• Finding Solution to Rural Challenges
• Utilizing Experience and Knowledge
• Forming Collaborative Networks for Stronger Communities
   

8:30 am “Welcome"

 Dr. Oliver McBride, Council for Rural Virginia Chairman

Dr. McBride is Executive Director of the Crossroads Institute -  Entrepreneurial & Educational Initiative located in Galax, VA; serving Carroll County, Grayson County and the City of Galax.

  Setting the stage -
           Virginia's Rural Course of Action focused on the next administration

We're fortunate to have the caliber presenters offered at the Summit to lend their expertise, time and energy to help us advance Virginia's rural mission.

             - Recognizing and evaluating the impact of policy

Va Rural Center
        Annual Report

  Glen C. Sink, Executive Director ~ Virginia Rural Center

Introducing Virginia State Legislators

The Honorable Frank M. Ruff, Jr.

        Senate of Virginia  ~   District 15

   Senator Ruff represents Southside Virginia at the Virginia Senate in Richmond,
   and is Chairman of the Center for Rural Virginia.
 

Introducing the Candidate

     
       The Honorable Frank M. Ruff, Jr.
             Chairman, Center for Rural Virginia Board of Trustees

Gubernatorial
Candidate
9:00 - 9:30 am

              
     Rural actions for the new administration
 

Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate   ~ Bob McDonnell ~ "Confirmed"

          
 

    
J. Thomas “Tom” Hennessey, Jr.
          Chief of Staff - Office of the President, George Mason University  
          Dr. Hennessey’s Profile
 

Facilitator

Gary F. Christie, Va Rural Center Director & Steering Committee Chair

Executive Director, Region 2000 Local Government Council
 

Keynote

9:45 -10:30 am

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond - Fifth District

          Office of Jeffery Laker

          Virginia/Rural Economic Report

          One of 12 Reserve Banks working with the Board of Governors
    to make up the Federal Reserve System  - - - learn more 

          Financial Status of the Commonwealth ~Today and for the Future

·         Building Bridges for Economic Development

·         Community Capacity, Energy, Food and the Environment

·         Federal Stimulus Impact on Rural Place
 

Keynote

10:30 -11:45 am

 
    Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Goodlatte, 6th District of Virginia      
    Funding for the Economic Recovery of the Commonwealth
    A Budget for maintaining assets while rebuilding systems and growing rural
    Virginia

           ARRA - Stimulus funds serving the Commonwealth as a whole, specifically
                   Rural Virginia
                  ~ How to maintain critical rural services
                  ~ Jobs ~ Education ~ Energy ~ Food

·         Congressman Goodlatte

·         6th District of Virginia

Lunch

12:00 - 1:30 pm

Award Categories

The Council for Rural Virginia Award recognizes outstanding individual commitment service to the advancement of rural communities and/or issues in Virginia

The Best Practices Award recognizes a program/institution that exemplifies commitment and service to the advancement of rural communities or issues in Virginia

Friend of the Council recognizes a program, institution or individual that has advocated for and/or aided the Council in support of the Council’s mission.

            Council Awards Committee

Basil Gooden, Principal Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) , Awards Committee Chairman  DHCD is a Va Rural Center's Day-by-Day Supporting Partner

Mary C. Terry, Southeast Rural Community Assistance, Inc., (Retired)

Gary S. Keener, Vice President Continuing Education & Workforce Services, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
 

Afternoon Agenda

Ellen M Davis, Virginia State Director, USDA Rural Development

 - Reconvene the Summit for the Afternoon & Introducing the Program

Keynote

1:30-2:30 pm

John Thomas - Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

• Spotlight on Community Capacity Building
• Successes & Challenges in Tough Economic Times

Regional Team

2:30 - 3:30 pm

 Facilitator

Woody Harris 

  Stakeholder Forum

Finding common ground
       ~ ~ ~  Creating partnerships to provide services in rural places

 Facilitated by:  F. Woodrow "Woody" Harris, Rural Center Trustee
 

Local groups engaged as the “Catalysts” for Community Improvement

Fostering “public support” – Connecting with the Community

  Positive Examples ~ Success at the local level

  Positive Action ~ Promoting successful actions from within community groups

·         Building networks based on trust

·         Achieving results that everyone wants to see

·         Identifying the necessary components

F. Woodrow "Woody" Harris, Southside - Emporia City Council

R. Bryan David, Executive Director of Virginia's Region 2000 Economic Development Council

Jerry Gwaltney - Retired Danville City Manager, Gwaltney & Associates Consulting

 
Policy Conversation ~ Community Capacity
 

Rural Briefing

 
The Honorable Frank M. Ruff, Jr.
          Regional Rural Caucus

    Summit Rural Caucus

Va Rural Center leading Rural Caucus planning and facilitation

Networking

Reception

5:30 - 7:00 pm

Courtney Hunter, Group Sales Manager
           Lynchburg Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau
        Will welcomes Summit attendees to Lynchburg!
 
. . . Networking for New Solutions . . . 

     Rural Center 2009 Reception

·         Virginia's Congressional Delegation

·         Legislators

·         Virginia Rural Caucus ~ Congressional & State 
 

 
Enjoy the City!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
 

7:45 - 8:30 am

   
Please Enjoy a Buffet Breakfast – Prepared by the Kirkley Hotel Chef
 

8:00 - 8:30 am

Annual Council for Rural Virginia Membership Meeting

:830 am

 Welcome - Dr. Oliver McBride

   Setting the Agenda!

Introducing the Candidate

Jack Reasor, President, Old Dominion Electric Coop

  President’s Message

Jack serves as a Va Rural Center Trustee 

Rural actions for the new administration 

 Gubernatorial Candidate  -  Creigh Deeds  ~ "Invited"

   
Energy Systems
 

8:45  -  9:15 am

  Keynote

 
 

Facilitator

Bryan David

  
     Introducing the keynote speaker - R. Bryan David, Virginia Rural Center
     Director and Steering Committee Member
                Executive Director, Region 2000 Economic Development Council

    The Honorable Frank W. Wagner

    District 7  - Senate Profile

·         Vision: Energy for the Commonwealth

  Tim Pfohl, Grants Program Director

  The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization  
  Commission

·        Strategic Course of Action: How to Achieve this Vision

 Robert M. Blue, Senior Vice President-Public Policy and Corporate
Communications of Dominion Resources, Inc.

 What is the role of rural places?

       Policy Conversation ~  Energy Systems

   
Food & Agricultural Systems

9:30 - 10:45 am

Keynote speaker introduced by Jay Poole, Virginia Rural Center Director and Steering Committee Member . . . Jay S. Poole, Common Sense Strategies
 

Keynote

Facilitator

Jay Poole

  
    The Honorable Edward "Ed" Scott
    House of Delegates Profile  Rural Center Board of Trustees  Delegate Scott’s
    Website

Vision: Food for the Commonwealth 

     What is the role of rural places?
 

     Jim Saunders - A local producer in Amherst County, a teacher, extension,
     marketing, finance and local business person as well as Chairman of Virginia
     Agribusiness Council. 

     Strategic Course of Action to Achieve the Commonwealth's Food
     Systems Vision

 

    Policy Conversation - Food & Agricultural Systems
         

12:00 -12:30 pm

Closing Keynote

 
Victor Vasquez, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA, Rural Development
will share national views on the future of economic development in the
Commonwealth,  particularly, rural Virginia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

2009 Rural Summit Adjourns  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
 

Tuesday
Afternoon

Rural Partner Meetings

·         Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc., Board Meeting

·         Virginias Local Food Systems Council Meeting

·         Strategic Course of Action Partners Meeting