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

Happy Spring!  March marked the 1-year anniversary of the COVID-19 World-Wide Pandemic.  It’s hard to believe that it has been one year. At times, it felt like 10 years and in other aspects, it felt like the last 12 months flew by.
 
During that dreaded and fearful March of 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped by nearly 36%.  All of us were in fear for our health, our families, our children, our jobs and our savings.  With that historic market drop came a scary time for small businesses.  Restaurants that rely on patrons to enter their doors were forced to close. Some for numbered days while others forever. Every business in Bethesda (and worldwide) was affected in one way; most in a painful way. I remember putting my children to sleep one night in late March and just sitting outside their bedroom door, on the floor and wondering what will be.  What will become of our family, our community, our county and even what of our world.  I cried silently in the darkness of our home. That day I was not able to see the light.

​​Fast forward to today – SPRING 2021.  The sun is shining and the birds are singing.  There is hope in the air. There is a sense of “I can”.  Many of our businesses are either reopened or in the process of reopening.  Our local banks worked hard with our member businesses to secure PPP loans, to refinance debt and to help our businesses remain on their feet.  Our Chamber and many members provided much need food for our local community. Our Chamber kept its doors open the entire time, helping with legislation, funding, or at times just lending an ear.  We made it through this.  We made it TOGETHER.
 
As I sit here today, I know that we will be fine. I know that we will be stronger and better than we were before.  I see it.
 
Allie has been working overtime to introduce new members into our community; to take care of our current members and to continue to make connections so that all of our members can prosper. Our Board is continuing to plan for future growth and our Executive Committee is strategically planning the steps we need to take to reach our goals.
 
My ask of you is that you get involved, attend an event and refer a friend to our Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.
 
Together, we will rebuild, regrow and reconnect.