Celebrate West Virginia’s Statehood by Helping Others Grow Network
Written by Jason Keeling on June 20, 2010
Today marks the 147th anniversary of West Virginia’s statehood. In celebration, several people from the Mountain State’s online community have offered submissions for this year’s “a Better West Virginia Network” initiative, outlining needs that exist within their organizational, business, and personal efforts.
As you peruse the various essays below, perhaps you can help participants make a worthwhile connection. Doing so is a great way to move West Virginia forward and demonstrate the Web’s potential to facilitate positive actions.
Thanks to everyone that has submitted blog comments, blog posts, and/or Twitter updates relating to the networking theme. Additional blog submissions will be linked as they are made available, or simply post your thoughts via comment.
- Able Families, Barry Hudock: Celebrating West Virginia Day
- Charleston Area Alliance: Celebrate West Virginia’s Statehood by Helping Others Grow a Network
- Create WV, Jeff James: Calling All Creative Ex-Pats
- Esse Diem, Elizabeth Gaucher: Seeking Writers for Essays on a West Virginia Childhood
- Kanawha Valley Live, Steven Adams: West Virginia Businesses Need to Embrace Internet Advertising
- LeaderTalk, Mountain State University, Becky Robinson: West Virginia Day
- Marketing Genius, Skip Lineberg: Reach Beyond Your Network on West Virginia Day
- Oncee@Blogger, Bill Gardner: West Virginia Needs a Better Hacker Community
- Robin’s Desktop, Robin Holstein: Virtual Networking for a Better West Virginia
- Wabi-Sabi, Jim McKay: West Virginia: Where Every Baby is Safe and Sound
- WV Entrepreneur, Mark Burdette: Support Youth Entrepreneurship in West Virginia
Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, West Virginia
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June 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
West Virginia: Are We Really as Bad as We Think?
Last year, I traveled around the state as part of Leadership West Virginia. I know everyone says the best part of that program is the friendships you make with fellow participants, and they’re right. I met some great people.
In fact, I’ve met so many great people in this state since I moved home in 2000 that the stereotypical image we fight against seems just that. A cartoon.
Sure, it exists. A quick search of “West Virginia” on You Tube will put you face-to-face with the worst of our state. The question is, why did it take a mining tragedy this year for the world to see the best?
To be honest, I had fully intended to sit down today and write a slightly acerbic post about the state of leadership in West Virginia but, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had less to rant about than I thought.
Generation West Virginia, for example, has grown from zero groups in 2005 to more than 11 today, and most of those have sprung up in the last year.
How can I complain about that?
In addition, I know a twenty-something candidate for House of Delegates who is sticking to her values and staying the race despite a (frankly alarming) brush with the ugly side of politics.
That’s leadership, right?
And, as I write this, FestivALL is going on in downtown Charleston, an event that requires hundreds of volunteers to “step up” and give their time to make our city a better place to live.
Why would I criticize a lack of leadership when there is so much of it going on around me right now?
Could we do more? Absolutely. Do we need more volunteers? Always. Do we need more value-driven and less ego-driven politicians in charge? Of course, but that’s not a problem unique to our state at all.
So, fair enough West Virginia. While there’s still much to be done, I’m going to give you something you don’t receive often enough. A hearty “Thanks” from a proud resident. And that is perhaps the best birthday gift of all.
June 20th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Well said, Emily.
June 20th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
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