"The Georgians playing Polo in the Kingdom of Imereti"
Teramo Castelli, 1640.
The thunder of horses, a sharp SMACK, and the ball goes flying. In the haze of horses chasing a ball it may seem like a cacophony of action, but to a polo player they know exactly what their niche is. Each player was assigned a position with their own role in winning the game for the team, each with the reliance upon the other.
This was the original use of polo by it’s first players, the nomadic tribes of Iran in the 6th century BC, to train cavalrymen and it had spread east and west throughout the world since. There have been records of games played in the past with players numbering up to a hundred horsemen on either side. With so many moving parts, it will take the full attention of the rider, to perceive and be aware of his surroundings and simultaneously attempt to fulfill their role.
It is not a surprise that polo has such a strong continuity. Figures ranging from Saladin, to Emperor Basil the 1st practiced the sport as it found strong ground amongst the upper classes. In the middle ages it could be said the sport spanned from Japan to Constantinople. It would take a long while until it would begin to spread to the west.
The English were the first amongst their western compatriots, adopting polo during their Victorian years. It was in the British Raj that the first English polo clubs began to formulate, such as the Calcutta polo club. By the 1860s, the sport had definitely spread back to Britain; polo clubs would begin to form in mass after official rules were certified. For the British this was in 1874 by it’s governing body, the Herlingham polo association.
From there polo would spread the globe as the “sport of kings”!
Escanaba Polo Mallet Company builds high quality one of a kind polo mallets. This article was written by a young college student. Very nice. We give away much of our profits to charitable causes as they relate to child enrichment, horses, and other worthy causes. https://www.escanabapolomallet.com/
Race and disparity have
been elevated onto a national platform with protests and civil unrest making headlines. Like other states, Michigan wrestles
with how to navigate race, ethnic and religious based criminal acts. From
attempts to abduct a sitting governor to local harassment we are stumped by
profound questions of what hate means in a country that seeks to position
itself at the center of global supply chains. Far Right and Far Left groups
have defined the conversation on race and difference in American society while ignoring the
practical middle. Taking steps to ensure that discrimination in all its forms is not holding the State of Michigan and the country back requires a level of political bi-partisanship that couldn't come at a better time to restore trust in our system.
Intro of Problem
Rise in radicalism is encouraging some aggressive personalities to commit hate crimes in an effort to mitigate some of their own empty feelings. Without cracking down on radical hate
groups we may see a rise in the acceptance of aggressive behavior in other areas of society through mimicking and social learning. Polarization
of our social life is creating mammoth divisions that will continue to rear
their head into the future unless we are ready to accept change. The consequences low institutional trust, way of live, and our economic health rest on us grasping and overcoming large problems like this.
Current Michigan (& Federal) Law
We can look a current
laws and make a determination if they are adequate. This law seems to help define other laws in context to hate (i.e. harassment law Act 328 of 1931). Other effective laws might need to be reviewed. We may want to look at a penal code directly addressing hate. You can find here THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 328 of 1931
750.147b Ethnic intimidation.
Sec. 147b.
(1) A person is guilty of ethnic
intimidation if that person maliciously, and with
specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's
race, color, religion, gender, or national origin, does any of the following:
(a) Causes
physical contact with another person.
(b) Damages, destroys, or defaces any real or personal property
of another person.
(c) Threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in
subdivision (a) or (b), if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act
described in subdivision (a) or (b) will occur.
(2) Ethnic
intimidation is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years,
or by a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(3) Regardless
of the existence or outcome of any criminal prosecution, a person who suffers
injury to his or her person or damage to his or her property as a result of
ethnic intimidation may bring a civil cause of action against the person who
commits the offense to secure an injunction, actual damages, including damages
for emotional distress, or other appropriate relief. A plaintiff who prevails
in a civil action brought pursuant to this section may recover both of the
following:
(a) Damages in
the amount of 3 times the actual damages described in this subsection or
$2,000.00, whichever is greater.
(b) Reasonable
attorney fees and costs.
Are the Laws Currently Working?
