Join us Friday, March 5 at the Clay Center as Generation Charleston celebrates First Friday with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra! The WVSO will be performing “Virtuosity Unleashed!,” a Symphonic concert featuring world renowned guest violinist, Ilya Kaler (visit www.wvsymphony.org for concert details).

The concert begins at 8 p.m., and a free reception (complimentary drinks & desserts) will immediately follow in the Founders’ Lounge at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. Also, guest violinist Ilya Kaler will be attending the reception to mingle with Generation Charleston members, so don’t miss this special opportunity to meet Mr. Kaler, an award winning violinist.

The concert and reception are free to GC members but you must RSVP. Call or email Laura Barry for concert tickets at 304-561-3504 or lbarry@theclaycenter.org. Limit two tickets per GC member. Complimentary concert tickets and reception made possible by Verizon.

Also, GC will be taking monetary and supply donations for Haiti Relief. In addition to monetary donations, we can accept:

• Baby Formula (dry/powder)
• Baby wipes
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes)
• Hand sanitizer
• Vitamins
• Over the counter medicines (Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, Tums, etc.)
• Non-perishable foods that are not in cans (seal-paks of tuna or sardines, for example)
• Beans (not in cans)
• Planting seeds for farmers

Think flat, lightweight, and easily packable. You will be able to drop off your donation before the concert at a collection table in the lobby.

For more information visit www.flmhaiti.org.

The story below appeared in the Feb. 24 Charleston Gazette.

By Veronica Nett
Staff writer

High fructose corn syrup is “evil,” said Lisa Lineberg, an exercise physiologist and certified fitness nutritionist, at Generation Charleston’s first health awareness event Wednesday.

High fructose corn syrup raises the blood sugar level to the point that the body cannot efficiently process it, Lineberg said. It has been linked to diabetes, and interferes with the body’s production of collagen and elastin, which helps keep the skin tight, she said.

“[It] makes us more soft,” Lineberg said to a crowd of about 30 Charleston residents and members of Generation Charleston at Ferguson Enterprises Wednesday evening.

The class is the first of six events the group will host that focus on the health and wellbeing of state residents, said Julie Cyphers, a Generation Charleston organizer.

Two-thirds of West Virginian adults are obese or overweight, Cyphers said. The classes are a way for Generation Charleston to do its part to educate the community about healthy lifestyle choices, she said.

A tentative schedule of the classes in the yearlong project includes bike safety, smoking cessation and a health screening, she said.

Lineberg also talked to the group about trans fat, which is often found on labels as partially hydrogenated oil and sometimes as soybean oil.

 The consumption of trans fat has been shown to increase cholesterol, interferes with the reproduction process in males and also decreases the nutritional value of breast milk, she said.

“We’re trading a longer shelf life for a shorter life,” she said. (more…)

The Community Outreach Team of Generation Charleston has announced the beginning of a year-long health awareness campaign in response to West Virginia’s less-than-desirable statistics in the health arena.

Food for thought (pun intended): During 2006, two-thirds of WV adults were either obese or overweight, and the state’s children have not escaped this statistic.

To kick-off this campaign, the group will be hosting a Healthy Cooking Demonstration and Nutrition Talk from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Ferguson Enterprises, 160 Spring Street.  The free event will include a short session on “Nutrition 101″ and a cooking demonstration to show how to easily prepare healthy meals that taste good. 

Children are welcome, too. Fun activities will be available.

The South Charleston Technology Park is on the brink of closing.

Why should you care? If we allow this to happen, the region could lose more than 500 quality jobs. If we maintain and nurture the park, it could create thousands of jobs.

Generation Charleston is dedicated to making Charleston and the Kanawha more attractive to emerging leaders and young talent. Standing on the sideline while our region’s future hangs in the balance isn’t part of that mission.

The time to act is now. Join us from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at MATRIC in Building 740 of the Technology for an open forum presented by Generation Charleston. The event is open to anyone in the community interested in learning about the park’s history and its potential impact on the state’s future.

