ideas and perspectives on life

Last night as I sat with my daughter, Candice, after she got home from work. We wound up channel surfing and coming across the TV show Secret Millionaire. The premise of the show is that millionaires go under cover and live a life of poverty for a week. They then select from people they encountered during the week to give $100,000 too. The episode we watched had both of us wiping tears from our eyes. We were eventually joined by my wife, Adele and Candice’s boyfriend, Rob.

As we watched together a discussion ensued about the show. We discussed the notions of exploiting poverty, wealthy people coming to terms with the realities of many other’s lives, FOX making money off a subject like this, people like us actually watching a show that is depicting and entertaining through the trials and tribulations of others.

Our conversation was interesting Rob felt the millionaires on the show may be during it for the wrong reasons – a good point. I asked if he thought it was possible that they may have started off that way and ended their week with the right reasons? He thought they could. We all questioned the use of a reality show in this way. On the other hand, what about the lives that are positively impacted by the money given through the show? We explored a number of other questions which made for deep discussion about where we all are individually and where we think we were, are and going as a country.

I was proud to sit with two teens and have this level of discussion. I know this wasn’t what I was doing this with my or any other parent at 17. The level of maturity, consideration and caring they showed really impressed me and inspires me when thinking about the future. In the end we all agreed that this made us reflect on how fortunate we are in our lives regardless of what troubles we’re facing.

I reiterated what I’d been told at one point…there’s always going to be someone ahead of you and there’s always going to be someone behind you…

An interesting perspective, I guess our goal needs to always be helping those behind move forward.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Thanksgiving was here and gone… as the Holiday approached I began trying to explain to my two year old son, Jake, how to say the name of the Holiday and in terms a two year old can understand, what it means.

The process of explaining what it means also provided me time to reflect on what I’m thankful for…
There are many things I’m thankful for in my life - my wife, my daughter, my son and our families are at the top of the list. Beyond that I’m thankful for who and where I am in my life personally and professionally.

Rewind - One of the reasons for starting Footprint Media and canvas, opting not to go back to a successful and lucrative corporate career was what I believed to be philosophical hypocrisy in much of corporate America. I say it all the time, for the most part the people in large companies are good people, some are bad, the system itself however is riddled with problems therefore it takes strong leaders with strong values and convictions to make a difference.

Over the past few years as I learned the terms Triple Bottom Line and Conscious Capitalism. I learned there are real practices behind these terms which were aligned with my inherent belief - do the right thing and rest will follow. But example after example of companies doing the wrong thing abound today. That said, I’m thankful for the chance to start a company and try to build a prosperous organization around these principles.

I think this year more than ever, even as we struggle with economic challenges, I’m thankful for the choice I made. In a decade where it seems many in corporate American are playing a game of perpetual survivor, where nothing you did yesterday, today or even tomorrow may count, you may get thrown overboard just so someone can save them self. We have chosen to continue to try to do the right things with our company and have had very rewarding experiences because of this.

Over the course of our existence many businesses have been drawn to us. Maybe not as many who should be advertising with us to share their message, but others who want to do business with us either for custom publishing or in some other fashion because of who they perceive we are based on the way we act. These businesses have validated our belief that as conscious capitalists, following philosophy of doing the right things and the rest will follow really works.

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving from and as that this holiday seasons will be marked by conscious capitalists who strive to do the right thing for you and your families.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher

Every time I hear or read about the travesty killing of Marcelo Lucero here on Long Island I want to cry. It’s abominable that something like this still takes place in our society. To know this took place combined with all the racial b.s. that is now circulating about Pres. Elect Obama - yes here in affluent suburbs of Long Island is unconscionable.

Marcelo’s death hits a deep cord with me because for 5 years prior to starting this company I worked for a Spanish Language Newspaper and was immersed in the Hispanic culture. Beyond that I come from a diverse family with people of all types and grew loving them all. Working with the Hispanic market I found loving, caring people who wanted the very same things out of life as me for themselves and their families.

I was once asked by the an organizer of the Hispanic Day Parade in New York about my experience with the culture and the market. I told her how much I was enjoying the experience and also shared some of the racist war stories I encountered. I told her how sad it was to hear similar stories to some my father had shared relaying his experiences as an Italian kid in New York some 40 years earlier. His getting beat up and referred to as a dumb Dago on different occasions.

I recall saying it’s as if this country has a warped hazing ritual and if you survive it we accept you. How sad… That conversation was about 4 years ago and look how little has changed.

We as a society need to stamp out this thought process, expose those who tolerate it and shame them for their behavior. We are better then the experience Marcelo Lucero other people of diversity have with our country.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas Magazine

Last night we hosted our 2nd Long Island Farm to Table event at Maxwell and Dunne’s. LIFT is a collaboration between us here at canvas and the folks at Peak Organic Brewing. The goal of LIFT is to bring sustainable foods to the menus of Long Island Restaurants and highlight those who are already there.

What a great night!

Our evening started with apps and drinks at the bar. Chef Palmer prepared some great raw apps and dips, drinks from Peak Organic Brewing, LiV Vodka and Shinn Estates were poured to accompany. I had the LiV Martini that John made it was so good I had two – oops. Thanks for driving Adele.

We moved to the Green Room for dinner and enjoyed a delicious meal. All dishes we’re accompanied by selections from Shinn Estates Vineyards. My favorites of the night we’re the Blackfish and the Apple Fritter and the Shinn Red. The porterhouse steak was great as well.

It was fulfilling to look around the room and seeing everyone who attended deep in conversation, laughing and sharing a meal. We had two LIFT events so far and are excited to take them to the next level. If you’ve thought of joining us for one please do it will be well worth it!

Thanks to everyone who came, helped make it possible and shared good thoughts.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Lately, I’ve been reading different articles on how bottled water isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Researchers have now examined the plastic that holds the water and they’ve found that some chemicals, which certain types of plastic contain, such as pthalates (found in many toys and other soft plastic goods made of PVC plastic) and bisphenol A (organic compound known as BPA), may seep into the water. These toxins can disrupt the endocrine system, messing with your hormonal balance. This can cause fatigue and even weight gain — defeating the purpose of your workout, etc. When these bottles are exposed to the heat (sitting on your porch after a delivery on a hot summer day) the chemicals release into the water that much faster. And all this time I thought bottled water was the bomb. Guess I was wrong.

Today was the clincher. Thanks to Poland Springs, I’ll be switching over to a water filtration system as soon as possible. Besides the fact that the delivery guy forgets to pick up and deliver water from time to time and the endless 1-800 calls back and forth to the company…putting me on hold for minutes, hours, days at a time. When the hot water heater stopped working about a month ago, I procrastinated in making that dreaded call to the company. Friday I finally conceded, made the call and left my cooler outside to be switched for a new one. When I arrived home, I opened the cardboard box only to find a completely different kind of cooler. That would have been cool, but the orange juice stains on the top and the filthy innards of the cooler were not so cool. Very uncool, as a matter of fact.

I was given a completely used, UNCLEANED water cooler. Even worse, the inside metal container where the water goes in was freezing cold and had condensation around the perimeter…as if this cooler may have been running in another home only minutes before. The company explained to me that they recycle their coolers when they break, instead of replacing them with brand new ones. They fix them, fumigate them and send them back out. Now, I’m all for recycling, and I love when my coffee cups say ‘recycled paper’ but that doesn’t mean I would drink from a dirty coffee cup. What are the odds that other Poland Springs customers have been given back unsanitized coolers as well? Tomorrow the cooler and three unopened water bottles will be sitting on my porch. Only this time they’re going back for good. Goodbye, Poland Springs. Hello, water filter system.