Yes and no! Under "pristine" conditions they are effective enough to handle the more obvious cases but struggle to grasp the other forms of hate beyond physical aggression. Rewriting the laws to better ensure they more accurately reflect the realities of hate across a wider spectrum of social life. If we only focus on a small category of hate we fail to understand its full scope of the problem that is fueling unrest. People who find themselves on the receiving end are often confused on how such behaviors have become the norm in society and may ponder what the next step in human rights development may lay.
Making changes will allow us to move closer to what is called a universal justice system that is needed in a modern world of global markets with diverse participants. Our Manifest Destiny cannot be completed in so long as we grasp old worn out paradigms that hinder the development and reconciliation of our own people. Beyond the economic advantages of eradicating the wet blanket bigotry/racism have on GDP is to also fulfill the mission of our parents, grand parents and forefathers/mothers had when got off the boat fleeing religious suppression.
When I review the Penal code above I
see it focuses primarily on physical aggression which limits is application to non-physical aspects of hate. I'm not an attorney so I'm trying to understand for my interest and others may believe or not believe as they see fit. You can see this "physicality" intention in the document such as,"Damages, destroys, or
defaces any real or personal property of another person". Yet this "physicality" may be limiting the law's application and effectiveness.
According to a 2005 study from the Department of Justice there isn't a uniform definition of how and when to prosecute hate crimes (Shively, 2005). This means there are going to be varied responses from state to state and possibly department to department when prosecutors try and determine whether a hate crime has been committed. Some of the legal trends are to expand the definition of hate behavior by increasing penalties, expanding the scope of hate based behaviors, and better statistical reporting.
The wording of the law limits its capacity in encouraging justice so that the population is free to pursue their own health and development. The essential goal of the basic philosophy of the founders of our country is belief in the ability of people to make choices that lead to the enhancement of themselves and a political/economic structure that supports that individualization. Change is central to any adapting system and if the U.S. is still rooted in same idealistic belief when it started we don't want to miss this opportunity to adjust closer to that end.
Is There a Cost to Bigotry and Inaction?
There is a cost to bigotry in today's society. It doesn't show up on the surface but lays just behind the belief in fair treatment that fosters belief, action and output our country now needs in our competition with China and declining world influence. Treating people as though they are different, or less worthy, in society lowers the national performance and runs counter to basic American principles. Modern societies need a modern legal understanding on how to deal with race, religion and other differences that enhances (not hinders) human performance.
There are serious costs to our economy for not standing up in favor of freedom. According to a Citigroup Study The economy has lost 16 Trillion dollars (approximately 1/20 GDP) over 20 years because of discrimination against Blacks (Peterson & Mann, 2020). It also states that there could be a $5 Trillion boost if we do not discriminate against Blacks over the next 5 years. The report doesn't discuss discrimination against other groups that would likely raise this number substantially.
Eradicating racism and bigotry in all of its forms might have a much larger economic impact through stronger connections between working and the fruits of that labor (i.e. $30 trillion potential). I haven't seen a number out there but I'm sure there are some projections. If true we would be loosing at least 10% of our productive capacity as a direct result of discrimination and poor policies. That number likely doesn't include the major impact on the economy of not connecting performance to rewards/earnings that underpin effective capitalistic systems.
Discrimination against Blacks is a glaring example of how quickly we willing to judge others on superficial and natural variations. However, there are other groups that may have similar experiences that range from small slights and/or financial targeting all the way over to coordinated aggression . When envisioning future justice we may want to ensure that the the implied meaning of discrimination moves beyond any specific type/group of person/people to ensure relevance multidimensionality that can encompasses the different types of people in our diverse nation.
Hate and Brain Science?
Hate is like a disease in that it derails rational thought and steals the power of empathy from people. Hate activates the pre-fontal cortex and requires a level of reasoning and rumination that make it particularly dangerous and destructive (Kiger, 2011). When a perpetrator sees (or thinks) about the target their pre-frontal cortex activates and it creates overwhelming feelings of aggression and a need for action (fight and flight). Individuals in an aroused state (process 1: fight or flight) may not be able to think clearly until a more distant state (process 2: rational thought).
