The Ticker: YP Expo is TOMORROW!
June 20, 2007, 12:41 pm
Filed under:
35203,
AL,
Birmingham,
Birmingham Alabama,
Birmingham, AL,
Civic Engagement,
civic/service organizations,
Commentary,
COOL Community Task Force,
The Ticker,
urban issues,
yp events
I’m writing here and everywhere else that I can because I strongly believe in what this event can accomplish. More than an opportunity to mingle and take advantage of a cash bar, it is what will hopefully become the first of many times that the young professional community in Birmingham comes together, network, and identify ways that we can move the city forward.
It partially grew out of a white paper I wrote nearly two years ago (and published here) and is the first of two unique opportunities for the YP community this year. It also grew out of the hard work and discussions among those that participated in the Chamber’s COOL Community Task Force and the organizations that have stepped up to make tomorrow happen.
A lot has changed since writing it, most notably the level of communication that is beginning to exist among these organizations and hopefully the rest of the community.
I’m hoping to see many of you out there tomorrow night. It’s a great way to start off a busy weekend of fun…
It’s the first ever YP expo for Birmingham! Come and find out how to get involved with more than 20 young professional organizations from around the Birmingham metropolitan area!
It’s free and open to the public, so come on out and enjoy the networking + The Spots!
Here’s the calendar entry on The Terminal:
http://bhamterminal.com/blog/2007/06/20/yp-expo-innovation-depot/
and here’s the info page for the event:
http://ypnow.org/YP-EXPO-2007_41_ev.htm
Look forward to seeing you there!
& PLEASE REPOST if you can!
Enjoy the day!
Cheers.
Hey…The YP expo is on!
May 10, 2007, 7:47 am
Filed under:
AL,
B'ham social events,
Birmingham,
Birmingham Alabama,
Birmingham, AL,
Cities,
Civic Engagement,
civic/service organizations,
COOL Community Task Force,
urban issues,
yp events
I was wondering when I’d find an excuse to stumble on over here and say hello. It’s not like I’ve been wanting to ignore the site, it’s just been a little hectic, that’s all. More about life in general later on today…
Anyway, I received an email from Alison Howell at the Chamber that made a hectic day a little bit easier to enjoy. I already knew that the YP roundtable expo was going to happen this year; the main issue was the location and the time of year. We got approval last week for use of the Innovation Depot for the event on June 21. The Terminal of course has a brief post about the event 🙂
Those that have followed the efforts on this site probably know how excited I am personally to see just how the event takes shape. My interest in this effort started late 2005 when I suggested that we should heed the words of those calling for leaders in the community to work together. This page on the site gives some references to how it happened. TechBirmingham took the idea and ran with it when no one believed it could work and made an instant impact with TechMixer and TechCouncil.
It morphed into what became a proposal to meet, talk, and help each other as civic organizations (and eventually junior boards) to make Birmingham, Alabama a better place. While there are those that would say that one person deserves credit, everyone that has worked to move this project forward, from the COOL Community Task Force to the leaders of our 20+ organizations that have made contact with our roundtable so far, needs to be applauded. They will be the same ones who will continue to push for candid conversations among our region’s leadership as time goes by. So far it’s led to a better grasp for our community overall in understanding just what we have and communications tools such as a new website and an email list. The sky’s the limit in terms of what can be accomplished.
The next step is to make sure that as many people know about the event as possible. So, let’s do it. It lands in the midst of a busy time for the city; let’s show them just how powerful this movement is becoming. I got told yesterday that I am too nice and positive on this site. I’d rather be positive and push for some changes than settle for things remaining the same, though it’s going to change regardless. We just have a chance to make it do what we want it to do, and I’m going to do my part in any way that I can.
Oh yeah, it’s nice to be back too 🙂
I’ll catch you later on today.
Cheers.
