I am honored to continue this column in the pages of The Daily Star for my fourth calendar year. And while that is a healthy run, the time has gone by quickly (at least for me). After nearly 50 such submissions, there remains much to discuss.
First and foremost (at least for me, again), I came down with another post-Santa illness. Every year after one of my favorite opportunities, I get sick. Normally, a few days of not feeling chipper is worth the joy I get by interacting with area children during the most magical season of the year, but this year, I am not so sure.
2024 will go down in the annals of Santa as The Big One, The Mother of Illnesses, The Sickpocalypse. Not only was Santa knocked off his feet for the better part of two weeks, but Mrs. Claus was also given the gift that keeps giving. It has been a ho-ho-wholly unpleasant experience. Next year, instead of milk and cookies, please leave Santa Ny-Quil and Primatene Mist (available at your local grocery stores and pharmacies).
This experience with Claus-fluenza did not keep us from awarding our big prize to the winner of the chamber’s “Shop Small, Win Big” promotion for the holidays of 2024. Our lucky winner, Crystal Huffstickler, took home $950 in local retail gift cards and certificates as she filled out the winning slip at Artisans Guild on Main Street in Oneonta.
Our appreciation goes out to all the local shops who donated $25 of merchandise to make this third annual effort a roaring success. These businesses prove that we can all work together, as partners, to achieve common benefit for all. Nearly 800 registration slips were collected, and each was an in-store submission. Next year will be even bigger and better. Congratulations to all.
Now that that’s out of the way, lets look forward to happenings on the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce 2025 calendar. On Thursday, Jan. 16, we will host the annual State of the County Breakfast at the SUNY Oneonta Otsego Grille. Beginning at 8 a.m., attendees get to discuss where Otsego County has been, where we are today, and where we are headed with a panel of local elected and appointed officials from different levels of government. We have invited individuals from municipalities representing the county, city, town and village levels of government.
This annual meeting is your opportunity to meet face-to-face with local and regional leaders to ask the questions that are important to you, your family or your organization. Our panelists will be there to give you forthright responses. Do not waste this chance to hear what is planned for 2025 and how those plans will affect you. Tickets are available at www.otsegocc.com where you can click on EVENTS, then click on STATE OF THE COUNTY. Seats are just $40 for members and $50 for non-members and include a full breakfast.
Next up in 2025 is the annual Leadership Otsego Program, where up to 30 individuals participate in a six-month educational journey dedicated to being better leaders at work, at home and within our communities. Together, we visit topics such as servant leadership, emotional intelligence, project management, communication styles, making tough decisions, and others.
Participants will hear directly from local elected leaders, non-profit leaders, small business owners, local entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Each of these guests bring their own unique leadership styles to the group, allowing everyone to learn multiple outlooks and individuals approaches that help attendees formulate their own leadership methods that work best for them. For information, contact me at slewis@otsegocc.com or 607-432-4500. I will be happy to discuss the program with you.
These are just the beginning of what we have on the calendar for 2025. Look for information on upcoming networking mixers throughout Otsego County. We will also be publicizing our ribbon cuttings for new members, annual events such as our spring dinner, regular parades with the parade team in Oneonta (beginning with the return of the Memorial Day parade), our annual golf outing, our fall membership feast and the next Shop Small, Win Big contest over the holidays.