The 2010 Regional Day, held on Thursday May 6th, was the inaugural community roll-out of Vision Hampton Roads. Subsequent annual events will provide Vision‘s performance report to the diverse community of interdependent communities that is Hampton Roads.
Regional Day was a time to share information, provoke ideas and collaborate in shaping the future of Hampton Roads. The 2010 festivities included a “Regional Crier” taking a roll-call vote from each local government’s chief elected official (or their designee) to support the “Declaration of Interdependence,” a regional compact for our municipalities addressing such issues as legislative unity, education, public safety, transportation, and public communication.
Downloads available:
- Photos from the event;
- “Declaration of Interdependence”;
- What is Vision Hampton Roads? one-page flyer;
- Vision Hampton Roads Dashboard; and
- Remarks from the event organizer by Dana Dickens, President & CEO of Hampton Roads Partnership, and text from the Declaration of Interdependence signing ceremony.
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Panoramic view of the crowd. |
From opening remarks by Dana Dickens:
Hampton Roads is a region of interdependent communities; each benefiting from the others’ success, suffering from their losses. It is: Beaches and boats. Forts and families. Roller coasters and rivers. Planes and performers. Agriculture and arts. History and innovation. The power of interdependence with a strong sense of community and diversity, now powered by a vision. A Vision that is a clear concept, a foresight, an ideal to strive for, a common direction.
Albert Einstein said: “The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.”
What brings us here today is a new Vision for Hampton Roads, a different level of thinking ‐ and doing ‐ that will help us resolve issues and solve problems in a very different way, in a more interdependent way. A different way that we sorely need in today’s new economy, where commerce is indifferent to municipal boundaries. Read more.
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| Regional Crier in full regalia. Photo courtesy of Bob Harper. |
From the Regional Crier:
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
As Regional Crier and an ardent patriot and citizen of the great Commonwealth of Virginia, it is a high honor indeed to be with you today for this region’s Declaration of Interdependence.
Bright minds with broad vision make this day possible as they did on July 4th 1776. What is right, what is prudent and what is just, today becomes formally enacted.
This Declaration of Interdependence officially begins an expedition for a greater good for all who reside in this region. Great men and women of vision, trust and leadership throughout all of Hampton Roads declare a simple enduring truth…Hampton Roads is all for one while being one for all!
Celebrate a new day, a new era and a renewed passion for growth and opportunity.
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| Signing of the Declaration of Interdependence by the 17 communities of Hampton Roads and Gov. Bob McDonnell. Click here for a Virtual Scroll. Photo courtesy of Chris Bonney. |
More from the Regional Crier:
May it be recorded that on this day, May the sixth of two thousand and ten, that self interest has been replaced by the greater good. That, heretofore, competitive communities are united and committed to pursuing competitive opportunities and jobs. That safety and education are regional priorities of shared concern. And, that regional transportation solutions are at the core of these resolutions.
Henceforth we speak together as one region, and we will act together as one region. Together, we ensure a wonderful future.
Ladies and Gentlemen, How do you vote?
Franklin City – “In 39 years, from town to city, Franklin is a friendly community, a place where life is gentle, fun and prosperous.” What say you, The Honorable James P. Councill, III of Franklin? Read more.
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| Hon. Thelma Drake, Director of DRPT, introduces Gov. Bob McDonnell. |
Gov. Bob McDonnell speaks at Vision Hampton Roads Regional Day. Both photos courtesy of Bob Harper. |
From Gov. Bob McDonnell’s remarks:
Many years ago regionalism meant “getting the other cities to do what you want them to do,” noting times have changed in this “extraordinary region.” The Regional Competitiveness Act (1996) was a modest effort by the Commonwealth. “I applaud you for your good work to make this day come to pass.”
The Governor quoted scripture, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18) and then suggested an addition: “With a vision, the people flourish.”
The Governor also quoted an unknown source: “If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative.”
Adding he’d like to see Hampton Roads fully utilize the region’s assets and “there is much to be done,” McDonnell said, “It is in this Vision, this comprehensive strategy.”
When the Governor made reference to his goal of making Virginia, with the largest number of veterans per capita, the most veteran-friendly state in the union, the Regional Crier rang his bell and the crowd roared with applause.
The Governor agreed: Hampton Roads is unique with industry sectors of energy, biotech, modeling and simulation and healthcare, and he sees great potential in the region’s “pursuit of exceptionalism.” He added that “putting people back to work is the quickest way to improve their quality of life,” citing his election mantra, “Bob’s for Jobs,” and joking that everyone is changing their name to “Bob.”
The General Assembly was asked to have vision dealing with the $4B budget shortfall. With $70M in new monies such as the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, tax incentives and more, McDonnell stated, “I have more tools than any Governor in Virginia history to promote Virginia as the place to do business.” Some of the monies are earmarked for opening trade offices in China, India and the United Kingdom in order “to tell the Virginia story.”
