Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historical Commemoration Va250 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local VA250 committee outlines inclusive three‑year plan, seeks community events and school involvement
Summary
Rockbridge’s VA250 advisory committee updated the Board of Supervisors on planning for Virginia’s 250th anniversary, emphasizing inclusivity, evolution of historical narratives, five affinity groups and outreach to schools and community groups.
Members of the Rockbridge VA250 advisory committee briefed the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on local planning for Virginia’s semiquincentennial and solicited community involvement in events over the next three years.
Eric Wilson, executive director of the Rockbridge Historical Society and co‑chair of the local VA250 effort, said the committee’s goals are to be “inclusive” and to reflect an evolving historical narrative beyond eighteenth‑century events. Wilson said the committee is “in common cause” with the cities of Lexington and Buena Vista and with the state committee chaired by Delegate Terry Austin.
Cheryl Wagner, executive director of Lexington Rockbridge Area Tourism and co‑chair of the local effort, said the advisory group is intended to inspire and promote community-created events rather than plan every event itself. Wagner listed the advisory committee’s founding members and said the committee has 14 people serving on the advisory panel, representing history, tourism, military and heritage organizations, arts, parks and other stakeholders.
Wilson summarized five affinity groups the committee is organizing to guide local activity: education and museums (with K‑12 and higher‑education tracks), business and nonprofit involvement, media and communications, recreation and entertainment, and military and heritage organizations. He emphasized youth engagement and said the committee will provide a toolkit and funding guidance to groups that want to organize events.
Board members asked about school-system involvement; Wilson and Wagner said education subcommittees are planned and that the committee is coordinating with local superintendents and colleges. The committee asked the board for continued support and offered to return with event ideas and a calendar; no formal board action was requested or taken at the meeting.
