Accentuating the Positive!

Despite these tough economic times, it is a comfort that the Patrick County business community is blessed with positive leadership that is being provided by the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce. Just a few short years ago, the Chamber was on the verge of having to cease operations. Today, however, thanks to the leadership of Executive Director Tom Bishop and a highly competent Board of Directors, the Chamber is flourishing and is busier than ever before promoting our county to tourists and prospective new businesses and residents and serving its more than 300 members. Although our economy is critically ill, it is encouraging to note that the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce is quite healthy as it works diligently to facilitate prosperity here!

The health and well-being of the local Chamber of Commerce was never more evident than it was Friday night, Jan. 23rd, when it conducted its annual banquet at Rotary Field in Stuart. Perhaps the largest crowd in the history of the event, nearly 150 people, turned out for a wonderfully informative evening of fellowship. Bishop reported that currently the Chamber enjoys a growing membership in the neighborhood of 325. Bishop, in his annual report, highlighted many positive developments that have occured in our community this past year including...the construction of a "multi million dollar" lodge facility now underway at Primland Resort, the start of the $24-million Patrick County Public School renovation and expansion project, the opening a new manufacturing plant by Ariel Machine at Ararat, the openings of several new businesses (Wal-Mart, Advance Auto, etc.), visitation to the county by tourists from at least 40 states and several foreign countries, the increasing popularity of a wide variety of local festivals and fars, to name a few of the economically positive things that are going on in our county. Bishop said the chamber is proud of these and many other signs of community growth despite the economic downturn.

In her remarks to the banquet audience, incoming Chamber President Carol Beasley expressed hope that citizens will continue to work together for the betterment of our community. Mrs. Beasley used the word "Joy" to illustrate how our priorities should be ordered: "J" for Jesus, first..."O" for Others, next...and finally "Y" for You.

I commend Tom Bishop and other chamber officials on the great job that they are doing to promote the county and accentuate the positive at a time when we are all struggling through many negative economic circumstances. Tom is one of the hardest working people that I know (and one of the most underpaid). The business community loves him because he is genuinely concerned with their well-being and our county at large. As our Chamber Executive Director, Tom tirelessly promotes tourism which is a major sector of the local economy with unlimited room for growth. It would be a shame if the Patrick County Board of Supervisors takes away the meager sum of $60,000 (as one supervisor has suggested) that it has budgeted for the promotion of tourism by the Patrick County Tourism Advisory Board and the Chamber. This to me is money well spent.

I personally want to thank Tom Bishop and the members of the Chamber of Commerce Board for their leadership and the light that this organization brings in these dark economic times. The Chamber Executive Board is comprised of Carol Beasley, President...Lisa Martin, Vice President...Janie Lankford, Treasurer. Members include" Rod Barfield, Vicki Hutchens-Bennett, Patricia Crissman, Tim Dix, Kathy Gravely, Kelly Ratcliff, Leslie Shelor, Denise Stirewalt, and Terry Tilley. New board members are Angie Brown, Chris Michalec, and Rick Ward. Tom Bishop is ably assisted in the chamber office by Administrative Assistant Patricia Thomas. If you want to hear about the positive things that are happening in Patrick County, just talk to one of these folks. Not only can they talk the talk in promoting our county, but they are walking the walk in making our community a better place to live, to do businesss, to raise a family and, as thousands of tourists to the county each year learn, a wonderful place to visit! To the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce team I say with pride, "Keep up the great work"! Together, we will work our way through the economic gloom to a brighter, more prosperous future.

Richard