The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Sacrifices have preserved voting, democracy
MIDDLETOWN — We have reached an important week in Middlesex County and throughout our great nation, the week that includes
Election Day.
Election Day is not only a day when we choose our elected officials, but it is a symbol of our democracy, and it represents our commitment to a peaceful transfer of power and responsibility. It is very important that we do our civic duty, visit our polling stations, and participate in the election process. We are very lucky to live in a nation where we choose our leaders at the ballot box, and we should all take seriously our responsibility to vote on Election Day. On behalf of the chamber, I want to once again thank all of the candidates from across our region for their willingness to run and to serve in public office.
Of course, the ability to hold free and fair elections is of course only possible because of our veterans and those who serve our country at home and around the world. Veterans Day, a special day that is designed to honor all the veterans that have served this nation with distinction and bravery, is coming up next Monday, Nov. 11. The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce continues to support our active duty, reserves, and guard personnel, and the many local veterans that have served in the United States Armed Forces.
This Monday, Nov. 4, the chamber will hold its 18th Annual Support the Troops and Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting. We are honored to welcome back as guest speaker, Ret. Army Capt. Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. We are truly lucky to have Buddy Bucha visit Middlesex County to address our members and members of the local veteran community. He is a terrific speaker who travels across the country for personal appearances and speaking engagements. Buddy will focus his remarks on leadership, and the importance of supporting the veterans who have served us so well. In addition to Buddy’s remarks, we will also be presenting the 2019 William J. Pomfret Community Service Award to Reginald S. Farrington of Portland. The William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award is presented annually to a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces, in recognition of his or her distinguished service to the citizens of Connecticut and selfless commitment to public service. Reginald Farrington is a proud veteran who served our country with distinction.
He also has a remarkable record of community service and is a deserving recipient of this prestigious award. We look forward to honoring him. We will also present the 2019 AT&T Veteran Support Business of the Year Award to the Travelers Championship. The AT&T Veteran Support Business of the Year Award is presented annually to a business that supports active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families through employment, philanthropy, spousal support, and other means.
This prestigious award is a testament to not only the tournament’s commitment to our veterans, but to its ongoing commitment to the people of Middlesex County and the State of Connecticut. As I have noted many times over the years, the Support the Troops and Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting would not be possible without the year round effort of a great committee led by Phil Cacciola. This event has become a key part of our Member Breakfast series over the years, and we look forward to another great edition next Monday morning in Cromwell. I also want to thank the First Company Governor’s Foot
Guard, the Middletown PBA Pipes and Drums, and everyone that has a role in making this annual event so special to so many.
A busy Monday continues at the chamber office at 12 Noon with a meeting of our Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is our top governing body, and it is currently under the leadership of our Chairman, Don DeVivo. I continue to appreciate the support of this outstanding group which is truly representative of the business community in Middlesex County. We look forward to another productive meeting which will cover a variety of important topics. In addition to the Executive Committee meeting, this week also features meetings of our LEAD CT Steering Committee, Portland and East Hampton Division, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Central Business Bureau and Real Estate Council. As you can see, the chamber continues to be on the move on a number of fronts.
This Thursday evening, I will attend an event on UConn’s Storrs Campus that will include the presentation of the 2019 Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights. The keynote speaker at the event, and recipient of this year’s award, is Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative. I look forward to attending the event, and appreciate the important research work being undertaken by the Dodd Center and its leadership team.
Next Tuesday, the chamber’s KeyBank Workshop Series continues with a session on conflict management from 8 to 10 a.m. Conflict management is the process of resolving a conflict or dispute by identifying and satisfying some or all of each side’s needs and addressing their interests. Knowing how to manage and resolve conflict is essential for leading an organization, managing a department, and building and enhancing your interpersonal relations. This workshop will explore how to best manage difficult encounters with diplomacy, tact and credibility. I encourage our members to take advantage of the Key
Bank Workshop Series and the terrific content it provides, and I would like to once again thank our friends at KeyBank for their sponsorship of this very successful chamber initiative.
Before closing, I ask that chamber members and other interested parties save the date for two more important chamber events in the month of November. On Monday, Nov. 18, the chamber will host a Member Breakfast Meeting featuring UConn Head Men’s Hockey Coach, Mike Cavanaugh. This event is sponsored by SNY. Mike Cavanaugh begins his seventh season on the bench for the UConn Huskies in 201920. Hired in the spring of 2014, Cavanaugh has guided UConn through the transition to Hockey East as the Huskies begin their sixth season of play in the toughest hockey conference in the country.
SNY is the official television home of the New York Mets, New York Jets and all things New York Sports. We are developing a great morning at the Red Lion in Cromwell on Nov. 18, and I will certainly share additional details as we get closer. Excitement also continues to build for our upcoming Business After Work Networking Reception at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam on Wednesday, Nov. 20th. Our members and their guests always look forward to the delicious spread of food and drink provided by the Riverhouse team, along with outstanding networking opportunities that the event provides.
The Business After Work event will feature the Central Business Bureau’s 2019 Festival of Wreaths Silent Auction. Beautifully decorated wreaths will be displayed for viewing and bidding until the auction closes at 6:30 p.m. The funds that are raised will benefit the Annual Holiday on Main Street, presented by Pratt & Whitney, and the Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program. Liberty Bank, annually donates the artificial wreaths for chamber member businesses to decorate, and we certainly appreciate that continued support. We look forward to a fun evening in Haddam on Nov. 20, and I want to once again thank Owner Jim Bucko, General Manager Hattie Donner, and the entire Riverhouse team for hosting this outstanding event.
In closing, I want to note how proud I was to attend the Dedication Ceremony for the Francis T. Patnaude Pump Station, a critical part of the Mattabassett Regionalization Project, which was held last Friday afternoon in Middletown. This was really a special day for the city and for our region. I want to once again thank Mattabassett District Executive Director Art Simonian and the district’s Board of Directors, and municipal leaders from Middletown, New Britain, Berlin and Cromwell for their support and hard work.
The sun always shines in Middlesex County!