Letter from the Chair - July 2016

​This has definitely been a whirlwind month for the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries. Not only were we, as the staff says, Firecracker Crazy, but we have been honored as a finalist in the ACCE Chamber of the Year competition.
 
Before we get into the recognition, I’d like to recognize the committee and volunteers that once again made the 32nd Annual Firecracker Run a great success. These folks worked for the past six months on everything from securing food donations, creating race routes, gathering volunteers, and making sure that we had a large turnout of runners. Six months of work is one thing, but to top that off the committee joined the other 100 volunteers that showed up at 5:00 a.m. on the 4th of July to create an event that was fun, safe, well-organized, and profitable for the Chamber. Many times we celebrate the event, but fail to mention why these events are so important. The funds that we raise through events like this help to keep our dues low. Each year it seems like the services offered at the Chamber are more and more, but our investment stays the same. So, on behalf of the membership of the Chamber, thank you to all of the volunteers and committee that put on another successful event!
 
Next, WOW! Congratulations to each of you for being a part of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year competition. Our O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries has been able to do some awesome things, and that has only been possible by the engagement and support of each of our members. There are several things that make our organization great. First, you, our membership. Each of you are a part of this success. Whether you are the person involved in every committee, the person making sure that you are welcoming a new member, the person who generously sponsors year after year, or the person who shares new ideas to make our organization great, our membership has created an electric organization all working together to help each other and our community thrive. To the Ambassadors and Board of Directors who meet, call, research, welcome, report, encourage, and do all of those “other duties as assigned”, congratulations. Finally, to the staff of our great organization, who really gets the “other duties” your hard work is being recognized on a national level and we are extremely proud. The membership of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries’ is grateful to have each of you working endlessly to create and support this culture of excellence.
 
While we won’t find out until August 10th who the official ACCE Chamber of the Year is, I congratulate each of you on the esteemed honor of making it to the finals!
 
 
Until next month,
Mark Crank
2016 Chairman of the Board

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