Ok, I admit that am I’m watching too much of the Olympics. Once I started I become addicted. So far, I haven’t succumbed to having it streaming on the computer… that would be the end of all productivity! I do have the DVR set for some of those times when evening meetings keep me out of the chair in front of the TV set, so I’ll have enough catching up to do already.
  What is it that has me caught? Is it the competition? Is it the personalities? Is it the mini tour of China? For me, it is a combination, but I think it is mainly the stories of the hardships that so many of the athletes overcome just to be able to attend the game   For me it is not whether they win or lose, it is the fact that not only the athlete, but their coaches and families have sacrificed personally and financially for the opportunity. Sure some of the athletes will make back millions of dollars in endorsements. Some will become celebrities in their countries or communities.
  But for most of them, it will just be an incredible period in their lives that only their close family and friends will remember. It’s one of those facts about themselves that they will put on a shelf and refer to when they have a chance.
  Do you have one of those moments of personal accomplishment in your life? I do. I challenged myself once to do something that I never thought I’d be able to do and I did it.
  So what if you don’t have one, what should you do?
  Positive life altering experiences are easy to come by. You can’t just go to the store and grab a challenge off the shelf. But have you given yourself a change to find one?
  Most of us wouldn’t be able to meet the requirement of the Olympics, but do we have some challenge that we really could issue to ourselves. Grab something off of your personal “shelf” and see if you can make a run for it.
  One of the best movies I’ve seen (probably in my lifetime) was “The Bucket List”. Not to run the plot for those of you that haven’t seen it – and everyone should – it is about making a list of the things that you want to (not should do) in your life and getting them done.
  If your time was in fact limited (and I hate to tell you, but all of ours is), what would you do? What is left on your list?

CHAMBER LUNCHEON TO BE AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

  Ok, enough of the heavy stuff… hope to see you at the Chamber Luncheon to be held on Wednesday, August 21 at First United Methodist Church in the Family Life Center. Members of the Chamber are encouraged to bring along guests. If you are interested in coming, please call the Chamber office to make reservations by Monday, August 18. The meal will be catered by All’s Well Catering – grilled chicken, tossed salad, green beans, baked potato, rolls, apple crisp and ice tea. Cost to attend is $12 per person. Bring along your unwanted used cell phones so that they may be donated to a program that provides air time phone cards to the U.S. Armed Forces personnel.
  (By the way, I finished the 1999 New York Marathon in 8 hours and 39 minutes. No records and no endorsements, but a metal and a memory and a chance to do something I never thought I’d be able to do. I look at that metal everyday and pat myself on the back. )

JULY CALENDAR

  The July calendar has plenty of opportunities to be involved with your working, positive Chamber of Commerce - join in when you can!
7/5
= FIRST SATURDAY ART FESTIVAL, SOUTH END OF MAIN STREET NEXT TO THE GAZEBO, 10 AM TO 5 PM
= ANN POWELL TRAIN TO RUN FROM 12:00 TO 2:00 PM, COME CATCH A RIDE
= FIREWORKS AT RIVERBEND PARK, 9:00 PM
7/14
= ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING – 11:45 AM - LA CABANA
= COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN BUSINESS AND MARKETING – 5:30 PM – CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE (100 NW 1ST STREET)
7/9
= CHAMBER BOARD MEETING, 11:45 AM, LA CABANA
7/16
= KEEP SMITHVILLE BEAUTIFUL MEETING, POCKET’S GRILLE (NEW LOCATION, 205 FAWCETT) 3:30 PM
= TOURISM MEETING, POCKET’S GRILLE, 4:00 PM
7/17
= CHAMBER MIXER, HOSTED BY THE SMITHVILLE TIMES, 5 TO 7 PM, 303 MAIN STREET
7/18
= RIBBON CUTTING, POCKET’S GRILLE, 205 FAWCETT, 5:00 PM
7/21
= FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS MEETING, 7:00 PM, POCKET’S GRILLE (NEW LOCATION, 205 FAWCETT)
7/23
= AUSTIN BASTROP RIVER CORRIDOR MEETING, 10:00 AM, FIRST NATIONAL BANK COMMUNITY ROOM
7/26
= CASINO NIGHT, 7:00 PM, SMITHVILLE RECREATION CENTER, CALL CHAMBER FOR TICKETS