Local, State, & National Leaders___________________________
National Entrepreneurship Week
2008
HELLO FRIENDS: July 20, 2007
We hope you have shared with all of your networks our communications from July 4 about our plans to celebrate the second annual National Entrepreneurship Week in February 2008.
We understand there are questions because of the announcement this week that ‘EntrepreneurshipWeek USA’ will be November 15 – 22, 2008. So we wish to answer your questions.
We are celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week the last week in February 2008 (February 23 – March 1, 2008) and invite those who participated in this past year's event to again join with us as well as any others that wish to participate.
Our focus includes the importance of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurs in the networking, publicity, events, policy, and support that we include in National Entrepreneurship Week.
We are implementing House Resolution 699 passed in June 2006 that was initiated and brought to fruition by the work of the Consortium, which says:
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
- encourages the implementation of entrepreneurship education throughout the United States;
- supports the goals and ideals of National Entrepreneurship Week so that the people of the United States are reminded of the contributions of entrepreneurs and so that educators are encouraged to reflect on how entrepreneurship education can improve the performance of their students; and
- requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, State and Local governments, schools, nonprofit organizations, and others to observe National Entrepreneurship Week annually with special events in support of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education programs.
We believe that the development of State Leadership Teams is one of the most significant results of our efforts in 2007 and plan to continue to provide leadership in our February 23 – March 1, 2008 events for each state to build a strong network of organizations building the entrepreneurial culture for their state, both now and into the future. We are working with a number of national organizations that plan to sponsor events with us as well.
As for the timing of the two different national events, November is a very busy time for schools and there is not much planning time between September and the proposed changed date. In contrast, the February date coincides nicely with the ACTE-sponsored Career & Technical Ed Month, which is also February. Last year they actively supported Entrepreneurship Week as an important part of their celebrations.
February was established in 2007 and we agreed that it was a good, relatively slower time of year. Changing the dates and direction of the Celebration is like “starting over”. We wish to maintain the momentum that all of you generated in 2007.
As we expressed in our original message to you this month, we believe that the ‘EntrepreneurshipWeek USA’ events will provide interesting resources and opportunities to know about international initiatives for entrepreneurship. But we ask that our educational leaders recognize that the only focus on entrepreneurship education as a lifelong learning process will be in February 2008. And we do plan to continue this wonderful opportunity to expand the entrepreneurship spirit and skills nationwide for years to come.
We hope this clarifies the Consortium’s plans for leadership in making this great national event happen. Please contact me with your ideas, concerns, and plans to be involved with us for National Entrepreneurship Week.
Best wishes,
Cathy Ashmore
Executive Director
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
614-486-6538
www.entre-ed.org
cashmore@entre-ed.org