David's BlogWednesday, October 24, 2012Duluth has Much to Shout About
There are transformational
moments in each person's, each family's, and each organization's existence. The
Chamber's membership experienced a seminal moment at our recently held Annual
Dinner Celebration. The moment embodied a compelling combination of optimism,
vitality and levity.
This seminal moment was also
one for the record books; certainly for the Duluth Area Chamber's record books.
I strongly suspect it was also the first of its kind for the Chamber industry
at a worldwide level.
In his remarks presented to
the 1,035 attendees, Chamber board chairperson Pat Heffernan conveyed his
optimism for our beloved community. He concluded his remarks by indicating that
he is so inspired by the possibilities for Duluth that it made him want to
shout. With that as a cue, dozens of attendees jumped up from their chairs and
danced their way on to the stage, where they transformed into a Flash Mob. The
mob "grooved" to the song, Shout, made famous by Otis Day & the
Knights. I never thought I would see the day.
I was heartened by this
celebratory moment. It conveyed the energy and the confidence we share for our
Shining City on the Hill. Our keynote speaker at the Celebration, Minneapolis
Mayor R.T. Rybak, also conveyed his excitement for Duluth. He expressed that he
sees Duluth as a cool, hip city that offers natural beauty, a compelling arts
and entertainment scene, an affordable place to build a business, and a sense
of place that most other communities simply cannot match.
Our own Mayor Don Ness also
communicated his appreciation for the Chamber's leadership role in bringing
jobs, private investment, and optimism to our community. He specifically
applauded our collaborative efforts in partnering with other organizations to
move our community forward.
It was a remarkable evening
wherein every person who had the privilege of addressing the audience expressed
his or her belief that our Zenith City on the Greatest of the Great Lakes is
ideally positioned for future prosperity.
We are enjoying an
optimistic, transformational year within our Chamber, as illustrated at the
Annual Dinner. At 142 years old, the Chamber is gaining energy and vitality. We
are doing so because we have leaders like Pat Heffernan who believe in our
community and are eager to shout about it.
Not only do our 25 board
members believe in Duluth; they are willing to put forth the effort to move
our business community forward. With them at the lead, we will do the best we
can with what we have. Thankfully, we have much to work with.
In support,
David
posted by David Ross
at
1:30 PM
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