Thank you for attending!

The Council for Rural Virginia Chairman and Board of Directors, Center for Rural Virginia Chairman and Board of Trustees, staff and our Rural Collaborative Partnership would like to thank  you for attending the 2008 Virginia Rural Summit.   A standing room only crowd gathered at the Kirkley Hotel & Conference Center in Lynchburg to hear expert presenters in healthcare, infrastructure-broadband and education-workforce. They accepted the challenge to raise the bar for a higher quality of life in Rural Virginia. In-turn, they challenged us to be a responsible contributor; not just another listener at another conference.

Virginia’s finest at all levels - We heard from some of Virginia’s finest; we learned from one another, we share ideas, met new people and renew our commitment to make Rural Virginia a better place. There was energy among this multi-talented group of Virginians to not only renewed their commitment, but to put the wheels in motion to move rural Virginia forward!  We stepped back to remember the history of Virginia’s Rural Summit.  The first Summit was held in 2005, and we marveled at the transition to 2008, an action-oriented event working for solutions and public policy positions to promote initiatives that support the revitalization of rural Virginia - what we originally set out to do!

“Thank you” to everyone who participated throughout the two-day Summit!

We asked rural leaders to attend, and got just what we asked for!  We were delighted to see so many elected officials in the audience – both current and future.  Their presence spoke of a desire to come together and engage in pro-active discussion, and reminded us that rural Virginia's greatest resource is its leaders. Leaders who look for ways to successfully promote community development and economic developing as the critical cross-over into a sustainable way of life. The 2008 Rural Summit offered example after example of just how great rural citizens can be!

We owe a special ‘thank you” to our sponsors!  Their generosity made the Summit  possible. The support of upstanding community leaders like our 2008 sponsors, speaks volumes about their commitment to rural transformation.   We are grateful for their commitment and their leadership! 

“Thank you to our Volunteers - We are deeply indebted to the volunteers who gave freely of their time and energy to help conduct the Summit.

¨       They worked so that others could showcase their talents.

¨       Their high spirits and drive made the Summit an enjoyable experience.

Your voice is important!  Since the Summit, we have carefully listened to many of you who have given feedback, and we want to let you know that we are all ready planning for 2009 with “your” feedback in mind.  A no-holds barred will be our approach to putting together the 2009 Summit with the same caliber presenters and the same high-level matters for consideration. 

Let us hear from you!  We encourage you to share information with us in the days ahead as we prepare to fine-tune policy positions for the 2009 Virginia General Assembly.