It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, but He Likes It

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

A former Washington lobbyist celebrates the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with the release of ‘DICKFISH,’ a novel unabashedly laced with liberal politics and rock culture

By Chase Johnson

"DICKFISH" by R.S. Moore

For nearly 25 years, Randolph Scott Moore spent his days on Capitol Hill uniformed in Armani. As a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Moore often discussed public policy with some of the most influential people in the country.

After work, however, Moore was a different person entirely. Night after night, he eschewed his designer duds to sink into the dank, underground world of rock ‘n’ roll. He enjoyed the dichotomy: decorous, laced-up politics by day, grimy, unbridled rock ‘n’ roll clubs by night. He especially enjoyed the knowing glances he sent and received when recognized around town by a fellow member of the rock ‘n’ roll cognoscenti.

Yet, after many years fighting an intractable political landscape with Republican roadblocks at every turn, Moore grew weary of “religious, right-wing and sexually repressed” America, he says. “[My wife] Pamela and I always felt like we were Europeans trapped in American bodies. We just regarded ourselves as cultural trannies.”

So, six years ago, Moore and his wife moved to Brussels and later Paris. There, between travel and many, many bottles of wine, Moore wrote “DICKFISH,” a “mock memoir” whose roots can no doubt be traced to Moore’s experiences running in dueling social spheres.

The book follows six young professionals in Washington, each an ardent “rockaholic” very much in the mold of Moore himself. Rock music plays a huge role in “DICKFISH,” so it is no coincidence that the book’s release coincides with the 40th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock music festival. What’s more, the book is rife with what Moore calls the “Woodstock culture.”

“Woodstock was just a brilliant, brilliant festival that no one knew was going to be brilliant,” he recalls. “My characters embrace a lot of the principles, good and bad, of Woodstock, which is to say you’ve got people whose lives center around, to some extent, altruism, generosity of spirit, social tolerance and individual self-expression.”

Moore insists that the book is not autobiographical. “Each of the six main characters is, to some extent, informed either by my own personal experience or by the kinds of friends I have had in life,” he says. “But the story itself is fictional.”

There are still striking similarities between fact and fiction. The main character, Axel Finn, is from the Bible Belt, as is Moore. In addition, both men attended the College of William and Mary and became journalists after graduating. What’s more, each of the five other primary characters represents something important to Moore. For example, the character Carlo Dante Falcone is inspired by Moore’s close friend whose family ranch in Argentina also inspires the setting for a scene in the book. Another example is Cabell Valentine, a lesbian lawyer whose names are drawn from among the first families of Virginia. The author admits Cabell represents a jab at the “old-fashioned, racist” Virginia that Moore grew up in and disdains to this day.

Yet, chief among Moore’s contributions to the book is his love of rock ‘n’ roll.

“I always loved that music,” Moore says. “I always thought it spoke to me and my generation about questioning authority and social tolerance and expressing yourself in your own unique way as opposed to just becoming part of the establishment and being kind of an antiseptic automaton.” Moore wanted music to play a central role in the book, so he laced the story with rock lyrics that mirror what is happening in the characters’ lives. “Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t just music, and it’s not just the soundtrack of our lives; it is our lives,” Moore says. “Putting a rock ‘n’ roll lyric as an indicator of what’s going on every couple of pages is really nothing more than a metaphor for the lives of my entire generation.”

Music is also the rope that binds the friends together. Their careers run the gamut from Senate staffer to lobbyist, from corporate lawyer to art gallery owner. Despite their disparate professions, the friends are united by politics and music. One of the companions, Mick Gallagher, owns a music club called DICKFISH, which serves as the hub where the characters express their joys, vent their frustrations and get lost in the music.

“They all are sorting out their lives as early-30s, liberal Washingtonians in the age of [George W.] Bush,” Moore explains. “They all have different things in life, but the point is they all dig rock ‘n’ roll. That’s the animating feature of their lives. Whether they’re leaving a fundraiser on Capitol Hill, or whether they’re leaving the law firm on a given night to go out and hear something, they’re going to see shows every chance they get.”

That is Moore’s takeaway: Don’t live life like a road map; live life as it comes to you and pump up the volume along the way. Moore doesn’t care who you are, who you vote for or what bands you love, so long as you appreciate the simple message that was, perhaps, best said by the great British poet Mick Jagger: “I know it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but I like it, like it. Yes I do.”

Still, he knows he can’t please everyone.

“I am quick to say, if you’re an evangelical, you’re not going to recommend this for your book club,” Moore admits. “This novel is clearly written from a liberal point of view, but it is openly tongue-in-cheek. As I say, nobody is covered in glory; my guys are deeply flawed people like all of us. But the difference between us and them, which is to say progressives and retrogressives, is that we get laid and they get old.”

“DICKFISH” is available for purchase at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Borders.com and AuthorHouse.com.

