Installation Dinner and Awards Speech - 2003
Ladies and gentlemen…. It’s been a good run ….and a great two years.
For those of you….that were at this event last year, we came together on a night …not unlike this one ….
To install a new board of directors….. The difference to me …was that last year I would remain the president for a 2nd term.
Though the food and decorations were a bit different, the spirit of the occasion was the
same…..however, this year, i am turning over my responsibilities to another strong leader in our community, and i must say, that as i have watched him ….closely the past 6 months,
I am not only proud and excited about our future under his leadership, but i am also
leaving office with confidence of his abilities and his dedication to ensuring that our
chamber of commerce will continue to make monumental leaps in progress.
same…..however, this year, i am turning over my responsibilities to another strong leader in our community, and i must say, that as i have watched him ….closely the past 6 months,
I am not only proud and excited about our future under his leadership, but i am also
leaving office with confidence of his abilities and his dedication to ensuring that our
chamber of commerce will continue to make monumental leaps in progress.
Tonight once again we have come together to celebrate and carry forward. a common effort to pursue a common vision. Although only twelve months have gone by, this night now belongs to a new age, and we now come together another year older and many lessons wiser. We have continued to learn, that as a nation, we can bear the unbearable. We have learned that the strength of a community depends far less on economic conditions …….than on the courage, resiliency, and ingenuity of its citizens. And we have learned that patriotism means much more than flying the flag or reciting the pledge
of allegiance.
of allegiance.
If a community is to be the best it can be, each citizen must give to it the best of themselves.
No businessman, nor parent, nor public servant, teacher, nor student, nor soldier is exempt from this duty. Patriotism, in its most powerful form, is investing your time and effort into your community, not as a passive donor to a charity, but as an active citizen who loves the city they call home.
No businessman, nor parent, nor public servant, teacher, nor student, nor soldier is exempt from this duty. Patriotism, in its most powerful form, is investing your time and effort into your community, not as a passive donor to a charity, but as an active citizen who loves the city they call home.
You and i have gathered here this evening because we love our own, and the vision we share is of a Twentynine Palms thriving in growth and prosperity.
We were reminded this year that our city bears….once again, a special burden, in that we are stll host to thousands of men and women who serve in the armed forces. Whenever our friends, neighbors and customers are called to duty, the pursuit of our vision suffers a loss, for their absence deprives our community of their fellowship and participation. And this loss can be more dramatic than any economic conditions that may already exist.
The good news is that those of us who serve in the chamber are determined to never lose
sight of our vision, regardless of the Circumstances, and will explore whatever resource, whatever means necessary, to keep moving forward.
We were reminded this year that our city bears….once again, a special burden, in that we are stll host to thousands of men and women who serve in the armed forces. Whenever our friends, neighbors and customers are called to duty, the pursuit of our vision suffers a loss, for their absence deprives our community of their fellowship and participation. And this loss can be more dramatic than any economic conditions that may already exist.
The good news is that those of us who serve in the chamber are determined to never lose
sight of our vision, regardless of the Circumstances, and will explore whatever resource, whatever means necessary, to keep moving forward.
Tonight….it is my privilege to recognize one of our businesses and a few individuals that have made a difference in the growth of our chamber and of our community.
Tonight is our Oscars night, our awards night. Under normal conditions, I would present our annual report to you verbally, but the list of accomplishments your chamber has made this year is entirely too long., so I have provided it to each of you in written format at your tables.
As you follow your program - you will see that we will first recognize our business of the year, followed by volunteer of the year, individual of the year and then my presidents award.
As you follow your program - you will see that we will first recognize our business of the year, followed by volunteer of the year, individual of the year and then my presidents award.
The first 3 awards are selected by the executive committee.
The Presidents award is selected solely by the president.
Our business of the year was selected because they were a major supporter of chamber
functions and operations and a general supporter of the community at large. This year our selection was based on their production of the “Spend this holiday in 29 Palms”, commercial, where they doubled the airtime at their expense, and donated air time for operation enduring families.
Tonight this award is being presented to Adelphia Media.. It is sad and unfortunate that the individual driving our communities promotion from his heart, is no longer with us, as he recently passed away, Mr. Bob Bidder.
Tonight accepting this award for Adelphia Media is, Mr. Joe Fields. Joe may wish to say a couple of words.
functions and operations and a general supporter of the community at large. This year our selection was based on their production of the “Spend this holiday in 29 Palms”, commercial, where they doubled the airtime at their expense, and donated air time for operation enduring families.
Tonight this award is being presented to Adelphia Media.. It is sad and unfortunate that the individual driving our communities promotion from his heart, is no longer with us, as he recently passed away, Mr. Bob Bidder.
Tonight accepting this award for Adelphia Media is, Mr. Joe Fields. Joe may wish to say a couple of words.
Our next award is the Individual of the year. This person was a major supporter of many Chamber functions and has chaired several major sub-committees..
This individual coordinated and managed all aspects of the Little Miss and Master contest and Children’s day during pioneer days 2002. She assisted with the 2002 winter light parade and assisted with the very successful 2003 street fair and car show and is an active member of the military affairs committee.
