Maricopa Chamber Director’s Blog

Aug 27

Ramsey’s American Grill, A Tragic End…

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Last modified: August 27, 2007

Like most people in town I was shocked by last week’s news that Ramsey’s American Grill had been closed down. Who knew? Not only was Ramsey’s one of the first few flagship businesses here in Maricopa but it also represented the realization of a dream, the Entrepreneur’s dream of owning your own business, having employees and providing a great work environment and giving back to your community.

Maricopa’s business community is full of men and women like Ramsey and Sherry Harkness, who put their heart, souls and financial futures into OUR Community. I can’t help but feel like WE let them down some how. This should be a wake up call to all of us, residents and city officials alike that if we do not support our local economy then we will have no economy. We can not afford to be Phoenix centric any more!

Most of the residents that I talk to always ask when are the big box stores coming. Well, if we can not support the stores that are here how will we be able to support the big guys? America was not built by corporate chain stores, but by the little guy with a dream.

I was out this weekend and over heard a lot of talk on what they should have or could have done. Isn’t it easy to sit back and criticize, speculate and create opinions on things that do not personally affect you or your family? None of us has knowledge as to the sacrifices they have made to keep the doors open people paid etc. The one thing I do know is that Ramsey is an honest, community spirited guy who would do what ever he could to support local event’s, charities, PTO’s and other businesses.

Ramsey, I will miss seeing you when I come in to eat and I hope that you will still be willing to share ideas with me because you are the idea guy! Good luck and all the best.

Aug 23

Social Media & School

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Last modified: August 23, 2007

Last week I expressed my gratitude that school has finally started. My son has settled nicely into his routine of school, homework and sports quite nicely.

One thing different for us this year is that his teacher is utilizing Social Media as a way to communicate with parents.

Gone, for the most part, is the backpack bursting with notes and pieces of paper! Yeah! Gone is the excuse “I lost my spelling words” This teacher uses the MUSD website and has set up a classroom blog to post information like spelling words, reading lists and to communicate with parents. You can even comment and communicate with her using this tool. I am sure she is not the only teacher doing this and I applaud all teachers who use blogs and websites to get information to parents as well as students.

It is my opinion that classroom websites can be great tools of communication between parents, teachers and students and can even help students with reading and fine tuning their computer skills. While they should not replace face to face conversations they can provide invaluable amounts of information that can be accessed anytime day or night.

So parents, if your child’s teacher has set up a website and a blog I encourage you to use it and if they have not I would encourage you to see if you can help them set something up.

Aug 13

Back To School !

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Last modified: August 13, 2007

Well it is the first day of school for most kids in the City of Maricopa. I for one am thrilled!

It has been a long and stressful summer here in our fair City and trying to keep our son entertained has been an additional challenge. It is very difficult, as any parent will tell you, to keep 7, 8 or up to even 18 year old boys & girls active, involved, entertained and most of all out of mischief for 6-8 weeks while trying to balance work and home schedules. Hurray for School!

Fortunately for my family we both have jobs which allow us the freedom to come and go but also the opportunity to bring our son to work on occasion. Although anyone who has taken their child to work with them knows the added challenges it brings.

Our young City has made tremendous strides coping with the rapid growth it has experienced since its incorporation in 2003 and I encourage our Community to continue its support of the Parks, Recreation & Libraries department as they continue to develop more programs for our children and young adults, look for land to purchase for more parks, a bigger library and a community center. It is only by working together and putting our differences aside that WE will be able to continue our unprecedented growth and create summer programs for our cities youth.

If you think there is nothing YOU can do or are looking for a way to get involved then JOIN A COMMITTEE! Please follow the link for more information on what committees there are. By being proactive WE can make a difference.