If You Missed Forum for the Future You may be Glued to the Past
September 16th, 2007 by Biz2Biz
Did you feel the enthusiasm from the area's young professionals? Did you share in the willingness of the leaders to help and guide them to a brighter future? If you experienced these emotions then you must have been one of the seven hundred plus participants at Valley Forward's Forum for the Future at the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday night.
John Lugar, Chairman of Valley Forward, opened the event by thanking those participating and explaining the format for the forum. He encouraged the leaders and participants to listen to our young professionals and find out what is important to them. He suggested the younger generation become energized by getting involved in the community.
Lugar stressed that we must showcase our community assets. For a successful change we must consider what is GOOD for the Roanoke Valley, think differently, be solution-oriented, debate, discuss, decide and move on. If we don't dream and think big our young people will move elsewhere.
Valley Forward takes an integrated approach to progress by focusing on Economic Development, Cultural Enhancement, and Community Involvement. Platforms they have adopted include:
- Rebuilding of the Rockledge Inn
- Funding and awareness of Greenways in the Valley
- Building an Outdoor Amphitheater
- Carvins Cove conservation easement
The interactive forum then set off with attendees choosing informal roundtable sessions and panel discussions. Speakers included various political and government officials along with local business experts. Topics covered included business building tools, health and fitness resources, employment and jobs, sports, arts, museums and young professional organizations. Ira Kaufman, President of Roanoke Biz2Biz, hosted a round table where he discussed blogs and websites and the marketing benefits from both.
The night concluded with Tiki Barber, former NFL running back and NBC broadcaster. He reminded the young professionals they can make a difference and encouraged them to get more involved in local government and push forward their agenda's and ideas of what they want the valley to become. As Barber returned to his roots, he recounted how the Roanoke Valley has impacted his life as an NFL football star, author and TV broadcaster.
It is my opinion the night was a success for the Valley Forward Group. There is certainly room for improvement but I feel with the continued effort the next event will be bigger and better.
One thing for sure, Roanoke would like to retain its young professionals. Events such as this that broaden the awareness in our government officials and community will make a difference.
Business Leaders, City Officials and Political Organizations - our young professionals challenge you to LISTEN, OFFER OPPORTUNITY and THINK BIG!
Young Professionals in Roanoke and New River Valley - you are challenged to CHARGE FORWARD, BECOME ACTIVE and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 1:30 pm and is filed under Young Professionals, Business Events, Community, Entrepreneur, Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
OK, Now let me try that again with my glasses on.
The Forum was a great opportunity for young professionals and others to discover and discuss new ideas and how to get them into action. Unfortunately, 90% of the crowd I spoke to was there to see Tiki Barber and had not ever given thought to getting involved. Although Tiki is a great speaker and roll model, I feel the media and Valley Forward did a dis-service to the forum by only highlighting his presence. It would have been nice if each group having a display and round table could have advertised their topics and agenda to the public. Perhaps a different crowd would have attended.
Our press release was ignored by the media in light of the Tiki Blitz. It was evident when many walked right by us thinking that we were there to sell skateboards, when in fact our intentions were to discuss how Roanoke could socially and financially benefit from hosting extreme sporting events such as the X-Games.
25 million dollars and 150,000 visitors for a one week event is nothing to sneeze at.
Perhaps next year.
If anyone would like a copy of our presentation just ask.. bobswartz@comcast.net
bob
September 18th, 2007 at 5:29 am
Thanks for your comments . I believe Valley Forward was courageous in begining a process to engage the younger demographic in the social and business development of the Roanoke region. Using a local hero, like Tiki, as a drawing card makes a lot of sense. It was successful!
Of course there needs to more planning and venues for involving other progressive activities in the event . This is the purpose of the event. I believe the Valley Forward team will learn alot from this one and build a stronger experience for the next one . For example, the round table open format was very innovative but, from my expereince, was difficult to engage in a quality conversation because of the horrible acoustics and table attendees entering and leaving during the hour.
I would encourage you to meet with their team and discuss your suggestions for the future. I know Stuart Mease and John Lugar would welcome your input. If I can be of any assistance on your project, please let me know.
Ira
ira@osadvantage.com
September 18th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Ira,
I was invited to take part in a roundtable, but due to my lack of a 9-5 job (being a galley slave is never convenient) - was unable to attend.
I did e-mail Bob about the plan he proposes for the X-Games type event, but have yet to hear back from him. If you could, perhaps, let him know I would appreciate it. I am really interested in the proposal, having witnessed firsthand the benefits of having such an event take place.
While I agree that Valley Forward did good by bringing together younger people - I still say not nearly enough of them are involved politically. All these speeches and plans and events will be for naught if we do not have the support and responsiveness from the government of Roanoke City.
-RoanokeFound
September 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
RoanokeFound. Check your email and or spam filter. I sent 2 emails on the eve of the 16th.
Cheers
bob
September 18th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
RoanokeFound, Check your spam filter. make sure comcast.net is allowed. I sent 3 messages to you in response to your request.
bob
September 19th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
First off Biz2Biz…..by the furthest stretch of the imagination there were NOT 700 people who attended……And once again one talks of the young people and getting them involved. They can’t get involved if you do not target them. That was the point of having Bob Swartz here with all his gear and “World’s First Jet Luge” Weeks, if not months before the event I urged Valley Forward to promote Bob’s appearance with the jet luge. They had every opportunity to do so and one might ask them why they chose to ignore such a great opportunity to have attracted the attention of the youth, and young and the huge market of gravity sports fans? They appeared on channel 7 Wednesday morning and all they could talk about was Tiki.
If they do it again next year, lets target the real point of having it and not promoting a superstar that totally overshadows what they were trying to do. They are to be commended for their effort, but need to listen a lot more to us seasoned old timers who have life’s experience and more to help them out. Do it on Saturday, open house when the youth are able to attend……not on a school night! And Please, NO ADMISSION charge for anyone under 21, at the very least…..
I enjoyed the evening and the enjoyable company of Mr. fralin and Mr. Ewert….very likable, personalbe fellows….!