Riverside Initiative Update--Email to Core Team 3/25/2010

Good afternoon everyone:

Blueprint Communities recently asked me to participate in a Blueprint Communities Advisory Group that they had assembled made up of selected team leaders from all three states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware. This morning, the group held its first conference call and dealt with several issues. While we did not get to everything on the agenda (see attachment), we covered a lot of ground, as you will be able to see by my minutes (also attached) regarding the issue of a community being certified and then re-certified as a Blueprint Community.

You will also be able to note that the University has recently received some funding to continue the effort with existing and new teams for a period of two years but that the work is limited to Wilmington area teams which includes all the teams with the exception of Dover. Dover however, will continue to receive TA and training, providing they want it, from different funding.

Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call or write me at your earliest convenience.

Two more things: First, allow me to be among the first to wish each of you a glorious and wonderful Easter holiday and that we do not lose sight of why we celebrate Easter in the first place and second, you should know that Dave Buches has been recalled a second time to serve with his reserve unit in Iraq. He shared with me that he will be assigned to the Baghdad airport as part of the drawing down process: getting some of the troops and equipment home and the remaining troops and equipment off to Afghanistan. Please keep Dave in your prayers.

Thank you as always,
Eugene
Eugene John Rudder
Riverside Initiative Team Leader