Chamber president’s message
Weather is warming up, there is a little more daylight each day, it’s good to see so many people enjoying outdoor activities. Our local parks are a great place for families to spend some time outside, so be sure to encourage our youth to get away from their phones or computer screens and get some fresh air. Take them to the playground, for a hike, or a bike ride, or fishing or just a walk around the block. The time spent will be as rewarding to adults as it is to the kids.
The pandemic has been hard on all of us as a society, but has disrupted the daily lives of our young people to a degree we could have never imagined. Going to school in person was something we all took for granted. The social interaction with classmates was as important as the lessons learned in the classroom. Staying home protected teachers and staff as much, or more, than the students themselves. The jobs young people normally started out with, in hospitality, personal care, etc were the first to be shut down and will be that last to recover. Our youngest generation has been asked to give up a lot to protect the older generation. Now that we have a vaccine, guess who will be the last to receive it?
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce has made Year of Youth a Champion Project this year. We have a committee working with the Office of Education to help provide services to young people any way we can. Like anything else right now, these efforts are complicated by the pandemic but we are determined to make a difference
this year. Mentoring students who have chosen a career path is one service the Chamber can excel at.
If you know of a student who would like career advice, have them reach out to the Chamber and we will find one of our members in that profession to help. Having a talented local young person give up on their dream career out of frustration just isn’t acceptable. We are always here to help.
Bobby Dutcher is the
2020 2023 Lake County Chamber of Commerce President. A life long Lake County resident, Dutcher attended school in Upper Lake from kindergarten through 12th grade. After graduating from high school, he moved away for four years to college and returned to start his own timber management company. He retired from timber management in 2002 and became a licensed real estate broker.