The Rust Belt Bloggers’ Summit wrapped up Saturday afternoon with a 4 hour roundtable discussion about our own personal goals and achievements as bloggers.  For some of us(me), it was a learning session.  Several visitors came in from the Youngstown and Cleveland areas and one from Butler.  The guys from Youngstown gave a great shared presentation about the founding and successes of the New Media in their town.  A gentleman from Cleveland, a former city planner there, is now working in the same capacity for Youngstown.  It was obvious from their stories that they have put together a very workable plan.

I must point out that several of the bloggers were very complimentary of the GlobalErie Network, and the way that Peter’s leadership and tact have created an excellent topic/comment flow.  In reading some of the other blogs, I find them to be more informational than discussion.

I came away with the hope that meetings like this will continue throughout the area, as a means to share ideas and enthusiasm for revitalizing the Erie-Buffalo-Pittsburgh-Butler-Youngstown-Cleveland Region.

I was joined in representing the Erie area by fellow Erie bloggers  Michael Mahler  and Tom Duska.

A big Thank You to all of the guys and gal who drove or flew from as far as Colorado to be part of the first ever summit.