Feeling Good

Dear Friend ,   Potpourri For 200 Where have I been...missed you...Happy Thanksgiving...hope your turkey was free range and large...what's with this weather...love the warm temps...miss the snow...thanks for a great Member & Friend Social...expect it again next year...Tractor Parade was awesome...love packed streets...Festival of Trees was OMG...hope you were able to go and that you took home a gorgeous tree...thank you to all who make Franklin County incredible.

Feeling Good Tip #1: Shop Local I have just conducted a Chamber of Commerce sanctioned social experiment. I stopped in five different local stores and bought at least one Christmas gift in each one. After the first store, I felt a smile growing that eventually became stuck to my face. Second store, I said hello to a complete stranger. Store three, I was giddy. Store four delivered my gift to my office, I became euphoric and hugged the delivery person. And store five, well, they had to throw me out for high-fiving...everyone. Thus proving that buying local is the #1 feel good tip of the season. Imagine what would happen if each of us were to buy two gifts in each store???? Yep, feeling good just dreaming about it.     Feeling Good Tip #2: Join or Re-join Your Chamber I know at first this might sound a bit selfish but stick with me for a minute. Not only does your membership support important local research (see Tip #1) but you will also be making a huge difference in Franklin County. Here's how it works. For every new member or membership renewal that comes in between now and the end of February, the Chamber will make a financial donation to the Watershed Mentoring Program. You heard me, a portion of your dues will go to help match needing kids with trained mentors and that has been shown to improve their chances for genuine success. Does that feel good or what? Check the mail, your renewal letter is there some place.     Did You Know? The supportive, healthy relationships formed between mentors and mentees are both immediate and long-term and contribute to a host of benefits for mentors and mentees. Benefits for youth: lower high school dropout rates; healthier relationships and lifestyle choices; enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence; improved behavior, both at home and at school; stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers; and decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use. Benefits for mentors: increased self-esteem; a sense of accomplishment; creation of networks of volunteers; and (my favorite) increased patience and improved supervisory skills. WIN-WIN!!!

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Join Today. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick