NEOM & CMA
“Why Cheerleading Counts”
BY HUDSON MAYOR WILLIAM A. CURRIN
CHAIRMAN, NORTHEAST OHIO MAYORS & CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
The unanimously approved 2006/2007 agenda for the Northeast Ohio Mayors & City Managers Association includes: “Creating 122 (more as additional Counties join) strong, knowledgeable, and vocal Cheerleaders for Northeast Ohio.” This sentiment has been echoed time and time again, most recently by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson during his March 1st “The State of the City – 2007” address. In closing his remarks he said: “Cleveland is a great city. Sometimes, this is more often said by those who visit or move to Cleveland than those who live here already. We all must invest in Cleveland. Invest in our people, economy, schools and quality of life so that Cleveland and our region can grow and prosper. But, just as important, if not more so, invest in Cleveland with your attitude, an attitude of greatness, an attitude
of can-do.”
These were not only important words, but like the NEOM&CMA’s members’ goal of all of being “Cheerleaders” for the region, it is a call for everyone who lives and/or works in NEO to extol the positives, the amenities, and the strengths of Northeast Ohio. If the image of Northeastern Ohio is going to change it has to start with us. We all know that the impression others have of NEO is what we broadcast, what we reflect. Telling the positive story of Northeastern Ohio is not “phony – baloney.” For most of us it means being able to speak from the heart. Maybe there are some that are not happy here, but for the rest of us, let’s tell others why we love Northeastern Ohio.
Let me share a story that happened to me a few years ago. I was on vacation skiing with my youngest daughter. We were on a bus transferring from the parking lot to the main ticketing area of Copper Mountain in Colorado. A lady on the bus turned to my daughter and asked where she was from and my daughter answered her (San Francisco in college), and then in return asked where the lady was from. The lady told us that she had been living in the Denver area for the past 13 years, but that originally she was from the Midwest. She then went into a diatribe about the Midwest. The lady then turned to me and asked where I was from. I looked at her and said that I live in the Midwest, by choice, and I have traveled all across the United States and I consider where I live, Northeastern Ohio, to be a wonderful location and the heart of the quality of life belt. It would be wonderful for her the next time this subject comes up, to talk about the positives of her area and not justify her happiness on the backs of those from the Midwest who love where they live. The lady looked at me and realized the truth in my statement. She thanked me for my comments and said she had never had anyone make such a suggestion to her and, as she thought about it, there were lots of problems where she lived now that she just never spoke about.
Now, I realize that conversation may have been a bit confrontational for some. The point is I, for one, am tired of the person to person negative flogging NEO continues to suffer. We may not be able to change other’s minds but we surely can change our own. Northeastern Ohio is one of the most abundant areas of the United States. I know that Akron’s Mayor Don Plusquellic travels the USA, and the world, always talking and promoting the positives, the amenities, and the strengths of Akron and Northeast Ohio. He knows, like Mayor Frank Jackson knows, that what is good for their cities is good for the region, and what is good for the region is good for their cities.
Let us all become good, positive Cheerleaders for Northeast Ohio. Let us all invest in Northeast Ohio with our positive attitudes, with attitudes of greatness, and with attitudes of can-do. Cheerleading Does Count! Support NEOM&CMA’s goal of cooperative governess and always… keep in mind that Northeast Ohio is The HEART of the Quality of Life Belt.
“Share the Vision, Become Part of the Solution”
To learn more about joining the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association, or about its efforts throughout the region, please contact Mayor William A. Currin at 330-653-9364.
