Happy November, Everyone! It brings colder temperatures, turning our clocks back, and exercising our right to vote. It’s time to plan for the holidays, smell pumpkin pies baking, enjoy family time, and reflect on how much we have to be thankful for.

For many of us, November means planning and budgeting for the coming year. For the Chamber, it’s also the time when we begin our annual sponsorship drive to help support the Chamber’s program of work for 2026. Thank you to all the businesses that support the Chamber’s mission each year through both membership and sponsorship.

It’s also Reverse Raffle Time! Join your friends at the “Tailgate Party!!” Chamber Foundation Reverse Raffle on Thursday, 11/13. 1^st place gets $4,000! The Top 10 each get a cash prize, there are lots of door prizes, and the delicious Taste of Defiance – tailgate style! The Raffle is the largest fundraiser for the Chamber Foundation - the giving arm of the Chamber - which supports scholarships, educational opportunities, and economic development projects. Join us also at the beautiful Festival of Trees Business After Hours on 11/20. Details are below.

As we move into the final weeks of 2025 and the holidays, remember to shop local and support local.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”  Let’s plant seeds of encouragement in each other…at work, at home, everywhere we go. Together we can each do our part to help continue to make Defiance a great place to live!

Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and prosperous November!

Blessings,

Sarah

Sarah Tackett

Executive Director/CEO