Because hate is associated with a distorted image of others it often ends up being justified in the perpetrators head. There is projection of internal emotional distortion onto an incorrect image of other people often leading to one or another form of aggression. Without adjusting our laws we are not accurately reflecting the nature of hate and how it functions within the brain. While physical assault may be prosecuted as a hate crime it appears fairly powerless to deal with the broader conditioning and exhibited behaviors of hate.
What Happens When We Don't Hold Hate Crimes Accountable?
Trust in our government and its legal infrastructure declines when racism/ bigotry are seen as inherent and widespread but not addressed seriously. As a result of trust declining in our institutions we may also experience increased partisanship and radicalism as the central beliefs that hold us together as a nation are pushed aside. You can see the pillars of society eroding when people begin to cannibalize their own society instead of relying on these institutions to help uphold central American values.
The Pew Research center published a large survey indicating that over the last 20 years trust in others and government has been on the decline. They further indicate that 75% believe that trust in government is declining while another 64% indicate trust in each other is declining (Lee, R. & Perrin, A., 2019). The reasons they cite is corruption, corporations, discrimination, poor management, etc... The good news is that 84% believe we can turn around the distrust of government and 86% believe we can improve distrust in each other if we focus on handling problems in our communities.
Being a victim of hate crimes is horrific enough but when these crimes happen with particular callousness and the perpetrators are not held to account it furthers those divisions in society. We are not necessarily talking so much about an individual account but series of accounts experienced by a broad section of society. We have the opportunity to understand hate better and use science to guide our legislative practices to align our laws to long term goals that are in the benefit of ALL society. Without evidence based management practices as central to our decisions the loudest voices in the room often lead us down the path of national decline and increased partisan conflict.
How Can a Research Approach the Situation?
If someone were to conduct research into the wording of Michigan hate laws they may want to conduct a review of other successful/unsuccessful legal practices. With any study you will want to grasp current understanding by reviewing as many different sources as possible that relate to this law, how the language impacts its effectiveness and current societal trends to understand how new laws should be applied.
1.) Conduct background/literature search to understand current scientific theories.
2.) Review and categorize the differences.
3.) See what information is available on crime statistics, prosecution rates, state demographics, etc...(whatever seems relevant) and see if any of the information leads to some type of insight into the success or failure of "opening" up the hate crime definition.
4.) Consider from that search and analysis the best terms to include for effective prosecution of hate crimes.
5.) Check with leaders of different backgrounds to better assess concerns about adjustments.
6.) Look at the long term economic, social and strategic objectives of the nation and ensure making changes puts us in a stronger place.
7.) Create proper metrics that raise validity of hate crime statistics.
Politics has been making headlines as of recent and there is much we can learn about our governmental processes and how current debates on discrimination influence policy. While there may be political divisions on how something is done there should not be divisions in our fundamental truths as a society. Effective strategy engages people that desire to enact the strategies that lead to innovating our state and improving our governmental practices. We currently have the Executive (Governor Gretchen Whitmer/Democrat), Legislative Branch (Lee Chatfield Republican-Speaker of the House & Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey) and the Judicial/Enforcement (Semi-Independent w/ Attorney General Dana Nessel/Democrat).
We have two major parties that have become accustomed to reacting and adjusting to each other becoming increasingly focused on the Red/Blue dynamic. This over focus on reactivity limits the capacity of politicians to take action/reaction into a broader American context leading to a lack of compromise and increasingly poor decision making through poor anchoring.
Human life is more important than our personal careers or even our political affiliations. Fighting partisanship trends means listening to all sides of an argument and ensuring the loudest voices, and often the most radical, don't drown out the voice of reason and stifle the need for change. At the essential root of both political philosophies is the need for each generation to be the torchbearer for the next. If one generation drops that torch it will be nearly impossible for the next to pick it up again.
There is this type of power balance between these different branches and some serious disagreements based on their political affiliations and personal dispositions. At the end of the day, we must continue to push our nation forward to change, adjust, and adapt to the environment in which we live. We are in a global world and may want to consider how our basic American principles (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) helps us develop the talent we need to compete (and collaborate) for future security. We can't get there unless human capital is maximized through removing discrimination and implementing principles of universal justice.
