Chamber focus is ‘Back to our Future’

RED OAK – With a theme of “Back to our Future,” members of the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association focused on how they can continue to make Red Oak a “Shade Better” while also recognizing past achievements at its annual awards banquet Saturday. 

“Our actions today will affect our children and grandchildren and everyone who comes after us. What kind of community do we want to leave them?” asked Dr. Michael Portz, the event emcee. “With our collective efforts, the future will be bright for Red Oak. Let’s continue to do our best to support the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association and leave Red Oak a better place to be for those who follow us.”

Among those charged with making Red Oak a better place are the new officers, including president Tim Werges, vice-president Larry Brandstetter, treasurer Connie Mellott and secretary/Executive Director Paul Griffen. 

The chamber board of directors includes Shirley Billings, Brian Carlson, Jim Kile, Sally Stoakes, Chad Johnson, Denise Miller, Brandstetter and Mellott. Non-voting, ex officio members include Tom Messigner, Brad Wright and Josh Wiig. 

Dana Wenstrand, founder of IMAGE, Professional Training & Consulting, reinforced the idea of how maintaining a positive attitude can impact not only ourselves but those around us. 

“Our attitude to people we encounter has a huge impact on our life,” she said. “It also helps to involve people to their fullest capacity. Being a mentor to people is a great way to involve people and improve our skills.”

She also stressed people respond well to planning. 

“Too often we forget to plan even the small things. People are most often frustrated because they do not know or have a plan,” she said. “I’ve learned the best way to predict your future is to plan it.”

Wenstrand finished her remarks by reading a poem entitled “Attitude” and written by Charles Swindoll. 

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstance, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do,” Swindoll wrote. 

“It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill, it will make or break a company…a church…a home. I am convinced life is 10 percent what happens and 90 percent how I choose to react to it. We are all in charge of our attitudes.” 

Griffen also took time to thank those who have invested their time in the Chamber to ensure Red Oak’s future continues to be a shade better.  

“We can’t do this … without people like you. That’s why we are here to celebrate our volunteers and their work and that’s you,” Griffen said. “And I want to thank everyone tonight and everything you do for Red Oak.”