If filling a big room with people is a sign of success, then The Power of Collaboration Conference was a success. Don Vonder Meulen, who was in charge of registration, said 87 people had signed up in advance. The five and a half hour event took place April 17 at the John Miller Community Center in Connersville's Roberts Park.

The conference was hosted by the Whitewater Canal Byway Association (WCBA) in order to plant seeds which the organizers hope will grow into region-wide recognition and action by community leaders who attended.  

The conference is the first major public outreach effort by the WCBA since the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway was officially designated by the State of Indiana last September. It comes at a time when the group is nearing the final stages of purchasing a 33-acre area for an interpretative park in Metamora. At the group's board meeting on April 15, Terry Duffy estimated the title to the former MacLynn property could be transferred to the organization by late summer.

With the Byway designation and the advent of the interpretative park, the Whitewater Valley is emerging as a viable economic, social, historical and environmental entity. The Byway effort takes in six counties in Indiana and two counties in Ohio. Mention was made by Phil Anderson, who served as moderator for most of the conference, of the daunting complexity of organizing a 76-mile route along the Whitewater Canal across state borders. He said the organizers were first told more than once that it couldn't be done. This spirit of accomplishing the impossible was the positive spark apparent in the morning sessions.

Candy Yurcak, president of the Whitewater Canal Byway Association, welcomed the group, declaring, "Today we see our valley through different eyes."

Michael Snyder, the keynote speaker, illustrated what successful collaboration can bring with a story about the Tournament of Roses. He said Pasadena was originally called Hoosier Colony because of the large number of Indiana natives there. To call attention to their newly adopted home they collaborated to create the annual parade that is now an American tradition on New Year's Day.

Regarding the Whitewater Valley, Snyder said, "People fall in love with this valley when they finally see it." About the success of the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway he said, "Collaboration works when there's a big idea that transcends local politics."

He added, "People have to deliver on their promises to make collaboration work."

Phil Anderson spoke next about taking the byway concept "beyond tourism" to enhance benefits for residents of the valley "built around the commonwealth of living, learning, working and playing together."

Regarding visitors to the region, he said people are moving from a consumption of goods to a consumption of experiences. In other words the old idea of a tourist trap is out and real experiences are in. He defined a tourist trap by saying, "If you can buy a rubber tomahawk but not a pair of socks, you've found a tourist trap."

A work session before lunch was titled "How can the Byway leverage and support your efforts." A second work session after lunch turned that concept around and explored "How can your efforts leverage and support the Byway?"

Rick Barnett, a volunteer from Union County, said the reason for the conference was to push forth the effort of recognizing the Whitewater Valley as a whole. He felt a self-image of the valley is emerging and this is causing a "paradigm shift."

At eight tables the conference attendees identified opportunities that could leverage and support the Byway. Phil Anderson kept notes and said he will make them available to the public on the WCBA Web site,

www.whitewatercanalscenicbyway.org.

Most agreed on the need for a cooperative marketing program, relying on the Byway and the Regional Interpretive Park as the hub of the effort. One table specifically proposed an interactive map which would have layers detailing the many cultural, historic, social and recreational places and activities the valley has to offer. This map could serve locals and visitors with self-made tours of the region.

Mayor William Graham of Scottsburg gave the wrap-up. His message was: The Whitewater Valley is a special place ... You have a treasure, treat it as such."

Conference co-sponsors included Whitewater Valley REMC, Franklin County Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission, Fayette County Economic Development Group, Franklin County Community Foundation, State Sen. Bob Jackman (retired) and Fayette County Tourism Bureau.