Resources:
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1999). Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines.
U.S. Government (2012). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/html/USCODE-2011-title18-partI-chap13-sec249.htm
American Psychological Association (n.d.) The Psychology of Hate Crimes
Shively, M. (2005). Study of Literature and Legislation on Hate Crime in America (Document No. 210300). U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved November 21st, 2020 https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/210300.pdf
Governor Whitmer discussed the 3 week closures taking effect across Michigan. There are going to be some businesses that will struggle with the changes and some o them may shutter their doors. The economic and health fall out is something bigger than expected leaving experts confused. Continuing to adjust, learn, and tweak may help us better navigate the happy balance between physical and financial health. As a society different types of people are going to emphasis values they feel are important. The pandemic has forced us to make choices of what we feel is most important for ourselves and as a nation.
The government bans investment and business activities in a number of Chinese companies associated with the Chinese military. Around 12 companies are of present concern (Click Here to See the List). The complaint is that these companies are feeding the Chinese military with advanced technologies and expertise gained from publicly traded companies. A quick look at the list and you will see communications, technology, chemicals, micro, infrastructure type companies.
Its the genre of the companies and their connection to military development that has the U.S. government concerned.
We are currently in a state of global competition. COVID has disrupted normal supply chains and a trade war has changed public policy. The Chinese are trying to develop their emerging technologies to place themselves at the center of the innovative capital. This Executive Order Appears to be focused on slowing information leak that leads to strengthening a growing military power.
Companies are interconnected in multiple ways as a method of extending their capacities in the global market. Money, information, resources, employee spill over, investment capital, R&D, etc...interact with similar elements in other companies. For example, employees will leave one organization and may end up working at another carrying their knowledge and skills with them.
When behaviors are driven by market need there isn't much to be concerned with as firms are engaged in normal business behavior. However, if movement of these elements are based on something different than market need they will act in a different way. If we are to watch how these "development" indicators (i.e. new technologies) we can better determine other focuses of corporate behaviors.
It appears some companies raised hit the U.S. radar.
Executive Order on Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is increasingly exploiting United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, which continues to allow the PRC to directly threaten the United States homeland and United States forces overseas, including by developing and deploying weapons of mass destruction, advanced conventional weapons, and malicious cyber-enabled actions against the United States and its people.
Key to the development of the PRC’s military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses is the country’s large, ostensibly private economy. Through the national strategy of Military-Civil Fusion, the PRC increases the size of the country’s military-industrial complex by compelling civilian Chinese companies to support its military and intelligence activities. Those companies, though remaining ostensibly private and civilian, directly support the PRC’s military, intelligence, and security apparatuses and aid in their development and modernization.
At the same time, those companies raise capital by selling securities to United States investors that trade on public exchanges both here and abroad, lobbying United States index providers and funds to include these securities in market offerings, and engaging in other acts to ensure access to United States capital. In that way, the PRC exploits United States investors to finance the development and modernization of its military.
I therefore further find that the PRC’s military-industrial complex, by directly supporting the efforts of the PRC’s military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. To protect the United States homeland and the American people, I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to this threat.
Accordingly, I hereby order:
Section1. (a) The following actions are prohibited:
(i) beginning 9:30 a.m. eastern standard time on January 11, 2021, any transaction in publicly traded securities, or any securities that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to such securities, of any Communist Chinese military company as defined in section 4(a)(i) of this order, by any United States person; and
(ii) beginning 9:30 a.m. eastern standard time on the date that is 60 days after a person is determined to be a Communist Chinese military company pursuant to section (4)(a)(ii) or (iii) of this order, any transaction in publicly traded securities, or any securities that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to such securities, of that person, by any United States person.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(i) of this section, purchases for value or sales made on or before 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on November 11, 2021, solely to divest, in whole or in part, from securities that any United States person held as of 9:30 a.m. eastern standard time on January 11, 2021, in a Communist Chinese military company as defined in section 4(a)(i) of this order, are permitted.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(ii) of this section, for a person determined to be a Communist Chinese military company pursuant to section 4(a)(ii) or (iii) of this order, purchases for value or sales made on or before 365 days from the date of such determination, solely to divest, in whole or in part, from securities that any United States person held in such person, as of the date 60 days from the date of such determination, are permitted.
