CEO’s Message

Making a List, Checking it Twice

December, 2012
The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are definitely my favorite time of the year.  Everyone takes a moment to reflect upon and express thanks for their blessings as we all typically spend extra time with family.  Being the father of six children, I also realize that this is the time of year that Christmas Wish Lists are prepared and sent out with large doses of hope enveloping them.  Regardless of how realistic or unrealistic a young child’s list is, it is typically done with heart-felt sentiment and true innocence.
Well, the Vista Chamber has a Christmas Wish List this year . . . and boy have we been good in 2012! Despite the temptation, I will refrain from starting our list by asking for “World Peace” (or even “political party peace”).  Our list is actually born out of the practical needs we have for our new office.  While we were able to move to our new office in January 2012 (and we love it thoroughly), we have not been able to complete the full design inside the office due to a shortage of funds.  So here is our Christmas Wish List:
•    1 40” Flat Screen LED TV for our front lobby
•    1 32” Flat Screen LED TV for our front lobby window, facing the street
•    A New Conference Room Projector (HD with 3,000 lumens)
•    A New HD Projector Screen
•    2 New Windows 7 Laptops/Computers: one for Lobby TV’s, one for Conference Room
•    A New Conference Room White Board (4’x8’)
•    A New Large Utility Sink
•    A Faucet for our Sink
•    An Under-the-Sink Instant Hot Water Heater

One key difference between the Chamber’s Christmas Wish List and my kid’s list is the recognition that the giver receives. When my young children open Christmas presents, we sometimes have to strongly remind them to say thank you to the giver, be the giver near or far.  However, the Chamber has a beautiful Thank You plan already in place to honor donors to our building.  In January 2013, we will be doing a “Thank You Wall” in our front lobby.  This wall will be made out of beautiful black marble and we will etch (with a cool laser) the name/logo of all of our donors on that wall.  So if you would like to play Santa to the Chamber and get your name honored on our Thank You Wall, give us a call.  Direct product donations are accepted, assuming they match what we need for our purposes.  And cold hard cash works as well to help us purchase items we need (Chamber Office#: 760-726-1122).
And while we all know that it is better to give than receive, we at the Chamber do find ourselves on the “need to receive” end of the spectrum at this time.  Thank you to Vista for all your support, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Viva Vista

Bret Schanzenbach
CEO
Vista Chamber of Commerce