State of the 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce Michael Collins
The New Year has finally forced its way through the paths of most resistance. Those paths were War and Recession. January was left with the dust of the Golden Quarter settling. Our Nation was at war and our economy in full recession. Our Nation is still at war, or economy is still in recession, but hope of economic security is within clear view as is our prevailing Night Skies. The Golden Quarter was a bit tarnished, as local merchant sale didn’t rise to the luster of its desired brilliant color, yet Chamber Membership is still on the rise and support is strong.
During this past month, your Board of Directors has met in a special session with the mission of reviewing our budget. I am pleased to report that our budget is strong and will carry us through the year to accomplish our projected Program of Work. Our Program of Work was also reviewed and is on track and in many cases exceeding our expectations. We have implemented a variety of new benefits for you, the Chamber Membership, and our community at large, with programs such as Chamber Checks, the Business-to-Business Discount Program, the Military Discount Program, the continuation of the formation of a Local Business Council or Town Hall Meeting, and the formation of a Military Affairs Committee. The Morongo Basin Chambers Partnership is still active and aggressively working for the betterment of Commerce within the entire basin. Your Chamber is now an active member of the Morongo Basin Economic Development Consortium, to ensure that the voice of 29 Palms Merchants is addressed and not forgotten. Your Chamber is partnering with the Action Council for 29 Palms to allow us to share resources, increase our working spaces, provide conference room facilities, create retail spaces, expand visitor services, and share docents. We are doing more than this small space will allow me to write about.
Did you have an opportunity to listen to our Commander and Chief’s State of the Union Address; hear him exclaim that what America needs is less government and more business? Did you hear his call for American Volunteerism, in the formation of the USA Freedom Corps or if you couldn’t become a part of this new Corps that he has called for each of us to work together and help rebuild our communities? If I didn’t know better, I would think he has been reading this column the past few months. If you have any spare time on your hands and are interested in helping your Chamber Succeed in its mission, if you have an interest in achieving local economic security, then I call on you to do your part and volunteer to help your Chamber of Commerce. We have openings in our office, on numerous committees and additional seats to be filled on our Board of Directors.
A few other important phrases that I have extracted from the year 2002’s State of the Union Address are that Good jobs depend on reliable and affordable energy, that Good jobs depend on expanded trade and that Good jobs depend on a sound tax policy. The way out of this recession, the way to create jobs, is to grow the economy and speed up tax relief so people have more money to spend.
Our Union still stands Strong as does our Chamber of Commerce.
Respectfully,
Michael Collins
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