Comments on: If You Missed Forum for the Future You may be Glued to the Past http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/ Promoting Business Development in the Roanoke and New River Valleys of VA Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:24:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: E. Duane Howard http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-322 E. Duane Howard Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:55:10 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-322 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....! 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….!

]]> By: Bob Swartz http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-320 Bob Swartz Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:21:12 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-320 RoanokeFound, Check your spam filter. make sure comcast.net is allowed. I sent 3 messages to you in response to your request. bob RoanokeFound, Check your spam filter. make sure comcast.net is allowed. I sent 3 messages to you in response to your request.

bob

]]> By: Bob Swartz http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-317 Bob Swartz Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:43:33 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-317 RoanokeFound. Check your email and or spam filter. I sent 2 emails on the eve of the 16th. Cheers bob RoanokeFound. Check your email and or spam filter. I sent 2 emails on the eve of the 16th.
Cheers

bob

]]> By: RoanokeFound http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-316 RoanokeFound Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:47:58 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-316 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 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

]]> By: ira http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-314 ira Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:29:03 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-314 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 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

]]> By: Bob Swartz http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-309 Bob Swartz Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:12:16 +0000 http://blog.roanokebiz2biz.com/2007/09/16/if-you-missed-forum-for-the-future-you-may-be-glued-to-the-past/#comment-309 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 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

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