MVRPC Annual Spring Dinner
- Mr. Rap Hankins (center) winning the Regional Steward Award for 2008, standing with Robert Shook (left) and Donald Spang (right)
“Exuding integrity, energy and enthusiasm and never losing sight of the common goal of collaboration” were a few of reasons why City of Trotwood Council Member, Rap Hankins, was chosen to be the recipient of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission's (MVRPC) Regional Steward Award. Mr. Hankins received the award on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at MVRPC's Annual Spring Dinner.
MVRPC Chairperson and Concord Township Trustee ( Miami County), Robert J. Shook, and MVRPC's Executive Director, Donald R. Spang, presided over the event, which was attended by 240 guests from across the Region.
Mr. Hankins was chosen to receive the coveted Regional Steward Award for many reasons including his outstanding commitment to the Region. Chairman Shook explained, “Rap has constantly sought out creative and innovative ways to solve regional challenges. He has provided consistent leadership and commitment which is exactly what the Regional Steward Award recognizes.”
Mr. Hankins is an active member of the National League of Cities serving on the:
- FAIR Policy and Advocacy Steering Committee
- Leadership Training Council Committee
- First Tier Suburbs Council
- Cities Future Panel on Democratic Governance
- Human Development Policy Committee
And he's also received several leadership certifications from the National League of Cities.
He has served as a Trotwood City Council member since 2001 and was re-elected for another four-year term in 2005. In that capacity, Mr. Hankins has dedicated time and energy to his community serving as the representative for the Dayton Area First Tier Suburbs Consortium - also co-chairing its task force to investigate tax increment financing issues; The National Black Caucus as a Local Elected Official and as the Trotwood City Council representative on the Salem Avenue Vision Coalition. His community involvement is extensive serving on several committees which led to him receiving both the City of Trotwood Award for Leadership & Support and the Citizen of the Year Award for Outstanding Community Service.
He has served on the Board of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission since 2006, and in that short time has always focused on the larger picture – approaching issues from a regional perspective. It is because of this clear focus and his emphasis on collaboration that he deservedly was chosen as this year's recipient of the Regional Steward Award .
The MVRPC Annual Spring Dinner is a way to express continued thanks to the elected officials who devote countless hours to the betterment of the Region. MVRPC was founded as a forum for cooperation – to bring governments, business and other groups together to address the needs of Miami Valley and the dinner was a celebration of the Region's unity.
The event was sponsored by the Burgess & Niple, Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, M-E Companies, CH2MHill, Dayton Power and Light, LJB, Parsons Brinckerhoff, The University of Dayton and VPSI.