I gave my first state of the city address on March 3. I was glad to read in the paper that the theme was the headline.
Partnerships. We all need partnerships to reach any level of success. Oneonta is rich with opportunity because Oneonta can describe more partnership opportunities than many other places. Our challenge is to recognize, engage in and celebrate those opportunities.
Partnerships are the beginning of building possibility. Imagine you have an idea. What is the first thing you do? You probably tell someone about it, and hopefully get feedback that can help get your idea moving. The partnership with your confidant was not created through the idea-sharing, but beforehand. You had a level of trust with that person (they would hear your idea with an open mind and heart) and thought of them when the idea came to mind. The partnership created the opportunity for the idea to spread and take shape.
Oneonta’s prospective growth and prosperity is inextricably bound to its ability to build productive partnerships, because not only do partnerships demonstrate a level of trust and support, they are also necessary for advancement of any initiative. In short — we cannot do it alone. We need help, and partnerships are the collaborative fabric needed to wrap around and support our big ideas.
We have inspiring people in Oneonta showing us how immensely valuable partnerships are. On March 25, we will celebrate two such inspiring people at the annual Woman Trailblazer Award ceremony at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center starting at 7 p.m. The Woman Trailblazer Award was created in honor of Women’s History Month (March) to recognize women in the Oneonta area who have enhanced the visibility and importance of women, and as a trailblazer one who has opened pathways for others. This year’s honorees are Kelsie Rockefeller and Michelle Catan.
Catan has been a community and business-building leader for many years, and for 14 years (and counting) has served as an advanced certified business advisor through Binghamton University’s Small Business Development Center. She serves on numerous community-focused boards throughout Otsego County.
Kelsie Rockefeller is the owner of Yoga People Oneonta. Her studio is thriving downtown and is a “community centric yoga studio” founded in 2016 (Rockefeller took over in 2021), and builds up people, too, through Our Community Fund. Please join me in honoring these two women next Wednesday night.
Two more partners to Oneonta’s success are Oneonta Family YMCA and Elite Dance Academy. The value of what they do was a perfect 10 on Feb. 28, when gymnast Lily Statler wowed the crowd with her floor routine at the Watertown Invitational. Lily is a 12-year member of Oneonta’s gymnastics team and a member of EDA’s competitive dance team. I have seen Lily compete a number of times (my daughter is her teammate) and when she steps up, she is representing years of hard work buoyed by the support from the coaches and instructors at the YMCA and EDA.
These are just a few examples of the magnificent power that partnerships can create. From Kelsie Rockefeller bringing people into her studio with open arms; Michelle Catan giving advice and building up Oneonta’s entrepreneurs, or Lily Statler dazzling the audience with her athletic strength and artistic composure, I can see that Oneonta is a place that can foster amazing things.
Please think of how you can partner with someone in Oneonta, and then let them know! We will all be thankful for it.