2015 World Police and Fire Games to bring economic boon to Fairfax County

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Fairfax County won its bid to host the 2015 World Police and Fire Games, a move that is expected to bring in $40 million for area businesses

By Chase Johnson

Representatives of the Fairfax County police, fire and sheriff’s departments announced Tuesday morning that the World Police and Fire Games Federation selected Fairfax County to host the 2015 World Police and Fire Games. The announcement concluded a multiyear effort to land the Games by Team Fairfax, a group comprised of representatives of the police, fire and sheriff’s departments, Fairfax County, Visit Fairfax and the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.

The World Police and Fire Games have been held biennially since 1985. Tens of thousands of first responders have participated over the event’s 24-year history, culminating in a record-setting participation of 10,577 at the 2009 Games in Vancouver.

The 2015 Games are scheduled to for June 26 through July 5, and are expected to play host to more than 10,000 athletes representing approximately 60 countries.

Visit Fairfax President and CEO Barry Biggar estimates the 2015 Games will bring in $40 million for the region’s businesses. “What a wonderful economic impact this will be,” he says. “That is quite an injection of money over a 10-day period, not only to the region, but also the state and the eastern seaboard,” which Biggar explains is due to the fact that first responder athletes often bring their families and visit nearby tourist attractions after competing.

The greatest economic impact will likely be felt in Reston, where the Hyatt Regency hotel will serve as the host hotel for the games. Additionally, the park adjacent to the hotel will be fenced off to form the main area of the Athletes’ Village, and will feature dining, recreational and social gathering spaces for the athletes. The village will also extend into Reston Town Center, where there will be nightly entertainment for athletes, WPFG officials and their families.

“The Athletes’ Village is the core of it all,” Biggar says. “Athletes will gather there on a daily basis; medals will be awarded there. That is where the fraternity and camaraderie of the Games will grow.”

Most of the 65 sports, which include both Olympic-style and job-specific events, will be contested in areas near the Athletes’ Village. The opening ceremony will be held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and the closing ceremony will likely be held at Wolf Trap. George Mason University (GMU) will host 16 sports, and many others will be held at regional parks, the National Mall and Quantico Marine Base, among other locations.

Some athletes will be housed at the Hyatt in Reston, but many will stay in other hotels in Reston, Centreville and Tysons Corner. Organizers are also in talks with GMU to provide housing on the university’s campus.

The athletes will be transported by school buses, Metro and Fairfax County buses. Fairfax County Police Lieutenant Bruce Blechl says Team Fairfax is attempting to partner with a rental car company to ease the burden on public transportation.

The Bidding Process
The driving force behind Team Fairfax was Blechl, who participated in the Games five times as an athlete and is now the executive director of Team Fairfax. His positive experiences as an athlete led him to join forces with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Captain Jerome Williams in bringing the Games to his hometown.

After narrowly losing its bid to host the 2013 Games to Belfast, Northern Ireland, Team Fairfax decided to try again, this time seeking out intangibles that might sway the selection committee. The group discovered 2015 was a significant year for both the Games and the County in that it marks the 30th anniversary of the Games and the 75th anniversary of the Fairfax County Police Department. Team Fairfax also suggested the games could be scheduled around Independence Day to take advantage of the proximity to the nation’s capitol.

“To celebrate these anniversaries over the course of our nation’s birthday is just a unique confluence of events,” Fairfax County Supervisor and Team Fairfax member Michael Frey (Sully District) says. “We will be celebrating the rich culture and history of the area and showcasing the finest of what we have to offer.”

Blechl also recruited prominent community and political figures to lend their support to the cause. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb, Washington Mystics chief operating officer Greg Bibb, Washington Redskins vice president Aaron B. Waller and D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty were among the many influential figures who wrote letters.

The Fairfax delegation presented its new proposal to the WPFG Selection Committee at this summer’s Games in Vancouver. A key part of the presentation that helped the Fairfax delegation beat out finalists Winnipeg and Toronto was a video illustrating the theme that Team Fairfax plans to weave throughout the 2015 Games: “Honor the past, celebrate the present, inspire the future.” Committee members were shown images exhibiting the sacrifices made by the area’s first responders and their families after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and continued by highlighting the community involvement of current officers and firefighters, as well as programs dedicated to encouraging future first responders.

“The race among the three finalists was extremely close,” WPFG Federation president Mike Graham says. “The choice came down to the commitment from the Fairfax bid committee, from the governor down to local business leaders, the world-class facilities that are already in place to host the Games, as well as the passionate dedication to the WPFG of key members of Team Fairfax, including Lt. Blechl and Capt. Jerome Williams.”

Heads Management

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, August 10th, 2009

On the Cusp of George Mason University’s 30th-anniversary celebration of its prestigious School of Management, one man entrusts the school’s reputation in the hands of another.

