A lot of you spent your summers, just like me many (many) years ago digging in the dirt harvesting the tulip, iris and daffodil bulbs that grow so beautifully in our temperate climate.  It was a unique experience that we had this opportunity of working together with kids from different schools.  Longtime friendships and relationships were created because of this shared experience.  I am sad young people today are unable to create these memories but that is the topic of another article. 

I start every day focusing on our mission and vision statement posted right above the computer monitor in my office, and as you know I spend a lot of time writing about them this space.  Today, five particular words have jumped out at me from the vision statement: “establish partnerships with the city…….” 

Many of you, just like me remember when JC Penney was in town.  I got the blue striped flair pants I wore to my cousin’s wedding in the early 1970’s there.  They had a state of the art communication system that consisted of a metal clip attached to a ball chain wire that the clerks on the main floor would attach receipts and invoices too. The bundles of information would then be pulled up to the 2nd floor with the speed of DSL for process

It seems like it was just yesterday that I walked through the front door here at 714-B Metcalf Street for the very first time.  Many great things have happened in these past ten months. The number one has been the 15% growth in membership that has taken place in 2007! Thanks to all of you for making this happen.  Hand in hand with this has been an increase in our monthly membership meeting attendance since moving to the S-W Community Center. This is the perfect place for us to gather and network. Thank you to Mayor Anderson and the amazing City staff for making this possible. 

If you are wondering why the chamber spends so much time and energy producing the Magic of Christmas the short answer is this:  we do it for you.  You see, it fulfills our vision statement.  I mention our vision often in this column:  Establish partnerships and communication with the City, Businesses, and the Community.   The Chamber | Community partnership is so important.