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Volume 1 Edition 8 October 2008
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Governor Timothy M. Kaine
On Monday, Governor Timothy M. Kaine and Attorney General Bob McDonnell were among the speakers at the Summit. Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra, joined the Governor in a “fireside chat” to address the attendees about where we are and where we need to be in rural Virginia with better broadband networks to strengthen our rural economy.
The Governor described our national economy as being in a tough, tough shape, saying, “Virginia could be hit hard because agriculture and forestry comprise the largest sector of the state’s economy.” He spoke about the need for continued development of computerized connectivity that allows rural residents to work from anywhere as the best hope for rural communities.
Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra
Secretary Chopra continued the “chat” by talking about the future of broadband deployment to rural areas. We need to continue building on the successes of our current deployment, and accept the challenges by planning towards future high speed data service needs.
Rural Caucus - Sponsored by Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Directors Comments
Glen Sink and the staff extend much appreciation to each of you for your leadership during the Rural Summit. “Major strides were made in Virginia for rural communities, regions and sectors.”
Current networks were strengthened and new net-works formed with Virginia leaders who are ready to work on major issues of concern to rural areas. Excellent partner-ships were established.
The Rural Summit continues to get excellent reviews from across the Commonwealth. The Council and Center look to be even more progressive as organizations, and as a progressive advocate for rural Virginia.
Glen
Center Council Staff
Glen C. Sink Executive Director 501 North Second Street Richmond, VA 23219 Ph: 804-371-7141 Fax: 804-371-7092
Thelma Burris Program Coordinator 2265 Kraft Drive Blacksburg, VA 24060 Ph: 540-231-6866 Fax: 540-231-5338
Mary Tucker Office Assistant 2265 Kraft Drive Blacksburg, VA 24060 Ph: 540-231-6866 Fax: 540-231-5338
Please visit our web site to view an extensive list of partners. If we’ve missed your name, please email your information including the link to your website to
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Successful 2008 Virginia Rural Summit A two-day jammed packed open forum style event!
Top On the Agenda - Developing Policy Positions
Healthcare
Infrastructure–Broadband
Workforce-Education
Dr. Oliver McBride, Council for Rural Virginia Chair, Glen Sink, Executive Director for the Council and Center for Rural Virginia and Center Chair, the Honorable Frank M. Ruff, Jr., opened the 2008 Virginia Rural Summit.
A highlight of the event, Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. was honored as the 2008 Council for Rural Virginia Annual Award recipient for his outstanding individual commitment and service to the advancement of rural communities of the Commonwealth. Senator Hanger who represents the 24th District of Virginia is a founding member of the Center for Rural Virginia and a former member of the Board of Trustees. He has successfully introduced a large number of initiatives to the Virginia General Assembly and been integral in numerous funding matters related to rural conservation programs.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade - Pat Gottschalk and Secretary of Agriculture - Robert Bloxom was available to network with participants about rural economic development and agriculture.
Legislators who attended:
Delegates – R. Steven ‘Steve’ Landes, Edward ‘Ed’ Scott, David ‘Dave’ Nutter, Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr., Daniel W. ‘Danny’ Marshall, III, Donald W. Merricks, Charles D. Poindexter, Kathy J. Byron, and Shannon R. Valentine
Chancellor Glenn DuBois
The Rural Council & Center brought representatives of industry, communities and government from the Eastern Shore to the far Southwest to Southside and to Northern Virginia to address and produce bipartisan collaborative support for community economic prosperity for policy needs and raise statewide awareness about the key sectors of Healthcare, Infrastructure - Broadband and Workforce/Education.
Gubernatorial Candidates - In addition to the legislators at the Summit, the 09 gubernatorial candidates and their rural staff along with other statewide candidates attended the Rural Summit. Gubernatorial Candidates Bob McDonnell and staff member attended, Creigh Deeds and Bryon Moran had staff attend on their behalf. Statewide candidate for Lt. Governor, Jon Bowerbank and for Attorney General, John Brownlee.
