Series of Forums to Explore Vibrancy of City

PLATTSBURGH, NY (08/31/2009)(readMedia)-- SUNY Plattsburgh and the City of Plattsburgh's Campus Community Partnership is sponsoring a series of forums that will strive to answer the question, "Is Plattsburgh vibrant, safe and sociable?"

Jim Peters, president and founder of the Responsible Hospitality Institute in Santa Cruz, Calif., a group that has worked with cities across the United States and Canada, will lead the forums that will all take place in the third floor auditorium at City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The first two will be round-table discussions: one on vibrancy from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and one on safety from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Following these, at 4 p.m., Peters will offer a presentation reviewing the recommendations from the round tables, exploring various national trends and identifying what steps can be taken to make Plattsburgh a more sociable and hospitable city.

According to Nancy Monette, co-chair of the Campus Community Partnership, this is not Peters' first visit to Plattsburgh. Last time, he wound up speaking to a group of around 25 people.

"Everyone seemed very impressed with his knowledge and ideas," said Monette. "As a result, we decided to invite him for a return visit.

"The goals behind these presentations are ones, I believe, we all share," added Monette. "We all want to see Plattsburgh as a more sociable, safe and inviting city. We all want for businesses here to be more lucrative and entertainment to be more vibrant."

Business operators, entertainers, city planners, police, concerned residents and college students are all invited to take part in these free events.