Chair’s Letter – September 2020
September is here, and school back is in session! Things are different everywhere we turn. Our children are not waiting at bus stops but are making the treacherous journey by foot from their bedrooms to the kitchen table for virtual learning. They are not excited about choosing which of their new outfits they will wear to school but instead are content with remaining in their pajamas from the previous night’s sleep. Parents are not begging children to wake up and get dressed for school but are instead merely asking that they are logged on to their devices in time for the start of virtual class. These examples are the new norm at my home. We all have had to adapt to the ever-changing environment in which COVID-19 has forced us to live, but I am confident that we will emerge on the other side of this pandemic as strong as ever.
September is a significant month for me. It is the month of my wedding anniversary and my daughter’s birth, and it is also National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. My husband and I were informed that our daughter had sickle cell disease when she was about two weeks old. Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Healthy red blood cells are round and move smoothly through blood vessels carrying oxygen to all parts of the body. With sickle cell disease, the red blood cells become rigid and sticky. They look like a C-shape or sickle shape. These sickle-shaped red blood cells die early, which results in a constant shortage of red blood cells. They also get stuck and clog the blood flow when traveling through smaller blood vessels; this can result in pain and infection. There are usually walks and blood drives to raise awareness of this disease. Although many of the walks have been canceled this year due to COVID-19, blood is still in high demand. There is a nation-wide shortage of blood, and patients with numerous conditions and illnesses depend on blood donations. Please consider donating blood at the Chamber’s blood drive with the Red Cross on Friday, September 25th (10 am-3 pm). Contact the Chamber office for additional information.
All chamber events have transitioned back to the virtual platform. There are several opportunities to network and participate in committees. We will host a social media seminar via Zoom on Thursday, September 3rd at 9:30am. September’s Business After Hours is Thursday, September 10th at 5pm; you won’t want to miss out on a game of virtual bingo. Please join us for our monthly membership meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 11:30 am; our very own Rick Dorsey will discuss the court systems and what to expect during this pandemic.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the chamber office with any questions or concerns. We are here for you, and we are North County Strong.
Dr. Misty C. Farr, Pharm.D.
Greater North County Chamber Board Chair
