Sunset from Tower City Amphitheater

There's something different going on in Cleveland/NEO. A small bunch of professsionals got together and decided to create a new approach--they threw a party (Carnival Night is going on under the Amphitheater tent this warm June night)and invited not only industry players but each and every member of the profession to come and have fun, get to know each other. They call their group NOCA, Northeast Ohio Communicators Affiliates.

The point is they feel all these communications pros should join forces and present arms, so to speak, in a united front to boost the image of the region for marketing/advertising/PR, and thus up the pulling power of every individual company/consultant. This shows a spirit of cooperation that's rare in any area of life, but even more so in business.

If it doesn't work, that's okay. They've at least set a standard--created a new model--that others can improve on. If it does work, what an accomplishment.

Don't know whether the NOCA crew feels it's working as they had hoped. I say, it doesn't matter. You've done something good. Let the "powers that be" pay attention--and maybe learn something.