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Megan Cooper

Not an auspicious start…

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Before I start my car-less adventure (or as a friend read: careless adventure), I decided to practice. With a final destination less than three miles from my home and a beautiful sunny sky, testing out the newly prepped bike was a great idea.

I was meeting friends for one of those fun Dayton weekend festivals, so I didn’t have to be dressed up, but I was going for a certain level above shorts & t-shirt. So, fun strappy heels (with a solid back so they don’t fall off), crops and a blouse was selected. This was the perfect outfit for the destination as well as a short spring-time ride through a lovely local park.

Hills and Dales Park picture from Five Rivers MetroParks Web site

However, that short spring-time ride through that lovely park (aptly named HILLS and Dales) was a much larger challenge that I expected. Dear Lord, this must be why cycling is a sport!  The chain popped off due to my crazy gear-shifting in attempts to get up the first hill. A couple times (I’m ashamed to admit), I got off the bike and walked to the top of a hill. And of course, when I got where I was going, the sturdy bike lock that has been in the garage for over a year proved so sturdy that it was rusted shut. This was not the auspicious start to enjoying urban life on a bike.

What did I learn during this practice trip? Since I’m just days away from my week sans car (June 1 seemed so far away when I pitched this idea in February), I’m noting some important details. I’ll have to bring a bag along with me to hold some better shoes and perhaps a change of clothes. And I better check my route before I hop on that bike to make sure I’m avoiding the major hills (notice the lil’ caret like shapes, yup – HILLS).  And I’ll be buying a new bike lock.

Why do I share this embarrassment? Not because I want to dissuade anyone from embarking on a similar adventure, but rather because it demonstrates that even with excitement and research, nothing prepares you like experience. I’m done doing my homework about how this is going to work; I’m just going to dive in and find out.  I’m going to have more ridiculous failures like this, but at least they’ll only happen once. And if they happen to me, maybe they don’t have to happen to you.

Stay tuned for more successes and tragedies as I tackle the challenge of Driving Less and Living More. Next time you hear from me, I will officially be sans car. And (please), if you have any recommendations on things that work for you or pitfalls I should avoid, share your insights in the comments. Resources that will make this easier are always welcome!

Available Bike Parking

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SO, you want to ride your bike around town, but you don’t know where to park it to keep it safe? I’ve heard enough complaints about finding parking for cars (even though there’s this great Web site), so before I started letting my bike be a source of transportation, I wanted to know where to park it. If I have a meeting across town, would have I have park so far away that biking wouldn’t be worth it? Are there bike racks available that will make a stop downtown or in the Oregon District feasible for a quick lunch? I wanted to know.

Two emails and I had a great answer. First email – Five Rivers MetroParks (a pretty solid cycling authority). From there I was referred to Andrew Rodney at the City of Dayton who has “working list” that he’s developing for this purpose. Disclaimer – this list isn’t verified up to 100% of his satisfaction, but props to him for sharing it with me (and by extension you).

Address Location Amenity Covered Landmark
318 E 5th St Sidewalk Rack No Omega Records
123 W. Third St Garage Rack Yes City Hall Garage
131 South Main St Garage Rack Yes Reibold Garage
207 E. 4th Street, Sidewalk Rack No Drake’s Gym
215 E. 3rd Street Sidewalk Rack No Dayton Metro Library – Front Entrance
215 E. 3rd Street Park Rack No Branch Dayton Metro Library – Drive up Window
200 W. 2nd Street Plaza Rack No Federal Building – North Side
E. 1st Street at Main Street Sidewalk Rack No Victoria Theater
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Between Buildings 1 and 2
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Entrance to Building 7
E. 5th Street at Perry St Plaza Rack No Behind Building 14
4th and Perry Streets Parking Lot Rack No North of Building 9, along Perry
Monument at Patterson Blvd Plaza Rack No Main gate to 5/3 Field
E. 5th Street at Brown St Sidewalk Rack No Oregon Express
107 N. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Schuster Garage
600 E 2nd St Sidewalk Rack No 2nd Street Public Market
16 S. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Fifth Third Center Garage
Monument Ave. at Jefferson Sidewalk Rack No Riverscape
1394 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
1001 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Cornerstone Bar and Grill
430 E. Fifth Street Sidewalk Rack No Blind Bob’s
237 E. Monument Ave Sidewalk Rack No Five Rivers Bike Hub
371 W. Second St Sidewalk Rack No One Stop Center, west side
237 E. Monument Ave Indoor Bike Hub Yes Riverscape Metropark
Monument Avenue at I-75 N/A Trail Access No Under I-75
425 N. Findlay Street N/A Bike Shoppe Yes Life Enrichment Center
1102 Gateway Drive N/A BMX Track No Gateway BMX Track
1600 Princeton Drive Front Door Rack No Northwest Recreation Center
2021 W. Third St. Front Door Rack No Greater Dayton Recreation Center
2730 Lyons Road Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA South Hub
122 Elmhurst Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Westown Hub
1218 Falke Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Eastown Hub
4 S. Main Street Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Wright Stop Plaza
1134 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Starbucks

Watch out Road (specifically you in the cars)

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We all got the news last year that Dayton is an official Bronze Level Bike Friendly Community. We’ve got the yellow bikes downtown (are there any left?) and the new tri-cabs popping up. There are bike lanes and sharrows through the city and trails that lead all around the Miami Valley. Bikes are gaining prominence in our fair city as the weather turns warmer. So, I needed to know the most bike-friendly routes and where I could park as I prep for my week without a car.

I turned first to the internet. MY GOSH there are so many organizations and people in the region promoting biking. Since this experiment is less about recreation and more about transportation, I first went to the bike/walk map provided by the City of Dayton. Overall it’s a great tool, but when I see that it claims that Wayne Avenue is a bike-friendly road (albeit for experts only), I’m not quite sure that the map represents my reality. I’ll stick to the beginner routes. I’ll also give the City props for a working list of places to park a bike downtown. Andrew Rodney is working on this, and although he’s not 100% satisfied with its level of completion, it’s something to work with.

This bike needs a little help...

I also appreciated the bike portal provided by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission – great recreational info, but the portal also provided links specifically for the Bike Commuter. And if I ever feel totally alone in the adventure there’s:  Courteous Mass, Bicycle Buzz Miami Valley, Dayton Cycling Club, the Outdoor Evangelist, Five Rivers MetroParks, the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, and many, many more organizations and individual bloggers that share their experiences. I’m all info-ed up and ready to go!

