Greetings Fellow Chamber Members and Friends

Can you believe it? The month of August has quickly passed us by.  As a business community we continue to be faced with the many challenges of running our businesses and ensuring that we are open for another month.

  Like many businesses across the state and nation, times are tough and though there have been some noted rays of hope there are still many of us plagued with whether we will be in a position to meet payroll for the next month.

Day in and day out we are faced with choices; one of our most recent important choices pertained to the primary elections that were just conducted, some which are now headed into the general elections. Though your candidate of choice may not have been elected, it’s important that we work diligently to educate those who will be entrusted with the future of our community and its residents. With general election right around the corner, it’s imperative that we take the time to ask the candidates questions that move from on the surface conversation to the specifics of what their election will mean for the businesses, families and the future direction of our community.  As we all know, with the current economic crisis along with other key issues, now is not the time to just accept short answers regardless of party affiliation.  The decisions that have to be made are quite clear, however what is not clear is which candidate will offer the best decision-making skill when it counts.  

As a community we must channel our thoughts away from the catchy television spots, the never ending robo-calls and glossy mailbox inserts to hold each candidate accountable.  The same energy used by the candidates to get elected must now be used to advocate in improving our local community, to support local business through their engagement, as well as establishing a system to attract new business.

To assist you in making your decision, please mark your calendar for the Chamber’s Candidate Forum scheduled for October 5, 2010 at 6:30 pm.  The event will be held at the Wakulla Senior Citizen Center and will include light refreshments courtesy of the Wakulla Rotary. This event will offer a great opportunity to hear the thoughts of the candidates seeking to represent our interests.

In addition to the option of selecting candidates on the upcoming ballot, we will also be faced with Amendment 4. This amendment has reached a boiling point throughout the State of Florida.  For those of you that are just tuning into the discussion, if the constitutional amendment is approved, it will give Florida voters the right to decide whether local Comp. Plans should be used.  At present, city and county commissioners are tasked with making this decision.  As with any issue there are multiple positions that can be taken but only 2 boxes that will be found on the ballot.  Having said that, the Chamber will be hosting a forum to include guest speakers to outline views both for and against the passage of the amendment. It’s absolutely imperative that you understand the issues and implications for yourself. Once the date is set it will be communicated to the Chamber members and community at-large. The impact of your vote carries a great deal of weight, so let’s work together to ensure that the decision you make is an informed one.

Partnerships

Thanks to the great interest expressed by our Chamber membership and local community in the training provided through our Brown Bag Lunch and Series,  I am pleased to report that both Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute and Florida A & M University’s SBDC have agreed to continue offering the training in the upcoming year.

On behalf, of the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce, we are very appreciative of the partnership held with our key educational partners.

Economic Forecast… Remember our Neighbors

Recently the unemployment figures for our region (Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla) were published. Though we are blessed as a region to have the second lowest unemployment rate in the state at 9.0%, the number of people unemployed, nearly 17,000, is quite troubling to say the least.  Bringing the picture closer to home,  the unemployment rate  for Wakulla is 8.6% which represents 1,386 people unemployed.  As we go throughout our busy day, it is important that we think about those that are less fortunate and that we look for ways to share and give back.  

Membership Benefit Services

Remaining current with technology is key to the continued success of any business.  This is no different for your Chamber and our support to you.  Therefore, to ensure that we are in a position to meet both your current and future meting needs, the Chamber has invested in a projector and screen that can be used for presentations.  If your business would like to schedule a meeting at the Old Court House or rent the equipment please contact us at 926-1848.

In closure, the year is nearly over but our commitment remains strong in serving as the voice for Wakulla businesses.  As always, my door is open and I would welcome an opportunity to hear from you.

Yours in service,

Kimberly A. Moore, MBA
President, Wakulla Chamber of Commerce

Written by :

kmoore

 

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