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The weather is getting warmer, flowers are blooming....that only means one thing, it's time for the DT100 Spring Hop. Join us Thursday, April 17th for a chance to mix and mingle with fellow members while sampling delicious appetizers at three downtown hot spots. As usual, a raffle to benefit ForKids will be held as $50 gift certificates from each of the participating restaurants will be given away. This year’s hop route is as follows:
5:30pm Il Colosseo 147 Granby Street 6:30pm Posh Dolche 257 Granby Street 7:30pm Scotty Quixx 436 Granby Street
Be sure to RSVP to dt100@DowntownNorfolk.org by Friday, April 11th. Guests are welcome and it’s a great way to introduce a prospective member to the organization.
The Downtown 100...From the Beginning If experience is a great teacher, than the DT100 is lucky to have lots of it in the form of active members and DNC staff, including 25-year veteran Cathy Coleman, who were part of the organization’s origin. Members attending the February leadership forum had the chance to hear Coleman recount how the DT100 began. The DT100 got its start as a business retention strategy for downtown Norfolk about 13 or 14 years ago. McArthur Mall was in the early planning stages and while the end result was highly anticipated, the intervening period of construction and disruption made local businesses skittish about staying. Coleman drew similarities with the concern-mixed- optimism for that project with that of light rail today. The Downtown Norfolk Council rounded up a group of volunteers enthusiastic about downtown and sent them out in groups of 10 covering the entirety of downtown to inventory the concerns of each and every business owner and provide outreach in directly referring any needs to the appropriate source. When the original mission of inventorying businesses was complete, the passionate group of mostly young people wanted to continue to volunteer for downtown. The DNC, realizing what a valuable resource it had, was quick to establish the Downtown 100. Coleman said that given the level of interest in the organization, the membership could easily be twice as high but is intentionally constrained to ensure that the organization’s members continue to rise to a high level of passion and commitment to downtown, community, and fun.
Contributed by Kelly Stefanko DT 100 Volunteers Undeterred by Wind and Rain
Despite a solid rain right up until the 9am start of this year’s first Clean-the-Spot on March 8th, four volunteers showed up. They went to work, walking the pedestrian bridge park and around the Hague on the Chrysler Museum side picking up trash for about an hour until it started raining again. Clean-the-Spot Coordinator Drew Riley summed up the effort as “pretty good considering the rain and tornado watch in effect.” Stay tuned for the next opportunity to Clean-the-Spot!
Contributed by Kelly Stefanko
Only Two More Hot Meals & Homework Opportunities Remain
As the school year winds down, so do your chances to take part in one of the most gratifying volunteer programs offered by the DT 100. Help the DT 100 finish the school year strong in its commitment to provide after school tutoring for the children of ForKids by signing up for one of the 2 remaining dates: May 6 and May 20. (Due to low enrollment, there will be no April Hot Meals & Homework) May - 6 & 20, coordinator Luke Downing (luked@ghentcomputer.com)
Downtown Lifestyle Tour Volunteers are needed for the Downtown Lifestyle Tour to be held Saturday, May 17. The tour is a day long event designed to showcase the best of Downtown living and the uniqueness of the downtown lifestyle. There will be two shifts, morning 9 am - 2 pm or afternoon 1:30 pm - 6 pm. If you are interested in being a greeter for the event, download a volunteer application or contact Noel Gramlich for more information.
Who will be the DT100 Member of the Year?
The nomination form for the DT100 Member of the Year is complete. Start thinking now about someone you feel is an outstanding member of the group. This person should exhibit true commitment, a willingness to participate in events and volunteer for various DT100 activities during the year. So if you think you or a fellow Downtown 100 member deserves to be the first to get this honor, be sure to submit your nominations soon. The winner will be announced at the DT100 Annual Meeting. Click here to download a nomitation form.
Contributed by Khalilah LeGrand March Steering Committee Meeting Notes
Contributed by Khalilah LeGrand
Read It and Reap! We are so grateful for our readers that we’re giving away FREE stuff! After reading the newsletter, reply to dt100@downtownnorfolk.org within 24 hours of delivery to be automatically entered into our monthly drawing. Attention: Do you have any DT100 Member News, great photos taken of members at some of our events or just being around Downtown? Send them to Robert Pursell at robert.t.pursell@gmail.com. Member to Member Offers Several members have asked if discounts and other offers could be extended to fellow DT100 members. If you are interested in providing benefits, please contact Khalilah LeGrand, Communications Committee Chair at khalilah.legrand@vmsdc.org. Member News Projects Committee chair Emily MacCartney and husband Mike welcomed Claire Elizabeth MacCartney 7lbs 3ozs, 20 ¼ inches on Thursday, March 13th! Congratulations to these new parents! New Members
Resignations
Member Birthdays
Newsletter Staff Committee Members:
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