Future of Hampton Roads, Inc.

Executive Committee Meeting

June 22, 2004

Minutes

Date: June 22, 2004

Time: 10:00 AM

Place: Town Point Club, Norfolk, Virginia

Present: Chairman Vince Thomas, President David Clark, Jim Babcock, Will King, Clyde Hoey, Anna McNider, Harry Train

Chairman Thomas opened the meeting at 10:00. The minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of April 27, 2004 were approved.

Jim Babcock reviewed the Steering Committee planning. The date of the first meeting will be in September. Preparations are in progress. Materials will be mailed. Names have been assigned. Minutes will be distributed. For the first meeting the participants will break up into discussion groups.. Facilitators will be trained in August. Of the original three objectives or goals: Economic Development, Cost Savings/Shared Services and “How do we get a stronger voice for the region?”, we will set aside the first two for the moment and focus on trhe third. We will deal with the Mayors and Chairs after the first meetings. Have communicated with Mayor Ziegler, the current Mayors and Chairs Chairperson. Will meet with Editorial Boards after the first meetings. Will need to herd Council Members together. Our Hampton experience shows that even though invited they do not come.

Clyde: We need to do some work to invite Council Members. And make them know they are wanted.

Jim: Portsmouth has always had a close relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council.

Clyde: On the Peninsula there is an Executive Officer from each City Council. Also we need to stay close to the Partnership.

Vince: Should we give each of our members a City Council to work with.

Will King: Are FHR and the Partenership communicating or do we need to think about it.

Anna: Our emphasis on structure is something they cannot touch.

Jim: We have several Board Members who are on the Partnershp Board. Harry Lester is on their Steering Committee and Jim Babcock is on the Executive Committee.

Clyde: Suggest that we let the Partnership be good at what they do.

Regarding the SWAT Team Memo, David Clark said that the previous letters have been ineffective. In response to the question are all included, he replied they were not. This is a first cut of who we believe are the most influential.

Anna: There is no one from Hampton.

Clyde: We need minority people. If we are going to include some we need to include all.

Anna: We do not have an organized PAC in Hampton Roads.

Jim: Propose we keep in touch with those who know what is going on in Hampton Roads. Would like to wait until we have something to propose.

Anna: Agree. There should be no meeting unless you have something to propose.

Vince: We need to share our goals.

Jim: We need to get to them in the fall before things begin to jell.

Jim: Gives example of how Chambers of Commerce work. They do not want to offend members. We are not as vulnerable.

Anna: If we are going to lobby we need to focus our efforts

David Clark suggested that we begin to hold meetings at various locations other than Norfolk within the Region in order to gain insight on issues throughout the region and increase visibility on our efforts to improve regional competitiveness in the global market. A motion to that effect was approved by the Executive Committee and will be proposed to the Board. The July meeting of the Board will be held at the Langley Federal Credit Union in Newport News

The meeting adjourned at 11:45.