New Meeting Hopefully was a Slam Dunk

We kicked off our new super-charged version of the Valley Small Business Alliance with 20 folks in attendance. After a short invocation, we took advantage of the $9 (tip included) breakfast at the Village Inn in Harrisonburg. The group dispersed itself and sat around 4 tables with 4/5 folks at a table where they worked at getting to know one another. Following the meal, Wayne welcomed the folks and stressed the objectives of the organization:

• Promote Small Business
• Exchange Ideas among Ourselves
• Promote & Support one another & all other small business people
• Be willing to give input and share ideas
• Give input on speakers you want to hear
• Speak out through local media
• Remain Non-political but rather be on one mind in support of small business
• Take a non-partisan stand but always be on the side of and a proponent of small business
• Have a good time doing all of the above


He also explained the duties that both of us would be responsible for:
• Securing Speakers – we will solicit your support
• Maintaining Blog – Dick to Explain
• Maintaining Contact Information and sending out notice


At that point, I pointed out the upcoming known speakers:
• December – Kenny Brooks, head girls basketball coach, JMU
• January – Helen Modly, Executive VP of Focus Wealth Management, Washington, DC, a monthly columnist for Morningstar and HorsesMouth.com as well as writer for WSJ, to talk about social networking
• Future Months – Emmett Hanger – Virginia State Senator
• Future Months—Randy Gilbert, Dr. Proactive, a guy in our back yard of Mt. Jackson who teaches you how you can become the “expert” in your trade or business through the use of the internet

Then in closing I spoke briefly about the blog and if you made it this far, you understood at least something I said. I also explained that our location will at the Village Inn until we outgrew it.

In talking with Wayne, he plans to update you guys on the some great news we have as we move forward. In the mean time, learn how to be interactive on this blog.  If you don't already have a Google profile, set one up.  Please post your thoughts!! Let us know how you think it went and ideas you may want to incorporate. We never intended this organization to be a dictatorship so please, post your comments!!!