Chairman's Message

2011-12

Message from the Chairman of the Board

By Diane Loyd

On behalf of the entire Chamber Board, I want to thank Linda Pouyer for the tremendous job she has done leading our Chamber as Board Chair during the past year. Her dedication and leadership made the year run so smoothly. Her dream was accomplished because of her strength, patience and passion with the completion of the new Chamber building.... It will be a difficult year to top.

My theme for this year is “The Big Picture”. I would like for our Chamber Board to take a step back and look at the big picture.  We need to ask ourselves; where are we headed? In reviewing tourism economic impact numbers, I did not realize tourism spending for Aransas County for the 2010 year hit $99.9 million. With the help and support of all of you, Aransas County will hit an even higher mark in tourism spending in 2012, forecasting this to be $100 billion. I am dedicated this year to make this happen.  The theme slogan I have chosen is “Shoot for the moon and if you miss you’ll be among the stars”. This was written by Les Brown. He really sums it up nicely for the Rockport-Fulton area. All of our businesses and organizations excel in so many areas and we have so many stars!

 My passion will be directed towards tourism. Our community involvement, new visitor center, new technology, art, history, social media, marketing and promoting, will get us to our goals and objectives. Being a business owner in Aransas County, I have seen what this Chamber can do. It is important to continue to stimulate the economy.

 We are so excited about all the new things we can be so proud of: the Bay Education Centeris recognized worldwide and world leaders want to see it. They are currently creating a one of a kind teacher resource guide in collaboration with all of our other attractions. The Aransas Pathways Project will put us on the map again with birding and historical sites all funded with the Venue Tax. The two Downtowns have really stepped it up aesthetically. Now, I’d like to see a few more events and activities to draw our visitors to these areas. Lot’s of talk about this already.

On August 15, 2011, we will have our annual Board of Directors Retreat. This is where the entire board and all committee chairs spend the entire morning with an outside facilitator developing strategy for the coming year. Each of you has received an email asking you to complete our membership survey. We are so pleased that over 50 of you have already completed the survey. Please do so if you have not. This helps us make decisions that will help and guide us to serve YOU better.

 It has been an incredible honor to be a part of this Chamber Board. This year will take hard work and dedication which will be a breeze because Diane Probst has done such an excellent job.  We will shoot for the moon and if we miss, we will be among the stars. Diane Probst and her staff truly are stars.