Why is the Chamber an Important Part of the Community?

December 8, 2023

October has been declared by Governor Josh Shapiro as Local Chamber of Commerce month in Pennsylvania. October 18 is National Chamber of Commerce Day. This month and particularly day, have been set aside to shed some much-appreciated light on the crucial roll local chambers play in the economic stability of our communities. We do so by advocating, supporting, encouraging, as well as educating, the businesses, industries, and organizations in our communities. I am thankful for a governor who sees the value of local chambers and is supportive of what we do. To quote Governor Shapiro, “I am grateful for our local chambers of commerce for the invaluable role that they play in ensuring that businesses new and old can continue to prosper in Pennsylvania. I commend Pennsylvania’s local chambers of commerce for representing thousands of businesses, and I am certain their efforts to enhance our communities will serve as an inspiration across the Commonwealth for years to come.” Learn More

Once a Mingo, Always a Mingo

December 8, 2023

Once a Mingo, always a Mingo I was an anomaly of sorts as one of the few people my age who had never gone to a high school reunion. There is no particular reason for my absence, I just never quite made it there. Recently, however, that changed. I discovered that the planning committee for the Chief Logan graduating class of 1978 (so very, very long ago) could use some assistance in planning this year’s event and I was anxious to serve. We began our planning a year in advance. As we worked to set the date and book the venue and caterer, we meticulously checked the Penn State schedule to be sure we avoided any home games. Much to our chagrin, our best laid plans were foiled as Penn State adjusted their schedule in the meantime and our event fell smack dab on the first white out, home game of the season! This did not dampen our resolve, however, to make this a memorable event. One of the highlights for me was reconnecting with one of my very best high school friends who I hadn’t seen since graduation. We met for lunch and time passed quickly as we caught up with each other’s lives. Our journeys had taken us to different ends of the country, and as we talked, we quickly discovered that we had both experienced many bumps, twists, and a plethora of turns in our lives. It was amazing to experience just how quickly our comfortable friendship returned. We exchanged pictures of our children and grandchildren and shared both our triumphs and disappointments. Learn More

I Got All My Sisters with Me

September 19, 2023

I Got All My Sisters with Me These lyrics have been rolling through my mind over the last 24 hours, “We are family I got all my sisters with me.” They are part of a song performed by Sister Sledge back in the 1970’s entitled “We Are Family. Since its release, it has become an anthem of sorts, an expression of solidarity, and that is exactly what I experienced, as did many others recently, at the Chamber’s Women’s Bloom Conference. A room filled with beautiful, like-minded women joining together with a singleness of purpose, to encourage and be encouraged. This was the fourth year for our Women’s Conference, and we had over 120 ladies in attendance. This event was designed and organized by women for women with the purpose of empowering, supporting, and pampering them. Women today serve in multiple roles and shoulder a wide variety of responsibilities. As you can imagine, that often results in weariness and discouragement. Our goal was to have one day for them to set aside their crushing loads and just “be.” To remind them to breathe a little deeper, lower their unrealistic expectations, and to realize they are not alone. Learn More