Except that my bike has been sitting in a cold, wet, and icky garage for the last year. Some years I attempt to clean it up myself, but seeing as I have to actually rely on it and not just take some happy spins around the block, I’m leaving it up to the experts. I hit K&G Bike Shop (they have three around the region) for a “tune-up” and to be sure nothing was going to break.

John Duerr at K&G is getting my bike road ready

Good thing I went for the experts. As soon as I got there with my bike, friendly manager John took it from me and pointed out that I already had it set up in a pretty unsafe way. Okay – good lesson. For my seasonal tune up, they cleaned and oiled and realigned and inflated. Pretty much the basics of making sure that it’s not going to fall apart when I hit my first pothole.

While I was there I even picked up a helmet. I can’t tell you how hard that was for me. I grew up in a time when my parents sent my siblings and I out on bikes for the day just to get us out of their hair. We never used helmets! We went all over the city and through construction sites (that we stupidly usurped as our own little BMX park) and through scraped knees and broken arms we still remained helmet-less. But (I guess) I’m older and wiser and now I’m driving down busier streets. This adventure requires a helmet – but at least it’s pretty.

So, I’m now ready to go. Watch out road, here I come!

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Researching (and worrying about) RTA

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Pop Quiz

The bus system in Dayton is:
A) Difficult to Navigate
B) Expensive
C) Dangerous
D) Limited in Area

Okay – time’s up! What’s the answer?

Well – I can tell you that I don’t know. But I’m going to find out!   No gossip, no rumors – just my experiences exposed. If the bus late, dangerous, or annoying, I’m calling them out. But you’ll also know if the bus driver is helpful and if the routes are easy to navigate. I really don’t know what to expect, so you’ll know as I know.

As much as I’ve HEARD about taking the RTA (fodder for our lil’ pop quiz), most of the people who are talking don’t actually ride. And the people who do ride, don’t usually talk too much about it. So – I cornered my friend Jen who utilizes RTA as her main source of transportation and got her insights.

Well, mostly it works pretty well, if you’re staying in Dayton or close suburbs and if you’re traveling between 7 am and 6:30 pm weekdays. Traveling in the evening or weekends gets a lot trickier because bus frequency declines dramatically.

As far as bus clientele I rarely have problems. Occasionally the kids can be kind of loud, but most drivers will intervene if it’s excessive or if they’re being rude or crude. It’s usually a pretty friendly atmosphere.  And if there is someone acting strangely, there are other people experiencing it with you which can be kind of fun.

Another benefit I found when I took the bus to work was that extra 15-20 minutes before I had to be fully engaged. When I was driving to work I needed to be awake and alert. Taking the bus let me work into my day more gradually.

So, as I get closer to launching my week without a car, I’m gathering all the info I can about how I’ll get around. The RTA Web site has been my “go to” for this purpose. In case you want to try a similar adventure, I’m going to clue you into my process in hopes it makes things easier for you.

  • It surprised me when I found how easy it is to buy passes and tokens around town. I figured I’d have to go to a transit center. It makes it a lot easier to know I can get a pass when I’m doing the grocery shopping and just hop on the bus when I’m ready to ride.
  • RTA offers bike racks (yay!), but if the bike rack is full, you can’t bring your bike on board, you have to wait for the next bus (boo!). Maybe every time I get on the bus there will be one or fewer people who are also riding a bike. We’ll see. But if I have to wait for another bus b/c I can’t get on with my bike I’ll be annoyed.
  • Along the lines of scheduling – I’m confident about the bus that will get me to work, but I’m a little concerned about the buses that will take me home after meetings, dinners, shows, and nights out. The RTA schedule shows that my ideal route home stops running after 6 PM. Now, I realize I CAN get home another way (as long as I’m leaving the city by 11:30 PM), but it takes some research and planning and more late-night walking that I would choose.
  • One of the complaints I’ve heard is that RTA is notoriously late. On-line, they offer an “On Time Service Guarantee,” but that just means they won’t be more than 30 minutes late. And if they are, they give you a free pass. Sorry, but if I’m more than 30 minutes late to some meetings, I could have burned some major bridges.
  • In getting ready for this adventure (finding my routes, etc), and I have to report that the RTA Web site is not as user friendly as it could be. There are great resources – maps and recommended routes – but the maps are small when you print them out. And the “trip planner” (which gives you times, bus numbers and route options) didn’t recognize the addresses I plugged in. I had to put the same location in 5 different ways to get the system to recognize where I was trying to go! That said, there are other ways to discover what you need and I’m now the proud owner of a few route map brochures that I’ll keep with me. (Which is laggardly of me, but since I don’t have a smart phone to check for new schedules, a handful of paper maps suits me just fine.)

Am I adding to the negative stigma by being worried before I even step foot on the bus? Maybe. Maybe that says something about human nature. Maybe I’m just a worrier (thanks for passing THAT trait along, mom). Or maybe that’s one of the reasons RTA is getting a bad rap in Dayton these days – we do a little online research and give up without even stepping up on the bus. Whatever it is – I’m a few days closer to saying good-bye to my friend the car. I’m excited and nervous.

If you have any recommendations for smart bus riding tips, let me know!

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RTA has generously offered a few 7-day passes that DaytonMostMetro.com will be giving away as I chronicle my adventure. If you’re interested in giving it a shot yourself, you might just be able to win one! And if you want to have your say, RTA is soliciting feedback as they plan for the future – let them know what you need for mass transit.

I’ll drive less, but will I live more?

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I’ve seen the signs and I believe in the cause. I’m happy it’s happening in the region, but it’s not really my thing. Well – it’s about to be my thing. I’m taking on the task of Driving Less and Living More for one-week.

There’s not one specific reason for this adventure. Environment – sure I want it to be cleaner/greener. Foreign oil dependence – yeah, we all know it’s bad. Health – I could stand to not be in the car so much. Money – of course I’d rather not drop $65 to fill up my car, but it’s a bit of a necessary evil. So why the adventure? Really, it’s just about good timing (and the fact that a couple of DMMers are joining in this adventure with me throughout June).

Spring is here, so the weather makes it easy to be outside a bit more. Through participation in Get Out, Give Back Dayton, I received a free 7-day RTA pass. The stars aligned for me to leave the car behind and see if I could get by for a week, so I’m going to get the inside scoop on transportation sans car.