(d) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 3. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of other executive departments and agencies (agencies) as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of the Treasury, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within the Department of the Treasury. All agencies shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
(b) Rules and regulations issued pursuant to this order may, among other things, establish procedures to license transactions otherwise prohibited pursuant to this order. But prior to issuing any license under this order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall consult with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence.
Sec. 4. Definitions. For purposes of this order:
(a) the term “Communist Chinese military company” means
(i) any person that the Secretary of Defense has listed as a Communist Chinese military company operating directly or indirectly in the United States or in any of its territories or possessions pursuant to section 1237 of Public Law 105-261, as amended by section 1233 of Public Law 106-398 and section 1222 of Public Law 108-375, as of the date of this order, and as set forth in the Annex to this order, until such time as the Secretary of Defense removes such person from such list;
(ii) any person that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines is a Communist Chinese military company operating directly or indirectly in the United States or in any of its territories or possessions and therefore lists as such pursuant to section 1237 of Public Law 105-261, as amended by section 1233 of Public Law 106-398 and section 1222 of Public Law 108‑375, until such time as the Secretary of Defense removes such person from such list; or
(iii) any person that the Secretary of the Treasury publicly lists as meeting the criteria in section 1237(b)(4)(B) of Public Law 105-261, or publicly lists as a subsidiary of a person already determined to be a Communist Chinese military company, until the Secretary of the Treasury determines that such person no longer meets that criteria and removes such person from such list.
(b) the term “entity” means a government or instrumentality of such government, partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) the term “person” means an individual or entity;
(d) the terms “security” and “securities” include the definition of “security” in section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Public Law 73-291, as codified as amended at 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(10), except that currency or any note, draft, bill of exchange, or banker’s acceptance which has a maturity at the time of issuance of not exceeding 9 months, exclusive of days of grace, or any renewal thereof the maturity of which is likewise limited, shall be a security for purposes of this order.
(e) the term “transaction” means the purchase for value of any publicly traded security; and
(f) the term “United States person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and, as appropriate, the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders are donning their chaps and making their way to Escanaba to meet-up with fellow bike enthusiasts. July 22-24 motorcycle rally in Escanaba. The event is hosted between July 22nd-24th, 2021 by the Great Lakes Harley Owners Group. Activities include a parade to show off their spit shined chrome and a block bash to keep the good times rollin after boots hit pavement! While no one knows how many bikes and riders will visit Delta County but it is projected to be in the thousands.
Should Escanaba focus on large, small, medium or any specific event size to elevate its place as a vacation destination? One of the best ways to answer this question is to look for existing methods of creating an objective evaluation.
To assess benefits/detractors we will want to use an evaluation tool that will help utilize a systematic process of evaluation that could help local leaders make decisions. According to the study, there are some factors we might use like 1.) economic impact, 2.) city size, and 3.) event size impact cost/revenue ratios (Agha, N., & Taks, M. (2015)
These three factors help us see what the revenue benefits when we take into consideration things like the size of the city and the size of the event. In general, small cities can handle small events and large cities can handle larger events.
Benefits
-Spending by non-locals
-Increased spending by locals and business.
-Job creation
-Tax revenue
-etc...
-Intangible benefits.
Detractors:
-Crowding out other visitors
-Crowding out locals.
-Crowding out local business.
-Leakage of money that could be spent here in other places.
-etc...
-Opportunity cost of locals
Event Resource Demand and Supply
What we find here is that there are costs and benefits of any large activity like the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rally. We want to ensure we minimize negative impacts and maximize revenue generation. Applying the results of the study to Escanaba we find Optimal economic impact of any event occurs when locally supplied resources are equal to demanded event resources (equilibrium).
