Onward & Upward, 17th Salute on the Horizon

The 17th Annual Academy Salute is Friday, August 20 at the DoubleTree Hotel Warren Place. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30pm. Dinner and program begin at 6:30pm.

Salute co-chairs Bob Sullivan and Academy Chair-elect Tom McKeon chose a positive and uplifting theme for the 2010 fundraiser - Onward and Upward: Soaring to New Horizons.

"Even though it's a big election year we wanted to go beyond the obvious theme and get people excited about the Oklahoma Academy and the opportunity in our state," said Sullivan.

In keeping with the uplifting spirit, Pat Hall and Jim Dunlap will return to host the 17th Annual Academy Salute. The Capitol Steps, a musical comedy troupe based in Washington D.C., will also return to provide the evening entertainment.

"We asked Hall and Dunlap and the Capitol Steps to come back this year, because they keep the crowd laughing," said McKeon. "The political theme is relevant, but we also want people to have a really good time."

Tables seating ten and individual and couples tickets are on sale now. For Academy members, tickets are $150/individual and $275/couple. To purchase a table or tickets click here.

The Academy is once again challenging its membership to represent their regions at the Salute by purchasing tickets. Oklahoma City and Tulsa will face off while the remaining four regions (NE, NW, SE, SW) will compete against one another.

"Last year Tulsa and the Northeast region won," said Julie Knutson, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Academy. "There's really nothing at stake, but it's a fun way to get our members involved and we love seeing them at this fun event."

Knutson said the Oklahoma Academy is also looking for volunteers for the Salute.

"Volunteers help greet people, direct them to their tables and talk up the Academy to guests who don't know much about the organization," said Knutson. "Volunteers get free admission to the Salute in exchange for their help, and their attendance counts in the regional competition."

If you're interested in volunteering for the 17th Annual Academy Salute, contact Jennifer at the Oklahoma Academy.

The DoubleTree Hotel Warren Place is offering a special $99/night room rate for Academy Salute attendees. This rate is being held until August 8. To make a reservation call (918) 495-1000 or toll-free 1-800-801-1317.

CEO's Note

The special Town Hall held May 23 - 26, 2010 on Oklahoma Water was a successful conference that yielded some very interesting and collaborative results. Importantly, it was an excellent opportunity for a diverse population of Oklahomans to come together and state their thoughts and concerns regarding elements for a water plan for Oklahoma's next 50 years.

In 2006 the Academy was asked by the Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to complete a "citizen engagement" approach to water planning by holding a Town Hall to allow for a final opportunity to openly and honestly discuss areas that should be a part of the 50 year water plan.

Why did the Academy accept this request to hold the Town Hall? We believe Oklahoma benefits from efforts to learn from citizens, and we have a successful history of producing Town Halls that have yielded excellent collaborative, nonpartisan recommendations on issues that are critical to the future of our great state. And, we had a history with water, conservation, smart planning, smart growth, and economic concerns. Plus we always have a goal to get people to "think" then "act!"

185 Oklahomans participated in the Academy Town Hall. Many were participants in a three year process that was held under OWRRI's direction to yield input on 11 areas of focus. Other participants were Academy members who were very interested in how the water plan should be developed. In all, a very diverse group.

The Final Report and Recommendations are on our website. Take the time to read them. They are provocative, interesting, for some perhaps controversial, but they are definitely based upon the open, honest discussions of the participants who gave of their time for three days discussing, weighing, and participating in a democratic process.

Is democracy perfect? No, but it does allow for opinions to be heard, and that is exactly what happened at the Town Hall. The consensus of the discussion, deliberations and developed recommendations are presented. As many Town Hall participants said to me during and at the conclusion of the Town Hall, "This is the first chance we have had to really share what we think and what we want for a water plan for Oklahoma. Thank you Oklahoma Academy."

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board will take the Final Report and Recommendations and give them consideration as they develop a 50 year water plan. It is not now nor has it even been the Academy's expectation that the Final Report and Recommendations will be a part of the plan. They are presented to the OWRB as the consensus thoughts, recommendations and ideas of those who gave their time May 23 - 26, 2010.

Prior to the OWRB making their determinations, the OWRRI will hold 13 meetings across the state to hear from Oklahomans as to what they think about the ideas and recommendations presented thus far from OWRRI's three year process as well as the results of the special Academy Town Hall.

We are proud of the role we played in this process and we wish the OWRB only the best in providing Oklahomans with a sound, solid 50 year water plan.

Julie Knutson
President and CEO
The Oklahoma Academy

Municipal, OK - An Oklahoma Academy Town Hall

The Oklahoma Academy will hold its second 2010 Town Hall November 14-17 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. The Oklahoma Academy will select up to 150 Oklahomans to participate in the Town Hall entitled Municipal, OK.

(Click here for a nomination form or Town Hall flier)

The Town Hall will focus on revenue and service issues that affect Oklahoma towns big and small. Public revenue generation, municipal expense, the consequences of unfunded federal mandates and intergovernmental issues will be some of the topics on the table.

Mike Lapolla, Academy board member and resource document co-chair, said the research team and Town Hall committee have worked hard to recruit subject matter experts to contribute to the resource document and speak at the Town Hall.

Town Hall speakers include:

Bill Purcell, former Mayor or Nashville; Director, Policy Institute, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

J. Mac Holladay, CEO, Market Stree Services, Atlanta, GA

Graham Richards, former Mayor of Ft. Wayne, IN; entrepreneurial consultant

If you're interested in nominating yourself or someone else for the Municipalities Town Hall, please complete a nomination form and return it to the Oklahoma Academy by August 18.

Follow us on Twitter!

The Oklahoma Academy

www.okacademy.org * (405) 232-5828 * 120 E. Sheridan, Ste. 200 * Oklahoma City, OK 73104