Louis Zacharilla: May 2009 Archives

The Summit is now history.  It was our largest and, in my view, most successful.  I look forward to viewing the Summit in a few days when it becomes available online.  

I am sitting in my apartment (a place where I have not spent much time lately), having a rare second cup of coffee and looking through the blogs, reports and email traffic from the Summit and activities around it.  I notice that Stockholm has already posted a photo, which includes its team along with my colleague Robert Bell on the stage at Steiner Film Studios.  

http://international.stockholm.se/-/News-from-the-City-of-Stockholm/News/Stockholm-the-most-IT-intelligent-city-in-the-world/
 

As we await our photos from  "Batman" (our nickname for ICF's official photographer) I am sorting through mental snapshots and impressions from the past three days. 

I am attempting to absorb the fact that Stockholm, Sweden is the 2009 Intelligent Community of the Year.  Gangnam, which did so much to honor the tradition, is now an important member of the Alumni and a nameplate on our new IC of the Year Trophy case.  I thanked Mayor Maeng of Gangnam for making the time to fly himself and his senior staff to New York for the event.  They were only able to spend 48 hours here, but came mainly in support of the Top Seven.  I realize that this was a sacrifice in time and money.  Having done the same trip last Fall, I know that it is taxing on the body.  But the mayor looked remarkably fresh, happily energized and relaxed as he spoke and presented the Top Seven awards on Thursday night.  I also think he was proud to have been surrounded by accolades and in a room filled with Samsung's newest and most innovative products!  Our Top Seven Reception was held in the famous Samsung Experience in Manhattan, the store that "sells nothing."

While he never said it in so many words, I believe it was symbolic that the Mayor, our 2008 recipient of the Intelligent Community of the Year honor, chose to appear at two events: the Alumni Dinner and the Top Seven Reception.  He had always said to me that in his view being named a Top Seven Community was his "true victory."  Of course, human nature being human nature, there is always the aspiration to be ICF's "number one."  On their third attempt the people of Gangnam achieved this honor.  Yet Maeng always was more of a team player than a standalone star, even after his community was named.   His address at the Time Warner Center, during the magnificent event hosted by Canadian Consul General Dan Sullivan and the Province of New Brunswick, confirmed this view.  Said the Mayor, in perfect English, "You have all won."  He then went on to say that having been a Top Seven three consecutive years pushed Gangnam to become more excellent.

My first reply after the envelope had been opened and Stockholm was named was to say, "MORE HARD NAMES TO PRONOUNCE!"  I look forward to attempting to learn some Swedish.  The Stockholm city website immediate posted the news:  www.stockholm.se

Another impression is of  Stockholm's Vice Mayor Ulf Kristersson coming to the stage with his group and seeming very surprised.  A few moments later, he said to the crowd that he was "shocked" to be standing there.  I had met the Vice Mayor in Stockholm earlier in the year during my site inspection.  I immediately liked his ability to engage; I also appreciate his intelligence, which is considerable, and a seriousness that he balances with a healthy sense of humor.  On stage, however, he seemed genuinely moved.  I noticed that the Swedish Consulate General from New York had come to the stage as well.  Ambassador Ulf Hjertonsson was literally on his day on the job in New York.  I did not know this until a few days ago.  He also seemed truly moved, perhaps coupling this event, which he described as a perfect present and his need to leave a city which he had evidently embraced.  I will remember that he hugged me and thanked ICF.  It was a fatherly and heartfelt exchange of gratitude, as I had only met him once before. 

Stockholm's reaction reminded me of Glasgow's in 2004.  Glasgow had not even prepared an acceptance speech because they were so certain that they would not be named.  However, as our evaluation team and international jury completed their work the results led them to name Stockholm.  I know that they will be a good representative for the intelligent community movement, as was Gangnam over the past 12 month.  I look forward to making our Smart21 2010 announcement in the "Capital of Scandinavia" in the Fall.

"Intelligent Community of the Year" week has begun.  We were pleased that Mayor Bloomberg sent us a note last week saluting our work and welcoming the Top Seven and the other invited guests to town.  It will be read by his Managing Director for the Division of International Business, Terry Jackson on Thursday morning to open the event.  

We are pleased that the Mayor, who truly "gets technology," recognizes the quality of the community leaders who will be here.  I am also pleased that Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who wins by over 80% of the vote each time she runs for the New York City Council, will for the fifth year welcome the Top Seven when they get to their reception in the Time Warner Center on Thursday night.  She is a passionate advocate of broadband in New York.  

So many impressions of the Top Seven, current and past, float into my mind.  One question we were asking last week was which of the seven would send the most people to the stage at Steiner Studios after they are named.  I believe the record is held by Mitaka, Japan (2005), which sent at least 10 or 11 of their delegation up to receive the award.  It was fitting and symbolic, since the added theme that year was "collaboration," and the city's Mayor, Keiko Kiyohara governed through a collaborative process of committees scattered throughout the community.  There was certainly no one in the delegation who put their ego first in New York.  It is a characteristic that is again and again surfacing when we look at places that are successful.

Looking at the stage from the photo of that event, I realize how we have gone more "Hollywood," from the past few years, thanks to our added support but mainly through the creation and work of our Summit Manager, Linda Kahn.  Now we are at a film studio with far more "operatic" effects!  We will also be filled to capacity and are getting concerned that we may not have enough shuttle buses to get people to the studios, which are located at the Brooklyn Navy Yards.  

I am looking forward to the week and seeing if we can connect some dots between the investment communities such as those in New Brunswick and Taoyuan County have made and the current economic crisis.  While I try not to enter with an preconceived notions, I do want to find out if the communities that continue to invest in infrastructure remain confident that they are creating communities that will not only "hang on," but begin to emerge prevalent after the financial winds blow through.  I also suspect that the wave that hit the USA, has not so dramatically impacted Taiwan, the Maritimes of Eastern Canada and the other parts of the world from which our communities will be coming.

To be honest, I am very pumped about this year's dialogue and events.  I am preparing for my conversations with the Top Seven and New Brunswick's Premier and cannot help thinking about the scene on that stage Friday afternoon.  How many?  Who?  What will the reaction be?