Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association

22-24 Sept, 2011, Regional Neighborhood Network Conference

Fort Wayne Flash-Mob Rollout 

Members of the Fort Wayne delegation were scattered throughout the room during the closing breakfast. Cherise Dixie was seated up front on the stage with the other Steering Committee members. Once breakfast was completed, and the keynote speaker had concluded their presentation, Cherise approached the podium and said a few words on behalf of the Mayor. Towards the end of her talk, she said the word “fabulous” which was the cue for Debra Dambra to start singing “My Fort Wayne is…”

Once Debra sang the hook twice, “My Fort Wayne is…My Fort Wayne is…” each of the persons listed below stood up and shouted or sang about the object representing Fort Wayne.

 “MY FORT WAYNE IS…” – Debra Dambra

John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) – Mac McConnell

The Tin Caps – Tony Ridley

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo – ???

Allen County Public Library (Genealogy) – Mary Morris

Botanical Conservatory – Ellen Fox

The Old Fort – Jean Mendenhall

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants – Bud Mendenhall

The Fort Wayne Komets – Audrey Stevenson

Vera Bradley – Pat Turner

Local Colleges and Universities – Sue Derkatsch

The Art Museum – John Meinzen

The Three Rivers – Cindy and Eric Keller

After each person said their part they moved gracefully, with lots of movement, toward the front of the stage. As the three rivers flowed to the front of the room, the remaining people in the delegation followed and held up individual letters spelling: RNNC FORT WAYNE 2012.

 At the end they all shouted out, “MY KIND OF TOWN IS REALLY YOUR KIND OF TOWN…COME JOIN US!”

 It was a real hit! What a way to promote Fort Wayne for sponsoring the conference in 2012.

 The pictures from the conference were taken by Cherise Dixie, East Community Liaison from the Mayor’s office; who organized the trip to Cincinnati, and will be heading up the RNNC in 2012.