In my last blog, which was posted from Martha’s Vineyard, I mused about being inaccessible while on vacation. In this age of cell phones, blackberries and laptops, I found that using my laptop to check email only when, and if, I wanted to, gave me “controlled accessibility” and allowed me to relax.
I am happy to report that, although I did not check my emails or voice mail every day, my o... More >>

Does a blog have value if it is only read by the writer? Or does a blog need to be shared to have impact? Since Gothamite’s interest in art writing appears to be minimal, what then, I ask myself would be of interest to anyone other than me?

And so, random thoughts that I think everyone should know about follow:

Eggs
I am kind of freaked by the new packaging of eggs in see through cartons... More >>

My blog today is prompted by reflections on Ben’s recent posting about his time on Martha’s Vineyard. Simply, I relate. I often wonder whether technology is a good, or bad, thing, particularly since I suffer from an addiction to the instant gratification of the buzz of my blackberry. I know that I can turn off the “buzz” but then I fear I won’t know instantaneously what is happening w... More >>

I am not a business person. I write, I am a lawyer by education (and formerly by profession) and I am a mother. But I am increasingly intrigued by blogging. There is so much out there, so many people talking via their blogs, and ideas flowing back and forth. I enjoy blogging for the information: reading and writing and learning from it all.

But apparently there are many business people wi... More >>

Once you understand how an orgainzation works, you're able to get the most out of it.

Gotham is deceptively simple. I didn't realize this till I became the webmaster. The organization is driven by Fred and Nancy and the details are kept in check by Debbie. With this very streamlined structure, each group is essentially autonomous. You can make Gotham into whatever you want - start a new group, ... More >>

I am 64 years old and "comfortable" financially and yet I am still driven. Lucky for me that Nancy and I stumbled into Gotham nearly 10 years ago as it has allowed me to channel all of my "type A" conduct into a wonderful endeavor and vehicle. And although Gotham is owned by our law firm with the double edged goal of being a thinly disguised marketing vehicle and a profit center, it has been the... More >>

Flo and I have been fortunate enough to spend about ten days on Martha’s Vineyard every August for the past few years. (I love the Vineyard and highly recommend it.)
This year we invited our children (ages 19 to 32) to join us and found them lodging accommodations near were we stay in Edgartown. They had just arrived and Flo and I went over to see their place and found the four of them on t... More >>

NEW YORK - STILL THE CENTER OF THE ART WORLD?

In the late 20th century, American culture dominated the world. In Art, the mandate was more specific –New York was the center of everything, and, to paraphrase Heidi Klum, either you were in or you were out…

I wonder if that is still the way it is? Artists flock to New York and the Columbia University MFA is the hottest program in the cou... More >>

The inspiration for this blog follows Julie’s “Networking Moms” but credit goes to Victoria Drogin’s daughter Ali who created the concept. My apologies to Ali if I don’t get the story right. Literary license, right?

Ali heard her mom talk about going to have breakfast with her friends at Gotham LI Women, and being the smart 10 year old that she is, commented to Victoria that it alwa... More >>

Gotham’s mantra, “It’s better to give than receive, but what goes around, comes around” is a lofty ideal by which to live and network. But is it really how we think? Is it really what motivates us? Hopefully so, at least for our Tribal members – who genuinely seem to want to help one another and not just themselves.

A friend was wondering whether her orthodontist husband should joi... More >>

Our recent poll on blogging tells me that many in our Gotham community don't know what a blog is. Let me elucidate...a blog an online diary on a web site, updated on a regular basis with links to other blogs and websites. Readers can post feedback on what they read and bloggers tend to post whatever they want (good or bad).

For instance, Julie's recent post has created a lot of interest in star... More >>

I have lived my life being highly competitive. I'm not exactly sure where it sprung from, but it was simultaneous with my late blooming. Well the "chickens have come home to roost".
Everyone knows the saga of the Gotham Bomber softball team which rose from the ashes of its two disasterous initial seasons to the point where we have won 19 out of our last 20 regular season games. I was... More >>

My last blog ended with the observation that the notion we are all connected by no more than six degrees of separation is an exaggeration. It didn’t take long for me to be surprised, once again, by how close the connections are. I injured my knee and needed to see an orthopedic surgeon but had trouble getting an appointment. I was speaking to a client of mine who is an anesthesiologist and relay... More >>

Ennid Berger - The Value of Art

I have always been an artist, drawing and painting since kindergarten, and developing and printing photos in the darkroom since my first, long ago, year of college. Art has been my mainstay through summer camp, high school, college, law school, marriage and children. Art was, in fact, my entrée to Gotham, as it was through painting class that I met my good fr... More >>

For my first blog, reminiscing about "first Gotham" seemed appropriate. I remember the first time Fred and I ever talked about starting a networking group. The concept piqued my interest right away. You have all heard the whole story, over and over again but we don't talk about what happened next, our first meeting.

Put this picture in your head. We had 9, maybe 10, of us around the table. We ... More >>

Networking is big. It is essential for people in business. Organized groups like Gotham help people to do it. Gotham is a facilitator – encouraging, nurturing and supportive of networking efforts. Gotham sounds like most moms I know. And most moms I know network each and every day without even thinking about it. We moms have a tremendous amount of networking power that is scattered, somew... More >>

Webmaster Mitch counsels that blogs (short for web logs) should make introductions to other blogs, be authentic and effect an informal style. The last two should not be a problem, so this blog will start with a "calling all bloggers" so that Gothamites who respond to my call with their blog info will get some free exposure on our blog page. Why not? Just another manisfestation of our credo: "It... More >>

I got my job through Gotham. That may seem corny to some or nostalgically reminiscent of the old New York Times classified ads campaign – “I got my job through the New York Times”. But it’s true and I couldn’t think of a better way to start my first blog for Gotham. When I am asked to relay a networking story, I usually talk about the many things that Gotham networking has done for my ch... More >>

A beautiful Saturday morning. The sun is shining, there temperature is perfect, my coffed iced, and there are now over 51 million blogs in the blogoshpere. A website entitled Technorati tracks these blogs. I invite you to enter the blogworld and sample some of what's out there. I have added a couple of different blogs in our blog roll on the left for you to expl... More >>

For my first Gotham Blog, I thought it would be fitting to describe my first “networking” encounter with Fred Klein. The year was 1989 and I was at Fred and Joanne’s house for a Christmas Party. I had met David (their son) in August of that year; we were first year law students at Hofstra. So I hardly knew Fred and all of his energy. In fact, when I first met him, he was quiet and b... More >>

In Webmaster Tobol's historic first Gotham blog, he mentioned his friend John was diligent in writing all his thoughts down. Well that inspired me to write my 1st blog.

As some of you may know, I keep a diary (journal if you prefer) and have done so since 1/1/70. It is a daily ritual which takes about 20 minutes in all (I make entries in spare moments through out the day). I do it in the form ... More >>

My friend John, who recently passed away, would always make lists when starting something new. He was intriguing, fascinating and challenging all at the same time and was diligent in writing all his thoughts down so the full scope of the project or task could be appreciated. It is with him in mind that I humbly submit this list of "blog criteria" to you as we begin blogging the Gotham way.

Be h... More >>