You won't be villified by me, as I agree with you. To be a successful change manager, you must shift the paradigms in your organization. The first step is to ensure your employees are with you, take pride in what they do and come to work with a positive, can-do attitude. Sometimes the changes are symbolic, as in going back to the classic widget, and sometimes its more tangible, like changing the uniforms. Both ideas are excellent and meaningful, IMHO, and the benefits will outweigh the expense. For an older manager, Grinstein has been a pleasant surprise. He really seems to get it.

P.S. - Don't wait for an invitation to a meet. Just show up.