THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190257
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
Where do you look for signs of unity among the fractious communities of Hampton Roads?
Soon, you may see them whenever you cross city borders.
Added to each city's welcome signs may be the phrase ``A Hampton Roads Community.''
The idea is to raise public consciousness that the cities are part of one region, said Shira Itzhak, a member of the Leadership Hampton Roads class of '96, sponsored by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
The sign is the class project. Itzhak and several classmates will present the idea to a gathering of city managers at the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission on Wednesday. The agency has representatives from 15 cities and counties.
The 40-member class came up with the project while discussing regionalism this fall.
It occurred to the group that the signs would be in highly visible locations, naturally promoting the name ``Hampton Roads.''
The interdependence of the cities also would be reinforced, Itzhak said.
``There are huge numbers of people who live in one city and work in another. As people travel to their places of work or to shopping and for leisure, we could remind them that they're part of one region,'' said Itzhak, who lives in Norfolk but works in Virginia Beach for MRI & CT Diagnostics.
The signs also could help promote the Hampton Roads moniker in the minds of tourists and others who visit, she said.
The lack of a clear regional identify often is cited as a drawback in marketing Hampton Roads. The name is not widely recognized by people in other parts of the country.
``We don't want to make a statement about any regional government or water issues. We just want to increase the consciousness of citizens,'' Itzhak said. ``This can help our region really compete on a national basis in gettingsport teams or more economic development. That all comes with increased recognition of the region.''
Already, some mayors and city managers say they favor the sign idea and will support it with their city councils.
There have been some questions about costs and unity for the Hampton Roads name.
However, Itzhak said, the proposal allows cities the flexibility to include costs within their usual annual budgets for sign maintenance and replacement. For cities that need help, the class will seek corporate or nonprofit sponsorship, she said.
As for the Hampton Roads name, Itzhak said her classmates believe it's more important to agree on the concept of the signs.
``If at some point in time everybody wants a different name, that's OK,'' she said.
``We're not promoting a name but recognition of whatever that name is.
``But if we sit here and wait to mull over what the name should be, we'll still be sitting here five years from now.''
Itzhak said she and her classmates were surprised about how excited people have become over the proposal.
``There's a sense of possibility about achieving something,'' said Diana L. Bailey, a classmate who is assistant public affairs officer for the Norfolk district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
``It begins to pull the idea of a region together and make more sense to you . . . At least it raises the question.''
The project also has pulled together the leadership class, which generally is made up of midlevel executives and small-business owners.
``For some it's the creative thinking, the brainstorming. People have been encouraged to contribute whatever their talents they have,'' Bailey said. ``There are those with powers of persuasion, those who articulate well, those who like crunching numbers. Someone else is good at getting sign prototypes. Some are good behind the scenes calling each city.''
Said Itzhak: ``It's helpful for us to see how each person learns to see how they can work with other people as part of a team.'' ILLUSTRATION: MAKING A CASE FOR UNITY
[Color Photo]
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Shira Itzhak and A. Ward Wiley offer a signpost to the future - and
to unity.
WHERE IS HAMPTON ROADS?
Map and Graphic
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
KEYWORDS: REGIONALISM by CNB