On July 11-12, 42 Central Kentucky leaders participated in the 2007 Washington, D.C., Fly-In presented by Columbia Gas of Kentucky. The group met with individuals from the entire Kentucky Congressional Delegation while there, including U.S. Senators Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell, and U.S. Representatives Ben Chandler, Geoff Davis, Ron Lewis, Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield, and John Yarmuth.

“We had a chemistry that we haven’t had before,” said Bob Babbage of Babbage Cofounder who works on Federal issues for Commerce Lexington Inc. “It’s a result of working together for several years now.”

“Central Kentucky was not well known for being cohesive,” Babbage added. “Now, we’ve convinced our delegation that we’re working as one unit and coming back.”

The group also got an issues update from various local leaders, and heard from the always entertaining Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. of Tennessee. Meanwhile, a great networking opportunity was provided by Kentucky Utilities, which sponsored the Kentuckians in Washington Summer Reception on top of the Hay Adams.

Babbage said, “We’ve done enough now that we can visualize what success is all about. It’s important that we keep the conversation going here with our Congressional staffs.”

“Bob Quick is to be commended for his efforts,” said Babbage. “He’s done a great job of unifying the interests and helping them understand why a win for one part of Central Kentucky is a win for the rest.”