When you're thinking about all of the different way to make a positive impact on Buffalo, one of the first tasks you need to perform is to identify your resources. There are a lot of local people who can provide you with the necessary tools to get moving on a project or an issue. Just think of all the battles we have been through - whether they were related to education, preservation, development, the environment, what have you.
Even though there is an excellent support group in the region, wouldn't it be great to know that there was more help on the way? After all, when you take a city that has undergone a loss in population, you must face the fact that some of your resources have also been lost. That's why I'm very happy to hear of a coalition of ex-pats who have formed a group to identify issues (that are important to them) and actually lend a hand when at all possible.
The founder of the group happens to be an old friend who currently lives in NYC. Over the years he has let on that he was interested in rallying ex-pats to not just follow Buffalo issues, but to rally for the city in ways that maybe the locals couldn't. Just think, for a few seconds, about all of the untapped resources that ex-pats have at their fingertips. Think about all of the big companies that they work for, or the relationships with decision-makers that could impact our city - just knowing that there is an engaged group of ex-pats that are gathering to not just talk about the Bills is... rather interesting to think about. Even if the group doesn't do anything other than form more solid and longer lasting bonds with Buffalo, I'm glad to hear that the effort is underway. From Frits Abell, founder of Buffalo Alumni Society:
"I'm galvanized - The Statler is the issue that got me reengaged. I started talking to other people who don't live in Buffalo and they all have passion for the city, even though they don't live there. The ex-pats are a huge resource that doesn't get leveraged. We want to create a more national lens on the issues, while at the same time we can avoid getting mired in local egos and politics. We had our first meeting in NYC this past week and the discussions ranged from a staying abreast on topical issues (arts, culture, development, environment) to creating an organized vehicle to get involved with local business. I'm an investment banker in NYC - I would love to be able to have the ability to funnel some projects and money to Buffalo. I have had the opportunities in the past, but there has never been a streamlined vehicle to get involved. Most cities roll out the red carpet for businesses, where as Buffalo has a track records for not making it easy or desirable for businesses to locate there. We are living elsewhere around the world and we a have access to people and resources that might not otherwise be available to Buffalo - and there are people who we know that when they make business decisions, Buffalo might not even be on their radar. We can put Buffalo on their radar and help them to navigate the city.
"We are still in formation mode. We are still determining what we are going to do. We need to remain neutral - we are not going to get involved with politics - we're like a Switzerland for advocacy. We're tired of hearing negative Buffalo jokes at the office. We want Buffalo to succeed. We have the ability to participate with issues, even as outsiders. We want to be a support group rather than being identified as a savior of Buffalo. There is a selfish pursuit as well. Many of these people want to have more opportunities in Buffalo so that we can actually someday spend more time there. It's a realistic pursuit. As our numbers grow, so does the passion for the city. In ten days we have 450 members on Facebook. These are not all New Yorkers either. Preferably we will have groups in a number of different cities that will occasionally come together to collaborate. The initiative is kicking off in NYC. As far as I'm concerned this is an international initiative. I personally am very interested in the development and preservation issues. We're putting together a mission statement - we should have a rough draft in two weeks. One member suggested that we should mobilize on a particular project rather soon and not be mired in theoretical ideas. We have the ability to bring important issues to outside eyes - to help Buffalo do the right thing in certain situations and to help prevent Buffalo from doing the wrong thing in others. We could potentially bring outside monetary resources to an issue or project.
"In a very short amount of time, people are really interested in the concept. It's taking what Buffalo Rising does from a local standpoint and streamlining the issues that appeal to outsiders. We are beginning to do market research of ex-Buffalo residents to find out what would be interesting to them. What would compel them to get more involved with Buffalo to create a vehicle for the need. People who don't live there still care about Buffalo. We can help to create partnerships with Buffalonians... it needs to be a realistic pursuit - business or philanthropic or all of the above. Our mission is not to be interlopers... there is passion underlying the mission and we all want Buffalo be a better place."
*If you are an ex-pat and want to join the Buffalo Alumni Society, just conduct a group search on Facebook
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Even though there is an excellent support group in the region, wouldn't it be great to know that there was more help on the way? After all, when you take a city that has undergone a loss in population, you must face the fact that some of your resources have also been lost. That's why I'm very happy to hear of a coalition of ex-pats who have formed a group to identify issues (that are important to them) and actually lend a hand when at all possible.
