Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Sheer Waste

As this nation shifts to hybrid and electric cars, we're buying less gas. While that is good news for the environment, that's bad news for State budgets that depend upon taxes on gasoline to pay for road work and balance their budgets.

According to this article from The Bridge, the State of Michigan is contemplating whether to switch from gas consumed to miles driven as a way to extract revenue from motorists...and they're planning to survey 20,000 Michiganders on their opinions on the matter.

For $5 million. Yes...five million dollars. To survey 20,000 people. Something that any firm with any moral and ethical code would be hard pressed to bid such a project for over $1 million. Even with the additional request to "study the potential impact of a road usage charge system."

I mean, honestly?

Hey Michigan? More than happy to bid this at $1 million...but I'm guessing then you can't use the Federal match for implementation, can you? Yeah, we get it...because we lost a Destination Master Plan bid because we left money on the table for implementation because we could not, in good faith, gin up our price to meet the grant amount available. And another consultancy did. Simply insane.

Such waste.

On Shooting Killer Whales

Serious outrage is being leveled at passengers and crew of a sailing ship off the coast of Spain that recently shot at a pod of Killer Whales that were "interacting" with the vessel.

Yes...I abhor the thought that anyone would attempt to harm an endangered species. But Killer Whales are increasingly attacking boats (which is their right, as we are in their house). And they are, ummm, called "Killer" Whales?

What would you expect?

New on the DMOU Podcast > True Ambassadors

I was honored to moderate a panel at a PRSA event this summer in Madison...and it was a pleasure to reconnect with my friend Kelly Barbery, VP of Marketing and Communications at ExperienceColumbiaSC.

I was just the moderator...and was not responsible for the content. So, I was unprepared and mesmerized by the story Kelly and Director of Communications Charlene Slaughter shared regarding their "Ambassador Program."

Trust me...this is not your garden variety Ambassador Program.

A cool conversation that also touches on their Pimento Cheese Passport and their first steps into NIL.

Check it out...and over 120 other conversations in the DMOU Vault.

More Divey

Given the choice, Terri and I will always opt for a dive bar over a classy one. Thus, we were excited to hear that a Madison institution called The Red Shed will be staying true to its roots when it moves to State Street later this year.

Owner Lynn Dieffenbach says she's "terrified, but excited," and promises, "we're gonna make it as divey as possible."

Hell yeah.

Freedom

From the very beginning, Little Steven Van Zant has been at Springsteen's side. In the late '80s, he made a credible move to break out on his own. And of course, his life has become significantly more diverse.

But, on this Music Friday, we focus in on his early solo work that targeted social injustice.

This is "Freedom."

Law v. Guideline

One of my favorite scenes in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" is when Elizabeth attempts to invoke the "Pirates's Code." And, Barbossa responds that the Pirate's Code isn't really a Code...that it's more like "guidelines."

Which is apparently how a number of school districts in North Carolina are interpreting the State Law that mandates a school start date as the last week of August. 16 Districts, in direct defiance of the law, have already started school in the Tar Heel State.

Those supporting earlier school start dates often point to the fact that a traditional Labor Day start typically pushes first semester exams until after the Holiday break...when students will have forgotten what they learned before the Holidays.

Which, of course, begs the question: If the education that our children are receiving can't stick for more than a few weeks, when we start school becomes a moot point, n'est-ce pas?

So...let's agree that the day after Labor Day makes more sense, eh?

 

 

Why Milwaukee?

Tonight, the first debate of the 2024 Presidential frenzy will take place in Milwaukee.

That's right. A very red event in a very blue city.

How did this happen? Well, a lot of it was the work of Visit Milwaukee (and you can hear that story with Peggy Williams-Smith on the DMOU Podcast). And part of it was the fact that Wisconsin has become one of 6 or 7 battleground States that will likely determine the next President.

Fascinating back story on how we got here from WFAE.

And let the bold-face lies, personal attacks and and unprofessional groveling begin.

They Can't Afford to Live There Anymore

While it is certainly getting better, hospitality businesses (in general) have been notorious in paying entry-level workers less than a living wage for decades. And, as we've been saying since the reopening of America after COVID, we don't have a workforce problem...we have a housing problem. Especially in highly attractive places to live.

A recent study by the Economic Innovation Group shows, among other things, that inbound residents into Arizona's Maricopa County and Florida's Lee County earn significantly more than those residents departing those communities. In Lee County's case, that differential was roughly $50,000/year.

Those with the means are displacing those without, who are being forced to move to be able to afford living expenses. 

Like I said...it's not a workforce issue. But it certainly impacts our industry's ability to hire qualified talent.

New on DMOU > Lviv's Olena Pavlyuk

When the moderator went to the audience this year at the Annual Convention of Destinations International asking, "what keeps you up at night," Lviv's Olena Pavlyuk held out her mobile device and replayed a recording of an air raid siren. In this fascinating episode of DMOU, Olena shares how war has changed her community into one of volunteers, how Lviv has become a hub for medical tourism through UNBROKEN...and how the DMO secured and serviced over 600 events last year, despite the constant threat of missiles and power black-outs. It's a spirited conversation of inspiration, selflessness and the power of the human spirit. Listen in...and catch up on 120 other compelling conversations in the DMOU Vault.

50 Years Ago

50 Years ago this Summer, the world woke up to Queen. A band with a sound like no other (indeed, the album cover proudly proclaimed "no synths" when it sounded like there were) and a frontman that seriously broke the mold.

Track One / Side One announced the band to the world: "Keep Yourself Alive."

On this Music Friday, here's the original video and a more recent version from a more self-assured arena rock band.