Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.
Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.
Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.
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Director shares Progress at Retreat in Luray<br />
On January 28th and 29th, Executive Director Lafayette Dickens attended<br />
a Virginia Main Street Managers Retreat in Luray. All Main<br />
Street Directors were required to attend<br />
but we wouldn’t feel too sorry<br />
for them. They stayed at the historic<br />
Mimslyn Inn. And, according to<br />
Lafayette, “The experience was made<br />
all the more magical by the snowy<br />
winter wonderland setting.”<br />
The retreat spanned two days during<br />
which Main Street managers from all<br />
over the state got a chance to share their successes and best practices as<br />
well as challenges. The sessions covered included work planning and<br />
why that is important, roles and responsibilities of managers, and effective<br />
committee management.<br />
Lafayette reports that he returned from<br />
the retreat invigorated and eager to implement<br />
some of the ideas for benefit of<br />
<strong>Blackstone</strong>. He wasn’t just talk. One of<br />
the ideas recently embraced is participation<br />
in a blog that should help <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />
businesses and residents gain<br />
some new perspective and be a valuable<br />
source of fresh,<br />
new ideas. For<br />
more information on the blog, see the inset.<br />
Visit the Virginia Main Street blog...<br />
http://dhcdvms.wordpress.com<br />
Among the timely topics: Recession Advertising,<br />
23 Ideas for Tough Times, Focus & Attitude.<br />
Add your 2¢ worth!<br />
The <strong>Downtown</strong> <strong>Blackstone</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>. Board of Directors:<br />
• Joe Allman, Chairman - Fisher & Allman<br />
• Janette Baranishyn, Vice Chairman - <strong>Blackstone</strong> Antique & Craft Mall<br />
• Shirley Wilkins, Secretary - Moncure Insurance Agency<br />
• Joe Borgerding, Treasurer - Citizens Bank & Trust Company<br />
• Ben Green, Councilman - Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />
• C. Duncan Quicke, Councilman - Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />
• Beth Winn, Economic Restructuring Chair - <strong>Blackstone</strong> Emporium<br />
• Louis Malon, Design Committee Chair - APVA Preservation Virginia<br />
• Francis Gilmore, Gilmore Environmental Consulting<br />
• Barbara Gibbs, Ex-Officio, <strong>Blackstone</strong> Chamber of Commerce<br />
• Larry Palmore, Ex-Officio, Town Manager, Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />
• Lafayette Dickens, Ex-Officio, Program Manager, DBI<br />
Key DBi volunteer Field Green (Promotions and Organization<br />
Committees and DBi webmaster) has been busy<br />
with other efforts as well since last Fall. She is co-chair<br />
of Leadership Nottoway, a ten-session program that provides,<br />
among other things, insight into the area’s strategic<br />
plans for economic development. This year’s class,<br />
which included DBi Executive Director<br />
Lafayette Dickens, just<br />
graduated. They concluded the<br />
program with the presentation of<br />
team projects which focused on<br />
photo<br />
ways to improve our community.<br />
The next Leadership Nottoway<br />
class will begin in 2010.<br />
DBi Committees:<br />
DESIGN<br />
Louis Malon, Chairman<br />
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DBi members play key roles in<br />
Leadership Nottoway<br />
DBi to team up with <strong>Blackstone</strong> Rotary<br />
to get <strong>Downtown</strong> Cleaned up.<br />
In an effort to get and keep the downtown area free of<br />
trash and weeds and other unsightly things, DBi is partnering<br />
with The <strong>Blackstone</strong> Rotary Club on a clean-up<br />
strategy. Under the direction of Myra Quicke, Rotary<br />
has held regular clean-ups including a community cleanup<br />
day each Spring. As a town, we owe them a lot for<br />
their efforts. Thank you, Rotarians!!!<br />
DBi Excited About New Community<br />
Theater Productions at Mitchell’s<br />
Have you heard? Mitchell’s now has a stage and will be<br />
the site of regular community theater productions starting<br />
in May. What a great development for downtown!<br />
The brainchild of Tilly Conley, the productions will also<br />
be directed by her. Tilly directed the popular and successful<br />
“Sound of Music” last year. The first production<br />
will be “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Acting classes are also<br />
being held. Check out the Courier-Record for more info.<br />
PROMOTION<br />
Sara Ryan, Chairman<br />
ECONOMIC<br />
RESTRUCTURING<br />
Beth Winn, Chairman<br />
ORGANIZATION<br />
Joe Allman, Chairman