Organizations like the SEED Foundation in Washington, DC, are trying to make disadvantaged students aware of the value of education and the possibility of college through a special charter school. Find out if there are any similar charter schools near you that are making a similar effort and organize a COF volunteer effort. Perhaps nonprofits like AmeriCorps or HeadStart do SAT tutoring on the weekends. After talking with the students, discuss what it appears these children aren't learning in school. Invite a school administrator or educational consultant to discuss curriculum design for the next wave of students and how underfunded schools might be able to implement some of the things charter schools like SEED do.

• Regardless of whether you live in a small- or big-market town, chances are you have professional baseball at some level. As the weather gets warm arrange an after work group outing to the ballpark and observe baseball economics in action. Is baseball really different than other industries, where wealth and infrastructure are in the big cities? How do those industries compensate for sales and operating costs differentials, since 'revenue-sharing' isn't common outside professional sports.
• At the game, instead of keeping a traditional scorecard, monitor pitch counts for each batter, like Beane does when he's recruiting new players. Does one team stand out as being paricularly swing-happy or patient? In this game, does this have anything to do with the ultimate outcome?
• After the game or at a subsequent meeting, analyze some of the attributes Beane looks for in his athletes and if you saw similar traits in any of the ballplayers. What system might you be able to set up to mine and develop corporate talent the way Beane does for baseball players?

Daniel Richards contributed this month's Next Steps.

May 2003 Connexus | Flash Points | Next Steps

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