I also recently got back from a four-day fishing trip in Northwestern Ontario - one I take annually with my family. An excellent summer time jaunt with plenty of time spent on the water chasing walleyes and northern pike in the great Canadian Wilderness. Fishing was fantastic this year, but there is always plenty of downtime (that's why they call it fishing and not catching) while on the boat to ponder life. My guide Jesse and I (he being from Northern Saskatchewan) got into a fantastic in-depth discussion on Culture. The details of those conversations can be left for another time, but it did get me thinking about the culture of the organizations I am part of, and what makes them what they are.
Culture, by definition, is "the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people, at a particular time". It is what defines who we are. I think the Middleton Chamber's culture of friendliness, acceptance, relationships, inclusivity, hard-work, FUN and dedication, set us apart. In today's world, so many organizations vie for your time, we're happy you spend some of it with us! We are a group of individuals and companies, representing one pretty awesome team!
While the Chamber may have changed physically over the years, members come and gone, and locations moved, our culture has always continued to remain strong and constant. The idea of the "Good Neighbor City", and what that truly means, has made the culture of the Middleton Chamber of Commerce a reality. I am so proud to share in that membership with each and every one of you. Truly a game-changer for what continues to makes us a strong and meaningful organization.
For those of you that were able to make it to the Open House on June 22nd at our new location at 7427 Elmwood Avenue, you are well of aware that our "culture" was on full display (if you weren't able to make it, please stop down and check out our new home - it's an amazing spot, built for members). Thank you to those who made that evening possible, including our food vendors (Amber Indian Cuisine, Mid Town Pub, Tanner's Bar & Grill, Villa Dolce), office furniture providers, landlord, volunteers, and of course our amazing Chamber Staff. What a fantastic evening full of conversation, laughter, business and a lot of fun!
I hope you all enjoy the remainder of your summer. I challenge you to continue to promote our culture to those who may not be aware of what the Middleton Chamber of Commerce is about. As Jimmy Buffett was once quoted saying... "Some make the world go round; others watch it turn", I think we can all agree, the Middleton Chamber has been on the right side of that quote since the beginning!
Cheers to the continued ride ahead!