In addition to riding RTA, I plan to utilize my bike and plain, old fashioned walking. For this, I’m really grateful to the good folks and cycling experts at K&G Bike Center who made sure my bike was ready for the season and safe for the streets.

This is a major challenge for me as I have a very loose relationship with time. Because Dayton boasts short and easy commute times, I have taken for granted that I can get wherever I need, whenever I need. Most often I run into the problem that I think I can get anywhere in about 10 minutes. This is disastrously untrue, but the lack of a car for a week will either drive me (and my friends / colleagues) crazy or teach me a valuable lesson (and lessons are never fun to learn). No more quick trips; I’m going to have to learn to plan for everything in my day as I leave the house.

Bikes + Bus = Adventure

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Get Out & Give Back Dayton!

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Every year, Generation Dayton (the young professional arm of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce) celebrates their anniversary not by receiving gifts, but by giving the gifts of their time and talent to the community in the form of a major volunteer effort. This year, the effort is bigger than ever, and GenD is inviting ALL area young professionals to join them. You don’t have to be a Generation Dayton member to have a great time, enjoy lunch and spend a few hours making a difference in the community. It’s THIS Friday – RSVP now. More info on their Facebook event page.

So, that’s the “news,” here’s my opinion:

This is a fun way to meet some new people in an active setting where you’re making a tangible difference in the region. For anyone who feels out of place at “typical” networking events, this is a great opportunity to talk to some people, but busy yourself with the volunteering aspect when you run out of things to say.  There’s lots of positive downtown vibes on the rise: recent news stories, new businesses, cool entertainment options popping up, the Activated Spaces team, and Urban Nights next week mean that there’s lots of buzz. This is a cool way for YPs to see it first hand; whether you’re a downtown advocate or a skeptic, you can be part of the solution. The GenD focus on downtown is a cool reminder that regardless of where YPs want to live, the urban core is important to us all. The partnership with RTA is an extra cool aspect. C’mon – do you really think the bus is THAT scary? Wouldn’t it be cool to ride free for a week and decide yourself if it’s convenient or not?

I want to hear more opinions. Has anyone been to this before (previously called “Generation Dayton Day)? If so – leave comments about what you thought below.

RSVP is required! Send your RSVP to LaDonna Wulfeck at lwulfeck@dacc.org

Details from their Web site:

This Generation Dayton Day, in celebration of our organization’s 6th anniversary, we’re inviting our community to “Get Out, Give Back Dayton!” With additional support from our sponsor, Heidelberg Distributing Co., we’re putting a special focus on cleaning up and sprucing up our urban core! The new focus allows those with an interest in downtown development to roll up their sleeves and give back while aligning with a long-term group project known as Activated Spaces that seeks to bring vibrancy to now vacant storefronts.  We’ll still visit local non-profits, as usual, too. There will be a little bit of something for everyone!

A 2011 BONUS: all volunteers may sign up for a 7 day transit pass from RTA, as providing our valuable feedback is an additional volunteer component of the event, and teams leaving downtown can ride together. RTA will provide each team with a round trip travel schedule, but if you want to ride the bus from work or home, you can receive further travel planning assistance by calling the customer service line.

Schedule of Events:

12 p.m. Meet for complimentary lunch at The Excelsior Building (207 E. 6th Street)

1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Give back to the community at assigned location

5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Celebrate shared experiences and accomplishments at location TBD

Available Project Sites: (Numbers in parenthesis = maximum volunteer spots available for each location)

Artemis Center (5), Cannery Art & Design Center (7), Catholic Social Services (10), Community Blood Center (8), Cooper Park (20), Crayons to Classrooms (6), Dayton Visual Arts Center (4), Downtown Dayton Curb Appeal (Various Projects), Downtown Dayton Partnership (6), Garden Station (8), Grace/YMCA childcare (6), House of Bread (10), Ronald McDonald House (10), United Rehabilitation Services (10), We Care Arts (4), Wesley Community Center (6), The Victory Project (6), YWCA (10)

To sign up to “Get Out, Give Back Dayton!” on Generation Dayton Day or for more information contact LaDonna Wulfeck, Generation Dayton’s program manager, by email to lwulfeck@dacc.org or call (937) 226-8264.

Summit Follow-Up: Were you there?

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Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

Don’t miss the Action Plan Launch on May 3 at 6 PM at the Biltmore Towers (210 N. Main Street). There, we take these ideas to the next level!

The 2011 Young Creatives Summit hosted by updayton has come and gone with three packed hours of networking, professional development and (most importantly) providing young creatives the opportunity to shape the future of the region. Participants had their say in important topics including nightlife, jobs, neighborhoods and diversity and determined the direction that would make the region more exciting for them.

The Summit kicked-off with a Dayton Creative Syndicate sponsored photo booth that challenged participants to consider what would make them stay in the region by making the statement, “I Will Stay If…” Executive Director Yvette Kelly-Fields thanked our sponsors; Sean Creighton from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education reflected on the kernel of an idea that grew into a region-shaping Summit; and Chair Scott Murphy challenged us to make a difference with the time we had there.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

New for 2011, updayton partnered with established organizations in the region for project plans. Through this partnership, participants learned more about how the issue affects the region and were empowered to put their ideas to use to address a topic other organizations are already working on. Ideas were generated in breakout sessions; at the town hall, participants got to “invest” in the ideas that they wanted to support by offering “updayton dollars.”

NIGHTLIFE: The Downtown Dayton Partnership had the goal to create a new element for First Friday that entices new audiences and encourages visitors to travel among numerous establishments. Updayton participants are launching a project where performers drive the visitors on rickshaws to the various establishments while offering them a song, sonnet or story.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

DIVERSITY: The Immigrant Friendly Task Force of the City of Dayton Human Relations Council had the goal of better connecting local residents to Dayton’s immigrant community for a sharing of culture. Summit attendees will launch a project where local families (both native and immigrant) are paired with one another. Native families will act as a tour guide for their immigrant friends – introducing them both to the region and our culture. In return, immigrant families will share stories, food and traditions that define their culture. It’s a “big brother” type program for culture-sharing. This group hopes to partner with Dayton Metro Library which already has an extensive collection of foreign language music, movies, books, and other resources.

JOBS: The Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) challenged attendees to determine what can be done to identify, engage and motivate local employers to offer/create internships for local college students. Summit participants proposed “Linked Internships” – a LinkedIn page to provide an open forum for students to post their interests, experience and references. Local businesses will be able to quickly sift through the page to find the right candidate, review the resume and check references.  It will be local to the Dayton region and act as an open forum that provides a “one-stop shop” for businesses to find interns.

