Governors Return to Williamsburg for National Meeting

By Desiree Parker Thursday, August 12, 2010

The National Governors Association will hold its 2012 annual meeting in Colonial Williamsburg, according to a press release issued Wednesday.

This will be just the fourth time the meeting has been held in Virginia, and the second time it has been held in Williamsburg. The governors last met in Williamsburg in 1957.

NGA is a bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors that promotes visionary state leadership, shares states’ best practices and speaks with a collective voice on national policy. NGA represents the governors of the 50 states; the commonwealths of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico; and the territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

NGA’s nine-governor executive committee determines the site of the Annual Meeting based on proposals and invitations of governors wishing to host. Governors selected the Commonwealth of Virginia and Williamsburg for the hotel and meeting facilities, as well as the city’s overall appeal and rich history.

“There is no more fitting location for a meeting of America’s governors than our nation’s birthplace,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “Virginia is the home of the ‘Father of our Country’, four of the first five presidents, the author of the Declaration of Independence, the ‘Father of the Constitution’ and Yorktown.

“It was Williamsburg where many of our Founders studied, learned and debated the concepts, principles and ideas that would ultimately create the government we have today. Now, over 200 years later, America’s governors will meet in the same place. Just as the Founders debated the matters of their day, we will discuss the issues of ours. While separated by centuries, we are part of the same journey.”

Colin Campbell, President and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, said, “We are delighted that the National Governors Association has selected Virginia as the location for its annual meeting in 2012 and honored that Colonial Williamsburg will serve as the host site.

“It is entirely fitting for the National Governors Association to meet in America’s Historic Triangle where representative government was introduced in Jamestown, the cause of liberty and the role of ‘we the people’ were debated and advanced in Williamsburg, and the war for independence was won in Yorktown.

“Others who have convened here come to realize that Colonial Williamsburg offers more than just a world class meeting site; it offers purpose.  We look forward to partnering with Governor McDonnell and the National Governors Association in welcoming this important gathering.”

NGA’s Annual Meeting draws approximately 1,000 attendees. It is one of the organization’s two official business meetings held each year; the Winter Meeting is held in Washington, D.C., in February.