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>Thanks for your comments and feedback. ÊI agree with >Dave’s and to most of Tony’s points.Ê However, it is >important to understand that there is strength in >numbers and organizations working together – whether >we call them clusters or something else. ÊIn Oregon we >have tended to try to recruit or develop entire new >industries that today is financially impossible.Ê By >focusing on clusters we intended to do several >things:Ê highlight the reality that it is important to >play to our local region’s strengths rather than going >elephant hunting for the elusive “new, new industry”, >that if you break the task up conceptually into >something smaller than an entire industry it is >actually doable, and finally we should be working >together rather than in isolation (this not only >includes the private companies themselves, but also >universities and government research and economic >development efforts).Ê > >I agree that that social capital is an important >component and the models you cite worked great where >the godfather played the role of teacher and mentor.Ê >However, if we don’t have an obvious godfather here, >do we just give up and say it can’t be done? Or do we >collectively provide the godfather role to change >culture and drive success?Ê I have a personal bias for >action and believe that a small committed group can >make things happen (and change the culture).Ê All of >us who care must work together to drive success – >since we love Oregon and don’t want to move, what >other choice do we have? > >Peggy

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