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Emerging leaders and rising road tolls

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published May 19, 2005

It's always refreshing to see a fledgling idea develop into something meaningful.

I say that because a lot of people talk about grandiose plans but never make them a reality.

That's not the case with Emerge Tampa. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce started the group a year ago with the distinct idea of engaging professionals between the ages of 21 and 35. Emerge, which has ballooned to more than 600 members, celebrates its one-year anniversary todayin the Channelside courtyard. The party, titled Emergence, kicks off at 6 p.m. with food, music and a cash bar.

Emerge leaders not only tout the membership numbers but insist the group is more than just people passing out business cards.

"We have over 40 individuals in leadership roles that are heading up events and initiatives that will be valuable not only to young professionals but also have a great impact on our community," said Emerge co-chair Jessica Muroff.

Muroff cited Emerge's Summer Internship program as one of the group's more interesting initiatives. Interns from local companies will connect with Emerge to get involved in summer events and activities.

"We want them to feel connected to the community so they want to come here when the graduate," Muroff said.

At Emergence, the group will reveal the winner of its Identity Ad contest. I'm told my slogan - Tampa: We got the pirates and we got the booty - did not win.

Yes, even though I'm well out of Emerge's target age range, I will attend in my ongoing attempts to be Emerge emeritus. If some other folks older than 35 want to join me, maybe we can sit together on the balcony, look down at the young folks and start every sentence with the words, "Remember when . . .."

And Emerge members will be happy to know that I can explain that the guy with the funny pants in the Lays commercial is MC Hammer.

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority recently announced that it would up prices on the Crosstown in 2007 and then mailed more than 80,000 letters to East Hillsborough residents to make sure we got the notice.

The increase is a result of financial expenses related to the reversible express lane project, which suffered a severe setback when one of the piers collapsed last year. Now the project is over budget and the authority has to raise prices ahead of the original January 2009 schedule so it can issue bonds.

The letters seem premature to me, but they did give the authority yet another chance to assure folks that the road is safe. I guess you can't do too much when you're trying to regain the public's confidence.

I used to think I would never ride on the express lanes after the collapse. Now, I probably will give them a try when they open in August 2006.

But I'm not going to be the first person.

Kudos to Victor DiMaio Sr., who will receive the Sam D. Leto Award from the Ybor City Round Table on Saturday.

DiMaio, 81, will be honored during a banquet at the Cuban Club, and presenters will include Ferdie Pacheco. The Round Table was set up several years ago by Leto to organize the different service and civic clubs in Ybor. The Round Table often pooled resources to preserve the history and culture of the district.

DiMaio has been active in a number of those groups, including a term as president of the Ybor City Lions Club. He also was one of the founders of the Catholic Athletic Youth Basketball League, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

I'm going be a chaperone for my son's sixth-grade field trip to Busch Gardens on Friday, but he says only if I get some more appropriate clothes.

After hearing me question his fashion choices for years, I'm now told I would embarrass him if I show up in my faded Wrangler jean shorts. He's suggesting Sean John.

Maybe someone in Emerge can give me a few wardrobe tips.

That's all I'm saying.

Ernest Hooper can be reached at 813 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 19, 2005, 00:42:10]