A Message from Chamber CEO Douglass Wilhoit:

Brighter days ahead for area

JANUARY 2009 - Hopefully you and yours had a Very Merry Christmas/Holiday Season and are enjoying the first part of 2009! I enjoyed all that this season brings and my optimism for the future of all of us is stronger and brighter than ever.

From what I can see and hear, our new and improved “Shop Stockton and San Joaquin First” campaign was a success and we will continue to fly that banner for a long time to come. I want to thank all the merchants and businesses that joined us and hopefully it helped make this a better than expected shopping season for them.

As you can see by the photo on the cover of Port O Call the new Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce/Conference and Visitors Bureau tabletop book, “Stockton: Renewed, Revitalized, Redefined” is now available to all of you! (refer to Port O Call or our website www.stocktonchamber.org on how to order.) We received our shipment on Thursday, Dec. 11^th and the book started flying out of the office to rave reviews.

The last book published by us was 12 years ago and so many exciting things have taken place since that keepsake book came out. There are some left so do not be left out of the pleasure of owning this book. It will really help you see Stockton through the eyes of the camera and the words of the author, Anne Gonzales (former business and agriculture reporter for The Record) and know that you live in a great place that with all of us working together will only get better. This may also stimulate some of you who are non-believers to come out and enjoy YOUR community first hand so you can see there is so much to do and enjoy locally and outside of reality shows on the tube.

To use the author’s own words, in part, found on the inside jacket, “Stockton has something for everyone. The city is at the center of an economic revival, benefiting from its natural and geographic resources, its many educational opportunities, its dedicated arts and entertainment communities, and the innovation of its business people; Stockton: Renewed, Revitalized, Redefined tells the remarkable story of this DYNAMIC city.”

I mention my eternal optimism about the future and as always I enjoy reading the diverse and yes, sometimes controversial commentaries carried in The Record by the variety of syndicated columnists. I learn something from all of them no matter their take on life, politics and/or other areas they write about.

One column recently jumped out at me in regards to what we are all about as citizens of this great country. If you remember, I wrote about the resiliency of all of us in my December article and the Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 column by Cal Thomas gave it a new meaning. I want to share this with you. It is important that no matter how tough things get, together, with belief in ourselves and our country, we will endure the tough times and, I feel \, come out better for it.

 Mr. Thomas, in part, wrote in his piece titled, “Whatever happened to innate American optimism?” “During the Great Depression and World War II, truly challenging times, there were songs that boosted the spirits of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. “There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover” was one. “Look for the Silver Lining” was another. More recently, the Broadway musical “Annie” lifted theatergoers out of what Jimmy Carter, in 1979, called our “malaise” with the song “Tomorrow” – “The sun’ll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun.” Where is that optimism today in the midst of the sharp economic downturn? One doesn’t hear much of it from the politicians and especially not from the media, which trades exclusively in gloom and doom.” “Ok, so the economy is weak. Who thinks this is a permanent condition? Americans have always been optimists. Where is that optimism when we need it the most?”

“Ric Edelman, the best-selling author of money management books, in his online newsletter www.ricedelman.com, reminds me of some things that ought to increase our optimism and keep us from judging the future by the current condition of our anemic retirement account.”

“Edelman notes that the U.S. remains the largest, most powerful economy in the world. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 95 percent of consumers of American goods live outside the U.S. According to Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, U.S. Trade representative, in the first seven months of 2008, U.S. exports of goods and services “were 18.3 percent higher than in the same period in 2007.” Schwab added, “The United States remains a global leader in manufacturing, services and agriculture.” (My note: Does San Joaquin County Agriculture combined with the Port of Stockton ring any bells?). “And, most importantly, significant growth is projected for many sectors of the economy.” “One example: Employment in computer systems design and related services, according to the Department of Labor’s Outlook Handbook, is projected to grow nearly 40 percent by 2016. Jobs in education services are expected to increase 11 percent by 2016; healthcare service employment is projected to grow 22 percent. Other sectors also expect sizeable job growth such as energy, insurance and professional services.” (Another note by me: Thanks to the San Joaquin Partnership Angelo Report, we are well positioned in all the areas noted.).

 There was much more written astutely by Mr. Thomas and he ended with this: “While the stock market suffers from what history teaches will be a temporary setback, these other advances (referred to in the entire column) will have a permanent and positive effect on our country and the world.”

“So come on everybody (harmony!) “THE SUN ’LL COME OUT TOMORROW, SO YA GOTTA HANG ON ‘TIL TOMORROW, COME WHAT MAY . TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YA TOMORROW, YOU’RE ALWAYS A DAY AWAY.”

 With that tune in your mind as you read this may I suggest to you that you take the family, and let friends know about it too, to see the play, Annie, on January 21, 2009 , 7:30PM at the Bob Hope Fox Theatre right here in Stockton. The Hollywood Reporter calls Annie “A visual and lyrical treat for the whole family!”  Call (209) 337-4673 or go online at www.bobhopetheatre.com for tickets for you, your family, employees and/or friends. It is in town at the right time so please take the time to enjoy the play, the theatre and your community!

Also, I hope you read the story on Page 1 of Port O Call on the great community service performed by the 2008 Leadership Stockton Class for the children at Nightingale School. Just think, if we all took the small amount of time to invest in our community, in a multitude of ways, how much better we all would be.

Let’s ALL join hands and all be Stocktonians and Americans and help each other towards and sunny and bright Chamber of Commerce day and life.