By Forrest Glenn Spencer

George Mason University School of Management’s new dean, Jorge Haddock (Photography by Jonathan Timmes)

October marks the 30th anniversary of George Mason University (GMU) School of Management (SOM), one of the premier business colleges globally. Many celebrations and events are planned for the coming weeks, including the inaugural Patriots of Business Awards at the college’s gala on Saturday, Oct. 10. This past June, SOM had a change of leadership with Richard Klimoski stepping down as the school’s dean and Jorge Haddock stepping in as his replacement. Northern Virginia Magazine spoke with both men about SOM’s past achievements and future opportunities.

What are some of the anniversary activities being planned?
Richard Klimoski: The goal is to engage more alumni, especially those who have [spanned] the 30 years. So, among other things, we have done interesting stories for our graduates—from the classes of ’78 and ’79—and had a series in bringing back some of those “mature” graduates, if you will. One of our signature programs had to do with a luncheon discussion around timely topics, depending on the industry sectors. We’re also having more events relevant to our alumni chapter. We’re using that quite a bit. I had an advisory board that met four times a year, and we had some signature programming during those meetings.

Jorge Haddock: As we usually do in the Commonwealth: We honor the past but celebrate the future. The school has come a long way in 30 years with its successes and accomplishments, and it’s a moment [to] look at opportunities that will move us forward.

Dr. Klimoski, you must be proud.
RK: As young as we are we have quite a few students who have come through—some 20,000, which are our alumni for SOM alone. We take pride in contributing to the region. Students come from the region, and many of [the] graduates stay. It’s a very vibrant place, even in these difficult [economic] times.

How has SOM changed under your deanship?
RK: Our growth. … As Mason has grown, we have grown. We’re one of the dynamic areas of the university. We’ve been able to expand our faculty, and they make the place. If you don’t have good professors you cannot have a great educational experience. We had 52 full-time professors in 2001, and now we have 85. That’s a bright point. We have added programs; in particular, [a Master of Science] in accounting program that has caught on for the region—and it’s terribly important because there are many professional services organizations. We have also made commitment “themes”—such as challenges around corporate governance and business ethnics—so we have some programming we didn’t have before. We are very, very interested in business venturing and startups, so we made commitments to entrepreneurships. We’re recognizing it’s a global economy so we have programming and assets in the area of global business education. One other brightening point is that we get recognized for some of these things—business school deans love and hate rankings; so far we are gaining—and we’re well positioned in our reputation and rankings.

Dean Haddock, would you concur?
JH: The school has been quite successful in building quality undergraduate programs and creating quality part-time programs at the graduate level. I think the major opportunities are to grow the full-time programs and executive education programs. At the same time, expand the regional reach as a matter of our reputation as well as a national and international reach as a matter of improving the reputation of the school. The potential lies with the full-time graduate programs and students, and looking to a Ph.D. or doctorate degree.

How do you accomplish that reach?
JH: The rankings are [the] toughest one but the most effective. For us to improve in the rankings we have to make the school familiar to a larger number of business school deans and recruiters. For business students, it’s [more] important than other schools or disciplines that they get the exposure to the international world because business is an international industry. That’s why the national and international reach is important to the quality of education for the students.

Why did GMU create a business school?
RK: I think it had to do with the tradition of a modern university. The entity before was a department, and there was a normal evolution. It’s like any business startup: You develop structures over time, and the scales get bigger, and you need a different kind of unit, from a department to a college.

Any feedback from the students about their future?
RK: They have many concerns, but they are mostly optimistic. There’s the discussion on how you can add value to your organization and to move ahead during these tough times. They believe that getting the M.B.A. degree will help them not only survive, but thrive. Some alums are coming back and taking a course to add value to the marketplace, or using our counseling and career-management services.

SOM is a rather diverse college.
JH: Within the disciplines and culture backgrounds, it’s very diverse, which is one of the [attractive qualities] of SOM and Mason. The richness is the diversity. RK: With our location in the region, we have been blessed by a lot of folks from around the world. I think recently we have gone out of our way to be more open to that; for example, we have a special arrangement with some Chinese universities for their undergraduates, and we’re working for some special arrangements for Russian universities and a German university.

Dean Haddock, that ties in with some of the ideas you are pursuing.
JH: International business is a great opportunity for the school and the potential that exists, and we can capitalize on the successes and the quality of the faculty to really move toward international business education and create more partners abroad. I am interested in the relationship between government and industry—the business of government, with our location. We’re well positioned to create a name in how to teach business with government.
RK: One other thing we’ve done more is short-course engagements with foreign students. We have a hotel and conference center being built, and we’ll have an executive education component there. Our goal is to be able to bring in mostly graduate students or business executives and have them stay on GMU’s campus and take advance study with SOM.

But you have challenges, such as funding issues, as other schools face budgetary cuts.
JH: The way that I am approaching things—when you look at executive education—is to look at the opportunities from other sources.

What comes next for you, Dr. Klimoski?
RK: Staying at GMU as a senior faculty member. I’ve got a book idea that I have been working on, and I’m very interested in teaching, so going back into the faculty and continuing to add value to Mason.

These are exciting times for SOM.
RK: The last 30 years have been very successful. If you plotted some of the metrics it’s been quite a trajectory.