Before the HRPDC Executive Committee meeting on September 18th, the HRPDC hosted its first ever “HRPDC Breakfast Club.” Over 30 people including HRPDC Commissioners, staff and concerned stakeholders attended the informal opportunity to learn about the upcoming Dutch Dialogues.

The “HRPDC Breakfast Club” was developed in response to a request from the HRPDC Commissioners retreat in May 2014 to have greater access and engagement with the technical experts on the HRPDC staff and other experts about a regional project or initiative.  As topics warrant, the HRPDC Breakfast Club will be held between 8:30-9:30am, on the third Thursday of the months with an HRPDC meeting. The HRPDC will provide breakfast in an open house type setting allowing technical staff and regional experts to answer questions,  review posters, maps and materials on a different project each meeting.

This first “HRPDC Breakfast Club” provided information about “Dutch Dialogues,” collaborative efforts of Dutch technical experts, the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C., local and state governments and other stakeholders regarding creative, integrated planning for sea level rise and recurrent flooding. The first Dutch Dialogues were held in New Orleans with the goal of improving the region’s approach to water management through learning about the Dutch perspective on “living with water.”  The HRPDC is coordinating the stakeholder interviews to begin Dutch Dialogues in several communities in Hampton Roads this fall.
 
Next month, the “HRPDC Breakfast Club” will host a Visioning Session for the HRPDC’s Envision Hampton Roads program. As step two in the six step community-based planning approach, the HRPDC is working on establishing a set of guiding regional vision principles and a regional vision statement.
 
Please plan to join us for breakfast on October 16, 2014, at 8:30-9:30am, in the Regional Building. Click HERE for more details.