Agenda announced for regional summit at NSU
In November 2009, Northeastern State University hosted a regional summit, "Giving Voice to Our Region: Leaders Crossing Borders to Build the Economy and Our Communities."
On October 26-27 NSU will hold a continuation of that summit, Regionalism: a United Voice for a Shared Vision.
The regional summit agenda is busy and compact. Participants will be engaged for the duration of the summit.
Registration is 8-9 a.m. on Tuesday. Also beginning at 8 a.m. is the Networking Breakfast and plan review. At 8:45, the welcoming address is given and at 9:15, the keynote address is delivered by Victor Vasquez, rural development deputy undersecretary.
Summit attendees receive a break at 10 a.m. followed by the Northeastern Oklahoma Regional Plan overview at 10:15.
The plan review will begin at 11 a.m. Attendees can move from room to room to individually review the Draft Plan and Action Steps.
After a 30-minute lunch break, attendees resume summit activities with the afternoon keynote address given by Vince Orza, dean of the Meinders School of Business.
Beginning at 1:30 p.m. are the Regional Plan Conversations covering topics that include natural and cultural resources, infrastructure, skilled and ready workforce, entrepreneurship and business expansion, leadership, socioeconomic issues, higher and vocational education and common vision, common voice.
Two resource sessions, Building Regions and Communities through Asset Building and Planning at the Community Level and Coordination of Community Plans, are from 3:15 to 4:40 p.m. The working session, Presentation of the Regional Plan and Call to Action runs from 4:40 to 5 p.m.
Wrapping the events for Oct. 26 is the networking reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
Day two of the summit begins at 7:15 a.m. with registration and the Legislative Breakfast. Attending the breakfast will be federal, tribal, state, county and local officials.
Town Hall meetings consisting of federal, regional and state legislators are from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by the summit wrap-up.
Post summit workshops are from 1 to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided for all workshop attendees.
The first workshop is Join The Green Team, addressing green business practices.
It is a green workshop, where several local businesses in the region will highlight ways that they have gone green in their business processes, said Rachel Farinelli, director of Continuing Education.
The second workshop is Technology in Education and is presented by Apple Inc.
We are very excited about the participation in this years summit," said Farinelli. "The purpose of this years gathering is to finalize our Regional Strategic Plan. Goals and Action Steps have been finalized from several workgroups held throughout the summer months, and now its time to put the finishing touches on the regional plan.
Founding summit partners are the Sequoyah Adair Cherokee County Empowerment Zone, the Cherokee Nation and NSU, though many other organizations and entities are involved.
Early registration is $50 for general attendance, which includes the Networking Breakfast, the Legislative Breakfast, and lunch and activities for both days. Early registration for either day is $25. After Oct. 15, fees will be $75 and $35 respectively.
To learn more about the work of the regional summit, visit www.neokregion.org.