|
myregion.org is. . . |
| |
|
An organization of citizens and leaders from public, private and institutional sectors who have launched a program to prepare the Central Florida Region to compete more effectively in the 21st century while enhancing the quality of life of its citizenry. | |
| |
|
Upcoming Dates |
March 7, 2008
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
myregion.org Executive Committee
Location: Seminole Community College - Heathrow Campus
March 7, 2008
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
myregion.org New Board Member Orientation
Location: Seminole Community College - Heathrow Campus
March 28, 2008
11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
myregion.org Board of Directors Meeting
Location: TBD
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|  |
|
|
Congress of Regional Leaders Meeting
|
|
February 7, 2008
Congress of Regional Leaders Holds First Meeting of 2008
A mixture of old and new faces were at the table as the Congress of Regional Leaders convened for the first time in the new year on Friday, February 1, 2008.
The Congress, which was originally created a year ago as part of the “How Shall We Grow?” campaign, includes the Chairman (or representative) from each of the seven county commissions, a Mayor representing all the City Mayors in each county and two members of the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition.
In July 2007, the representative members of the Congress publicly signed a pledge to the citizens of the region that as elected officials, they will work to ensure the Central Florida Growth Vision becomes reality. Two documents were created—the Central Florida Compact and a Regional Policy Framework. These two documents support what matters most to Central Florida residents as regional leaders take steps together to implement a Shared Growth Vision. These documents will guide the work of the Congress of Regional Leaders.
As outlined in the Regional Compact, the Congress will:
| · Develop appropriate regional policies; |
| · Promote understanding and support of the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision; |
| · Monitor progress toward the Vision, and; |
| · Develop a process for updating the Vision to respond to evolving regional trends |
To kickoff the first meeting of 2008, five new Regional Leaders joined the original 16 members of the Congress by adding their signatures to the Compact. Signing the compact were:
- The Honorable Brenda Carey, Seminole County Chair
- The Honorable Nancy Clutts, Mayor of Tavares
- The Honorable Chuck Nelson, Brevard County Commissioner
- The Honorable Jean Reed, Polk County Commissioner
- The Honorable Bill Segal, Orange County Commissioner
Under the organizational structure for the Congress, which was approved in December, myregion.org serves as the coordinating organization for the committee. myregion.org is one of the four business units of the newly created Central Florida Partnership. Des Cummings, the Chair of the Partnership, provided a brief overview of the Partnership and their mission to help Central Florida move onto the global stage.
He described each of the four units using a key word to quantify their important to the region:
| · The Orlando Regional Chamber is about “Regional Vitality.” (Vitality) |
| · myregion.org is about “Regional Strength” (Strength) |
| · Leadership Orlando is about “Personal Development.” (People) |
| · BusinessForce is about “Positive Public Policy.” (Voice) |
Cummings summed up the goals of the Partnership by defining excellence.
“Excellence is caring more than others think is wise, dreaming more than others think is practical, risking more than others think is prudent, and expecting more than others think is possible.
The Central Florida Partnership is committed to advancing the excellence of our community and through the involvement of myregion.org as the supporting organization for the Congress of Regional Leaders will serve as a conduit between the business community and the elected leaders of the region.
Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno, the Chairman of the Congress, then gave a brief overview about the role of the Congress and some of the efforts that cities and counties across the region are currently undertaking that support the principles outlined in the Regional Growth Vision.
Examples of efforts currently underway include:
| · City and County leaders from four counties approved the first 61 miles of Commuter Rail in Central Florida |
| · Osceola and Volusia Counties have both identified areas where future development can occur, ensuring green space for generations to come. |
| · Seven counties are reaching agreement on a Regional Green Print, which will identify the areas of the region that are the most environmentally sensitive. |
Phil Laurien, Executive Director of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, updated the congress on the efforts being made to establish the regional Green Print. The committee has recommended there to be two maps developed: a baseline map that features areas that received complete consensus from county and environmental leaders from across Central Florida and a second map that includes those areas, plus additional areas of importance for that county. Counties and cities would then have access to both maps when making future land use decisions.
The next meeting of the Congress of Regional Leaders will be held on Friday, May 2, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the METROPLAN ORLANDO offices in Orlando. You can read more about the Congress of Regional Leaders at www.myregion.org.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
|
|
|
