Chair’s Letter – February 2020

The first month of the new decade is in the books.  Hello February!  February is Black History Month and also American Heart Month.  Fun Black History Fact!  The hairbrush, lawnmower, the refrigerator, and air conditioner were all invented by African Americans.  We are forever indebted to those inventors.  Did you know that (according to the CDC) heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States?  The CDC states that one person in the U.S. dies every 37 seconds from cardiovascular disease.  I don’t know about you, but these alarming statistics make me want to put down the fatty foods and add more fruit and vegetables to my plate.  I guess I’ll also be choosing a parking spot further away from the door to get in some extra exercise.  Every little bit helps.

We have a packed month of events for our Chamber members.  We look forward to seeing you all at this month’s membership luncheon at Norwood Hills Country Club on February 19th.  We will be hosting our 65th Anniversary Awards where we will be awarding our 2020 Business Person of the Year Award and our inaugural 2020 Zykan Family Legacy Award.  Other events to consider include Business After Hours on February 20th (Cannoli’s Restaurant 5p-7p) and an Accounting Seminar on February 25th (Chamber Office 12 pm).  As always we welcome you to join us the second Tuesday of every month at noon for Women In Networking at Cannoli’s Restaurant and the fourth Thursday of every month at noon for FUEL at Pirrone’s Pizzeria.  Please consider joining a Chamber LEADS Group.  This is a great and fun way to network and promotes your business in a less intimidating setting.  Our first quarter Chamber Community Service Project will be creating care packages for our troops.  We will be collecting items until March 15th.  Please call the chamber office or visit our website for a list of items needed.  I can’t wait to see you all at one of our many activities.  Be safe and stay warm!