"Perception is reality."   

~ Lee Atwater, Political Consultant 

New Paltz, we have an identity crisis!

I was politely asked to describe my vision for the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce late last week. It wasn't during work hours or over a scheduled meeting, it was an off the cuff question and the answer required a little bit of thought to get what was in my head to come out of my mouth.

The Chamber has its mission and vision outlined on the website and we make all efforts to adhere to it, but I was being asked for my vision. So, as I gathered these sentences in my head to say what I had to say, it came into sharper focus. My answer was, " I want to see personal and business success. I want to see happiness and community. I want to bridge the gaps in the community, reach out and solve problems in a constructive environment. I want people to tell us what their issues are and I want to try to help them."

This is the absolute truth. We want to see success in your business and personal lives, see a vigorous and healthy community, solve problems and hear "what keeps you up at night." Your success is yours, ours and the community's. When the Chamber and the community are successful, it reinforces your success and that is a cycle that we seek to maintain and nurture.

Your New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is here for you to use. You don't even have to be a Member to use us. We will try to help you ourselves or through our Members, and if we are successful, you will reach your own conclusion about joining the Chamber. If you put good things out there, good things come back. It's really simple, yet powerful enough to affect change.

The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is a piece of the puzzle for you, for the community, and for the economy. Good goes around. Come and get your good and give some out too.

See you at the Chamber!

Peter Ingellis
Interim President