Rowan Chamber a strong voice for community

There are so many reasons to be proud of Rowan County. The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is one of them. This community’s Chamber of Commerce has been serving the needs of the business community for over 90 years and is the region’s largest business advocacy organization.

The Rowan Chamber has nearly 900 members since its recent Total Resource Campaign. And when the Rowan Chamber speaks at the local, state and national level, people listen.

When we speak with one voice with the strength of nearly 900 members we get the attention of legislators, business leaders, and organizations both here at home and around the state. Our representation of business and professionals in Rowan County makes a bold statement. But we can only do that with a strong, active membership.

Through our membership we bring together the collective vision of area businesses, our new minority business council, community partners, elected officials, young professionals, educators, and engaged citizens to work cooperatively for the future of this wonderful community. From the heart of our county seat to every corner of the county, we’re working to create more successful businesses, work opportunities, and a better life for our citizens.

Chamber membership is an investment in the success of your business. It’s the perfect way to build relationships, promote your business, access business contacts, and improve your bottom line. It also gives each of us as business people a way to impact our community’s future in a way that we could never achieve alone. Together we can enhance the business climate in our community now and into the future. It’s a win/win!

The Rowan Chamber invites you to keep those numbers vital and growing. If you are not yet a member of the Chamber, please contact us at 704-633-4221 or info@rowanchamber.com to learn more. Deadline for all new members to be in the 2017 Directory is Sept. 30.

— Tim Norris

Salisbury

Norris is chair-elect of the Rowan Chamber of Commerce.

Cress makes us proud

Much to my surprise when I opened up the Salisbury Post this morning, I saw where Rodney Cress made us all proud. Rodney is a Vietnam veteran and has been an advocate for veterans for years. Last week Rodney was named to Senator Burr’s veteran committee (Veterans for Burr leadership team) along with some high ranking generals.

On Tuesday Rodney was selected by Donald Trump and vetted by the Secret Service to say the Pledge of Allegiance at a Trump rally in High Point. The crowd was a complete sell-out.

Not only did Rodney make us proud of him but he also made Salisbury/Rowan a proud spot on the map. Thank you, Rodney, for representing us veterans and the whole county. We are very proud of you for serving and also for looking out for veterans that are unable to look out for themselves.

— Ralph Baker family

Salisbury

Legends and facts

In response to Bill Ward’s Sept. 19 letter:

Mr. Ward does seem to a lot more about history than any layman could profess to know. However, history is for those who want to know more. We lay people know what we were taught in school. So, to paraphrase a quote from the movie “Who Shot Liberty Valence,” When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

Most of our school book history is more legend than fact. Minuscule facts take up too much class time .

Bravo to Mr. Ward for his comments.

— W.F. “Bill” Smith

Kannapolis

Smoky day at the park

It’s time again for the fall festival at Dan Nicholas Park. The ad states “Sorry, no pets.”

The last time I was there, in 2014, was to see the superstar Darrell Harwood. As I entered the concert arena I noticed a cardboard sign that said “No Coolers” nailed to a tree. I also counted six police patrolling, so I picked one out to ask and made sure he was chewing tobacco.

“Why all the police?” I asked.

“They wanted extra security because of that Harwood show,” he answered.

“Are you expecting trouble?”

After he spit, he said, “Well, we never know. We heard that’s a bad bunch that follows Harwood around.”

“That sign ‘No coolers,’ what does that mean?” I asked him.

“Oh, we also heard everyone that follows him gets drunk at his shows, so we’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“How are you going to enforce it?”

“If we see someone with a cooler, we will ask them to leave.”

“And if they don’t, then what?”

“Then we will put them out.”

“Well, what if that sign was ‘No smoking’ instead of ‘No coolers.’ Could it still be enforced?”

“Absolutely,” he proudly answered.

“How?”

“If we see someone light up, we tell them to put it out, and if they don’t then we put them out,” he laughed.

“Could you please explain that to Don Bringle?” I begged.

“Oh, no! We can’t get involved with that,” was his answer.

I never did get to witness the guards doing their thing because no one tried to bring in a cooler or get drunk. But my eyes did burn and my clothes and hair did stink by the time the show was over. That “bad bunch” that followed Darrell that day was mostly children and teenagers and their parents. And just enough smokers to stink things up.

After thinking “where was that bad bunch?” here goes. That would be the Rowan County board, the park director, the parks board, the county health department and Bob Pendergrass.

If that bunch can ban coolers and pets, why can’t they ban tobacco for the health of everyone in the park? You still have time to M.O.V.E.! Make Our Visits Enjoyable.

— Whitey Harwood

Rowan County