Annual Chamber banquet reflects community’s positive vibe

Subhead

Cause for celebration

Image
  • ANR
    ANR
Body

There was a buzz and palpable energy in the air Thursday night as the local business community gathered for the first time in several years to celebrate the annual Aurora Chamber of Commerce banquet.
Forced online the past few years due to that dreaded pandemic, it was nice to see this feel-good event back live and in person as it belongs. There was a noble effort to recognize award winners with an online format during the pandemic pause, but Thursday offered proof positive that there is just no substitute for face-to-face gatherings in terms of meeting new people in our community, thanking those who went above and beyond and just cutting loose a bit and having some fun. 
On that note, the move from the school to the new Aurora Community Clubhouse deserves two thumbs up as well. That venue is starting to shine already as a hub for fun events, and it provided an ideal setting for a more relaxed banquet format. The Chamber’s membership itself reflects a lot of new, young members and business owners/managers, so it made perfect sense to host an annual banquet reflecting that same vibe.
Expanding on that same theme, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce has done a remarkable job re-branding itself since re-establishing its own entity. Launching new events like Bands on the Bricks and Come Home to Christmas reflect a clear commitment toward the organization’s vision of creating events that bring people to town for family-friendly outings. Aurora already has a well-deserved “spot on the map,” but these kinds of events can’t help but enhance that reputation while also giving guests a reason to come for a visit, and perhaps support our retail businesses while they are here.
The eight-page annual report distributed last week highlights specific efforts to support local businesses large and small in various ways. That includes an update in technology, utilizing QR codes, podcasts and other tools to help support business owners and boost their bottom lines. As any business owner knows that requires constant effort, and it is extremely helpful, especially for small businesses, to have those extra resources available.
The conversation was upbeat and extremely optimistic Thursday, which is not unusual for Aurora, but it’s also not universal in today’s world. The local business community does indeed have a lot to celebrate, and we should, with so many signs of growth and progress in Aurora’s past and immediate future.
Well done!
-- Kurt Johnson