From the anchor desk:
Scheduled from 5:30pm to 7:00pm today, Tuesday, January 7th, is an event at Busboys and Poets (NW DC location) billed as a “meeting of the minds,” on TMOTTRadio.com, “for the purpose of saving GoGo music, and most importantly, its future in the DMV”. On a day labeled “Sunshine and frigid” by Accuweather.com, responses to this call for a meeting have also proven to be both sunshine and frigid. Debates on whether to attend the meeting have played out publicly on TMOTTGoGo’s Facebook page and reportedly, through private communications between community members.
As it often happens when community meetings are planned, reasons to attend or pass on it vary by individual. Some say that they are eager to attend because of the stated goals of the meeting. Some say that they refuse to go because they believe that the goals of the meeting are not presented in an equitable fashion. Some say they refuse to attend because of the politicians affiliated with the meeting, while others have expressed support for those politicians. Some say they refuse to attend because of where the meeting is held, and some are going because they like the location. Some are going because they know and respect someone who is going. Some are refusing to go because they know and respect someone who is refusing to go. Some also refuse to go because they did not have a hand in organizing it (though this is usually observed by one’s peers, not outright confessed).
This is what happens in various types of communities, everywhere. It is not because the go-go community specifically lacks unity. Communities include individuals who each have certain buttons that need to be pushed in order to get them out to a certain type of community meeting. The only time that an entire community shows up at a community meeting is when someone writes it into a television or movie script.
In fact, on a day such as this, when social media is nothing more than a bitchfest about the freezing temperatures, another factor is added into an individual’s decision to attend a meeting. For example, texts between DC-based writers and go-go groovers Nena Brown and Ninety-Nine include the message, “It’s too cold to do anything but make babies.” Ohhhh, those two. (Read the books and the blog; they’re hilarious.)
The fact is, every community meeting won’t attract every person. But, it’s important that those who do attend share what they learned with others who were not present. Dissemination of community information is NOT to be left up to those reporting for the press. You already know why.
Kudos, go-go community! You’re a community! Stay funky and don’t die… multiply!