RD70 - Annual Report of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee (2004)


Executive Summary:
2004 was a banner year for the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee as it continued to accelerate implementation of plans and programs in preparation for Virginia's 400th anniversary.

Led by Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee Chair Stuart W. Connock and President & Executive Producer William W. Cone, Jamestown 2007 secured its first major national sponsor, developed more than 20 new national and statewide partnerships with business, media and educational organizations, gained the necessary signatures in the U. S. House and Senate for sponsorship of both Jamestown commemorative coin bills, increased participation in the Virginia 2007 Community Program and visitation on the Jamestown 2007 Web site by over 200% and generated over 700 news stories viewed by more than 26 million people nationally and internationally promoting the commemoration and awareness that Jamestown is America's birthplace.

Jamestown 2007 met its goals and initiatives for the year including fine tuning its 13 signature events and programs, assisting with the creation of a Host Committee to focus on preparing the Historic Triangle for visitors in 2007, assisting in Phase III of the Jamestown 2007 transportation plan, working with NATO and the 2007 Military Task Force to advance military and maritime activities for 2007, collaborating on national and international plans with the federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, and continuing support for 2007 plans for Virginia African American and Virginia Indian organizations.

Steering Committee leadership saw a change in 2004 as Colin Campbell, Chairman, President and CEO of Colonial Williamsburg, became vice chair. Campbell replaced Frank Atkinson, who has served as the committee's vice chair for the past four years. Atkinson resigned his position in order to focus his attention on the federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, which he chairs. He remains a member of the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee.

Other changes include an increase in 2007 staff, new offices in the Merchants Square area at Colonial Williamsburg that brought the Federal Commission, State Commission and the Historic Triangle Host committee into one central location, and a shift in focus from conceptualizing events to actual implementation of specific tasks and assignments.

In addition, the Committee has created Jamestown 2007, Inc., a non-profit corporation to enter into contracts with corporations and other organizations to receive and dispense sponsorship funds for services and goods necessary in producing the national commemoration.

In 2005, Jamestown 2007 priorities will focus on securing 100 official communities, finalizing partnership opportunities with select state and national business, media and educational associations, continuing to pursue high level introductions to American corporations for potential Founding Colony Sponsorships, continuing to increase promotional and publicity visibility on a regional and statewide level moving ultimately to a national and international level, and beginning the first phase of building the signature events with the help of outside creative consultants.

The Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, its subcommittees and various task forces are driven by a volunteer membership that has donated thousands of hours of time and expertise in commitment to producing an anniversary that will be national and international in scope and will benefit all of the Commonwealth by showcasing Virginia's cultural, historic and economic impact on America and American society.