2 minute read
Chamber President & CEO’s Message
Dear Friends,
As we continue to confront the daily challenges of the coronavirus, the effects of this disease are becoming more apparent and are undoubtedly far reaching.
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There is a lot of negative that I could point to and share with you; however, I would like to instead talk about a few of the amazing experiences and conversations that I have been privileged to be a part of. During the past several weeks, I have been emailing and calling many of our businesses. Most of these wonderful people are truly hurting, yet through the course of conversation, many are asking me how they can help other businesses around them.
A few weeks ago, I was speaking on the phone with a gentleman who I know had not been able to go to work for several weeks. His line of work dovetails with the hospitality industry, which has been hit especially hard. I was asking him how he and his family were holding up, and he of course mentioned that things were stressful but that his family wanted to help make a difference because he knew that others were hurting worse. He asked me which of the restaurants in the city could use some help because he and his family were committed to eating out at least once a week to try and help. I was touched, to say the least.
Another example stands out as well. While posting on one of our social media pages, I came across the
owner of a local restaurant who was trying to help make a difference. He was visiting restaurants other than his own and ordering food for his family. While there, he was posting about that restaurant’s delicious food and any current discounts that they were offering. Nowhere in any of his posts did I see any mention of his own restaurant. He was selflessly putting his own interests aside to try and help another. In fact, he was even going so far as to use his ordering connections to try and help people obtain hard-to-get items that are selling out in stores. He was selling these items at regular supermarket prices. What a great example of who we are as a community!
There are many more stories just like these. We are an amazing people who are inherently selfless. It is in our culture to look after others. We have been described with such words as “unique” and “different.” Indeed, we are, and because of this I have no doubt we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead. I am proud to live, work and raise my family here. I believe we have a shared vision of what we want our community to be that will long outlast this pandemic. Stay safe and healthy.
