I must be living in some alternate universe, where time is moving at warp speed. It seems that only yesterday I was joking with Bob V. about his impending "retirement" as Chamber President, soon to be enshrined in the vault of Past Presidents of lore. I joked about visiting him at Shady Pines retirement home, and thought, I need to stop falling asleep to Golden Girls re-runs, but more importantly I should probably stifle-it, as that will be me in 12 short months. Well, here I am. Packing my bags to Shady Pines, looking in the rear-view mirror of what we have all accomplished over the past 12 months, and handing over the keys to Kyle... A sad day indeed.
But, if only that was reality (and thank God it's not). The truth is, this organization is way bigger, and much better, than any one person, group of directors, dedicated staff members (the best in the business by the way!!), or a collection of business entities. No, the Middleton Chamber of Commerce is much bigger. It's truly a way of life, a guiding force for the local business community, and a staple in our everyday interaction with people (many of who we have come to call great friends).
While my term is ending as Chamber President, I don't plan to "retire", because that is simply not an option. What I will do, is continue to utilize and enjoy all the great benefits that my membership with the organization offers me. The great programming, social activities, learning opportunities, and advocacy efforts are stronger than ever. Your board of directors continues to work diligently on these aspects, making this organization truly the best.
I would like to challenge any one of you that may not have utilized your membership to the fullest this past year, to try to attend an event you have not yet attended. I will guarantee you that you will not be disappointed. In fact, if you are, I want to be the first person to hear about it. Feedback is not only welcome, but necessary for continual improvement!
In all seriousness, I want to thank each and every one of you for a great year. You all had a role in making 2016 a year to remember. As I hand the reigns over to Kyle Von Ruden and become your Past President, I do so with a smile. Kyle will do an amazing job as your President, with Terry Healy-Lemke following in 2018. I would say the future is in good hands!
I will leave you with this... as Lee Iacocca stated "If you are standing still, you are moving backwards". Luckily for all of us, the Middleton Chamber of Commerce has never stood still!
Forever Grateful
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