The progress of the YP movement is Roanoke is credited to the emergence of the pleathora of YP organizations -each offering something different and unique. If you are new to the area, looking for a way to get involved or to meet new people, then visit one of these organizations.

• Ad2Roanoke – http://www.ad2roanoke.org
• Contemporaries – http://www.contemporariesroanoke.org
• First Fridays – http://www.firstfridaysroanoke.com
• NewVa Connects – http://www.newvaconnects.org
• Roanoke Jaycees – http://www.roanokejaycees.com
• Square Society – http://www.squaresociety.org
• Valley Forward – http://www.valleyforward.net
• Young@Art – http://www.youngatartinroanoke.com

Seven job seekers contacted me yesterday looking for assistance in finding something in the region. California, Texas, Georgia, and Richmond are where some of the seven currently reside, but want to move to Roanoke.

You can look at it in one of two ways. Unemployment is on the rise or people are beginning to find out about the RNR (Roanoke and New River Valleys) and want to move. From our Roanoke Connect database, we are finding more people on sites like Wikipedia and Ask.com that are bringing people to our database. Certainly, we find many people looking to go from underemployed to gainfully employed especially as inflation continues to rise.   

Jobzcafe.comhas been trying to tap into helping these folks with their new site and Talking Tuezday events. Other efforts, such as The Roanoker magazine, are being proactive in assisting and encouraging the relocator. 

All of these efforts appear to be merging nicely and viral activity is taking over. Keep talking it up, blogging it, mentioning it at functions, and staying involved in the process. Thanks for your time and efforts.  

If you are a blogger and want to meet other bloggers, then come to this informal gathering on June 18.

A very interesting perspective on generation leadership in communities and this transfer of power and control….This editorial could have been written in many US cities, including Roanoke, but it was written in Birmingham , UK.

Chuck Terrell the VP for Workforce Development at Virginia Western Community College has created Fresh Connect a series of seminars geared toward helping local business.

The first of the series is June 12 at 7:30 a.m. at Ukrop’s Roanoke Ivy Market on 2331 Franklin Rd SW.  Ruth Ann Caplice will share Ukrop’s customer service secrets.

The event is $10. To register and for more info, email pwillhite@vw.vccs.edu