Frankenmuth

2020. There are too many words and emotions to summarize the year we never imagined. As I reflect, I'm drawn back to the pre-pandemic days, which are hard to recall, and the word "prepared" comes to mind. Your Chamber of Commerce has always been prepared for the year ahead with well laid and usually aggressive work plans. We were also financially strong as we've been conservative with our resources. No one was prepared for the virus that changed our world in March of 2020, but we were well positioned with talented staff and positive Board leadership to pivot and keep working for our businesses and community in crippling times. It does seem like a couple of years were wrapped into one as we take time to look back on all that was accomplished. In the first half of the fiscal year, plans were being put into action with a new website to capitalize on, combined with our first ever major winter marketing campaign. That campaign included a sponsorship of the ice rink in Campus Martius in Detroit. The second half of the fiscal year, the word "Courage" stands out to me because it quickly became the rally cry for our community's 175th Year Anniversary with "Muth Means Courage" signs, shirts, ribbons, and more. It brought us together and reminded us of one of our great strengths… to help one another. A Community Task Force was formed. Masks were made, donated, and distributed. Inspirational videos made to share with our community and across the globe as people longed to travel. The Muth Serves portal was built to link needs in the community with volunteers able and willing to help. There were business who continued to give despite being nearly shuttered themselves. the President L E T T E R F R O M 2 Continued on Page 3...

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