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Chairman of the Board's Farewell Message
REDWOOD CITY, CA - November 25, 2003 As I sit in front
of the computer beginning my last Chairman’s message my mind is racing in several directions. How do I write
something prolific and meaningful? How do I thank everyone? How
do I tell all of you how grateful I am for having had the opportunity
to lead such a terrific organization?
For me the easiest way to do all this is to share with you some
of my favorite memories of the past year, events that happened,
people who inspired me and ways in which the Chamber not only enriched
my life but hopefully impacted our community for the better. One
of the things an incoming Chair tries to do is attend the first
committee meeting of each of the Chamber’s standing committees,
say hello, listen and offer support. Being active in the Chamber
the last several years I was familiar with all of the committees
except the Ambassadors. I knew what they did and how important their
role was to the success of the Chamber, but had never attended a
meeting. What an eye opener.
This group is dedicated, enthusiastic, unabashedly “Pro-Chamber”
and really into their points! It was exciting to hear about the
ribbon cuttings, outreach, Business Connections and all the other
things they do to keep new and old members interested and involved
in Chamber activities. I still remember the excitement I felt about
the year ahead heading home from that meeting.
The Chamber’s annual membership drive is always a lot of
fun but as Chair you definitely feel the added pressure to bring
in the members. I took on a whole new persona during this month,
calling, emailing, cajoling, and basically begging my team the “City
Slickers” to get out there and recruit. Thankfully I still
had people speaking to me at the end of it and overall all five
teams brought in over 180 new members.
The Wells Fargo Benefit Golf Tournament combines a fun game -
golf (for those of us who don’t take it too seriously), with
sunshine, good food and an unbeatable beneficiary in Kainos Home
& Training Center. Having Kainos clients greeting us at one
of the holes, handing out snacks and saying thank-you is, for me,
what community and what giving is all about.
One of my best memories is going on the computer in early May
and seeing the “new and improved” chamber web site.
For four months last spring, the Chamber staff and I worked with
Chamber member M3iworks to design, develop and launch the revamped
and technically proficient web site. This is an effective and dynamic
tool that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of all Chamber
members, whether large or small, public or private. Many thanks
to the web site sponsors, Alsace Development International, Comcast,
Glenborough-Pauls, San Mateo Credit Union, Provident Credit Union,
Seaport Industrial Association and Wells Fargo for helping us bring
this project to fruition.
One of my primary focuses over the last several years at the Chamber
was to take the annual Business Forum and Showcase held each October
and make it stronger, more effective and interesting for members.
How do you balance the showcase with the featured speaker. This
year, I think we hit on a worthwhile model by using an excellent
location, Oracle Conference Center, having the showcase sponsors
inside the venue and bringing both an innovative and motivating
company to headline the event. PDI/DreamWorks spent three months
working on a state-of-the-art presentation of who they are and what
they do. “The House that Shrek Built” will always standout
for me as one of the highlights of 2003.
In closing I want to share with you one of my favorite quotes
that sums up my feelings on the Chamber and this past year quite
well. It is by Margaret Mead, the well-known social anthropologist
and says “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has.”
I wish all of you well and look forward to continuing my involvement
and commitment to the Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce.
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