“I’m tired of seeing Michigan commercials in Virginia; I want to see Virginia ads in Michigan,” McDonnell lamented.
We must incentivize small business. “71% of every new job in Virginia is a small business,” said the Governor. Noting it is “smart business” for institutions of higher education to align educational programs with the region’s economic needs, he noted the strategic plan, Vision Hampton Roads, as their resource.
Another peal of the Regional Crier’s bell came when the Governor told the crowd the Secretary of Transportation has been asked to put Route 460, critically important to the region for the military, disaster evacuation and the port, at the top of the priority list. The Governor also applauded regional cooperation on passenger rail as “a great example of the region working together.”
The Governor concluded his remarks with, “you can count on me,” adding the State will be a partner in all that Hampton Roads does with Vision. Pointing to the Vision Dashboard provided at every table, he said the region is behind Virginia in some measures, and this is the incentive to not compete inter-regionally but to cooperate as a region.
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| Head table (L to R): Don Seale, Norfolk Southern Corporation; Gov. McDonnell; Craig Camuso, CSX Transportation; Hon. Thelma Drake, DRPT; standing, Dana Dickens, Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP); Jack Ezzell, ZEL Technologies; Bob Gittler, U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration; and Eric Price, “Regional Crier.” Photo courtesy of Bob Harper. |
Dickens concluded with:
The 70s was the first time we heard the reference “the Decade of ME” and that single‐minded focus stayed with us for decades. With the Governor’s permission, I’m declaring this as the “Decade of WE.” (Now that’s spelled W‐E, not W‐i‐i like the game.)
Collaboration is king. Collaboration is transformational. Collaboration reinforces the understanding that strong global forces affect us all, and we must build on our local assets accordingly.
If you’re interested in making a good living and living a good life in Hampton Roads, then please spread the Vision and get involved. Join a Task Force. Volunteer your time. Share the message. Let’s all continue on our path forward as we Think, Live and Act Regionally.
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The Cheroenhaka, recognized tribe of Virginia, with Regional Crier.
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| Regional organizations shared information with the public in attendance. Photo courtesy of Chris Bonney. |
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HR Partnership
May 17, 2010 at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Jack Ezzell, President of ZEL Technologies in Hampton and Co-Chair of the Hampton Roads Partnership, welcomed a crowd of nearly 500 to the inaugural Regional Day on Thursday, May 6th, at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
The Honorable Jim Councill, Mayor of the City of Franklin, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation in honor of the National Day of Prayer.
E. Dana Dickens, III, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Partnership greeted everyone and explained the purpose for the gathering: the first public roll-out of Vision Hampton Roads, a region wide economic development strategy. Mr. Dickens also welcomed Governor Bob McDonnell and thanked him for participating.
Sponsors of the event were Norfolk Southern and CSX, two Class 1 railroads operating in the region who are supporting Hampton Roads’ efforts to improve passenger rail on the Peninsula and bring new service to South Hampton Roads.
A special thanks was expressed to the over 150 people who participated in the development of the Vision Hampton Roads document and to the nearly 500 whose public input made the document that much stronger and relevant.
Dickens also welcomed the nearly 75 elected officials in attendance, noting that many have or will play a major role in the Vision process. And, finally, all of the regional citizens in attendance were thanked for their participation.
So, what is Vision Hampton Roads?
Everyone in attendance was provided a one-sheet to provide a 30,000-foot view of what is Vision. It is also available for download from the website, http://VisionHamptonRoads.com, as well as the executive summary or for a full picture, the complete document. Responses submitted by citizens can be tracked as to how their comments impacted the final document.
Dickens emphasized that for Hampton roads to speak from one agenda and with one voice is critical. He explained that the next phase of Vision Hampton Roads is one of alignment under the common goals and objectives and then implementation.
Dickens clarified what was meant by alignment: “There are numerous organizations interested in coastal energy, all hampered by the seven- to nine-year permitting process. These groups have different knowledge, different perspectives and different assets … but a common goal … to shorten the permitting process. Success surely is more likely achieved by aligning their assets and their energies.”
“Innovation in the technology industry requires a specialize workforce. So educators know from the roadmap what our needs will be and develop a complimentary curriculum,” said Dickens.
“Think about fragmentation of files in your computer. Files are scattered across the hard drive, slowing everything down. You defrag your computer to align files for more productive use. Think about defragging the region,” added Dickens.
Underscoring this is not just a Hampton Roads Partnership plan, Dickens said, “the alignment of many other regional organizations is the lubricant needed to keep this engine, this Vision, running smoothly and moving Hampton Roads forward.”
Additionally, the Vision Dashboard was also provided in hard copy and is available on the website so citizens may monitor, in real time, the region’s performance measures. These measures and more are also available on http://HamptonRoadsPerforms.org. Vision Hampton Roads will be reported on annually.
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