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Health & Fitness

Chairperson's Message - Susan Rosner, Calder Associates & Coach-On-Call

At the end of this month, my term as the Chair of the Lower Bucks Chamber will come to an end. And so, I thought I would share some thoughts and reflections with you.

At the end of this month, my term as the Chair of the Lower Bucks Chamber will come to an end.  I have another year on the executive committee as the past chair, but this will be my last message as Chairperson.  And so, I thought I would
share some thoughts and reflections with you.

In July of 2002, I attended my first Chamber event. It was the monthly PERC meeting (now, the Bucks Business Connect or BBC) at the Bucks Community College. I knew two people in a room of close to 200 people. I felt like an outsider. Don't get me wrong, people could not have been nicer, but I noticed the camaraderie of people who were there. So I had lots of questions. Should I join? Would I fit in? Would membership be good for my business? Does being a member of the chamber matter?

Then, I heard an announcement about Leadership Bucks County, I was intrigued. The announcement emphasized that participants would learn about the county, meet movers and shakers and learn about leadership. I knew that I had a lot to learn about Bucks County and its leadership. Neither my husband nor I were from this area. We lived in Bucks County because at the time we bought our house, it was midpoint between New York, where I worked and Cherry Hill, where my husband worked.

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So, I applied and got into the Leadership Bucks County Program. Not only did the 8 month program deliver what it promised but it delivered something else. It transformed my relationship with the business community. I was inspired by the people who were dedicated to this community and I built long term enduring relationships with my fellow participants. Most strikingly, I had a new frame of reference. Rather than thinking about what I could get from the Chamber, my focus was what I could give back.

Fast forward to today. When I attend the Bucks Business Connect, I feel very much part of the Bucks County business community. Many Chamber acquaintances have become clients, referrers, mentors, strategic partners, and friends. Personally and professionally, I have gotten back more than I have given.

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At that first Chamber event in 2002, I never imagined that I would be invited to be on the Board of Directors of the Chamber or to be elected as the Chair of the Chamber. Moreover, I could have never predicted how much my involvement with the Chamber would help me grow personally and professionally. 

I want to extend a very warm and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me along the way. I am grateful to everyone who said "yes" when asked to step out of their comfort zone or who provided thoughtful feedback to help us improve as an organization. I am grateful for all the active members who worked tirelessly to make our events successful and suggest ways to continually improve. I am thankful to our executive committee and board for their critical thinking and thoughtful decision making.

Finally, big thanks to our staff. Dan Bates, our president and his dedicated team are simply.....superstars. This small dedicated team works efficiently and effectively to support over 1000 members. I have seen firsthand how truly dedicated they are to the members. We are lucky to have them.

During this final month as Chair of the Board, I look forward to our Membership meeting where we all can acknowledge the accomplishments of 2012-2013 on June 25 at the Trenton Thunder Baseball Club. I hope to see you then!

Here's to your Success!

Susan Rosner
Managing Partner,
Calder Associates

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