The Ramble: Inclusion or apology? A question for Birmingham’s council
March 31, 2007, 7:29 am
Filed under:
AL,
Alabama Politics,
baseball,
Birmingham,
Birmingham Alabama,
Birmingham, AL,
Cities,
Civic Engagement,
Civil Rights,
Commentary,
Cooper River Bridge Run,
Dr. Martin Luther King,
News Media (as source & subject),
people,
The Birmingham News,
The Rambles,
urban issues
The nuances of the 2007 mayoral campaign in Birmingham, Alabama have begun, despite efforts to the contrary. Though it speaks to a much broader issue.
Councilwoman Valerie Abbott presented a resolution at the most recent city council meeting that has been adopted by “…167 cities and towns in 40 states, representing more than 16.9 million people” according to the National League of Cities official website, specifically the page describing their Partnership for Working Towards Inclusive Communities. Rather than repost the resolution here for those that are not familiar with it, I’ll link to Kathy’s post of the document. I found it slightly disturbing that the resolution did not pass, especially considering this council’s somewhat public record of supporting initiatives that would lead the city towards what many consider its rightful place among the South’s elite. I’d read before hopping on a plane for an extremely long flight back from Seattle that the resolution would be reintroduced with opportunities to tweak as necessary, so I figured that it was only a matter of time before the council approved words that better reflected their agenda, though I was starting to doubt just what that agenda is.
Then, as I’m getting ready to run the Cooper River Bridge Run Saturday morning (I’m runner #26726 – results are normally up late Saturday if you’re interested) I decide to hop on my friend’s laptop and see what the latest is from town. Imagine my surprise when I see that a resolution will be introduced at Tuesday meeting by Frank Matthews apologizing for slavery that will be introduced by Councilor Hoyt. (FYI – comments are closed for the linked News article post.)
At first glance, it would make some sense, except when you realize that the city of Birmingham did not exist until after the end of the Civil War. Slavery could be pointed to as a reason for the levels of racial discrimination that still at times seem to permeate the city even as members of the same race nitpick about what it truly means to be “black” or “white” as we progress into the 21st century. I guess it bothers me plenty considering that this will probably be finished at 1 a.m. and I have to be awake at 5:20 a.m. (though you probably won’t be reading this until 7:30 a.m., about the time every year when I ask myself why in the world am I getting ready to run over this bridge AGAIN?) Read on though… Continue reading →
Helping Hand: Meals on Wheels seeks volunteers
February 21, 2007, 3:00 pm
Filed under:
AL,
Birmingham,
Birmingham Alabama,
Birmingham, AL,
Civic Engagement,
Helping Hand,
Jefferson County,
Meals on Wheels,
volunteerism
The following is taken from an entry posted on Birmingham Freecycle by Alma Moore, the volunteer coordinator for the Jefferson County Meals on Wheels program administered by the Jefferson County Council on Aging:
Meals on Wheels of Jefferson County is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to senior citizens in Jefferson County. Our program relies heavily upon a large volunteer force that delivers meals to about 75% of our clients. We deliver approximately 740 meals a day Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Of our 64 routes, 57 are delivered by volunteers. The other 7 are delivered by staff members. We could not offer this service to the senior citizens of Jefferson County without our dedicated volunteers.
We are currently looking for volunteers to deliver meals on routes in various parts of the county. A route consists of 10-15 clients. Most of our volunteers deliver 1-2 days a month. Some more often, some less.
We currently need volunteers for the following days/routes:
(IF YOU DO NOT SEE A DAY/ROUTE THAT FITS YOUR SCHEDULE, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SUBS IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT CAN DELIVER WHEN THE REGULAR VOLUNTEER IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT).