To get to the park, take the Kanawha Turnpike exit from I-64, then turn left into the park. Building 740 is immediately on the right.

We believe that with growing support and a united voice, the technology park can become a symbol of our state’s resilience and ability to go the distance for the greater good. A successful outcome will be a transformational event in the history of West Virginia.

President Lincoln said the best way to predict the future is to create it – let’s start by saving the tech park. This is your opportunity to make change that matters.

Is winter getting you down? Then come in from the cold with Generation Charleston from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this evening at Capitol Roasters and warm your heart with food, friends, drink specials, a chocolate tasting and music.

A “Heart Wall” will be displayed with information about local children in need of foster parents.

Stop by and learn more about each child’s story. “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia — Portraits of Hope” is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children eligible for adoption.

The goals of the Heart Gallery are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

Want to be a part of a vibrant movement in the Kanawha Valley and truly affect “change that matters?” Be a part of Generation Charleston, the Charleston Area Alliance’s emerging leaders group.

It’s a continually growing group, and from community development to professional development, it has a long list of exciting opportunities lined up in 2010.

This evening’s Orientation is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the group and get involved. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Capitol Roasters, 160 Summers St.

For more information, visit www.GenerationCharleston.com.

Generation Charleston is hosting a “Heartwarming Party” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Capitol Roasters, 160 Summers St.

Come in from the cold and warm your heart with food, friends, drink specials, a chocolate tasting and music. A “Heart Wall” will be displayed with information about local children in need of foster parents.

Stop by and learn more about each child’s story. “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia — Portraits of Hope” is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children eligible for adoption.

The goals of the Heart Gallery are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

Generation Charleston, our emerging leaders group, periodically compiles volunteer opportunities in the Kanawha Valley. If you’re interested in any of the descriptions below, the contact information is included.

University of Charleston Student Mentoring

Contact: Nora Myers, Director, Experiential Education
Phone: (304) 357-4914
Email: noramyers@ucwv.edu

One of the components of the UC full-time MBAL program is Professional Mentoring, where UC students are matched with a mentor in the business community.

Mentors serve for one academic year, although all mentors from last year elected to continue mentoring their same student this year, which is gratifying and speaks well of the program. On average, time commitment is one hour per week. Mentors and mentees would work out the most suitable arrangement for themselves. Contact can be e-mail, telephone, in-person, text, or any other means. Many mentors include their mentees in their existing activities, such as business after hours, speaker presentations, client calls, golf games, etc. One mentor last year went running with her mentee.

The primary goal in the spring semester is to establish the relationship, and work towards a professional or academic goal established by the student.  We also stress development of good business etiquette, communication, and networking skills.

UC has developed a program syllabus which outlines mentor/mentee relationship.  Syllabus available upon request.  UC needs 6-7 mentors starting mid-January.

Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center

The Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center (SFEC) has 5 new Board of Directors seats available.

Generation Charleston members interested in serving on the SFEC Board of Directors please provide contact information to philip.lavigne@camc.org by Monday January 18, 2010 to be presented for the January meeting.

Mental Health Association in the Greater Kanawha Valley:

The Mental Health Association of the Greater Kanawha Valley is in need of volunteers to help plan and prepare for their upcoming Mama Mia Gala to be held on September 23^rd.  To find out how you can help out please visit:

http://mha-kanawha.org/volunteer.htm or contact Donna Hamra at donna.hamra@gmail.com

Are you ready for 2040? What about your financial future? How would a financial advisor, a tax accountant, and an estate attorney evaluate your planning and state of affairs?

Kick-start 2010 by joining the GC Professional Development team for our January 2010 meeting to understand how to manage your financial future from an average 3-star to 5-star performance.

Join us on Tuesday, January 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott Town Center. “Money Matters: Managing Your Financial Future” is free and will include a reception sponsored by Arnett & Foster PLLC.

Guests include: John Hussell of Dinsmore & Shohl Steve Robey of Arnett & Foster PLLC and John Slicer of McKinley Carter Wealth Services