NEIGHBORHOODS: CityWide Development participated in the Summit to solicit information on what would make neighborhoods

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

more attractive to young professionals. In addition to a lot of great conversation and input, the updayton attendees will launch a project to beautify local neighborhoods. They intend to host various community clean-up days to include the physical work of cleaning, gardening, and maintaining green space as well as incorporating a community aspect. They hope to solicit volunteers from the neighborhoods to get people plugged into the project and vested in the upkeep of their neighborhood.

PLUS: In addition to the breakout sessions for project development, the Summit offered professional development workshops led by experts on topics from the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan to project management to social media. The Summit ended with a town hall for local leaders to hear the outcome and see the energy of these young creatives. Then we all headed to an afterparty at the Excelsior Lofts.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

NEXT STEPS: These four topics were selected due to research by updayton as top topics of importance for young professionals as they determine where they want to live. These ideas are just the foundation of the projects. Volunteers will re-convene on May 3 to determine potential partners, discuss details, and determine next steps.

Some of what we’ve heard:

“The Summit was one of the best events I’ve been to in the last year, without question. Even more than being a great learning tool and networking opportunity, it was awesome to see so many young people excited about improving downtown, and even better to see them signing up to actually follow through with getting hands-on and making it happen from the ground up. I’m someone who’s always been passionate about downtown, and it re-ignited my own enthusiasm. And I have a lot of respect for updayton (and their partners) for doing what the driving forces in so many cities don’t–going directly to the people, asking what they need and want, and challenging them to be that change.”

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

-Duante Beddingfield

“The updatyon Summit was a great way to network with other young professionals living in the area who are passionate about improving the city. It was interesting to listen to everyone’s ideas and know that despite any perceived negativity—whether real or imagined—is overshadowed by people willing to make a difference. When you’ve got just one person with an idea, it might just remain at one idea, but when you add a collaborative community of open-minded, progressive individuals, that idea turns into action, hope becomes creation, and that vision of a better Dayton is realized. I can’t wait to dig into these projects.”
– Valerie Beerbower

“It’s easy to forget that there are people in Dayton that want to improve their community. The Summit was not only a reminder that these people exist, but that there are many of us.”
-Nick Hrkman

“I found the Summit to be energizing. It brought people together from different backgrounds and ideologies. It gave me the opportunity to interact with colleagues, make new friends, and reconnect with old ones – all under the organized goal of making the Dayton region a great place to live and work. The Summit is forward thinking, it does not focus energies around what is, but what could be if we all pitch in. My favorite part about the Summit is that anyone can attend, be heard, and walk away charged with tasks to make a difference.”
-Sherri Wierzba

Were you there? What did you think of the streamlined Summit? Anything surprise or excite you about the potential of the Dayton region?

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My Summit Story: Number Crunching for a Cause

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the final feature in a series of “My Summit Story” segments  highlighting the diverse, talented and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

In 2008, with 6 other catalysts from DaytonCREATE, Scott Murphy started updayton to better attract that elusive and desirable recent college graduate demographic to the region.  To meet this need, these volunteers focused on putting control of the situation in the hands of the people who are uniquely qualified to say what young creatives want. Who knows best what convinces a college graduate to relocate to the Miami Valley? Probably the recent college grads who decided to stick around. So updayton was created to give that control to young professionals (through the Summit and subsequent projects) and to be a communication pipeline between the young creatives and local leadership.

An important part of the updayton mission has always been the data. As an engineer at Wright-Patterson AFB, Scott tracks, records and reads the numbers that demonstrate project success or failure. You can see his attention to detail and his focus on results in every annual report that updayton publishes. You may walk away from the Summit having had a great experience after sharing some ideas and meeting some new people, but the work is just beginning for Scott. In addition to providing that qualitative experience to Summit participants who want to network with each other and learn something about the region, Scott wants to show how updayton is moving the needle for young professional engagement in the region.

The ideas expressed at past updayton events are gathered and shared. Rolls and rolls of white paper with concerns, ideas, projects and solutions have been poured over and translated to usable data to share with people who care about the needs of the young creatives. Government leaders, businesses and nonprofits are among the types of local organizations that have reached out to updayton to ask about your needs. The Suumit isn’t just about your experience that day and if you sign up for a project – the Summit is about adding YOUR VOICE and YOUR IDEAS to the conversation. Scott’s an engineer – he’ll do the work pulling it all together, but he needs your input.

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My Summit Story: A Leadership Journey

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the fourth in a series of “My Summit Story” segments (see part one or part two or part three) highlighting the diverse, talented, and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

Adam Coatney was born and raised in Dayton. He went away for school, and came back as Dr. Adam to help run his family’s vet clinic. He keeps busy with his job, real estate (married to a realtor, they manage three homes), gardening, as a first tenor in the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, and since 2009  – as the co-chair of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee.  In 2010, Adam volunteered to serve on the updayton Steering Committee (in addition to his continuing work with Wayne Avenue), and beginning in 2011, he will be replacing Scott Murphy as the updayton chairperson.

Dayton isn’t new for Adam – it’s always been his home.  So, what inspired this guy, who typically isn’t a “joiner,” to be a part of the Summit? And what does he think the Summit offers other young professionals?  Here is Adam’s Summit story.

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My Summit Story: Enthusiasm meets experience

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The Young Creatives Summit is on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM at the Dayton Convention Center. This is the third in a series of “My Summit Story” segments to highlight the diverse, talented, and creative people who are a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit.  More information and registration details are available here.

Very few people embody the excitement and growth potential of Dayton region more than Theresa Gasper. She grew up in Dayton, currently lives in Beavercreek, works to rebuild homes in South Park as the Founder and President of Full Circle Development, and is a proud Daytonian (check out this link to see when she was featured as a “Dayton Original”). You’ve probably seen Theresa around – at local ball games, attending arts galas, chatting with friends at great restaurants, hosting open houses and neighborhood parties, being recognized as one of the Top Ten Women of the Year, and working on many volunteer initiatives. Whether she’s adding her own time and talent to projects or supporting them through communication and marketing – Theresa is plugged into the changes happening in the region.

