Part one is here.
The first time we tried to do this it hadn't gone too well. We learned some valuable lessons. We learned how important it is to be ready to activate an idea immediately after the energy of the audience is sparked and how quickly momentum is lost. We also realized that we had succeeded in many ways. We learned about how to start an organization. We learned how much work and dedication is involved. We learned that there are things that you just don't have any control over. And we learned what an absolute thrill it is to start with an idea and make it workable, at least from a logical standpoint. We regrouped. We were not ready to throw in the towel.
I started thinking. How do we get everybody involved because I knew that was the only way it could work? How do we get the ball rolling? Then it dawned on me. It wasn't a ball that needed to be rolled but a rock that needed to be moved. It was staring me right in the face. Rock music and the people that listen to and support it was a sleeping giant. If the energy, drive and money that was being put into rock music could somehow be tapped and directed into helping to solve our energy problems we could work miracles. Thus was born the idea of The American Rock.
Articles of incorporation were submitted for approval. From the archives:
Articles of Incorporation for an ASUW University of Washington campus organization.
Article I
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be "The American Rock".
Article II
Section 1:
It shall be the purpose of this organization to promote and organize benefit rock concerts in order to raise funds to:
support research in non-polluting renewable energy projects being conducted by University academic departments and,
provide funding towards conservation improvements on campus. i.e. student housing weatherization projects, recycling programs, car pooling program
Section 2: Funding for projects will be determined by:
projected energy saved per dollar invested and,
a simple majority vote of the membership.
A logo was created. It consisted of a hand-sized granite rock with an American flag affixed to it.
A media campaign was drawn up. Teaser ads and articles were to be placed in the campus newspaper to entice curiosity.
A date was set for the launch. A venue for our first concert was secured and a band was hired for our first benefit concert.
The morning of the kickoff 2000 pounds of small granite rocks with American flags attached were placed about 25 yards apart along all major walkways on campus. The stage was set.
When the time came for me to give my speech a small crowd had gathered in curiosity to find out what exactly was "The American Rock". When I began it became immediately apparent that the PA system was inadequate. As a result a lot of the speech's punch was lost. I could literally feel the energy drain from the crowd. Curiosity quickly turned to apathy. It was a hard to hear message that fell on deaf ears as the crowd quietly wondered off.
A grand total of 6 tickets were sold for that evening's concert. We suffered a financial loss of about $2000.00 - a hard pill to swallow for a bunch of poor college students.
After this colossal failure the group made a few vain attempts to maintain momentum but they quickly faded as did the short-lived idea and promise of The American Rock. It was an idea who's time had not yet come!
The Church of the Holy Shitters will post articles on our holy S.H.I.T. day ( So Happy It's Thursday)
Last week: Before the American Rock - 1977-79 - Part 1 of 2
Next week: No post: Rest and recuperation time!
Hoping to add some humor, provoke thought, spark debate, deepen understanding, and shed some light on the fecal side.
Remember: "If we really want to straighten out all this crap we really need to think about shit." ( Shitbit by Poop John the First of the Church of the Holy Shitters)
Church of the Holy Shitters
A secular environmental religion, scientifically based, with a focus on the psychology of it all. Our ego is the culprit when it comes to dealing with climate change. We cannot save the planet. We can only save ourselves. Our current egotistical self-perception makes that prospect a dubious one at best. Meekness, humility and a realization that our shit does stink, guides us on our path to true sustainable living and climate equilibrium.
Cross posted at http://holyshitters.com/