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 THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - It must be in the water...
Last year, the country and indeed the world witnessed a catastrophic financial meltdown that led to the most severe recession since the 1930's. Gross Domestic Product dropped by almost 12%. The budget deficit has ballooned . The number of bankruptcies has soared. Banks have failed; venerable Wall Street institutions have vanished, while many large financial companies needed government help to stay in business. Even manufacturing companies like General Motors and Chrysler needed emergency relief to keep them from shutting down. Unemployment reached double digits for the first time in over 20 years.
Here in NH, the unemployment rate in October reached 6.8% which makes our state tied for ninth out of fifty for the lowest unemployment rate. Yet in the Monadnock region, the unemployment rate is lower at 5.9%. According to Forbes magazine, the Greater Keene Area is the third most resistant to economic downturn out of the 500 Micropolitan areas in the entire United States. Many non-profit organizations are suffering under the strain of the recession. Indeed, many Chambers of Commerce throughout the country have felt the pinch. However, I am proud to inform you that your Chamber of Commerce ended its fiscal year this September with a small profit-but a profit! Like you, we earn every dollar we get and justify every dollar we spend.
What's in the water? My friends, the question is not "what" but "who". Looking at the list of names of the past winners of the "Whindsor Brooks Business of the Year" and "Community Service-Citizen of the Year" awards answers this question of who is making a difference. Look at our sponsors tonight. OUr Platinum Sponsors ae C&S Wholessales Grocers and Monadnock Economic Development Corp. Our Gold Sponsors ar PSNH, Ocean Bank, Citizen Bank, Cheshire Medical Center, Peerless Insureance, Connecticut River Bank, Marriott Courtyard, and our Silver Sponsors Masiello Empolyment Services, Savings Bank of Walpole and Smith's Medical. These orgainzations are made up of dedicated prople and community minded leaders. It is the people - the most precious resource we have-that makes the area so attractive, so productive, and so outstanding.
It is the talent of the people that we have at the Chamber-Tom Dowling, Sue Newcomer, Brenda Woods, Natalie Reid and Susan Whitley-that makes this Chamber the envy of many other Chambers. Many of you know how bright, talented and committed they are. The people who serve on our Board of Directors are also passionate about the Chamber's mission which is to advance the commercial, industrial, educational, cultural, recreational, and general welfare of the Greater Keene area. My predecessor, Bill O'Meara is a testimony to this fact. His dedication to the Chamber and his work in our community is amazing.
And look around you...at your tables. The people here tonight show the immense talent and commitment of members of the Chamber to this lovely and precious community of ours. It is the "who" of the area, the people who make this community alive. This past year the Chamber has introduced a new logo and new recruitment tools. This year we will revamp to Web site to make it even better, focus on increasing the volunteer efforts of our community and developing a plan to make us the best business community by the year 2020. The Chamber will do this cost effectively and with help from a dedicated group of volunteers.
At the Chamber, we hope to get more people involved. People like you-bright, talented, and committed to help make our business community stronger and better able to help you grow. The Chamber needs volunteers on its committees. Many of you may not have time to serve on the Board, but you could easily serve on a committee. The committees do the vital work of the Chamber. It is also a great place to train our future board members. If we could have 30 more volunteers committed to the Greater Keene area business community, the work that we could accomplish would truly be phenomenal. I ask each of you, business owners and managers of companies, to consider either serving on a committee yourself or allowing one of your employees to serve. It's not only great exposure for your business, but also a great way for your employees to grow. Please call Tom or speak to me or any other board member about that possibility.
Thank you all so very much for your support of our organization and the business community in general. You are the essential elements in the water that makes us the special community we are.
Brian Donovan
GKCC Board Chair
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Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce • 48 Central Square, Keene, NH 03431
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