As one of the original catalysts of DaytonCREATE (working on the “This is Dayton” initiative), Theresa has been aware of updayton from the beginning. And even though she was busy leading a separate initiative, Theresa has always added her support to updayton. Again this year, Theresa is volunteering as a breakout facilitator at the Summit. We wanted to take some time to better understand why someone with so much going on is offering her time to engage young creatives in the region.  Here is her story.

How did you get involved with updayton?

I was one of the original DaytonCREATE Catalysts on the “This is Dayton” initiative, and have strived to support the activities of all five initiatives.  Chronologically I may be 50 this year, but in my mind, I still think I’m 24 and have convinced myself I’m actually part of the target audience!  😉

So even if you’re *slightly* outside the target demographic, you still feel you can get involved?

Absolutely!   This year will be my second as a facilitator for one of the break out sessions.   I’ve also tried to get involved during the beginning stages of some of the group projects.   Fresh eyes and new blood always account for a lot of enthusiasm and creativity, but there is something to be said too for “institutional memory.”   I never want to get too involved or stymie anyone’s ideas, but try to point out similar initiatives in the past and help connect the dots.  What those of us “outside the demographic” bring to the table is a strong network in the community, so we can steer the (updayton volunteers) in the right direction and provide introductions to the people who can help them get things done.

What have you gotten out of the Young Creatives Summit?

A renewed sense of optimism by seeing so many young creatives invest their time and energy into making Dayton a better place to live, work and play.   Face it, our community is at a crossroads, and dying off is not an option.   But how many places and points in time converge to allow you to actively create the city of your dreams?    I know many college grads want to head to the big cities – NYC, Chicago, etc – and make their mark.  But it’s a game of numbers – do you want to be one of 140,000 in Dayton or one of 9,000,000 in New York?   There is NOTHING wrong with being a big fish in a small pond.   I think what Dayton has to offer is immense opportunity and updayton and the Young Creatives Summit, is the jumping off point.

Do you recommend that young professionals attend the Summit?

I’ve been spreading the word very chance I get, so hell yes, young professionals & creatives need to attend.  What a great networking opportunity to meet the young movers & shakers in town.  What a great venue to share ideas, speak up, get involved and connect with others who have similar passions and goals.   Often I hear people complaining about Dayton and I tell them to stop whining and get involved.  When they ask how, I’m able to steer them toward updayton and the YCS.

What is your vision for the Dayton region?

I see the convergence of many factors bringing people back to the urban core – high gas prices, walkable communities, great local restaurants, bars, bands, but mostly its an authentic urban experience.  And I think that young professionals are a driving force behind the trend.  So my vision is a vibrant, active, beautiful downtown with lots of feet on the street – or as I like to say like Urban Night EVERY night.   I’m a strong believer that cities are the hearts of regions – and like with the human body, if the heart is weak, the extremities will shut down.  I see our historic districts and inner city neighborhoods becoming the ideal places to live as people turn from the cookie cutter and car centric nature of the ‘burbs.  Add to that our rivers, bikeways, mountain biking course and hopefully the white water course in downtown, I see Dayton’s star shining bright and attracting people from around the world.

My Summit Story: The Projects and the People

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Shawn Neff is a busy guy. Living downtown and working in Springfield, when he’s not on the road, he’s out socializing or involved in projects that are impacting his community. As his adoptive home, and he’s doing a lot to make Dayton a place he’s proud of.  Here’s his Summit story.

After the 2009 Summit, Shawn volunteered as a member of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee – a group committed to cleaning up and highlighting the area connecting the Oregon District with the Cannery Arts District. Then, at the 2010 Summit, Shawn took a leadership role with Downtown Street Buzz, a group that worked to highlight downtown Dayton’s nightlife by getting more feet-on-the-street and creating a fun social atmosphere at selected events for young creatives.

Q: Through updayton, you worked on two community projects – Wayne Avenue Corridor and Street Buzz. What were your experiences?

I feel that both projects were valuable to me personally and definitely worth my time. I was able to make connections with people, learn new skills, and hopefully make an impact on someone else.

For the Wayne Ave Project, I take great pride in knowing that I am a part of the team that was responsible for the murals and benches, for continuing to clean up the trash and pull weeds. Hopefully for the community, they will take from it that it only takes a small group of people to make a difference and take a run down, rather scary looking area and liven it up.

While the “Buzz” group didn’t maybe didn’t go as planned, that’s to be expected of any group project. Everyone at the start is gung ho and ready to move. After a few months, people begin to loose interest and drop away from participating. You can’t let that frustrate you. “Without failure there is no success.”

Q: Beyond the projects, did updayton provide you with any valuable experiences or connections?

Absolutely, I have made numerous connections to people in the Dayton area, several which have become close friends.  It’s quite an experience just to see the hundreds of people at the summit, who like me, want to make a difference in this community.

Q: What have you been doing since your Summit project involvement?

I have been actively working with Generation Dayton as a member of both the Community Involvement & Social Committees. I am also a dedicated member of jumpstART. I have been involved with several communities to help rebuild old playgrounds.

Q: Would you recommend that local YPs attend the Summit?

I think it should be almost mandatory that not just ‘YP’ers, but anyone who wants to make a difference, attend the summit. It’s a chance to meet and network with people. A chance to give your input, and listen to other’s thoughts on what we want to make of this city. A chance to get involved and put all those thoughts into motion.

Q: What is your vision for the Dayton region?

I want to see a thriving downtown. I want to see people moving back into the urban core.  I want to hear more positives and less negatives about downtown Dayton.  I moved to downtown 2 years ago from out of town, and I have completely adopted this city and want to see it thrive.

This is the second in a series highlighting people who have been involved with the updayton Young Creatives Summit. For part one, see My Summit Story: Who Knows You?

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My Summit Story: Who Knows You?

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A lot of people have different reasons for attending the Summit and being a part of updatyon. Some people want to network with community leaders. Others want to voice their concerns on important issues. Many people are looking for professional development opportunities. Some attendees come to find new ways to give back to the community. Heck – a few people just want to take off a couple hours of work, see what it’s all about, and enjoy the after-party. Whatever reason YOU have – register now to attend the 2011 Young Creatives Summit.

Over the next week, we’ll highlight some of the people who have been a part of updayton. Maybe they’re still active, maybe they enjoyed their experience and moved one. But we’ll reflect back on some of the great people who have been involved. Where do you fit in?

You want opportunities? A past professor used to say: “It’s not what your know; it’s not even WHO you know; it’s who knows YOU.”

