(This is my first post of 2012. I started out with a bang last year, but quickly got caught up in running our Pharmacy business and Fancy Food Truck Fridays. The next thing I knew, I was ringing in the New Year. One of my resolutions is to be a better blogger so, here goes!)
When I first heard that the Altadena Chamber was looking for new Directors this year, I thought: No Thanks; I’ve served on too many boards in my career and it’s always the same situation: 20% of the board doing 80% of the work. Since I usually found myself in the 20% group, I was not interested in repeating my past experience. And, anyway, I’m too busy, too booked up, too, well, just too too!
Then the Voice started talking to me, that voice in my head that usually has a better idea than the one I’m investing in. The Voice told me that I am a stakeholder in this community and if I want to be involved in improving business, I should probably become involved in an organization that is responsible for helping to improve all of our businesses and our community. The Voice said that it's easy to sit on the sidelines and complain, but what are you doing about it? The Voice also reminded me that giving back and being of service is one of the most rewarding parts of life - no matter what the organization; it helps make me a better human being. Needless to say, the Voice won out. I am now one of the Directors of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.
I was lucky enough to attend the Chamber’s 88th Annual Awards and Installation Reception last Friday night. That’s right, I said the 88th Awards and Installation Reception. That’s when it really hit me. This organization has been around for a very long time and has been instrumental in holding Altadena together over many decades. I’m sure it hasn’t always been smooth sailing; that there are always folks on both sides of every argument, but that's what we're all about in this country. As I looked over the Reception program, I noticed that all the past presidents were listed there - from L.G. Collison in 1924, to Inger Miller in 2011. 88 years of service to our community. That is pretty impressive.
Altadena is an amazing place and it was obvious at the Reception, that people really respect and appreciate each other around here. Altadena has seen World Wars, Depressions, Earthquakes, Recessions and even Wind Storms. That being said, there is a foundation here that can’t been broken and I’m honored to do my small part to help us continue on our very special path.
