Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 25, 1990                   TAG: 9003232178
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV10   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

VIRGINIA TECH TO BE THE HOST FOR A DINNER FOR POLICYMAKERS

An invitation sent to roughly 80 leaders and their spouses said the theme for the meeting is "The Next Century is Coming - But What About Tomorrow?"

It is signed by Virginia Tech President James McComas, Mayor Roger Hedgepeth and Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce President Dwayne Kittle.

"It's another way for us all to sit down and talk about our concerns and issues, and it's a good idea to socialize when you do that," Kittle said. He said the dinner would not be in lieu of two semi-annual meetings between the chamber board and top Tech officials, as yet unscheduled.

The three leaders say in the letter that, "It is essential to the well-being of the Blacksburg-Virginia Tech community that our business, municipal and university leaders come together to discuss mutual issues of the future - not only the future of the next century, but also the future of the next few years."

Council member Waldon Kerns, who also is a Tech professor, said the university sponsored many dinner meetings with various Blacksburg groups in years past.

But that tradition waned when former Tech president William Lavery's administration came under fire for a controversial land deal and athletic scandals. Lavery resigned in late 1987 and President James McComas took over prior to the 1988 fall semester.

"We're back now where things are stable and it's time to get back together with people," Kerns said. "I think it's just for better understanding for all the different factions out there."