52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership, Week 35: The New Heroes - YOU

Social Entrepreneurship
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

It all started with an inbox invitation; some big names are doing the inviting, presenting and sponsoring for an event titled Virginia Social Entrepreneurship Networking.  Individually, I understand each of those terms, but collectively, I don't know what they mean.  And, after some research, I'm still not sure I do, but I'm definitely interested now.

One of the best, and most inspiring, definitions was published by PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) in 2005.  Most people, myself included, tend to feel that PBS is a worthy, unbiased source.  They call Social Entrepreneurs "the new heroes" and showcased fourteen.

A social entrepreneur identifies and solves social problems on a large scale. Just as business entrepreneurs create and transform whole industries, social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss in order to improve systems, invent and disseminate new approaches and advance sustainable solutions that create social value.

Unlike traditional business entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs primarily seek to generate "social value" rather than profits. And unlike the majority of non-profit organizations, their work is targeted not only towards immediate, small-scale effects, but sweeping, long-term change.

The job of a social entrepreneur is to recognize when a part of society is stuck and to provide new ways to get it unstuck. He or she finds what is not working and solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading entire societies to take new leaps.

Identifying and solving large-scale social problems requires a committed person with a vision and determination to persist in the face of daunting odds. Ultimately, social entrepreneurs are driven to produce measurable impact by opening up new pathways for the marginalized and disadvantaged, and unlocking society's full potential to effect social change.

The past two decades have seen an explosion of entrepreneurship and a healthy competition in the social sector, which has discovered what the business sector learned from the railroad, the stock market and the digital revolution: Nothing is as powerful as a big new idea if it is in the hands of a first class entrepreneur.

This revolution is fundamentally changing the way society organizes itself and the way we approach social problems.

"Social entrepreneurs identify resources where people only see problems. They view the villagers as the solution, not the passive beneficiary. They begin with the assumption of competence and unleash resources in the communities they're serving."

TThe definition seems fairly vague, but the idea is there - and encouraging.  If VRPSers sit back and take a look at their efforts, where do they see themselves fitting?  Are they part of the "new heroes" movement?

David Bornstein, author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 34, Location-Location-Location

Some of the loveliest places in the state - for 58 years ....
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

The biggest VRPS event of the year is Annual Conference.  As soon as one concludes, we begin planning for the next.  For the various committees, it is the opportunity to see their efforts come to fruition.  For the attendees, it is the privilege to reconnect and push comfort zones.  The 4-days are fun - filled with learning, socializing, exploring, networking, and more.  Take a look at some of the venues over the years:

1955	Hotel Richmond, Richmond	1985	Holiday Inn – Waterside, Norfolk
1956	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	1986	Richmond Hyatt, Richmond
1957	Hotel Jefferson, Richmond	1987	NC/VA Winston Salem, NC
1958	George Mason Hotel, Alexandria	1988	Tyson’s Corner Sheraton, Virginia
1959	Hotel Jefferson, Richmond	1989	NC/VA Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach
1960	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	1990	Hyatt Richmond, Richmond
1961	Hotel Jefferson, Richmond	1991	Sheraton / Marriott, Roanoke
1962	Hotel Jefferson, Richmond	1992	Williamsburg Hilton, Williamsburg
1963	Golden Triangle Motel, Norfolk	1993	Williamsburg Hilton, Williamsburg
1964	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	1994	Williamsburg Hilton, Williamsburg
1965	Marriott Twin Bridges, Washington, DC	1995	Hyatt Richmond, Richmond
1966	Golden Triangle Motel, Norfolk	1996	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
1967	Hotel Jefferson, Richmond	1997	Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach
1968	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	1998	Hampton Holiday Inn, Hampton
1969	Olde Colony Motor Lodge, Alexandria	1999	Richmond Marriott, Richmond
1970	Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach	2000	The Homestead, Bath County
1971	Natural Bridge Hotel, Natural Bridge	2001	Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg
1972	Hotel John Marshall, Richmond	2002	Portsmouth Renaissance, Portsmouth
1973	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	2003	The Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
1974	Ramada Inn Rosslyn, Arlington	2004	Hilton Mark Center, Alexandria
1975	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	2005	Hampton Road Confence Center, Hampton
1976	Omni Hotel, Norfolk	2006	Virginia Beach Convention Center
1977	Hyatt House, Richmond	2007	Williamsburg Hilton, Williamsburg
1978	Sheraton Motor Inn, Fredericksburg	2008	Richmond Convention Center, Richmond
1979	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke	2009	Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
1980	Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach	2010	Hampton Road Confence Center, Hampton
1981	Hotel John Marshall, Richmond	2011	Marriot Norfolk Waterside, Norfolk
1982	Sheraton National Hotel, Washington D.C.	2012	Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center
1983	Richmond Hyatt, Richmond	2013	Williamsburg Hotel & Conference Center
1984	Sheraton Airport Roanoke, Roanoke	2014	The Homestead, Bath County
		2015	Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront

How many have you attended?  Some of them aren't even in existence anymore, and some have been re-invented or re-named ... the future holds great promise.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 33, Longevity

Happy Birthday.
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

I got excited on Friday when I saw a post informing that it was Smokey the Bear's 69th birthday.  69!  I can still recall sending in my "application" and receiving my Smokey the Bear Club kit when I was a child ("Only YOU can prevent forest fires.").

Smokey's been around since before my time and hopefully long after.  He's iconic.  Forest fire prevention?  Think Smokey.

Now take a look at this list:

^{1953-54 Marshall Rotella}

^{1954-55 W.A. (Buck) Richardson}

^{1956-57 Marion Moody Hormachea}

^{1957-58 Floyd McKenna}

^{1958-59 W.H. Luther}

^{1959-61 Richard Ford}

^{1961-63 Howard Mast}

^{1963-65 Cecil Gilkerson}

^{1965-67 Harry Knight}

^{1967-69 Fred Williams}

^{1969-70 Constance Rollison McAdam}

^{1970-71 Walter Hanbury}

^{1971-72 Joseph Hensley}

^{1972-73 James Greiner}

^{1973-74 Darrell Shell}

^{1974-75 Donald Thorne}

^{1975-76 Leonidas Curtis}

^{1976-77 James A. Colley}

^{1977-78 Linda Odum}

^{1978-79 John Gilstrap}

^{1979-80 Dr. Michael Wise, CPRP}

^{1980-81 Shurl Montgomery}

^{1981-82 Tish Lindey}

^{1982-83 Susan Walston}

^{1983-84 Thomas Blekicki}

^{1984-85 Phil Hester}

^{1986 Ned Cheely, III, CPRP}

^{1987 J. Suzy Cooksey}

^{1988 L. Eldon James}

^{1989 Larry Zehnder}

^{1990 Stuart Connock}

^{1991 Mick Stewart}

^{1992 Pete Stith}

^{1993 John Gilstrap}

^{1994 Gary Huff}

^{1995 Dr. Doug Kennedy, CPRP}

^{1996 Dr. Bob Antozzi, CPRP}

^{1997 Michael Cadwallader}

^{1998 Charles Hester, CPRP}

^{1999 Cindy Curtis, CPRP}

^{2000 Carol Steele, CPRP}

^{2001 Greg Sager}

^{2002 Diane Ryburn, CPRP}

^{2003 Darrell Crittendon}

^{2004 Nancy Ellis, CPRP}

^{2005 Beth Wood-Whitley, CTRS}

^{2006 Sean Gleason}

^{2007 Cindy Messinger, CPRP}

^{2008 Kirk W. Kincannon, CPRP}

^{2009 Mike Morris}

^{2010 Lakita Frazier, CPRP
2011 Darrell Crittendon}

^{2012 Cindy Roeder}

^{2013 Katey Legg, CPRP}

^{2014 Art Thatcher, CPRP, AFO MPA}

That's 62 years of VRPS presidents.  Several of the names are on the list more than once.  Even more are on current boards and committees and play a part of the VRPS Foundation, changing roles to fill needs and vacancies.  Smokey may be a bit older, but VRPS has some contenders, even without the national recognition or the cool hat.

Only YOU can lead VRPS into the future.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 32, Sharp Teeth

It's SHARK WEEK.
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

What is Shark Week you might ask?  Well ...

Animal Planet celebrates Shark Week every year - July/August-ish - and spends an entire week celebrating these "cartilaginous" fish.

National Geographic has its own "Shark Fest" programming as well.

But the thing is, the shark thing has caught on.  Obviously, Virginia sports an entire Atlantic coast of shark-friendly waters.  But it's more than that.

http://herndon.wusa9.com/news/community-spirit/117755-local-cupcake-shop-features-shark-week-treats

There's a Facebook page for Shark Week, with plenty of followers and plenty of dialogue.  (Viewers are disappointed in the focus on the carnivorous side of sharks.)

Aquariums and water-side museums around the country have jumped on board the shark frenzy.  Radio stations.  Discovery Channel.  SyFy Channel ("Sharknado").  Whatever works - to interest the general public in the prime summer months.  What would the public's response be to local, outdoor activities tied to the frenzy?  While the television programming is at least making some headway, it is a sedentary effort on the part of viewers.