Thursday, Jan 19, 2006

Tory N. Parrish
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — Robert Chambers Sr. comes from a family of small-business owners that dates back more than 100 years.

Continuing that family tradition was the reason behind his interest in the Convention for the Future, a regional community event aimed at unifying visions for the future of Oneida and Herkimer counties.

The event attracted about 500 people Wednesday night to Mohawk Valley Community College. International community development consultant David Beurle conducted the event, which included small group dialogues.

Chambers, 40, of Utica, is co-owner of C&C Painting Co., whose ownership has been passed down through several generations. Chambers said he thinks the region should invest more in the success of small businesses, whose renovation and occupation of abandoned buildings would save the city money.

"That way, (small businesses) would stay longer," Chambers said.

The convention was a kickoff event for an effort that will include smaller community dialogues and regional focus groups that will meet over the next six to eight months, according to representatives from Breakthrough Central New York and other involved groups. Those meetings will hopefully produce a regional vision, said Chuck Tomaselli, founder of Breakthrough Central New York and principal architect for C. Lewis Tomaselli Architects.

"Now is the time, this is the place and each of you make the difference," Tomaselli said.

Citing smaller communities that have undertaken revitalization efforts, such as boosting tourism and work force development, Beurle said focusing positive attitudes toward a common goal was key to the communities' successes. Even individuals and organizations focused on positive change are ineffective if they aren't coordinating those efforts, said Beurle, founder of Innovative Leadership Australia.

Many people attending the convention agreed community efforts had been unfocused. Utica resident Tony Colón, 51, a business consultant and vice president of the Mohawk Valley Latino Association, said pointing stakeholders in the same direction was paramount, as was hearing diverse voices.

Beurle also asked people at the convention to discuss and rank a successful community's top 10 attributes, including self-reliance and support for local businesses and education.

Utica resident Diane Nickerson de Feliz, 32, said she sees attributes in the area's combined small town and urban environments.

Photo by MICHAEL DOHERTY / Observer-Dispatch
David Beurle, founder and managing director of Innovative Leadership Australia, shares a laugh Wednesday during his talk at the Convention for the Future at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica

.