As we come to a close on 2011 it's difficult not to look back (for me anyway) and say WOW! What a rollercoaster ride that was. And it certainly was.

The North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has seen its share of economic seasons. Over the past 49 years the NPCC has weathered them all to emerge as a leader in the community and a champion for commerce in the North Phoenix region. I have seen our members experience both financial ruin and financial abundance in these most unusual of times. One thing remains strong in all the change and uncertainty. And that is the spirit of the individual.

I am proud to know each and every member of this great Chamber. The level of professionalism, dignity, and honor in which I have seen demonstrated by our members brings me great joy and happiness. It is an inspiration to help grow our chamber to new levels of success.

Please take a moment to call a North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce member from the directory (someone you do not know) and introduce yourself. Lets make 2012 even better than we can imagine.

Thank you for who you are, all you do, and your continued support.

Sincerely,
Edward J. Gomillion

I thought you might enjoy reading this:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

First, let me start by saying Happy Memorial Day. This day is not necessarily a time of great joy. Especially for families who have suffered loss in times of military conflict. Memorial Day is however a great time of gratitude.
We all have a tendency to host our own personal pitty party from time to time. If we really, and I mean really take the time to look at all the blessings and good things happening in our life we can put the negative "nast" (as my Sweetheart calls it) into perspective.
Lets all take this Memorial Day and the upcomming week to make a veteran's,or their families life a bit easier. Random acts of kindness for the men and women who risk their lives for our freedom.
If you are a veteran from ANY branch of service and a member of the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce please call or email me with your name and service information. I would like to honor you in the mid week email blast and promote your business for FREE!
Thank you to all our veterans.
~Edward

I think that financially we all want the same thing. That is to be financially secure, have no financial stress, and be able to pursue personal interests.
From my experience it is not just money (greed) that people are after. It is what the money can provide by way of lifestyle. It has often been said that money can't buy happiness. We know this to be true because there are plenty of unhappy wealthy people. We also know that poverty can't buy happiness either. So how do we find the sweet success that we all long for? The answer is growth. Personal and professional growth. The challenge has always been figuring out how to grow your net worth in a cost effective way. This is why everywhere you turn there is a networking group for you to attend. Networking is essential to business growth. After all, if they don't know you exist they won't call.
The North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has a better way of networking for you to consider. The difference is in the philosophy and climate of our groups. Yes, we want growth and referrals for ourselves. However, we want to first be thinking about how we can help our Chamber brothers and sisters with referrals and contacts. It is due to this culture of thinking that our groups don't have to be the largest in number. Our members are an amazing resource to each other as human contact databases.
Join me on this fantastic mission to help NPCC members grow. To see change in the world you must first become change you wish to see. I am looking forward to creating positive change in our community with your help.
~Edward

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