RD125 - Annual Report of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee (2005)


Executive Summary:
The Sail of Godspeed along the Eastern Seaboard, beginning in May 2006, kicks off the fist of ten signature events for the commemoration of America's 400th Anniversary. With less than a year to go before the sail, Jamestown 2007 is on target as the transition phase of planning ends and out focus shifts toward implementing an 18-month series of events and programs.

In 2005, Jamestown 2007 proudly welcomed the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as a 2007 Founding Colony Sponsor. Colonial Williamsburg joined Norfolk Southern Corporation with a $3 million investment that will help in leveraging public funds with private funds for the production of our signature events. To secure additional corporate investment, Jamestown 2007 has retained the services of Velocity Sports & Entertainment, the nation's leading sponsorship firm. Additionally, a second phase contract was signed with Prosody Creative Services (PCS), a New York based firm, to continue developing and implementing four of the premier signature events. With the work of PCS, the events of the commemoration will be brought to life through music, education, entertainment and culture.

Increasing awareness of the significance of America's 400th Anniversary remains an important goal; for that reason, in 2005, messaging was crafted to position the anniversary as a once-in-a-lifetime national and international event. "Jamestown2007" remains the agency name, while the commemoration itself is "America's 400th Anniversary, The Journey That Changed the World." To assist us in promoting that message, Jamestown 2007 retained Ruder Finn, an international public relations firm.

This past year we surpassed our goal of bringing 100 communities on board the Virginia 2007 Community Program. As of August 2005, we are proud to announce that we have 125 communities participating, representing more than 90% of Virginia's population and every region of the Commonwealth. New visitor centers and wayside interpretive exhibits will orient travelers and help them to discover Virginia's hidden treasures. Each community has enthusiastically adopted commemorative events or projects that complement America's 400th Anniversary and carries the spirit of the commemoration across Virginia. That spirit has extended beyond Virginia's borders and now includes the East Lindsey District of England.

In the Historic Triangle, the Jamestown 2007 Host Committee has played an invaluable role in coordinating 2007 partners and engaging the members of the Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown community in preparation for events planned for 2006 and 2007. Enhanced programming, projects and facility changes at Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg will provide visitors with a complementary perspective of the legacies of Jamestown and their impact on America today.

This past year the African American and Virginia Indian Advisory Councils were formed to help shape signature events and programs that are inclusive and highlight the significant roles these cultures play in American society today. Just as important, the events will help accurately showcase the importance of the original cultures that were fundamental to our nation's development.

The preceding year also saw one of our important partners, the federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, take a lead role on educational initiatives, the anniversary-year conference series on the future of democracy, and joint commemorative planning with officials in the United Kingdom. The Federal Commission also is serving as lead liaison with the White House, Congress and federal agencies in commemoration planning.

In 2005, Jamestown 2007 continued to work hand-in-hand with hundreds of committee volunteers from every region of the state who donated thousands of hours to planning and creating complementary partner and community events.

Awareness of the commemoration and the story of Jamestown's beginnings will receive a significant national boost with the November 2005 release of New Line Cinema's feature-length production, "The New World." This major motion picture, combined with national advertising coordinated by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, could provide an excellent promotional platform for Virginia from which to launch our slate of national and international events.

Key priorities in 2006 will be the promotion and execution of the fist series of signature events, ensuring transportation and security objectives for the commemoration are met, strengthening the Community Program through business alliances and partnerships, and working with our partners to produce events that position Virginia as a sought-after tourism destination for visitors from across the nation and the world - not just during the commemoration - but for years to come.

As Godspeed, a member of the "Official Fleet of the Commonwealth", sails up the Eastern seaboard beginning next May, the ship and its accompanying "Landing Party" will serve as an ambassador for Virginia and the commemoration. With exhibits for Virginia attractions and products, performances, and ship tours, it will be a beacon paving the way for the 400th anniversary of the "Journey That Changed the World."