Katy Crosby, one of the original updayton volunteers, shares her recommendations for Summit participation and covers all bases – learn more about the region, network with community and business leaders, and share your ideas to make an impact on the region.

Q: What was your involvement with updayton?

I was one of the original members of updayton.  I was recruited as one of 32 catalysts for the DaytonCreate project.  The catalysts were divided into 5 or 6 groups.  Our group wanted to address the needs of young professionals by creating a venue for us to provide input on issues affecting the Greater Dayton community.  I served as the co-chair of updayton for approximately one year with Scott Murphy taking the lead role in making connections to help us build the organization and identify community partners that would assist in helping us develop the summit and execute various ideas that grew from the summit.

Q: What have you been doing since then?

I am currently the Assistant Director of the Dayton Human Relations Council.  I was in this position when I was selected as a catalyst, but my responsibilities have increased significantly. Secondly, I’ve been investing more time and energy with family. My daughter is a competitive dancer with Chenaulte’ Dancers in Trotwood, so I am now a dance mom.  I am enjoying being part of something she is so passionate about.  It allows us to spend more time together and it shows her that I support something that is very important to her.  It’s been a very rewarding experience to increase the amount of time with her and to see her development as a dancer.

Q: Do you believe updayton provided you with any valuable experiences or connections?

Yes.  Through updayton, I have been asked to serve on The Dayton Foundation’s Marketing Committee.  The Dayton Foundation is a great organization that impacts so many individuals in the City through their various community funds.  I have met a lot of great people that I have reached out to when assistance was needed or work related and personal projects.

Q: Would you recommend that local YPs attend the Summit?

I would definitely recommend the Summit to local YPs.  The Summit is a great opportunity to not only learn about what’s happening in the City, but to provide input on projects that can address major issues in the Greater Dayton area.  Often times, young professionals need a one stop shop to find ways to use their talents for good.  The Summit is a great start.  It’s also a great networking opportunity because many of the leaders in the region support updayton and will attend the Summit.

Q: What is your vision for a Dayton region that successfully attracts and retains young talent?

Venues that foster informal social networking, Thriving night life with options, Great job opportunities, Diverse neighborhoods…

Thanks to Katy Crosby for telling her Summit Story!  Want to move ahead? Remember: “It’s who knows YOU.” Register for the Summit to let a few more people in this community know about your ideas. Register now!

No Foolin’ – Great YP Events in April

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FEATURED EVENT

Friday, April 15th:
updayton’s Young Creatives Summit

Dayton Convention Center
Friday, April 15; 3-6 PM
$15 ($5 for Students)
Info Packet (agenda, breakout descriptions, etc) HERE

The Summit has been slightly revamped to meet the needs of the busy young creative while maintaining the mission of giving YOU a say in the direction of the Dayton region.  This year’s features include: a shortened Summit (3-6 PM), a great “speed networking” professional development opportunity, and established regional organizations such as the Downtown Dayton Partnership, CityWide Development, the Human Relations Council, and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) adding their strength to make YOUR projects even more impactful and sustainable.

Don’t miss the 2011 Young Creatives Summit. REGISTER NOW!

A few April YP Highlights:

April 1, 5-10 PM – Sure, it’s the day for practical jokes, but no kidding – don’t miss First Friday! This month, enjoy roving musicians, jugglers and breakdancers, new art installations at the Southern Belle and two locations off Courthouse Square, a preview of the DVAC Art Auction, the monthly Courteous Mass bike ride and more. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. For more information, including specific event details, visit the First Friday Web page or Facebook page.

April 7, 5:30-7:30 PM – Come join the Young AFCEAns at the Fox and Hound near the Fairfield Commons Mall for a Networking / Social Event. Bring a friend that may be interested in learning more about AFCEA.  Appetizers, beer and soda will be provided by Young AFCEAns.  Please contact Casey Weinstein at cweinstein@microstrategy.com if you have questions.

April 8, 6PM – The Great Escape is back! The Red Cross Associate Board hosts this fantastic party in the Schuster Center Wintergarden featuring live music, dancing, an exciting silent auction, and great food resulting in a memorable and fun-filled evening. Everyone who attends will have a chance to win a fabulous door prize of a weekend trip for two valued at $1,000 to anywhere in the US -generously donated by AAA Miami Valley. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door.

April 13, 7-9 PM – Kick off the soccer season by joining the Dayton Dutch Lions FC at the PreSeason VIP Party! $11 gets you a Dayton Dutch Lions FC calendar, finger foods, and a cash bar in the Patterson Room of the Dayton Racquet Club. Come enjoy a great networking opportunity AND your chance to bid to win a day with the DDL players and owners (dates include a massage & pedi from Square One and dinner at McCormick and Schmicks!)

April 13, 5:30-9 PM – Get ready for a happy hour extravaganza! It’s all sorts of creative when Dayton Creative Syndicate (DCS)  welcomes AAF-Dayton and AIGA Cincinnati colleagues  to the Gem City for a networking and socializing super event at Harrigan’s South. Come out and rub elbows with some of the most creative folks in southwest Ohio! (Or at least stop by for the $2 special on domestics and well drinks.) They’ll be at Harrigan’s South location, 671 Lyons Road, Centerville.

April 15, 6:30 PM – Post-Summit, Pre-Party with JumpstART as they check out the Stivers Photography Auction. Free to attend, cheap to bid, pay what you want. Professional photographers from across the nation donate works to be auctioned off to benefit the arts program at Stivers. Hang out with other arts-minded YPs, support a great cause and get some art on your walls.

April 20, 5:30 – 8 PM – Back by popular demand is Generation Dayton’s Speed Networking. It’s your chance to effectively network one-on-one with other young professionals. There will be a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. Free for members, $15 for nonmembers.  Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to connect!  Registration required; contact lwulfeck@dacc.org to reserve your spot, seating is limited!

April 23, 8AM – Noon – HYPE (Northern Miami Valley) is getting it’s volunteerism on as they donate a Saturday morning to a Habitat for Humanity Service Project.  Don’t miss this opportunity to make a major difference in the community while meeting some great local YPs. More info on the Web page.

That’s just a small selection of the great events available in April – check out the Web pages of each group to see all they have to offer – including socials, networking, professional development and more!

