The party’s over! Yes, our largest annual fundraiser, the $10,000 Raffle, was held August 15, and it was lots of fun, especially for the big money winner, Pam Angelle.

            The party is also over in other less literal ways.  The time has come for local citizens to pay closer attention to the issues of the day, ask questions, and speak up. There are more than enough sources of information today in addition to radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, and the web—we now have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, and yes, even more sources than “just” those.

             I became a news junkie post-Katrina.  Despite all these new sources of information, I still get much of mine from television.  Ironically, our big party was the Saturday after one news show announced the day known every year as “tax-free day,” the day that we really start to take home the money we work so hard for, the day that our taxes for the year are paid.

             Now wait a minute, I thought!  That day is in August now? Didn’t it used to be in May, and wasn’t that bad enough? Should we celebrate this day, eight months into a twelve month year?  I don’t think so.

                 Okay, it’s time to stop pressing delete on the emails I get from the U.S. Chamber and statewide organizations that watch the issues that affect all of our pocketbooks and overall freedoms. The ones with letters attached that we can send to the legislature or congress or governor with a few clicks. No more sitting on the sofa.  I can’t just get my news from TV and shake my head in dismay and hope some elected official will take care of it. Television news is not enough information about what is really happening.  I can’t trust that it is all I need to know.  I can’t sit back and half-listen as I go about my life, or actually try to get a good night’s sleep after watching the 10 o’clock news stories about: terrorism; Chinese dry wall; local crime; elected officials violating our trust; excessive corporate bonuses and federal buyouts; the recession, stock market, overall economy; healthcare reform; TARP.  This all affects each and every one of us.

              It is time to speak up!  Attend a tea party.  Actually go to a senator or congressman’s town hall meeting!  Watch the notices of local taxing districts and attend the meetings where your property taxes may be rolled forward.  Actually make a few computer clicks and send an already-written-for-you letter to your senator or legislator or governor. 

              Join us as the voice of business for St. Tammany.  We have worked very hard to build relationships, to collaborate with civic and elected leaders in the parish and the region.  Together with our partners at the East Chamber and Northshore Business Council, we are speaking up for our members, and keeping them informed on issues that impact their bottom line.  Our involved members and staff work on behalf of our members who don’t have the time to be actively involved but know our work on their behalf has to be done.

             Our membership is now 1,060 businesses strong.  As a leading Chamber of Commerce in the state, we have worked hard to build credibility through the work of our board of directors, committee chairmen and committee members.  These hardworking and respected business people know the value of working together, and the rewards that come from the relationships that are established in the process.  They have chosen to get involved and make a difference.  Bottom line:  they work to provide the value our members expect from their dues investment.

             It is time to start planning for the year ahead.  Our returning and newly elected board members will gather together for their annual planning retreat in October.  In the meantime our committees will look at their progress and make decisions on what programs they hope to carry out as part of the business support efforts.  We will also provide a “survey monkey”—yet another means for input and ultimately a source of information—and one-on-one meetings for our members to give their input.  We also have a weekly “Quick Click” survey for our members to answer as part of our Weekly Chamber Updates emailed every Tuesday. Member input in these times of constant change is more important than ever.  We hope each member takes the time to respond.

            The end to constantly changing trends is nowhere in sight.  Our goal is to stay on top of changes in our parish, region and state to maintain a strong economy and quality of life for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

             Please visit us at www.sttammanychamber.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.