Who & why

SEVERAL WARS AGO
I was fairly active as a college student at the University of Dayton (Class of '69) during the Vietnam War years. Back home in Cleveland I volunteered every week for 13 years to cook & serve free meals to homeless people back before they were called homeless. Starting as a young graphic designer I worked mostly for non-profit social change organizations for close to 20 years. But recently I've been less active. Well, inactive might be a better term, at least as far as electoral politics goes.

MORE RECENTLY
Early in 2003 the then-immanent war on Iraq brought me out of hibernation. I went to a few marches and rallies, and via my website AWDsgn.com took part in the National Moratorium to stop the war against Iraq. In January 2004 I discovered MoveOn.org via their ad competition called Bush in 30 Seconds. I sent them money, made a few phone calls to elected officials, signed online petitions. Activity, but most of it conducted long-distance.

FINALLY
I went to hear Bruce Springsteen at the Oct. 2, 2004 Vote for Change concert. He and the other musicians got me off my butt, so that in the weekends prior to the November election I was walking streets in my neighborhood, knocking on doors to talk with potential voters as part of the MoveOn Get Out The Vote campaign. May seem a bit strange that a rock singer inspired me to do something that I'd never even considered before (I've hated door-knocking ever since I had to sell World's Finest Chocolate to raise money for the Catholic school I attended). Here's what Bruce said. It's a shame that our political candidates can't say things as clearly.

AFTER THE ELECTION, THE WEBSITE
I went to bed on Tuesday night with the 2004 election still in doubt, and woke up with that sick feeling in my stomach, the feeling that bad news awaited. And the news was bad: 48% Kerry, 51% Bush, despite the best efforts of lots of people, much of it focused in Cleveland and Ohio. After some anger, a little alcohol, and many conversations with friends, I realized that this defeat was no reason to give up. I'm offering this website to help put the election results in perspective and offer suggestions for moving forward from here.

DETAILS
Born & raised in Cleveland, OH. Attended St. Catherine's elementary school, Cathedral Latin High School, University of Dayton (BA Fine Arts), much later Kent State University (MA Visual Communication Design). Worked as a graphic designer for more than 20 years. Fell in love (sorry, there's no more accurate way to say it) with digital, on-screen design in the summer of 1995. That led to grad school, teaching at Herron School of Art, Cleveland State University and finally Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, where I'm currently an Assistant Professor in the Visual Communication & Design Program. Married for more than 30 years (wow, how fast that goes), 2 kids, 2 grandkids.

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	Bruce made me do it SEVERAL WARS AGO I was fairly active as a college student at the University of Dayton (Class of '69) during the Vietnam War years. Back home in Cleveland I volunteered every week for 13 years to cook & serve free meals to homeless people back before they were called homeless. Starting as a young graphic designer I worked mostly for non-profit social change organizations for close to 20 years. But recently I've been less active. Well, inactive might be a better term, at least as far as electoral politics goes. MORE RECENTLY Early in 2003 the then-immanent war on Iraq brought me out of hibernation. I went to a few marches and rallies, and via my website AWDsgn.com took part in the National Moratorium to stop the war against Iraq. In January 2004 I discovered MoveOn.org via their ad competition called Bush in 30 Seconds. I sent them money, made a few phone calls to elected officials, signed online petitions. Activity, but most of it conducted long-distance. FINALLY I went to hear Bruce Springsteen at the Oct. 2, 2004 Vote for Change concert. He and the other musicians got me off my butt, so that in the weekends prior to the November election I was walking streets in my neighborhood, knocking on doors to talk with potential voters as part of the MoveOn Get Out The Vote campaign. May seem a bit strange that a rock singer inspired me to do something that I'd never even considered before (I've hated door-knocking ever since I had to sell World's Finest Chocolate to raise money for the Catholic school I attended). Here's what Bruce said. It's a shame that our political candidates can't say things as clearly. AFTER THE ELECTION, THE WEBSITE I went to bed on Tuesday night with the 2004 election still in doubt, and woke up with that sick feeling in my stomach, the feeling that bad news awaited. And the news was bad: 48% Kerry, 51% Bush, despite the best efforts of lots of people, much of it focused in Cleveland and Ohio. After some anger, a little alcohol, and many conversations with friends, I realized that this defeat was no reason to give up. I'm offering this website to help put the election results in perspective and offer suggestions for moving forward from here. DETAILS Born & raised in Cleveland, OH. Attended St. Catherine's elementary school, Cathedral Latin High School, University of Dayton (BA Fine Arts), much later Kent State University (MA Visual Communication Design). Worked as a graphic designer for more than 20 years. Fell in love (sorry, there's no more accurate way to say it) with digital, on-screen design in the summer of 1995. That led to grad school, teaching at Herron School of Art, Cleveland State University and finally Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, where I'm currently an Assistant Professor in the Visual Communication & Design Program. Married for more than 30 years (wow, how fast that goes), 2 kids, 2 grandkids. - Al Wasco, Dec. 28, 2004 email MORE Current thoughts, photos, etc. at www.44113.com Older stuff at InteractiveDesignForum.com

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