YP Roundup – Here Comes the Spring

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Wow – a few days into March and I’m just publishing this now.  I guess that’s what happens when February is the shortest month and the sun starts luring people (me) outside and away from computers.  Anyway – just in time for First Friday (btw: check out the fab listing of galleries, bands, outdoor rec events and more on the event calendar) – here is a shortened edition the YP Roundup.  Since you’ve got the handy-dandy DMM calendar, this Roundup will start to feature just one or two events each week from our great local YP organizations.  Check out organizational Web pages or the DMM calendar for a more comprehensive list.

March is the month that launched the Young Guns vs. Old Pistols for the Wright-Patt Junior Force Council.  Not on Base?  Keep up with their events on their new Facebook page.  Want more info on YP events behind the gates?  Check out the story on DMM.

Week One:

Check out First Friday.  Some really cool opportunities there include a story telling session, live music in a music store, a new art exhibit (or two), zumba, an 80’s skate party, a bike ride, and general frivolity and fun.

Join the Dayton Ballet Barre at Norton’s on Sunday, March 6 for… ballet? NO!  It’s to get in the mood for March Madness.  They’ll be watching OSU take on Wisconsin.  They don’t call it the “big dance” for nothing – of course the Ballet Barre is getting into that action.

Week Two:

Wednesday, March 9 gives you a chance to join the members of HYPE for lunch at Kanoe Cafe.  It’s an informal lunch to meet a few new friends and learn about upcoming HYPE events.  RSVP by March 8 to guarantee your spot.

Wednesday night brings you the chance to check out Lucky’s Taproom, the Oregon District’s newest tavern, with the Dayton Creative Syndicate.  This Happy Hour brings together professionals from design, copy writing, and other creative fields for a good time.

Week Three:

Get the Montgomery County Economic Update when Generation Dayton hosts Commissioner Debbie Lieberman on Tuesday, March 15 for the Business and Breakfast Speaker Series.  A free event to attend (breakfast at your cost) with good friends and great information.

Week Four:

On Thursday, March 24 JumpstART is going to campus for a great deal on String Theory featuring the Richter Uzur Duo at UD.  Of course, it’s not a full Flyer experience without first checking out Milano’s for some great food and drink specials as well as some great door prizes.

On Saturday, March 26 the American Heart Associate answers the call for YPs who wanted to be included in the Dayton Heart Ball (without the Heart Ball price).  Join them at the Red Heart Lounge After-party!  Geared toward YPs, it’s a chic event that offers a discounted rate, food, dancing, wine/beer, red carpet photos and a chance to mix and mingle with other YPs making a difference in the lives of others.  Contact sybil.martin@heart.org for details.

AND:

Other great events tagged for YPs in the region include the Dayton AMA presentation on how to turnaround a downtown, a healthy and tasty wine/yoga combo, and the chance to bring your friends together to Bowl for Kids’ Sake.

“Like” some YP pages online, keep an eye on the DMM calendar and let us know here if you’ve got other great YP events coming up!

Generation Dayton’s Featured YP

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Shawn C Neff

Every month, Generation Dayton, the YP organization affiliated with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, features a YP of the Month.  This month – meet Shawn Neff.

Name:  Shawn C Neff

Title: Collections Analyst

Organization: Security National Bank

Community Involvement : Generation Dayton, JumpstART, Habitat for Humanity, Wayne Ave Corridor Committee, Downtown Street Buzz. I’ve volunteered with several businesses to re-build playgrounds in under privileged areas.
Hobbies and Interests:  I love giving back to community, especially when children are involved. To see the excitement on a kid’s face when you’re helping to re-build an old playground is well worth the hours of work that goes into it. I also enjoy a good beer, fine wine and great conversation.(That sounds like a cheesy pick-up line, but it’s the truth)
What do you love about Dayton?  I really enjoy living downtown. Within a 10 minute walk I can be at either Riverscape, Schuster Center, Oregon District, or catch a Dragon’s game. There is always something going on.

Visit the GenD page for more info on Shawn and all he’s doing for the Dayton region (seriously, this dude is IN-Volved).  http://generationdayton.org/featured.php

Kudos to GenD for sending props out to their great volunteers and active members!

YPs at the Base – Serving those who serve

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Serving the YPs who Serve

It’s the largest single site employer in the whole state.  Its history has been witness to early Wright Brothers test flights and a military installation that dates to World War I.  It’s an obvious asset to the region for the Air Force Museum (fingers crossed for the shuttle) as well as cutting-edge technical, aerospace, and research advances.

I have sung the praises of the Base and understood its major importance in both the economic viability of our region and for aerospace technology worldwide (you can thank my engineering husband who just broke a world record for his work on a scram jet engine for that one), but I never really got the differences of the alphabet soup that is WPAFB (be it AFIT, AFRL, NASIC, WISK or LMNOP).

Here I am – trying to be an info liaison for YP groups in the region.  Hopefully this blog is a resource for people who want to get involved, YP orgs who are looking for potential collaborations, or anyone who’s just curious.  And I’ve advertised Base events like monthly socials for the Young AFCEAns, volunteer opportunities through the Junior Force Council and discussions by the WP Networking Association.  But you know what – I still didn’t really get it.  Oh – you mysterious base with your numerous gates, haunted hotels, and alien ships in hiding – I am here to learn about the resources for the YPs behind the gates.  So – this is for anyone who has asked a new friend, “So – where do you work?” and your eyes glaze over a little bit when they answer “the Base.”

The Young AFCEAns

Why am I talking to them first?  Well – I thought they might be a pretty good “gateway” to the Base since members of the Young AFCEAns can work on or off Base in any contracting organization that has a relationship with the Base.  Also –  they are the YP arm of AFCEA (The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) – so you can guess that they have a pretty informative Web page.  I was able to gather information on the people served and the benefits for the Young AFCEAns.  At least I thought I had them figured out, until I talked to Casey Weinstein, the local chapter president and figured out that they are so much more.

YACs get together for social opportunities

The Young AFCEAns (also known as YACs) are AFCEA members under the age of 40.  But they are also a distinct unit within AFCEA.  Sure, they network with fellow professionals and are active in the chapter, but they also work together as YACs to mentor at schools, host tech events and judge local science fairs.  They take advantage of specific mentoring activities available only to YACs – career development, leadership development, and access to senior leaders in the field (the kind of access that otherwise wouldn’t be available).

Anyone CAN be a YAC, and Weinstein encourages all YPs to check them out.  So many businesses in the region, even if they don’t deal directly with the government, partner with other organizations that do contract with the government.  And maybe you’re not in IT, but Weinstein tells the story of a marketing associate who started coming to YAC events because her company was considering expanding into the IT market.  The networking and social opportunities through YAC proved helpful, informative, and even fun.

