If you are unable to see this page click here: http://www.returntoroots.org/e-blast/October2008/Employer.html

Greetings from Return to Roots!

This month, Return to Roots brings you news about regional job fair information, events we think you might be interested in, and exciting updates about the Return to Roots program. We are also continuing to update and optimize our website, making it more user-friendly for both businesses and job-seekers.

As of this past month, we have approximately 2,000 registrants! We have Return to Roots registrants from 35 states, including most predominantly Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and California.  Visitors to the website come from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and also represent 68 countries including Malaysia , Philippines and Canada .  This month alone, the Return to Roots website welcomed 1,700 absolute unique viewers to the site.

We have 586 registered employers, and 73 registered jobs. We are contacting job-seekers each week to see how their search is going, and how we can improve the website to serve them better.  Our website optimization process is bringing more visitors and registrants to our website every day.

Please remember to update your information and post new positions available within your company! In addition to all the registrants we already have, we are preparing to reach out to over 35,000 individuals, so we need not only jobs you have available, but the job openings your colleagues and friends have as well.

Return to Roots Gala 2008

The Second Annual 2008 Return to Roots Fundraising Gala that took place on September 18, 2008 was a huge success.  We enjoyed live entertainment from the band “Franklin & Baytop” while having cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the newly renovated Bristol Train Station.  After the wonderful five-star meal provided by The Troutdale, we were pleased to present our featured guest speakers Governor Timothy Kaine and one of our Return to Roots success stories, Jason Kiser, among others.

The Return to Roots Fundraising Gala truly jump-started our efforts to raise the $75,000 needed as matching funds for a Tobacco Commission grant awarded on July 31, 2008. If you or someone you know wishes to continue to support our efforts, click here to see how you can become involved.  Contributions can be made through the Return to Roots website at www.ReturntoRoots.org, or contact Carl Mitchell at 540.731.6800 for more information.

For those of you unable to attend this year’s event, we invite you to consider sharing a special evening with us at our Third Annual Return to Roots Fundraising Gala next year!

View Gala Photos

5K Circle Sponsors

Verizon
Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival
Alpha Natural Resources
Appalachian Power
CGI
Dominion
We’re Now on YouTube!
Be sure to visit www.youtube.com/ReturntoRootsSWVA
to see Return to Roots’ first video!  Highlighting the Return to Roots program, this video showcases the return of Southwest Virginia natives to the region.

This video was produced in collaboration with Tre Akins, of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, and through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. 
Return to Roots in the News

We invite everyone to read the article, “Working for the Working-Class Vote,” which highlights the Democratic presidential campaign in Southwest Virginia, and features a mention of the Return to Roots program on pages 5 and 6.  It was published in The New York Times on Sunday, October 19, and is located here on their website.

As the country gears up to choose our new president, it is quite exciting to find that Southwest Virginia is looked at so closely during the election.  The country is looking here not only for political reasons, but also for the port of potential major economic development in the future!

Virginia’s Great Southwest

 Are you or someone you know returning to Virginia’s Great Southwest?  Be sure to visit www.swvaonline.org. This website provides information for locals, tourists, visitors and for newcomers relocating to Southwest Virginia.

SEND US YOUR SUCCESS STORIES!

We are continuously looking for success stories to feature on our website. We would love to hear from you if you have interviewed or hired anyone from the Return to Roots  program since registering with us.If you have a success story, please email Carl Mitchell, Program Manager, cmitchell@vebinc.org.

 

shirt

For contributing $250.00, you can become a member of the “Purple Shirt Brigade.” 

Below are some of the marketing benefits that stem from a $250 contribution.You will receive a Return to Roots “Purple Shirt Brigade” Purple Long Sleeved T-Shirt

Your logo will be featured on a separate 2008 Purple Shirt Brigade page on the Return to Roots website.It will be included on a Purple Shirt Brigade PowerPoint slide in the Return to Roots presentation that we will be making to every chamber and civic organization throughout the 21 counties and cities included in the Return to Roots region.

Lastly, they will also be acknowledged at the Return to Roots Executive Committee and Strategic Partners Meetings (comprised of 50 local business/civic leaders) during our updates each six weeks.

To become a member, you can make check payable to:  Return to Roots or contribute directly, via our website, www.returntoroots.org.

Upcoming Career Fairs

Career Pathways Opportunity Showcase

Date: November 13, 2008,  12:00-2:00PM
Location: Southwest Virginia Community College, King Community Center Gymnasium
Route 19 (6 miles south of Claypool Hill intersection of Rte. 19 &460) Cedar Bluff, VA 24609
Sponsored by: Southwest Virginia Community College and Southwest Virginia Career Pathways/Tech Prep Consortium
Event Objective:  Students will be introduced to regional career and educational pathways leading to high skill, high demand and/or high wage employment.

Community College Career Connection of Southwest Virginia

Date: November 20, 2008, 9AM-1PM
Location: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon, VA 24212
Co-sponsored by: SVCC, Virginia Highlands Community College, Mountain Empire Community College, Wytheville Community College

Southwest Virginia Career Connection                

Date: Wed., March 25, 2009, 9AM-1PM
Location: Southwest Virginia Community College, King Community Center Gymnasium
Route 19 (6 miles south of Claypool Hill intersection of Rte. 19 &460) Cedar Bluff, VA
Sponsored by: Southwest Virginia Community College, Southwest Small Business Development Center, Mountain Empire Community College and Virginia Highlands Community College

Bluefield State Job Fair

Date: April 8, 2009
Location: BSC, Rt. 52, Bluefield, WV 24701
Co-Sponsored by: Bluefield State College, Bluefield College, Concord  College, New River Community and Technical College, Southwest Virginia Community College and Wytheville Community College   

Interstate Career Fair

Date: April 16, 2009
Location: Holiday Inn, Exit 7/Interstate 81, Bristol, VA

To register for any of the job fairs, please visit:
http://www.sw.edu/career/events/Career%20Fairs/eventregistration.htm,
email sharon.peery@sw.edu or call 276.964.7544.

Upcoming Regional Events

10/03/08-11/14/08 Barter Theatre’s  The Desperate Hours
Location: Abingdon, Virginia

November 20 An Evening With...John McCutcheon
Location: The Lyric, Blacksburg, VA, 7:30 pm

November 21 Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
Location: Edwards Hall, New River Community College, 7:30 pm

11/21/08-12/28/08 Barter Theatre’s  Miracle on 34th Street
Location: Abingdon, Virginia

11/26/08-12/21/08 Barter Theatre’s Another Night Before Christmas
Location: Abingdon, Virginia

6226 University Park Dr. Suite #1200
Radford, Virginia 24141
(540) 731-6800
returntoroots@vebinc.org