Ladies and gentle, our individual of the year, Lori Jo Cosgriff.
As you have already heard, our Chamber of Commerce is next to impossible to run without volunteers. This years volunteer of the year selection was made because he was an exemplary supporter of our chamber. He supplied an incredible amount of time, talent, labor and materials during both pioneer days 2002, and the Winter Light Parade .
Ladies and gentlemen, our volunteer of the year, Mr. Hank Garvin.
This year, it was a difficult task to determine who would receive the president’s award… so i chose to present a couple of them….. I don’t wish one to diminish the importance of the other, as without each and everyone one of you, our work may not have been possible.
My first presentation is being awarded to a man of true integrity, dedication in mission
and direction in accomplishment of every task that he volunteered to take on. This man has chaired not only our legislative committee, but has untaken to only get our new military affairs committee off the ground and running, and has volunteered to continue chairing the military affairs committee after his current term ends. He was instrumental in putting together a very successful local candidate’s forum this past fall. He has acted
as my vice president for the past 2 years and even if he doesn't know it, he has provided me with the courage and strength to get through the toughest of times.
and direction in accomplishment of every task that he volunteered to take on. This man has chaired not only our legislative committee, but has untaken to only get our new military affairs committee off the ground and running, and has volunteered to continue chairing the military affairs committee after his current term ends. He was instrumental in putting together a very successful local candidate’s forum this past fall. He has acted
as my vice president for the past 2 years and even if he doesn't know it, he has provided me with the courage and strength to get through the toughest of times.
Ladies and gentlemen:, Mr. C.J. (Carl), Horn…….
It has been a interesting 2 years, trying to Juggle my time between my responsibilities as the president of the chamber of commerce and trying to run my own business, which is really 3 businesses under one roof…….our foundation which is our Custom Computer business of 14 years, and our two add on ventures;….. The local Radio Shack franchise
since 1994 and our ISP, or Internet Service Providing business since 1995. These 3 entities can keep an underpaid and under appreciated crew busy 18-24 hours a day, even when i am in the office. I spoke with my family and employees when I first decided to take on the responsibilities as President of the Chamber of Commerce and I received their blessings and their support. When the opportunity arose for me to do a 2nd term, it was a difficult decision to make, but once again my family and friends stood by me and provided me with all the support I needed to get through a 2nd year and tp keep our business healthy.
since 1994 and our ISP, or Internet Service Providing business since 1995. These 3 entities can keep an underpaid and under appreciated crew busy 18-24 hours a day, even when i am in the office. I spoke with my family and employees when I first decided to take on the responsibilities as President of the Chamber of Commerce and I received their blessings and their support. When the opportunity arose for me to do a 2nd term, it was a difficult decision to make, but once again my family and friends stood by me and provided me with all the support I needed to get through a 2nd year and tp keep our business healthy.
Tonight, i have chosen a couple of special people to thank ……
The first is not only a director entering his 2nd year on our board, who has chaired the marketing committee and worked to insure that our spend the holidays in 29 Palms event was a success, He has been working with the Morongo Basin Chambers Partnership to bring us a professional visitors guide that will provide massive coverage to the tune of 150,000 copies, distributed widely.
This young man is also my service manager and dedicated himself to not only taking care of his responsibilities as the service manager, but assisted in many other areas of my business with expertise and professionalism.
Ladies and gentlemen:, my son, Michael Jason Collins
Next, without her blessing and support, I would probably be living in either Kentucky or Alaska. She has provided me with wisdom and guidance, kept me out of big trouble, proof read most of my writing, tried to keep me on a diet and in fashion and she is also my office manager…..
Ladies and gentlemen:, my wife, Sharon Collins
Our community is full of artists and running a Radio Shack franchise and understanding not only people and customer service, but literally thousands of weird electronic gizmos, is an art of its own. This young lady took care of the many impossible missions of the Radio Shack, kept me advised and in tune and kept the business going.
Ladies and gentlemen:, Sunshine Carrol Collins
I pride myself in knowing talent when I see it. About a year ago I hired another young lady to take on many important overlooked aspects of my business. She has done it with overwhelming success and I owe her one huge debt of gratitude and a huge dinner.
Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Jennifer Cavender
Last and surely not least, a man that jumped in to fulfill any function he could, in addition to his responsibilities as my system administrator, and that I am sad could not be here tonight, Mr. Keith Brownmiller.
Introduce our mayor
It is now my pleasure to turn the microphone over to our Mayor, Jim Bagley. Mayor Bagley is in his third term as mayor and has been a member of our city council since 1992. Jim’s lists of accomplishments in local, county and state government are many.
Mayor Jim Bagley.
Oath of office
Dan Mintz, as president you will be the chief elected officer and chief spokesperson of the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce. You will preside at all meetings of the general membership and board of directors, supervise the business affairs for the chamber, oversee all contracts and obligations of the chamber, and act as the official representative of the chamber.
You will assist in the management of volunteers and consult with the staff in order to ensure competent administration.
You will assist in the management of volunteers and consult with the staff in order to ensure competent administration.
Do you accept these charges?
Congratulations!
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