January 10, 2006

Apologizing in advance for a new relentlessness

Maybe therapy is the only answer.

Or maybe it’s just not advisable to construct your list of annual business goals alongside your New Years resolutions. The thought processes for those two should be separate and distinct. When there becomes too much parallelism, it can become a recipe for disaster.

Trust me.

Plotting a strategy for a new year, personally and professionally, is a challenge that even the most focused may wrestle-with until early Spring. A kinder, gentler assassin is still, after all, an assassin.

It is with these distorted, Jekyl-and-Hyde thoughts that I vault into 2006, lugging them like a bag of bricks. Ignoring all attempts at rational thinking, I present my goals/resolutions for the next 300 days or so.

I will work twice as hard to promote the efforts of those businesses who are members of the Chamber. I will harbor no ill will against those businesses who refuse to invest in Blair County’s future because they “see no value in it.”

Believe it or not, that’s a real concession on my part. When I witness the struggles that businesses face each day, in a Commonwealth rated among the most unfriendly to business in the nation, it sickens me to realize that the battle to overcome decades of bad legislation and tax unfairness is being fought by only about a quarter of the county’s business community. I hope, at some point, the other 75% will recognize that The Chamber was created 118-years-ago because the business community thought it was important to flex its collective muscle. All of its muscle.

I will work twice as hard to make absolutely sure that every business in Blair County and ultimately in the contiguous counties to Blair has at least a basic understanding of what The Chamber does and why they should be part of it. I will concede that many of the local businesses that aren’t Chamber members either don’t know what The Chamber is about or haven’t been contacted to be members.

I’ve admitted on numerous occasions that we don’t always market who we are and what we do as effectively as we should. Shame on us. That being said, we’ve at least doubled the number of ways that we communicate with members and non-members over the past three years. Shouldn’t we have doubled our membership? As far as the businesses that are contacted and profess to know what we’re all about and still refuse to join because they “see no value in it?” In the past I’ve referred to them in derogatory terms. The kinder, gentler me will no longer do that. At least I think I won’t.

I will work twice as hard to point out and promote the businesses that are committed to giving back to the community rather than just taking money and shipping it off to destinations far, far away. I will give all businesses headquartered outside Blair County the opportunity to feel like a full partner in helping to make this county more viable and prosperous

I’m gritting my teeth on this one. I’ve been working with Chambers at the state and national levels to resolve a growing problem in which major retail and hospitality businesses have thumbed their noses at the local business community and refuse to invest in any of their efforts, most specifically membership in the Chamber of Commerce. I love a challenge and I’m buoyed by the factthat businesses like JC. Penneys, WalMart, Target, Sam’s Club, Outback Steakhouse, Don Pablos and TGI Fridays have gone out of their way to give-back. The tantamount question to all businesses is the same. Are you part of this community or not? It’s time that question is answered.

So for me, 2006 begins with high hopes, higher expectations and still a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. Over the past eight years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Blair County business survive significant downturns in the economy. I’ve watched viable businesses leave the area, most for reasons beyond their control, and others vigorously pick up the slack. I’ve watched outside businesses move into the county and new businesses start-up. It’s great thing when it all comes together.

It’s a greater thing when everyone plays a part in making it happen.

Happy New Year!

Past Chamber Notes

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July 05| Aug 05|Sep 05|Oct 05|Nov 05| Dec 05