Douglas Forecast to show upside of down economy

This year's Douglas County Forecast, March 25 at Carson Valley Inn, will find the upside of a down economy, according to event organizer Carole Thompson of the Douglas County Building Industry Association.

"It will not be a straightforward presentation where people stand at their podiums and deliver rhetoric," she said. "I envision a birds-eye view of how the dots are connected in this community."

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with the cowboy poetry of Tony Argento, Harold Miller and Dave P. Fisher and a tribute to former county commissioner Kelly Kite.

"We wanted to embrace our rural Western culture," Thompson said. "We're trying to pull people into the circle. There will be cowboy poetry from 5 to 6 p.m. and some hors d'oeuvres to enjoy. A little bit of play, then we'll get down to business."

That business will consist of five half-hour panels with a total of more than 25 speakers engaging in discussion with the audience.

"The panels will be sitting at a big table, without people standing up, and there will be interactive conversations going on to provide an overview of what happens in the county every day " a dramatization," Thompson said. "These are the players, the people and leaders, the individuals in the community that make it work."

At 6 p.m., the state of the county will be discussed by County Manager T. Michael Brown, new Assistant County Manager Stephen Mokrohisky, and Community Services Director Scott Morgan. Also on the panel will be new Record-Courier Publisher Charlie Pankey, Brad Nelson of Edgewood Companies, Denise Beronio representing Nevada Horse Park, and Dennis Oliver and John Andoh of BlueGo Transportation.

The state of the economy will be discussed at 6:30 p.m. with Kris Holt, executive director of Nevada Business Connections, Rob Hooper with the Northern Nevada Development Authority, Tina Iftiger of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, Jeffrey Fontaine, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties, and Joe Locurto with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

At 7 p.m., Carson Valley water resources will be discussed by Ed James of the Carson Subconservancy Water District, Minden Town Board member Bob Hadfield, state water specialist Evan Fulton and county Community Development Director Mimi Moss.

A panel about community education, arts and media and the challenges of drugs and violence will be at 7:30 p.m. with Douglas County School District Superintendent Carol Lark, Sheriff Ron Pierini, Brian Fitzgerald of the Carson Valley Arts Council, Record-Courier editor Kurt Hildebrand, Cheryl Bricker of the Partnership of Community Resources and the Douglas County Sheriff's school resource officer Greg Shields.

The event will finish with an 8 p.m. panel on the local economy and business trends with Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Chernock, Renea Louie of the Business Council of Douglas County, consultant Tim Rubald of Rubald & Associates, Paula Lochridge, the new manager of the Gardnerville Main Street program, and Clint Koble of the Nevada Rural Development Council.

Thompson said Koble will be discussing a new community assessment program recently approved by the Douglas County Commission.

"They will conduct listening sessions with the community on different subjects, to see the thoughts and visions of where people want the community to be, but those people then have to take a role," said Thompson, one of the program's team leaders.

"Douglas County granted $14,000 to hold workshops and do these things, community assessments. It's about opening the door of communication."

Thompson hopes the Douglas Forecast will bring people together and create solidarity in the face of economic uncertainty.

"These are difficult times," she said. "We all need to get back to the basics. We can't count on the feds. We can't count on the state. We can only count on each other."

Prepaid registration for the event is $20, with the deadline on Sunday. Door admittance will cost $25. For more information, contact Thompson at 783-1782 or e-mail caroledcbia@aol.com.