From Where I Sit: A Message From Our Board Chair, Anna Behnam

As the year wraps up and we turn our attention to family, I wanted to send a note of thanks to and FOR each of you.
 
As I reflect on this past year, I can list a million challenges that we had to face.  COVID!!! Job losses; restaurant closings; business losses; children in school, not in school, in virtual school; families separated; the discrimination; the craziness of the election; the loss of loved ones…. The list goes on and on. It is 2020 after all!
 
But, as I watched my children excitedly flip the countdown calendar to Santa’s arrival, I realized that so much good has come out of this year. It would take far too long for me to list it all, but there are a few things that I want to bring to your attention.
 

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• The Goodwill Dinner Coalition has fed thousands and thousands of people
• Because of OUR Chamber, many kids have presents to open this holiday season
• We helped many of our members get access to loans to pay their employees
• We’ve listened and shared so we can support each other
• We connected with people that we would never have under “normal” circumstances
• We were patient and willing to help our neighbors
• It’s all of us who have given time, sweat and money to just make one person have one good day

 
While this list may not be specific (on purpose), it’s here to remind you of your special moment when you made a difference, no matter how small, in someone else’s life.
 
While I’m professionally trained to focus on the dollar sign…. today, it’s not about the money, the houses, cars or other riches we might possess.  It’s about the richness in our hearts that we so willingly and selflessly share with others.
 
I am honored, proud and humbled to be amongst this group. I thanked you in June for allowing me to be here but today I thank you for allowing me to be with YOU.  I have learned a great deal from each of you and I only wish that one day I can live up to what this group has done collectively.
 
You are each amazing people and I can’t thank you enough for being part of our brighter future.
 
I wish you a safe and happy holiday season. I wish you a new year full of happiness, love, laughter.
 
Humbly yours,
Anna Behnam