What the heck is this all about?

On June 28, 2008, four journeymen from Minneapolis, MN will embark on an adventure unlike any other, spanning unknown places where they will meet soon-to-be friends. But how, my friend, will these seemingly confused souls navigate such a journey that will build community and leave unforgettable memories in their wake? They won't! Instead, by relying on friendship and a faith in the good of people, they will ask all the unsuspecting souls they meet to send them to friends/relatives in a new state, thereby creating their next destination. The result- an interconnected network of community spanning the entire country (or globe)!

How will the boys go about realizing their dreams and actually convincing complete strangers to help them along their journey? Well, these community builders know that the heart of a community lies within its public gather places- the diners, barber shops, and community centers. Therefore, they will be giving the boot to Corporate America by only patronizing those local 'ma and pa' owned places- no chain restaurants or Wal-Mart's here! They will also be sporting crazy orange t-shirts and other out-of-place accessories to attract an audience crazy enough to actually like their story!

So what lies ahead? Unfortunately, that's a question that these fellas just aren't interested in answering.

Where the heck are they going!?


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Humble Beginnings [June 9, 2008]

On a starry night on June 9, four wandering souls found their way to the Village Wok eating establishment to ponder one seemingly meaningless question: ‘What if we were all like electrons inside of an atom, so that we were so small and insignificant that we could not even comprehend the enormity of whatever encompasses us?’

OK, so that may not have been the main focus of this reunion, but it was a night to dream, to think about the impossible or the unimaginable that is the Campaign For Community 2008. For nine days, the unknown will become the desirable, the lost will become those with direction, and the nothing will become something. How is this possible? With a little faith in each other, the kindness of strangers, maybe a little luck, some funny looking t-shirts, and trusting their instincts, these boys hope to show how. The crew:


Eric ‘I’ve Got My Pillow And You Don’t Need To Know Why’ Larsen
Age: 22
Occupation: Professional Wanderer
Status: Same as always
Skilz: Blogging, awkward situations, scrapbooking, savin’ money, snoring, beard growing
Role: Historian, Blogger, Photos


Drew ‘I Know My Gas’ Pederson
Age: 22
Occupation: Mysterious Energy Expert by day, Pedal Steel Guitar Man by night
Status: Don’t ask
Skilz: Pedal steel (of course), pedal to the medal, getting to the point, navigation, levitation
Role: Voice of Reason, Idea Generator, Film


Brian ‘Gimme Some More Community’ Peterson
Age: 23
Occupation: Changing the World
Status: Eligible, but only if you make the first move
Skilz: Sweet talkin’, foil packin’, nappin’, hand gestures, authentic journalism, house-sitting, marathons
Role: Complaint-Free Enforcer, Optimist


Joe ‘Balls, Pins, Swords, or Torches’ Troszak
Age: 20
Occupation: Provider of Fun and Laughs
Status: Finally, somebody figured it out!
Skilz: Juggling, magic, turning himself into rabbit, doodling, solving extremely complex puzzles
Role: Entertainer, Attention Grabber, Fresh Perspective


With most things to be determined on the road, this crew only had one task ahead of them- compiling a list of cities from which they will randomly select their first destination on the morning of their departure. Like any small town, this place would have community- but something more; something extra-special was needed for a town to hold the distinction of the first stop on the Campaign.

So on this fateful night at the Village Wok, the stallions carefully pondered what would be the distinguishing factor of such a place. Quirky landmarks… it had already been done. Blindly pointing at a map… not creative enough. Finally, the idea came from the Idea Generator- their first town would have to be hosting a local festival on Saturday, June 28 in order to make it on the list of potential first-stops!

As the night wore on and their waitress Katie tirelessly kept their waters full, the community builders researched and assembled an impressive list of 14 small town festivals taking place on the day of their departure. Since the boys would be launching from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, these towns were located in the six bordering states of Iowa. The potentials:


Lake City, MN – Water Ski Days
Henderson, MN – Sauerkraut Days

New Glarus, WI – Heidi Festival
Coloma, WI – Coloma Chicken Chew
Pound, WI – Annual Fireman’s Picnic

Elizabeth, IL – The Gathering of Elizabeths
Jacksonville, IL – Juneteenth
Petersburg, IL – All In A Day’s Work

Burlington Junction, MO – Town & Country Days
Excelsior Springs, MO – WaterFest

Weeping Water, NE – Limestone Independence Days
McCool Junction, NE – Mustang Roundup

Yankton, SD – Great Plains Bison-tennial Dutch Oven Cook Off
Beresford, SD – Old Fashioned Weekend


So on these days before the launching, excitement is growing, press coverage is expanding (see ‘Press’ section), and final preparations are being made. Humbly beginning within a conversation over quantum physics, this Campaign For Community has reached its critical matter and is ready to launch!
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