I was wondering when I’d find an excuse to stumble on over here and say hello. It’s not like I’ve been wanting to ignore the site, it’s just been a little hectic, that’s all. More about life in general later on today…
Anyway, I received an email from Alison Howell at the Chamber that made a hectic day a little bit easier to enjoy. I already knew that the YP roundtable expo was going to happen this year; the main issue was the location and the time of year. We got approval last week for use of the Innovation Depot for the event on June 21. The Terminal of course has a brief post about the event 🙂
Those that have followed the efforts on this site probably know how excited I am personally to see just how the event takes shape. My interest in this effort started late 2005 when I suggested that we should heed the words of those calling for leaders in the community to work together. This page on the site gives some references to how it happened. TechBirmingham took the idea and ran with it when no one believed it could work and made an instant impact with TechMixer and TechCouncil.
It morphed into what became a proposal to meet, talk, and help each other as civic organizations (and eventually junior boards) to make Birmingham, Alabama a better place. While there are those that would say that one person deserves credit, everyone that has worked to move this project forward, from the COOL Community Task Force to the leaders of our 20+ organizations that have made contact with our roundtable so far, needs to be applauded. They will be the same ones who will continue to push for candid conversations among our region’s leadership as time goes by. So far it’s led to a better grasp for our community overall in understanding just what we have and communications tools such as a new website and an email list. The sky’s the limit in terms of what can be accomplished.
The next step is to make sure that as many people know about the event as possible. So, let’s do it. It lands in the midst of a busy time for the city; let’s show them just how powerful this movement is becoming. I got told yesterday that I am too nice and positive on this site. I’d rather be positive and push for some changes than settle for things remaining the same, though it’s going to change regardless. We just have a chance to make it do what we want it to do, and I’m going to do my part in any way that I can.
Oh yeah, it’s nice to be back too 🙂
I’ll catch you later on today.
Cheers.