The two concepts the study uses are event resource demand (ERD) and city resource supply (CRS). From the chart below you can see there are pay offs between ERD and CRS when we move further from the resource demand/availability line (green). The goal would be to keep in equilibrium resource demands and the resource supply of the area for total maximum benefit to the community.
You can see how event resource demand (ERD) and city resource supply (CRS) work together on an XY Chart. XY charts is common and can be used for things like a scatter chart. The only thing you need is two coordinates; one for X and one for Y.
We may also learn that larger amounts of visitors mean there will be a larger resource pull the city must contend with. We can maximize our benefits by ensuring that we are maximizing local resources in supplying the needs of the rally. If we exceed our local capacities we could have a net negative economic impact of an event. Thus, we have to ensure we are prepared and local business engagement is maximized to make as many financial transactions as possible.
Maximizing Economic Impact in Escanaba
Going forward we may also want to evaluate rally size and determine where our "sweat spot" size of events lay. Based on the resource allocation indicated in the study it makes sense to have as many small-medium benefits that can be adequately supported by local resources. Larger venues need additional planning to ensure our local resource (services, vendors, etc..) can meet resource demand and encourage visitors to spend locally (food, hotels, bars, retail, etc...)
Larger events like a Harley-Davidson rally have great potential if we are able to draw together the necessary resources that ensure as much benefits are related locally as possible. From the XY Chart you will see that if you use too many resources you have less than optimal results while if you use too few you are not maximizing your growth potential. Research will give you a better idea of what range will lead to the best allocation of resources that in turn improves economic impact.
Coordination Leads to Success
One option that might be helpful here in maximizing event benefits is to coordinated with Delta County businesses to supply, manage, and handle as much of the event affairs as possible (i.e. food, cleaning, vendors, etc...). Drawing together as many businesses and coordinating them to maximize local resource use and revenue growth is helpful. Having a list of local businesses interested in servicing local events will provide for a more concise evaluation.
We might also look at the total capacity of these resources to determine the maximum size. For example, janitorial services will have maximum capacity in the say way as food venders, hotels, and even local law enforcement. Calculating how many resources are available and knowing the size and amount of events scheduled throughout the summer gives a pretty good indication of what the sweat spot is and how to maximize events without leaking past available local resources.
Collect Data for Better Understanding
To truly gain an understanding of what size events Escanaba (Delta County) should focus on attracting we will want to conduct some research into any documentation and available information on previous events and what resources and benefits were realized (historical research). If there are gaps we could reach out to the listed vendors and ask them about the impact of the events on their businesses. It is unlikely to be a perfect assessment as its post hoc and much of the information may not be available anymore, but knowing what is available is helpful to know what information we could focus on collecting in the future.
With proper coordination and planning it is possible to build the metrics that lead to an assessment of how the Harley-Davidson rally faired in terms of revenue and cost generation. We might use simple tools like meetings, surveys, taxes, etc... as well as gather information from actual visitors on how much they spent and where (total amounts per category). Assessment of revenues earned and expenses will help determine on an individual business basis the benefits of different size and amount of events.
Follow up reviews of participating organizations leads to greater awareness of the needs of different types of venues and how we can serve them. Customer satisfaction of visiting the area doesn't leave just because the riders left. They carry with them positive or negative images of the area that will impact whether they decide to come back, share on social media or tell their friends about. There are few things better than having people come and experience the area. Knowing what our customers want will help us maximize events and event planning.
With an impact and usage schedule we could also consider when events are being held and where we have excess capacity to draw in more events/activities. These resource draws could also include tourism, local events, etc... that all contribute to capacity. However, where we do have capacity we may want to find more events to fill slow periods during the season in a way that helps local businesses.
Should Escanaba Hold the Harley-Davidson Rally?
There isn't a good reason to not allow such rallies until will understand the cost-benefits of doing so. We do want to ensure we can adequately service the visitors for maximum customer satisfaction ranging from hotels to motorcycle mechanics. We may also want to check in with local services, vendors, law enforcement, etc... to ensure they also have the resource capacity. What might be beneficial is having a pubic meeting for any business or services that will be participating in the rally to coordinate their efforts. A successful Harley-Davidson rally means we maximized benefits such as income and taxes for local businesses in a way that enhances rally participant experiences.
