AMA at CCGC 2024

Well, we did it again. The American Marketing Association of Saint Louis once again held our annual golf event at Creve Coeur Golf Course. This year the field included teams from Robert Half and Steady Rain.

Randy Niederer managed to win with a low net score of 38. Daryl Vandiver won the B-Flight. Lachlan Cook of Steady Rain team won the closest to pin on #2 and Long Drive on #8 (and, by the way, his wife fell in love with a cat that may soon be added to the Cook household).

It was a beautiful day and a memorable round, Thanks to all who participated in this event. (Dave Cox, Randy Niederer, Dave Shogren, Tom Nieder, Kathy McGuire Mullens, Andrew Mullens, Marco Tocco, cameo by Eric Rhiney and incoming first lady, Tyler Kelly, Steady Rain foursome, Robert Half foursome, Daryl Vandiver, John Fortner, Tom Nenninger, and pre round cameo from Mark Bretz).

Congratulations to Lachlan Cook on wining closest to the pin on #2 and long drive on #8. Closest to the pin on #9 went to Andrew Mullens.

Note: Yeah that's Randy kissing the trophy last year and he wins again this year. Photo being presented with our goofy trophy this year on 6/28/2024. 

Notes: Maybe Fortner can get Bender back as sponsor in 25. Sorry other obligations/circumstances prevented appearances by Mogley, Shaughnessy, Perry Drake, John Grizzell resulted in RSVP regrets. Maybe next year.

 

Meet the Met

 

Ben once again was able to accomodate my obsession with art museums with a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the end of my Fathers Day weekend trip East. I got to meet and listen to the author Peter Bringley, author of All The Beauty in the World this past year and that made this visit even more special.

Rothko 1949, Picasso 1905, and Degas Dancer are just a few highlights for me on this visit. We found our way to the rooftop and visited a special exhibition about the Harlem Renaissance. What a remarkable place the Met truly is... 

Founded in 1870 The Met collects, studies, conserves, and presents works of art across time and cultures. It is an encyclopedic art museum that is the largest in the Americas and forth largest in the world. It is one of the largest and finest art museums in the world. 

Rothko painting from 1949.

The Picasso painting from 1904 has Picasso dressed as Harlequin and with Germaine in Paris.

Picasso's best friend, Casagemas (1880–1901), the son of the American consul general in Barcelona, was a year older than Picasso. A painter and poet, he accompanied Picasso to Paris to visit the World's Fair in autumn 1900. There, he fell in love with Laure Gargallo, known as Germaine, who ultimately spurned his affections. In despair, Casagemas committed suicide on February 17, 1901, after first attempting to kill Germaine. Picasso was already back in Barcelona by that time but was deeply affected by the news. Nevertheless, when he returned to Paris in May 1901, he took up residence in Casagemas's former apartment and began a liaison with Germaine. Picasso's blue period is often sited as part of the reason for the short period of Picasso's work.

Degas Little Dancer sculpture.

All the Beauty in the World, authored by Patrick Bringley. (I had the pleasure of meeting the author at Saint Louis Art Museum this past year.)

All reactions

My Kids and Their Kids

Lindsey and her boy Lawton were in town for an opera staring Andrew Morstein as Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. I could not resist being Papa tour guide and add Laumeier Sculpture Park, The Saint Louis Art Museum, The Missouri History Museum, The Gateway Arch and Creve Coeur Golf Course. Lawton will turn 8 at camp on July 5.  

Ben treated me to a trip to Ocean, New Jersey over Father's Day weekend in June. Ben masterfully managed Newark airport pick up. Allison took over driving in her new Kia as we collected her mom, Jean and James for the trip to The Grounds for Sculpture. The 40+ acres celebrate monumental sculpture. This beautiful day was picture perfect for photo-ops to capture works inspired by Renoir, Monet, Grant Wood and more. (I enjoyed seeing the Bernar Vernet, Isaac Witkin and innovative contemporary art installations and the infamous Marilyn Monroe on subway grates inspired by the 1955 film Seven Year Itch.) We celebrated donut day at The Purple Glaze and enjoyed our designer donuts on Lynn's Memorial Bench at Asbury Park Beach boardwalk. 

Aunt Deborah and Uncle David hosted a fathers' day BBQ at their house. Grandma Toby (The Matriarch) was generous with fathers' day cards for Wes, Ben, David, and Perry. Autumn, Samson, Marlow, ...neighbor mother of five with three of the five stopped over. (Max and Mary, Daniel and his sister and Randy were no shows this year). 

  

 

 

OMG BCS Dave and More

 

Dave Shogren is a Renaissance Man. He runs a export business. He is president of the Saint Louis Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). He teaches marketing. He writes and performs music. Sitting in the upstairs venue, Jack's Joint, at O'Connell's last night (6-7-24) I could not help but reflect on my friend Dave and his unique abilities and ongoing drive.

I met Dave more than 24 years ago when he was a key man at a food broker firm, Resource One. He was a right hand man in that business and quickly became an important member of the AMA board as VP Treasurer. He rejoined the board a few years ago and served as President 2023-24. He artfully combines his interests and activities and I've enjoyed watching Dave as leader and as musician. 

Noddin' Dave and OMG is one of his musical ensembles. Listening to "Big Foot Boogie" last night I was mindful of the personal history of this song that was created, in part, when visiting his brother in Oregon. I saw Dave perform the song at the AMA Leadership Summit, in Chicago, with three people he recruited from the audience as part of a five minute speech he gave last year. I saw Dave and his band perform at Crown Candy Plaza in Old North as part of neighborhood House Tour/Art Fair event in September 2023. I've been in the audience when Dave and his band, Benbow City Shuffle (BCS) performed at Evangeline's in the Central West End and at the Marine Transport Golf Event in Alton, Illinois. (I like being the fan base of Dave's musical endeavors from Tiny Desk Concert to Old North)

Dave and his wife Linda have become close friends as they have tolerated me as a tag along on road trips (where Dave drives) to Lincoln, NB, Chicago, KC, and Lake of the Ozarks. We've racked up an impressive list of adventures in the last couple of years, to be sure. His USA International Foods business/shop window has served as an impromptu gallery for student artwork from my students at Old North Academy too. 

Needless to say, I'm grateful for my friend Dave. 

 

Tiny Moose Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

 

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on June 4, 2024 at the Ozarks Amphitheater with Dave and Linda Shogren and Al Funk. We road tripped from Saint Louis and enjoyed Tiny Moose, Chris Galloway's band, as opening act. Priceless.