chamber - Roswell, New Mexico, Chamber of Commerce

In case you haven’t noticed,
the past thirty days has been
a ‘Good News – Bad News’
period of time, but fortunately
we’ve had more good than
bad!
Beginning with the good
news, last month’s Hike It-
Spike It event was the largest
and most successful to date.
Participation included a
record 460+ teams from 17
states. That amounts to over
2,800 players, most of whom
arrived with friends and family
members who also enjoyed
Roswell’s hospitality and
supported our local motels,
restaurants, and businesses.
The residual effects of major
events such as this one provide
an enormous boost to our
local economic base, and we
all are thankful to the major
sponsors of this world-class
event, the largest flag-football
tournament in the country!
From personal observation, this
was the most well-organized
and best planned event I
have ever seen, and special
thanks to Cla Avery and to Jim
Matteucci for their dedication
and sacrifice in making
everything happen and
meeting every challenge!!
Another good news event
was the graduation of this
year’s Leadership Roswell class.
You have probably heard this
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Kenneth Berry
2008-2009
Chamber
President
before, but our program is the
oldest leadership course in
the state, and the volunteer
leadership and direction of
Rick Kraft truly sets a standard
which all other programs
can strive to achieve. With
the support of the chamber
staff and the officers of last
year’s class, Rick’s efforts
to build future leaders for
our community are truly an
investment from which we will
all benefit. A big Thank You
to Rick and to all those who
continue to make this program
successful!
Now for some bad news. If
you have not seen my recent
e-mail to our membership,
Bernarr Treat, Executive
Director of the Roswell
Chamber of Commerce for the
past five years, has submitted
his letter of resignation. Bernarr
has done an excellent job
and has helped our chamber
and our programs achieve
a greater level of visibility
and appreciation in our
community. He has also been
a voice for our community in
visiting with our state legislators
and various state agencies to
promote and attract interest
in our community and region.
He has worked to include the
rural communities of Chaves
County and our agricultural
producers and businesses in
chamber events. He has also
been a key part in bringing
financial stability to our budget
and funding requirements.
Bernarr will begin working for
the Bob Armstrong family in
mid-June and will oversee their
various agricultural properties
in New Mexico and Texas.
More importantly, he and his
family will remain in Roswell,
and he has committed to assist
in the transition process as the
executive committee begins
a search for his successor. We
all wish him the very best in
this new opportunity, and I
would encourage everyone
to find the opportunity to
personally congratulate him
on the great job he has done
at the chamber and to wish
him all the best in his new
role. On a personal note, I
have known and worked with
Bernarr in some capacity for
a long time (over 20 years –
he was just a pup!), and my
confidence in his abilities was
well-founded when I served
on the committee which
recommended him to be our
executive director.
Just so you know, the
executive committee is
already working on plans to
find Bernarr’s successor – we
won’t be able to replace him,
but we will find a successor!
Finally, this is my final
membership report as
president and it is difficult
to know how the year has
passed so quickly. It has been
my privilege to serve in this
capacity, and I have been
truly blessed to have had the
support of a wonderful staff,
a knowledgeable executive
committee, and committed
board members! Those
individuals are the lifeblood
of our chamber, and I know
the future of this organization
is in wonderful hands! Thank
you all, and may God richly
bless you in all your future
endeavors!
Visit us online:
www.roswellnm.org
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