By definition, the Chamber of Commerce is in the business of facilitating commerce, or to put it even plainer, it's in the business of "business". Each year, the Chamber holds a banquet around this time in late January, and so it occurred once again this past Thursday night. The annual gathering is a good way to get the feel of the spirit and momentum of things as another year begins. Since its origination, our local Chamber has served this county in many, many varied roles through times that were quite varied as well. History clearly documents the productive efforts of the Chamber throughout past decades in fostering retail growth in this county. Directors and members of the organization have served faithfully alongside the Joint Development Authority in the never-ending search for jobs and industry to bring brighter opportunities and prospects to our area. On a personal note, during my years as Mayor, the Chamber served Swainsboro so well that I almost felt like they were a regular department of the City. But beyond all of that, there is another job of great importance that has become a hallmark of the Chamber through the years. In good times and bad, the Chamber has always been there as the unofficial "cheerleader" for the business community in our area. It has served as the local clearinghouse for information and support not just for issues of the economy, but also for some of the biggest plans and projects to ever develop in Emanuel County. If something good happens here, regardless of its nature or scope, it's only a matter of time before the rotation of that inescapable Chamber beacon will find it, light it up and tell the story. This year, the banquet honored a host of those good stories. The 2023 Citizen of the Year award was presented to Juanita Porter, an amazing lady who has employed her time, talents and bountiful compassion to change not just lives but the outcome of generations of local families. The 2023 Business of the Year award honored Leanna's restaurant, a sparkling example of business success based on innovation, product offering and the old fashioned tenet of dazzling customer service. The stories of the Star Students from area schools and their teachers also received special praise from Chamber officials. The honorees were DEA's Peyton Free and Star Teacher, Donna Campbell, ECI's Karly Oliff with Star teacher Frank Wimberly, and Swainsboro High's, Manuel Fernandez with Star Teacher, Joseph O'Neal. A fitting compliment to the evening's presentations came with the recognition of this year's class of "Leadership Emanuel". These participants completed an extended course in acquiring and implementing new ideas about the fundamentals of local leadership. These folks are now primed for participation and we applaud their dedication and devotion to the task. All of these stories speak of excellence and of the standards we should all strive for in building the community we desire.
At one point in its history, the Chamber adopted a profoundly simple but meaningful slogan. "This is your Chamber". No statement could capture the story any better. The achievements of this organization, and the promise of its future will always rest with and rely on the people who understand and embrace that simple 4-word phrase. It is definitely your Chamber, and it deserves your support. Congratulations to all of this year's winners and congratulations to the staff at our Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce: Anna Torrance, Donna Haddock, and Ken Warnock.