Until we really know our capacities I say "thumbs up" on Harley-Davidson rally.
Local Contacts
If you are interested in setting up events in Delta County or want to know more about investment and business opportunities for small and large businesses you can contact Chamber of Commerce director Vickie Micheau.
Agha, N., & Taks, M. (2015). A theoretical comparison of the economic impact of large and small events. International Journal of Sport Finance, 10(3), 199. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=ITBC&u=uphoenix&id=GALE%7CA427300891&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco
Happy Veterans Day for those who served. Since the beginning of the American military the institution has developed and enhanced people to overcome the dangerous threats our nation may face. Veterans are part of a special club where each person is aware of and has accepted certain values that come with military training and institutional life.
The history of the U.S. military helps us connect to our past and create a bridge between veteran's of the past and veteran's of the future. Those themes become in part what our veteran's fought for and are embedded into our national conscious.
There are differences in perception between veteran's and those who have not served. Veteran's gain an understanding of bigger responsibilities to society and the world around them. The very process of working in large groups gains a sense of being something within a larger group.
Happy Veteran's Day and we honor the sacrifices you have made. We only hope we do justice to those beliefs in the civilian world.
There are stages to development of new theoretical models and it can take decades to create something feasible that with hope accurately explains and predicts our environment. Theory development is not rigidly linear but often moves in multiple exploratory directions. For example, in the development of Transactional Clusters Theory the next steps are to integrate, connect and explain the concepts as a single entity. The basic theoretical structure is constructed but helping others see how that works as an entire system is not easy. It took consider effort to uncover and connect core tenets of a larger system.
What I'm doing is trying to discuss what its like to create exploratory theories as they relate to the development of economic systems. I'm not using a traditional economists perspective but more holistic perspective that relies on a number of different lenses to understand an economic system. It is this process that I can share with others for greater understanding.
1. Delta County Data: I have some data on Delta County that was collected just prior to COVID. It isn't a lot of information and on top of that it was when our economy looked different. However, I want to see if there is anything important in there and share it with readers. It may be of help to someone and it likely will highlight a few things that might be changes or improved. If I would have more participants I likely would have had stronger surety of the value of the information.
2. Integrate, Connect, and Explain: While the basic structure has been constructed it isn't connected together well into an integrated whole that others would understand. Thus, I'm going to re-write, adjust, and clarify where needed. I will highlight some of the gaps that are there just to see what I might understand but would be hard to explain. To create a cohesive theory I will need to think of it as a total system and explain how each of the pieces connect together to create a more parsimonious concept.
3. The Precipice of Physical and Digital Economy: The precipice of where the physical and digital economy connect is within the individual transactions and how people use the tools available to them. Not sure if there is a way to explain it but I thought about a second study just on the specific transactions within a number of clustered businesses. That would be hard to pull off unless such businesses would be interested in understanding their interconnectedness. That would mean going into the choices being made (i.e. the fundamentals of economy and neuroscience) to determine choice, lines of development, and innovative outputs under certain transaction combinations. To gain business support the theory might need to be more clearly written and have a PPT to make it valuable to business.
Developing research takes time and is messy. While it may move through some very broad steps at the end of the day researchers must explore any avenues that appear to have benefit. In this case it worked out because some were relevant. Theory development is up and down, right and left, because it is exploration from one core concept to other connected ideas that may be relevant.
Its important to keep up on the political news to see what policies are likely to come next. Having a Republican White house and a Republican Senate has opportunities to get a lot of things done while having a Democrat in the White House and a Republican Senate means extreme changes will be mitigated but wider ranging policies can be reached if both sides decide to work together. In a split power outcome bi-partisan work is going to be very important in sowing the nation closer together and ensuring we have a shared vision of our country and its people. At present we can see what happens in the near future. Our next president will be important for the nation no matter who wins or looses. It is a cultural shift as much as a presidential shift.
