Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce Destination ... - Keep Trees

Happy New Year!
Economically 2008 was one of the worst years on record. The banking industry fell apart, loans
to keep businesses and households operating were nowhere to be found and many citizens saw a
substantial share of their net worth disappear through an avalanche on Wall Street. Locally, more than
a few businesses had to close their doors. But in the middle of all that, several new businesses opened
in Kingston and a few more are planned for early in the fi rst quarter. The past is done. What we have is
today and the future.
Now it is 2009, we are nearing the end of the fi rst decade of the 21st century. Where do we go from
here? We live in one of the best examples of “Small Town America.” Kingston is a beautiful place and
whether the sun is shining brightly on our cove or the cold north wind is blowing rain sideways, or
it is so foggy out that you can’t see the end of the breakwater and the ferry’s fog horn wakes you up
before your alarm goes off, most of us are here because we really like something about the place.
A cup of coffee is never hard to fi nd. A trip to the post offi ce is a social event. Stop anywhere for a
moment or two and you will fi nd yourself visiting with someone about something. Yes, economically
we are hurting, but inside we are strong and our heart is in great shape. Let’s hope that the bottom has
been reached and we are on our way to recovery.
How can we get the momentum up and keep it running? My answer to that is we have to support
our local economy. We are in a unique situation because a substantial portion of the money available
to be spent locally is earned either across the sound or in the southern end of the county. Once those
dollars are brought to the community, and hopefully placed in a local bank, we need to make sure that
they are working very hard for the community. With a conscious effort concentrating on buying goods
and services from Kingston businesses we can keep our little economy alive and help it grow.
If everyone takes a minute or two to consciously consider where they are going to purchase that
next item or service and make every effort to try to buy locally, then our fragile economy will begin to
grow. The re-spending of local money is one of the most fascinating factors in all economic theories.
I used to have a sticker that went out on overdue statements that said “Please pay me so I can pay
him so he can pay her so she can pay her employees so they can buy something from you.” It is kind
of funny but it is true that when one of the payees in that statement is located outside of the local
economic community, then the chain is broken and that money is gone to be re-spent somewhere else.
That’s why I support buying locally.
In 2008, I sold my business of nearly 16 years. It started as a one-man, basement enterprise and
when I left, there were 11 people employed in a 4,000 square foot facility, and we had three vehicles
on the road delivering goods and services every day throughout the Puget Sound region. At the end of
last year, no one had ever been laid off. I am proud to have been a part of that and I was happy to turn
the operation over to the next generation of ownership. I wish them every success.
I bring this up because people have asked me “Why be president of the chamber – didn’t you
retire?” I am doing this because I really enjoy being a member of this community. I want to help the
existing businesses in town stay alive and viable. I want to help attract new businesses to our town. I
want to see some of our empty commercial spaces occupied with viable
enterprises. I want to see the community continue to come together in
support of logical and sensible growth. I want to see graduates of our
new high school come back after college and fi nd that their hometown
is a great place to start a business. I want to convince people that
just about everything they might need can be purchased right here in
Kingston.
Let’s all work together and have a great and successful 2009.
Pete DeBoer
President, 2009
Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce 2 Destination Guide and Membership Directory 2009