The founder of the group happens to be an old friend who currently lives in NYC. Over the years he has let on that he was interested in rallying ex-pats to not just follow Buffalo issues, but to rally for the city in ways that maybe the locals couldn't. Just think, for a few seconds, about all of the untapped resources that ex-pats have at their fingertips. Think about all of the big companies that they work for, or the relationships with decision-makers that could impact our city - just knowing that there is an engaged group of ex-pats that are gathering to not just talk about the Bills is... rather interesting to think about. Even if the group doesn't do anything other than form more solid and longer lasting bonds with Buffalo, I'm glad to hear that the effort is underway. From Frits Abell, founder of Buffalo Alumni Society:
"I'm galvanized - The Statler is the issue that got me reengaged. I started talking to other people who don't live in Buffalo and they all have passion for the city, even though they don't live there. The ex-pats are a huge resource that doesn't get leveraged. We want to create a more national lens on the issues, while at the same time we can avoid getting mired in local egos and politics. We had our first meeting in NYC this past week and the discussions ranged from a staying abreast on topical issues (arts, culture, development, environment) to creating an organized vehicle to get involved with local business. I'm an investment banker in NYC - I would love to be able to have the ability to funnel some projects and money to Buffalo. I have had the opportunities in the past, but there has never been a streamlined vehicle to get involved. Most cities roll out the red carpet for businesses, where as Buffalo has a track records for not making it easy or desirable for businesses to locate there. We are living elsewhere around the world and we a have access to people and resources that might not otherwise be available to Buffalo - and there are people who we know that when they make business decisions, Buffalo might not even be on their radar. We can put Buffalo on their radar and help them to navigate the city.
"We are still in formation mode. We are still determining what we are going to do. We need to remain neutral - we are not going to get involved with politics - we're like a Switzerland for advocacy. We're tired of hearing negative Buffalo jokes at the office. We want Buffalo to succeed. We have the ability to participate with issues, even as outsiders. We want to be a support group rather than being identified as a savior of Buffalo. There is a selfish pursuit as well. Many of these people want to have more opportunities in Buffalo so that we can actually someday spend more time there. It's a realistic pursuit. As our numbers grow, so does the passion for the city. In ten days we have 450 members on Facebook. These are not all New Yorkers either. Preferably we will have groups in a number of different cities that will occasionally come together to collaborate. The initiative is kicking off in NYC. As far as I'm concerned this is an international initiative. I personally am very interested in the development and preservation issues. We're putting together a mission statement - we should have a rough draft in two weeks. One member suggested that we should mobilize on a particular project rather soon and not be mired in theoretical ideas. We have the ability to bring important issues to outside eyes - to help Buffalo do the right thing in certain situations and to help prevent Buffalo from doing the wrong thing in others. We could potentially bring outside monetary resources to an issue or project.
"In a very short amount of time, people are really interested in the concept. It's taking what Buffalo Rising does from a local standpoint and streamlining the issues that appeal to outsiders. We are beginning to do market research of ex-Buffalo residents to find out what would be interesting to them. What would compel them to get more involved with Buffalo to create a vehicle for the need. People who don't live there still care about Buffalo. We can help to create partnerships with Buffalonians... it needs to be a realistic pursuit - business or philanthropic or all of the above. Our mission is not to be interlopers... there is passion underlying the mission and we all want Buffalo be a better place."
*If you are an ex-pat and want to join the Buffalo Alumni Society, just conduct a group search on Facebook
This group may do well recruiting us "ex pats" by reaching out to the Bills Backers groups all across the Country and world. Bills Backers are recognized by the Buffalo Bills organization. Many ex pats have memberships and know of others scattered around from the Buffalo area. Believe it or not Buffalonian ex pats seem to flock together and wear Buffalo themed stuff around town even when out of town to attract attention. This attracts other fellow ex pats and networks get created, herds of Buffalo's start to amass. I can't tell you how many times a Bills hat or Sabres or Buffalo anything has attracted attention of others from up there now down here in Central Virginia.