- BESSEMER: 1st week of the month(you can volunteer for one or all days of this week),3rd Friday, 5th Thursday, 5th Friday
- HUEYTOWN: 2nd Thursday, 5th Monday, 5th Tuesday, 5th Thursday
- PLEASANT GROVE: 1st Monday
- FAIRFIELD: Every other Friday
- TITUSVILLE: 5th Monday, 5th Friday
- HOMEWOOD: 3rd Wednesday, 4th Wednesday, 5th Wednesday
- IRONDALE: 1st Friday, 3rd Friday, 4th Friday, 5th Friday
- CENTER POINT: 2nd Monday
- TRUSSVILLE: 2nd Thursday
- FORESTDALE: 4th Friday, 5th Tuesday, 5th Friday
- FOREST PARK: Every other Friday, 5th Thursday
- CRESTWOOD: 5th Tuesday, 5th Friday
- BLUFF PARK: 2nd Thursday
- VESTAVIA: 1st Friday, 5th Monday
- GARDENDALE: 3rd Monday, 5th Friday
You can contact Moore via e-mail at amooremow@bellsouth.net. We will need you to complete a volunteer application and authorization to run a criminal background check and motor vehicle report. She says that she can email the forms to you to complete, sign and fax back to her.
If you have questions, you can also call her at 592-0413, ext. 4, Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 3:30 p.m. Please try not to call during delivery hours as our phones are very busy due to meals are being delivered.
Let her know if you’re interested.
Cheers.
Sometimes it pays to be a member…
February 20, 2007, 8:29 am
Filed under:
AL,
art,
B'ham social events,
Birmingham,
Birmingham Alabama,
Birmingham Museum of Art,
Birmingham, AL,
Catalyst,
Cities,
Civic Engagement,
civic/service organizations,
cultural institutions,
Junior Patrons,
News Media (as source & subject),
TechBirmingham,
urban issues,
Year of Alabama Art,
yp events
Or rather there are some really cool benefits. An e-mail that arrived in the inbox yesterday evening announced that the ONB Magic City Art Connection is presenting an e-Art Loan program. Similar programs have become quite popular in other cities, where people are able to enjoy art in new and creative ways.
Entry into the contest is limited to members of Catalyst, TechBirmingham and the Junior Patrons at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
A new piece of art will be featured bi-monthly according to the contest site on al.com, with the drawing for this current piece, Petition Series: In the Morning… by Peter Whitting of Pikesville, MD, (pictured to your left) being “loaned” on February 23 with the feature announced on March 1.
Other organizations interested in participating in the art loan program are invited to contact ONB Magic City Art Connection director Eileen Kunzman at 595.6306 or via e-mail at findart@bham.rr.com.
It’s definitely an interesting way to get the word out about this year’s festival, scheduled for April 27-29 in Linn Park. It was also a great way to remind people about this year’s Art Bash on March 31.
This would also be a good place to mention that if you’re not planning to attend Cool School this evening, or if you’re just not quite ready for Mardi Gras/Carnival to end, that there’s a little party going on at the Museum’s new Alabama Folk Art Gallery at the Young & Vann building downtown this evening beginning at 5:30 p.m.
More later,
Cheers.
Filed under: 35203, AL, Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Civic Engagement, civic/service organizations, Commentary, COOL Community Task Force, The Ticker, urban issues, yp events
I’m writing here and everywhere else that I can because I strongly believe in what this event can accomplish. More than an opportunity to mingle and take advantage of a cash bar, it is what will hopefully become the first of many times that the young professional community in Birmingham comes together, network, and identify ways that we can move the city forward.
It partially grew out of a white paper I wrote nearly two years ago (and published here) and is the first of two unique opportunities for the YP community this year. It also grew out of the hard work and discussions among those that participated in the Chamber’s COOL Community Task Force and the organizations that have stepped up to make tomorrow happen.
A lot has changed since writing it, most notably the level of communication that is beginning to exist among these organizations and hopefully the rest of the community.
I’m hoping to see many of you out there tomorrow night. It’s a great way to start off a busy weekend of fun…
It’s the first ever YP expo for Birmingham! Come and find out how to get involved with more than 20 young professional organizations from around the Birmingham metropolitan area!
It’s free and open to the public, so come on out and enjoy the networking + The Spots!
Here’s the calendar entry on The Terminal:
http://bhamterminal.com/blog/2007/06/20/yp-expo-innovation-depot/
and here’s the info page for the event:
http://ypnow.org/YP-EXPO-2007_41_ev.htm
Look forward to seeing you there!
& PLEASE REPOST if you can!
Enjoy the day!
Cheers.