Partnership Events - On Monday evening, a Rural Caucus meeting and board orientation were held, and on Tuesday afternoon the Virginia Economic Bridge Board of Directors met, and SRI International held a session on rural assessments and evaluation of regional economies.
The Honorable Kathy Byron was moderator of the Workforce/Education Panel Discussion
Delegate Byron’s comments included: Knowing how to operate the tools of yesterday means nothing if Virginia plans to succeed as the economy of tomorrow. We can install and buy ourselves all the high-technology and high-speed infrastructure we want, but without humans who know how to operate the tools of today and tomorrow, we’ll truly be left behind.
It is important that rural Virginia meet the challenge to compete for jobs in the 21st century. Being competitive in a technology-driven, global economy is both a challenge and a necessity. How do we prepare our workforce with the necessary knowledge and technical skills? What does higher education do? What are business and industry doing? What state policy changes are needed to advance our rural workforce? Strong partnerships between education and business and industry can be the vehicle to transition our workforce system.
Delegate Byron was joined by Dr. Glenn Dubois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System who gave an overview of the community college system’s mission of workforce development, where it stands today, and where it’s heading, and the importance of business and educational partnerships.
Dr. Darrell W. Statt, President of the Central Virginia Community College gave an overview of his community college’s work and his take on the status of the workforce here in Central Virginia, and where we need to go to get where we want to be.
Edwin ‘Ed’ Whitmore, the Administrator of Smyth County discussed the effects of the job losses in Smyth County, what some of the key issues are that impact employment in Southwest Virginia, what companies and the communities are doing to mitigate those losses, and what it needs to fully get back on its feet.
As Governor Kaine and Secretary Chopra had discussed at the recent COVITS Conference, the Governor’s Broadband Roundtable has completed its work. Their hope is that all of the resources they have developed will be put to good use by communities around Virginia. There are also some policy items at the state and local level that were identified during the panel’s work and those were the focus of Summit Broadband Panel Discussion.
The Honorable Phillip Puckett facilitated the panel of experts in a discussion of proposed policy changes and how they can help create a broadband friendly environment.
The Senator recognized the Governors Broadband Roundtable Report and the policy issues that the report identified in regard to completing broadband deployment into rural areas.
Each panelist had their own unique experience to draw from in helping us understand how public policy affects broadband deployment, and each of them addressed a different policy area that they have had direct experience with.
Robert Woltz, President of Verizon Virginia, and a member of the governor’s Roundtable is the largest provider of broadband services in rural Virginia. He’s a native of Southside, and a strong advocate for rural Virginia. Robert talked about the need for a long-term sustainable model in order for broadband to be successful in rural communities. He noted that in sparsely populated rural areas, cooperative use of resources by public and private entities is important. Further, there are still public policy issues at both the local and state level that can be addressed to improve this model, and bring new opportunities to the rural areas. |
The 2008 Council for Rural Virginia Recognition Award is to honor Senator Hanger for his outstanding commitment and service to innovative solutions for the advancement of rural communities in the Commonwealth.
Senator Hanger is a founding member of the Center for Rural Virginia, and a former Board of Trustee. He chaired the Center Council Committee that established the Collaborative Activities Agreement between the Center (a state codified non-profit organization) and the Council for Rural Virginia (a federal non-profit organization) both functioning as one organization with the mission of developing networks and coalitions to leverage rural resources and advocating for public policy.
Thank you Senator Hanger for your service to the Center and Council and to rural Virginia.
Thank You – 2008 Summit Sponsors
__________________ Virginia Rural Health Association’s Annual Conference November 6-7, 2008, Staunton, VA
Continuation of Healthcare Discussions for
Rural Solutions for Rural Areas: It should be noted that just as rural Virginia has unique problems, it also needs unique solutions. The Institute of Medicine report, Quality Through Collaboration: The Future of Rural Health states, “Most quality initiatives in the United States have been developed with urban health care features in mind and as a result have not always been directly applicable to rural health care settings. It will be necessary to determine the rural relevance of quality efforts broadly.”