YACs at a Dragons game

When I asked what exactly they do and who they serve, Weinstein explained that they’re an advocacy and networking association focused on information technology and the government – most members are government employees, contractors, or people who want to break into the industry.  And for anyone who thinks “IT” is a little broad, I asked Weinstein for some specifics:  they have members who produce modeling and simulation software, build web applications, create hardware and software sharepoints, and they feature many service providers (like database administrators).

The most popular events for local YACs are the monthly networking events.  They feature free food and drinks (always a plus), and they provide a great atmosphere for YPs in the industry to network with one another, local businesses, and senior leadership in the industry.  Weinstein also highlights their outreach work with local universities.  With the support of Senator Brown’s offices, the YACs have been featured (along with other YP groups) on campus panel discussions.  Many college kids may not know about the numerous opportunities in the region for IT and aerospace contracting work, so YAC makes a major effort to get the word out.

Weinstein is especially proud of the relationship YAC has with the AFCEA chapter.  Although YAC exists as its own unit to attract new members and offer professional development opportunities, their members are fully integrated into the local chapter.  The past YAC chair is now the membership chair for AFCEA and Weinstein chaired the AFCEA Valentine’s Ball  – the major fundraiser for AFCEA that provides scholarships for local high school and college students.  The chapter taps the YACs to be involved on a larger level, and they show respect for a job well done.  They just sent Weinstein to San Diego to accept the Distinguished Young AFCEAns Award (one of only 15 globally!); the chapter flew him out, picked up the tab, and provided him with a great opportunity to meet a lot of new people.

The YACs are there to hook young professionals into the thriving aerospace industry in our region, and Weinstein has a very strong perspective of life in Dayton.  He explains, “More money comes through WPAFB than any other military installation in the world (other then the Pentagon).  There is a lot of growth and opportunity in the region because of the growth of the industry. Dayton is the place to be for someone in this profession.”

While the Young AFCEAns are reaching out to everyone to highlight the opportunities of the aerospace industry.  There’s another group on Base that’s reaching out to serve a pretty specific need.

Wright-Patterson AFB Junior Force Council

The Wright-Patt JFC works to offer programming relevant to all YPs on Base, but it’s only part of a larger YP involvement structure in place.  Individual Junior Force Councils exist for many programs or directorates, and those smaller JFCs often host their own events.  For example, the Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate launched an outreach program to address the lack of new engineers through volunteers who visit local schools to increase student interest in STEM careers.  Or there is the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Junior Force Council that hosted a tour for its members.  Many of the directorates across Base offer professional development and networking opportunities through individual Junior Force Councils (JFCs), and each JFC sends a member to sit on the collective Wright-Patt JFC.  It’s a nice structure – people at the local level determine what meets the needs of their members, but their voice rises up to the overall JFC to make sure there’s open communication and the WPJFC can meet larger needs.

The Young Guns / Old Pistols Cycling Race

I spoke to Kristy Roberts – president of the WFJFC.  Locally born and raised, Roberts completed her undergrad and MBA at Wright State before joining the Base in a contracting career.  In leading the WPJFC, she works to provide networking experiences for civilian and military (enlisted and officer) YPs across the Base who have 10 years of service or less.  These events provide participants the opportunity to interact with one another and senior leaders whom they may otherwise not meet.

Since the smaller JFCs focus on the happy hours, industry-specific events, and directorate-specific programming, the WPJFC only hosts approximately two or three large, Base-wide events per year.  Launching soon is the popular “Young Guns vs. Old Pistols.”  This is a wellness/sporting competition between the JFC members and senior leaders on Base.  Over the course of three months, they compete in 6 events.  Other major events include a golf tournament fundraiser and open tour of the Base for regional YPs.

Also in the works is a potential speaker series.  Although most WPJFC events are limited to Base personnel (mostly due to the fact that the rest of us can’t get through the gates – except a great story I’ll tell you sometime when I accidentally just zoomed right by the guards, but I digress…  ), Roberts is hoping to open some of these speaker events to the wider YP community.  Roberts also shows her “Dayton Girl” colors as she advocates on Base for YP events regionally.  She has started a regular communication with JFC members to inform them of opportunities in Dayton for both social and professional networking.

At a very basic level, the WPJFC provides an opportunity for YPs to figure out how the base works.  Roberts tells the story of when she sent an email out to a large group of people.  First on the list is the person that the email was most relevant to.  Sounds logical, right?  Not with Base logic – the strict chain of command is so important to military protocol that it must be followed even in sending an email – you address it to the highest officer first and then go down the list in level of seniority.  Things like that aren’t obvious to employees (especially civilian) new to the Base, so the JFC provides a friendly atmosphere to learn the ropes.  And it’s not just about the “rules.”  The AF culture is a different beast – if civilians better understand it, they can better communicate within it and learn how to succeed.

The Base respects the work of the WPJFC and their goal of “preparing the leaders of tomorrow.”  Participants in the JFCs are able to claim “alternate duty location” while at JFC events (meaning they don’t have to take leave or time off from work).  Senior leadership at the Base appreciates the work of the WPJFC as they bridge the gap between new recruits and more seasoned AF employees.

The Bowling Award Ceremony for the YG/OP

Roberts shares what she believes is the most important aspect that the WPJFC offers its members – opportunities to develop their own relationships with senior leaders.  Mentoring is such an asset, and Roberts praises the mentor she has met through JFC events.  Mentors provide insight into other areas on Base and can even help put the daily battles into perspective as YPs are advancing in their careers.

I asked Roberts what she hopes for as she plans the next year of WPJFC programming.  Her goal is to involve more enlisted and military YPs.  She explains that the career paths of civilians are defined differently than the career paths of their military colleagues, so the military YPs haven’t always seen the need to take advantage of the professional development and mentoring opportunities that are offered.  Roberts hopes to change that and create a WPJFC where everyone is represented and active.

Thanks!

It was a great opportunity to learn a little more about who’s who and the different organizations that serve the many YPs on Base.  I was unable to speak to anyone from the WP Networking Association or the Company Grade Officer Program – two groups that serve a fairly specific constituency on Base.  Still, I’m appreciative of the time and information Weinstein and Roberts shared with me.  The Base may be a different world, but we all have the same needs, and it’s great to hear that these leaders are making it happen for YPs on Base.