Emotions arise when a combination happens between what we have inside us like a vision and when this becomes concreteness and something that everyone can enjoy.
That is the reason today we can say we are feeling these emotions. We are not the only ones to feel them: it is a circle including many people, all those who wanted to follow us to the School of Territory.
7th and 8th November. These two days were designated long time ago, the days when an event – at first only imagined, then strongly believed possible, finally conveyed into a concrete project – comes true. For this reason, during the weekend of 7th and 8th November 2016, the first two days of the Territorial School were inaugurated. The experiential education course that originated from an idea of the PLEF Foundation and addressed to business people in the area of Western Romagna and Ravenna.
Territory means reference, symbols, culture, knowledge, know-how. In our opinion, territory is the place to start finding what we seek to respond to our needs as people. It is also the point where we stay.
Why the choice of Western Romagna? Because every area offers its resources, its valuable work and its special collaborations. Ravenna supported us with its local institutions, including its Chamber of Commerce. However, if we enlarge the territory and come to include the Emilia-Romagna Region, this recognized the value of our project of the School of the Territory for the evolution of industrial culture aiming at social innovation of the territory and supporting the Corporate Social Responsibility of companies.
Paolo Ricotti and Sara Cirone, respectively founder and Vice President of PLEF, presented and fully introduced the project and the work that Emilia-Romagna Delegation has been practising in this local context.
Therefore, the inauguration of the first brainstorming session aimed at identifying characteristics, peculiarities and main uniqueness of the territory, subject of examination and analysis by the students of the School.
Keywords are the ones around which we can build worlds. We have in mind a keyword, which is the integration of the companies with the territory. It is now a wide recognition. The geologist Stefano Marabini reveals the geological and cultural homogeneity of our territory. The same influence even determines the productive specificities of businesses.
Our territory offers a variety of characteristics if you are interested in finding them out. It provides knowledge, culture, history and even stories. If theory comes first, then practice, then it is time to visit our territory.
Today, Tuesday, November 8th, the second day of the School of the Territory begins. A day dedicated to discovering the field of industrial excellence and local cultural attractions.
A story: the one of a production reality, Curti Mechanical Engineering, which belongs to Castel Bolognese and committed 220 resources in different productive sectors. The story of a company producing packaging machines in license of Tetra Pak and is excellent in the production of precision wiring. The story of a productive versatility that embodies a history spanning over 50 years and finds its connection point in precision engineering and high quality.
Therefore, we can learn the stories in detail: the one of the Engineer Alessandro Curti, Managing Director of the family enterprise inherited from his father, whose task is to explain the production. Furthermore, we get to know of many other stories.
If the technology prospects the future, territory also allows us to rediscover the identity that makes these places what they really are. Therefore, in the territory, past and present embrace each other, intertwined with the future, which is of course what can emerge from this invaluable and unique union.
Therefore, from technological efficiency into the future of Curti S.p.A., the School of the Territory goes to visit a cultural beauty situated a few hundred meters away. We are in Casalecchio (Castel Bolognese): the Mill called Scodellino dates back to 1300.
We sit to hear a new story, told us by Professor Ettore Badiali. The Scodellino Mill today is one of the rarest mills in public ownership: it was completely restored and renovated in its production functions by a group of volunteers and the essential contribution of some of the engineers of Western Romagna Reclamation Consortium (the first consortium of reclamation in Italy active since 1909).
This occurs when present and past stretch a bridge one towards the other.
Time for conviviality and to gather all the feelings that arise from so many well told stories. However, lunch is also an excuse to know another territorial excellence: the House Spadoni of Faenza, restorative context of local excellence.
The territory conquers us always more.
We want to tell you another story about Faenza, which is not only one of the most representative cities of the Province of Ravenna. Abroad, the word indicates an artistic and industrial material known and appreciated: the Faience pottery is (or rather majolica).
We discover the identity and the story of a company born in 2007 and has already become a reference of excellence in the ceramic tiles industry. We are talking about Gigacer.
We also see here in the details stories leading one to another: they seem to find a new meaning with their continuity and harmony.
Giovanni Savorani and Gabriele Tronconi, former managers of major companies in the ceramic industry, with this brand launched the production of tiles in the plant in Faenza.
Giovanni Savorani, President of Gigacer, reveals how the company was not born by chance: the experience and the know how of its creators have been the key to create its identity.
Another reality that draws identity and inspiration from its territory.
Between a story and another one, a discovery accompanied by the sense of wonder, our itinerary was articulated and found the lost dimensions of time, territory, identity.
At the end of the second day, the Tenuta Fasano in Riolo Terme awaits us. The dishes are a tribute to local products of native farms, joined together in the Association called “Il lavoro dei contadini” (“The Peasants’ Work”).
A compelling and jovial atmosphere welcomes us and is capable of making us wait for the next steps.
And the school continues…