ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609030114
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SUE GOTWALT
IN RESPONSE to Dan Casey's Aug. 16 news article (``Pride in the Star City lacks luster") and Norma Smith's Aug. 23 letter to the editor (```Nonaffluent natives' don't lack pride''):
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a "Roanoke Valley Pride" campaign. It is being developed through feedback from several focus meetings being held throughout the valley and region. Graciously, Mayor Bowers agreed to help promote it. He dedicated part of his Aug. 14 "summit" meeting to address the issue of local pride. Attending the meeting were 24 highly respected citizens who have dedicated considerable time and effort to improve Roanoke city. The participants and observers made many insightful suggestions for improving conditions within the city.
An afternoon focus meeting sponsored by the chamber was attended by more than 80 business people from Roanoke city, Roanoke County, Salem, Botetourt, Vinton, Bedford County and Smith Mountain Lake. Participants were asked to work in small groups and each was given a specific issue to address. Responses were extremely positive and "valley pride" was quite evident.
In preparing his article, Casey asked me why there was such a difference in attitude between the morning and afternoon sessions. I felt a broader population attended the afternoon session. Many business people who were transplanted to the Roanoke Valley from other metropolitan areas were quite outspoken about the valley's excellent quality of life, educational systems, health care, cultural activities and recreational opportunities. They extolled the benefits of living in the valley compared with other metropolitan areas.
The two meetings had different agendas. The morning's participants focused on improving conditions within the city's neighborhoods. However, Casey wanted to credit the difference to economics. I disagreed with him.
I had hoped the two meetings would receive an accurate report by The Roanoke Times. I was disappointed by the headline "Pride in the Star City lacks luster." If our citizens are constantly told by the press that something is wrong with our attitude, how can any pride campaign be successful? It was further distressing to see a comment credited to me that I didn't make. Any references to affluence or nonaffluence are Casey's words and opinion, not mine. If Smith will refer back to the article, she will notice that no quotation marks are around the statement that so disturbed her. That statement also disturbed me.
The Roanoke Times was supplied with enough information to have written a very upbeat and positive article. The campaign's objectives and focus questions were given to Casey. Wouldn't it have been a nice change to see in the newspaper positive headlines and a comprehensive article about pride in Roanoke?
This campaign isn't just for Roanoke city. It has been embraced by the New Century Council and has become a regional effort. In addition to many local volunteers working on the campaign, more than 16 representatives from the New Century region are dedicating time and talent to create a campaign that will feature the benefits of living in Southwest Virginia.
Sue Gotwalt, vice chair of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, chairs the Roanoke Valley Pride campaign.
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