Healthcare in rural Virginia cannot continue to operate under an urban/suburban model of care anymore than we can fit a round peg into the proverbial square hole. More emphasis is needed on the development of rural models of care that includes community engagement and funding for pilot projects. You’re invited to explore unique rural healthcare solutions with the Virginia Rural Health Association at our 2008 Annual Conference November 6 & 7 in Staunton, Va. The conference will focus on portions of Virginia’s State Rural Health Plan (http://www.va-srhp.org/). Sessions will include a panel discussion on improving Dental Health Access, Innovations in Mid-Level Providers, Rural Models for OB Care, Technology in Rural Areas and more! For more information about the conference, visit http://www.vrha.org/08Conference.html
At the Summit
Senator Ruff, Delegate Landes, Glen Sink, Oliver McBride
Jane Wills - Tuesday Presentation
Virginia Housing Development Authority
Laurie Moran, Martha Walker and Fletcher Mangum
Delegate Landes, Oliver McBride and Senator Hanger
Senator Puckett
Paul Stapleton, Dr. Dixie Rawlins, Delegate Nutter, Dr. John Kauffman
Secretary Bloxom, Carollyn Peerman Senator Ruff, Sheryl Baily |
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Summary The 2008 Virginia Rural Summit, arranged jointly by the Council and Center, brought together “Virginia Experts” in Healthcare, Infrastructure-Broadband and Education-Workforce. This group, joined by elected officials and policy makers, and by each attendee made the event the most successful rural Summit record.
As a “Thank You”, the October Rural View is dedicated to each of you for the time and effort you gave.
Recognizing that you should be involved was the first step. Your presence at the Summit affirmed that you are an integral part of the policy making process. You gained a greater awareness about some of the critical issues facing rural communities, and recognized your role as we work together for greater opportunities and a stronger rural economy.
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Lead by the Honorable Emmett Hanger, Jr., 24th District of Virginia with guest speakers the Honorable Dave Nutter, 7th District of Virginia, John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, FACOEM, Director, Cumberland Plateau Health District and the Honorable Lynwood Lewis, 100th District of Virginia
1. The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Rural Health Association lead the process over the past year of bringing building the networks to produce Virginia’s Rural Health Strategic Plan. 2. Our expected outcome was to produce of the healthcare plenary was to come away with points that may be taken to the General Assembly for policy action in the 2009. 3. Delegate Dave Nutter, a member of the Joint Commission on Healthcare, was part of the group and knowledgeable of areas to be presented to the Joint Commission on Healthcare for consideration. Also, the Summit partners – VACo and VML will consider these issues for their annual meeting and the Center and Council will address them for policy positions at the next board meetings.
The current state rural healthcare plan (draft) was developed through the hard work of stakeholders/partners serving on four different work groups: • Access Council: Examining rural health care access issues related to primary care, specialty care, emergency medical services, and mental and dental health care in order to make recommendations for improving health care access. • Quality Council: Examining rural health care quality issues in order to make recommendations for quality improvement efforts and/or activities. • Data and Rural Definitions Council: Examining available rural health data and identifies data gaps in order to make recommendations for future data collection efforts and/or activities. • Workforce Council: Examining available resources and issues in order to make recommendations for improving the health care workforce in rural Virginia.
• Assess the current status of mid-level practitioners in Virginia • Build data capacity to (1) forecast future workforce needs, (2) assess what services are actually being provided and (3) assess economic impact of shortage designations • Develop / support educational opportunities for integrating primary care with behavioral health • Identify models of care in other rural areas around the nation and internationally, including telehealth models • Research existing model programs that integrate primary care and mental health within VA (e.g., Central VA Health Svcs, New Horizons, Saltville) and in other states-MN, Maine, etc • Promote a statewide telehealth system for specialty health care (especially mental health) and education.
More Summit information will be posted on our website.
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Honorable
Emmett W. Hanger, Jr., of the Shenandoah Valley received the
2008 Council for Rural Virginia Award.
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