Chamber Vision November and December 2017 | Page 8

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November & December 2017
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau
Progess
As I write
this I am
looking upon
the hourglass at
the last of the
time that I have
ahead of me as
the Chairman
of the Emporia Area Chamber of
Commerce. I approached this
opportunity with wide eyes and wild
imagination of what was to happen.
Life has a way of changing
opportunities. You’ve got your
health, your wealth, and your being.
And as much as you might try to
run a lot or save a lot or be just a
good a person as you know how. It
might not be enough. Life happens
and how you Progress with it or
around it or in it. One thing is for
certain you don’t stop trying or
looking for the best option.
It’s not much different inside
the Emporia Area Chamber of
Commerce. We face changing
opportunities and challenges.
And I’ve wondered have we seen
PROGRESS during the time that
I have been the Chairman in spite
of what has come before us. Now I
define progress as:
A movement toward a goal or to
further or higher stage.
Advance or development toward
a better, more complete, or more
modern condition.
We’ve had changes in school
administration at Emporia State
University and Emporia Public
Schools during my time on the
Chamber. We’ve worked with new
industry, old industry and their
needs and wants. We’ve built upon
our Leadership opportunities and
could easily put our leadership
training up against any community
in Kansas regardless of its size.
We’ve got housing and workforce
issues. We’ve listened to local
leadership, local industry, and local
education each with a concern.
And are proud to have those groups
working together to outline those
discussions and format a plan to
satisfy and benefit everyone. We’ve
got so many more things going on
than I ever imagined possible. And
so many new exciting people who
have moved here and creating new
ideas and innovation.
Well I conclude if “ongoing,
betterment, motion, advance,
and proficiency” are all synonyms
for Progress I would say we have
achieved Progress! If you’ve taken
the time to paint your house,
freshened your store front, added
employees or even just done more
today than what you did yesterday…
You’ve made Progress
And since I still have a little
time… remind you that you
make a difference in the lives of
those around you. Your family
your friends your coworkers.
#CanDriveEmporia.
Final comment. It takes a great
wife to be home alone when you
already work more than a full
time job to take extra time to do
Chamber work. Thank you Leslee.
It takes a great office staff to allow
you to become a Chairman when
they do the really hard stuff and
allow you the opportunity to talk
about hard stuff as though you’ve
done it. Thank you Chamber Office
Staff. And Jeanine…. I can’t believe
anybody would ever be critical or
negative about this person. I’ve
been on more executive committees
than I can count, have participated
with my company in both claims
and agency. I’ve never seen anyone
like her. She works her tail off
because she cares. Is everywhere.
Everyday. It takes 3-4 of us on the
executive board to be in step with
her. A gift to the Emporia Chamber
of Commerce and the Emporia Area
Community. And that’s probably an
understatement.
Thank you,
Pete Euler, State Farm Insurance
2017 Chairman