I carry around with me ALL of the time a BlackBerry phone.  ALL of the time I am getting business and personal updates.  It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, those emails and text messages just keep pouring in.  As a person that likes to be in touch, it is a wonderful thing. When I do get to the computer at the Chamber office, many of the items on my email list have already been handled.  Answering an email on a BlackBerry is easy, but I’ve noticed that all of us “users” tend to have short answers.  A certain City Manager is well known for a complete answer that takes only one word.  That goodness that answer is almost always “yes”.  If the answer needs to be a long one, I still tend to save those for when I am setting at a full size keyboard.  I’m not quite at the skill level to use all the codes that are out there.  In fact, I just learned how to insert one of those irritating happy faces last week – and that was by accident!

Instant communication is the good news and the bad news.  Gone are the days of having the luxury of lots of time to create an answer.  The answer needs to be sent back ASAP – or at least we think it does.  I’ve wondered if what I did was REALLY brain surgery or rocket science, how much pressure I’d feel to get it done.  We rarely have an emergency at the Chamber, but I guess we’d be ready if we did!

One of the interesting things that happens on my BlackBerry is that I get Google Alerts.  If Smithville, Texas appears in anything written on the Web, I get a copy of it.  This makes for some fun reading.  Sign up if you’d like.  Just go to Google and follow their instructions – it is free but I warn you very addictive.

A recent Google Alert concerned a big celebration that was held in Dallas in honor of the birthday celebration of a Dallas “business mogul”.  As a read the story, I learned that the honoree was Smithville native Hiawatha Williams.  The article tells the story of a successful business man that has done it the right way.  Opening his first Williams Chicken Restaurant in 1987, the company has now grown to 30 stores.  That is success.  But the best part of the story is that those restaurants have hundreds of employment opportunities, but company through Hiawatha, has mentored at-risk youth, donated to the poor and been an example of a business that becomes a caring part of the community.  If it hadn’t have been for Google, I might not have know how proud I need to feel today about the accomplishments of a Smithville kid that has grown up to so much for the greater good.  Congratulations Hiawatha and Congratulations Smithville – we have something else to add to our biography!

It’s time to mark those February calendar pages (or phones) with a month full of exciting events.  Please call the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions about any of these events.

2/4 – Chamber radio segment on KBUK 104.9 fm – 8:30 am

Film Commission Mingle for folks working in or interested in the film business - Pocket’s Grille – 5 – 7 pm

2/6 – Chamber Board Retreat and Meeting – 10 AM – 1 pm

SVFD and Smithville Noon Lions Club Fish Fry and Fun Nite – Smithville Recreation Center – check in starts at 6 pm

2/8 – Economic Development Committee meeting – La Cabana – 11:45 am – program:  Sheila Tamble of Smithville Film Commission

City Council meeting – City Hall Council Chambers – 7 pm

2/10 – No Chamber Board meeting

2/12 – Thunder on the Colorado meeting – La Cabana – 6:30 pm

2/13 – Harlem Ambassadors (sponsored by Smithville Noon Lions Club) – Smithville High

School gym – 7 pm – tickets available at main street banks and chamber office pre-sale for $5 (students and over 65) and $7 (adults).  Kids 2 & under free.

2/16 – Smithville Film Commission meeting – Pocket’s Grille – 10 am

2/17 – Keep Smithville Beautiful meeting – Pocket’s Grille – 3:30 pm

2/18 – Chamber Mixer – City Hall – 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Volunteer appreciation and team recruitment for census - 2/23 – deadline to RSVP for chamber banquet at pre-sale price.  Tickets available for $17 pre-sale by calling chamber at 237-2313.  Price is $20 At the door.

2/25 – B.E.S.T. Mixer (combined mixer with Elgin and Bastrop chambers)– Hyatt Regency Lost Pines – 5 to 7 pm

2/27 – Annual Chamber Banquet and Awards Ceremony – Smithville Recreation Center

6:30 pm social, dinner and program at 7 pm.

Adena Lewis

President

Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce