6 August 2009

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Preparations for The Pittsburgh Summit

To members of The Pittsburgh Summit

James Decker
Today at 12:25pm

A note from Bill Flanagan

Preparations for this fall's meeting of the G-20 leaders are heating up. The White House this week announced key venues for the international conference, and reinforced its official name: The Pittsburgh Summit.

The region played host again Monday and Tuesday to the White House's advance team, as well as those from the nations that will participate in the meeting. Many attended a reception at the Senator John Heinz History Center, with diplomats from countries including Indonesia, South Africa and Korea mingling around the red-and-cream 1950s-era streetcar and vintage advertising displays for Isaly's chipped ham and Klondikes.

Over lunch following their tour of the Convention Center, Allegheny Conference CEO Dennis Yablonsky spoke to participants about the three key elements of the Pittsburgh transformation: how we built on our historic strengths in advanced manufacturing, financial services, energy and health care; how we created a new economy based on innovation within our universities and corporate R&D centers; and how we invested in infrastructure to support a high quality of life in the arts, outdoor recreation and sports.

Everyone commented on the friendliness of Pittsburghers and their eagerness to help.

Just as our region's commitment to green building played a role in President Obama's decision to bring the summit to Pittsburgh, so too did it guide the selection of the venue for the opening reception. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, with its earth-sheltered Welcome Center -- the world's first LEED-certified building in a public garden -- will welcome the delegations on Thursday, Sept. 24.

While the President and his peers will stay at Phipps for a working dinner, First Lady Michelle Obama will host a meal for the other First Spouses at Rosemont, Teresa Heinz's working farm in Fox Chapel. When the leaders reconvene Friday morning, Sept. 25, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Mrs. Obama will accompany the other spouses on a tour of CAPA, the city's Creative And Performing Arts magnet school. She will also host a luncheon at The Andy Warhol Museum which -- as director Tom Sokolowski points out -- has sent its art on traveling exhibitions to 15 of the participating nations.

The White House team commented on the richness of the choices of possible venues -- more than 300. While some may be disappointed to have not been chosen, Phipps, CAPA, the Warhol, the Heinz Family Farm and the Convention Center allow us to tell many stories of Pittsburgh, from re-use of historic buildings and green leadership, to investment in arts and culture, to stewardship of the environment and even our heritage of philanthropy.

Along with christening the event The Pittsburgh Summit (rather than the G-20 Summit, as there are now more than 20 nations attending by the President's invitation) the White House unveiled the final version of its logo for the gathering. As you know, the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership, as the host organization, has a logo of its own. The White House logo represents the event; the G-20 Partnership logo represents the host organization.

Finally, I'd like to welcome Mylan, The Heinz Endowments, Thar Technologies and Walnut Capital as new funders of the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership. The CBS Radio Group has also stepped up in a big way, contributing public-service announcements to the Partnership. Thanks to everybody for their tremendous support, which is vital to the success of our efforts to welcome the world for The Pittsburgh Summit 2009.

--Bill

Bill Flanagan is executive vice president for corporate relations at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and publisher of the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership Web site.

IN OTHER G-20 NEWS:

* The Pittsburgh Summit: Behind the Scenes will be held from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Pittsburgh Opera offices in the Strip District. The Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership's Bill Flanagan and (VisitPittsburgh)'s Craig Davis will discuss preparations for the summit, what to expect and how to be a great host to the world. Sponsored by the New Pittsburgh Collaborative, Leadership Pittsburgh and PUMP, the session will be moderated by Global Beats founder Carla Leininger. Cost is $10 or free with a valid college ID. Submit a question for the Q&A session when you register here, before August 14, please.

* Bayer Corp. of Robinson will collaborate with other companies on branding and signage to be used throughout the region in advance of the summit, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and County Executive Dan Onorato last week toured laboratories where Bayer researchers are developing green and sustainable projects that highlight Pittsburgh's economic transformation and showcase why the city was picked to host the G-20.