. Here it is, unedited, as follows:
ReplyDeleteDon,
The primary 2009 Housing Fair organizer was John Helgeland. John, in my eyes, has done a fantastic job in putting on this great event over the last four
years with a team of volunteers. John remains a true champion of North Minneapolis, who continues to bring community together across all lines.
The Northside Marketing Task Force (NMTF) role this year as a Co-Producer of the Housing Fair was to learn through active volunteerism the planning process,
with the NMTF taking over planning and production (with community partners supporting in co-production) in 2010.
I know John sent out numerous emails to many community members enlisting their volunteer planning support starting in early fall 2008. Apparently you did not
receive this communication. It sounds to me that you would have been an interested volunteer.
I'm sorry we did not see you in attendance this past Saturday, given your obvious interest and concern. The NMTF contracted The Carney Group to take photographs and video of the event. You can view the photos here:
www.northminneapolis.com/north_housing_fair
Overall, I think the North Housing and Home Improvement Fair was a success. We were competing with very nice weather and still managed to have turnout equal
to last year, I'm told. There were many families in attendance, and the diversity of the North Minneapolis community was evident. There were 12 seminars covering a gamut of topics of interest, and community organizations were well represented.
The NMTF table had well over 200 visitors, as we gave out North Minneapolis t-shirts, brochures and continued to spread the positive message of living,
working and recreating in our community. We also had a thick binder of historical home and building photos gathered from the MN Historical Society.
I can also tell you that Northside Marketing Task Force members were on KMOJ's 'Voices of the African American Community' program this past week promoting the Housing Fair.
So I would say it was a success, and as with all worthwhile ventures, it could always stand to improve. I'm proud of the NMTF's involvement with this fair, and look forward to helping shape this event in the future.
We hope to involve your communications skills in promoting this event in the future!
Thanks,
Mike Kestner
Northside Marketing Task Force