Looking forward with 2020 vision

Every year brings its share of changes, successes, and challenges. For many 2019 was no different. In 2019 we came together as a community after two separate fires burned down parts of downtown Atlanta. We reveled in the success or our area bands doing well in state, and a state win for our Atlanta girls team. As a community, we cried and rejoiced as Jessalyn Grace’s family struggled and won the battle with cancer for their young daughter. In 2019 we saw many of our Cass County Schools win various awards. We saw our first ever woman district attorney here in Cass County. Many of the other news events can be found in the last week’s paper for the 2019 wrapup, while some of your stories may never be shared with the public or find there way on your Facebook feed.

Here at the newspaper, as we reported last week, we have gone through several changes in our personnel in 2019. In 2020, we are hoping to bring our strong team, with a fresh plan and build on some of our successes in 2019. In 2020 we will hope to continue to get to know as many people here in the community. This includes our area businesses. If we have missed you in the past to build a relationship, please know it has not been intentional. If you would like to know us better, we would love to hear from you. Please call Janet, our advertising manager, or Shawn Larson, the publisher, at 903-796-7133. We would love to meet with you and see how our newspaper can serve your company.

As a paper, we would love to continue to build relationships with our Cass County schools. My hope in 2020, that all of our superintendents are sending us regular updates. In the same way, my hope is to get regular updates from more of our area leaders including those outside Atlanta.

Content-wise, we would love to get updates from our smaller towns in Cass County, possibly smalltown correspondents that would be willing to send us short articles letting us know what is happening in their community. If you are interested please contact Shawn Larson at shawn@casscountynow.com or by phone. We would also love to get your news tips. You are the eyes and ears of the community. Please let us know if there is something going on we need to know about. Our hope is to continue to grow our news and content in 2020.

We have some things new and special this coming year for both our advertisers and readers. The first thing to keep an eye out for in the next couple of months is our Cass County Biggest Loser. This will be a combination of contest/health improvement campaigns. We will be dropping information about this over the next couple of months.

The second notable thing we will be doing this year is having a couple of cute kid contests starting with one on Valentine’s Day and the other during Christmas, where you can sign up and win prizes. More information will be in next week’s paper.

The third notable thing to watch out for this year is a Fall Sports Magazine like we presented to you this year.

Editors Note: Over the next couple weeks we will be featuring a look back and a look forward from area leaders. This week we will be featuring Miranda Johnson, Director, Atlanta City Development Corp.

Regarding the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Miranda Johnson

Looking back at 2019, Johnson, explained that it was “was a year of transition for us here at the Chamber. We said “goodbye” to Shelley Cloninger and Aaron Whitehead, which was tough, but we welcomed Kali Rushing and Kendell Wolfe who have each brought their own unique energy and talents to the table!

We gained some amazing new members and had some great events. The community never ceases to amaze me with their support!”

When asked about highlights and accomplishments for last year, Johnson felt like there were a number of special moments, “but I guess the thing I’m so proud of is that there is a real sense of momentum throughout our communities. New businesses, businesses expanding, active economic development efforts, civic groups rising up to build community, businesses working together – just a very positive vibe overall. We also held our very first Cash Mob, which was one of my favorite things all year!”

Looking forward to 2020, it has been a common theme because of the common phrase, and play on it, “2020 Vision,” “I know everyone is saying it, but the theme for 2020 has to be VISION! But with clear vision must come smart implementation!”

The chamber has a number of events planned this year, says Johson, “In 2020 the Chamber will be hosting many of our annual events like our Awards Banquet, Women’s Luncheon, Cruise Night, Summer-Fest, Moonlight Madness, Glow Run, Holiday Open House, Christmas Parade, etc. We will also be hosting some member events such as Lunch & Learns, Cash Mobs and hopefully some ribbon cuttings and after-hours events!!”

To get more involved with the events and all of what the Chamber has to offer, Johnson encourages, “everyone to follow us on our Facebook Page – Atlanta Area Chamber and to subscribe to our events so they can stay in the loop on not only our happenings but the events and specials our Members are hosting as well!”

Specifically for the Chamber, Says Johnson. “in 2020 I hope to build our Chamber Membership and also better serve our existing members. We are researching an ambassador program that I would love to launch this year.”

Among any goal this year, “I think that telling our story and finding more people to help us tell it is the most important part of building membership and retaining members.”

“We need to make businesses realize the positive impact they make on the community as a whole when they support their local Chamber!”

“On a personal level, I am striving to be more disciplined in my organization habits this year. Sometimes, as a creative, it is hard for me to stay on top of smaller tasks, but through to-do lists and my handy phone calendar, I’m getting better!” says Johnson.

Individually, says Johnson, “More than any other goal or resolution, I hope to grow in Christ this year and every year. I feel so blessed to live in a place that claims to be “One City Under God” and when I am given opportunities to represent Atlanta, whether it be to visitors, our own residents or in a business context, I want to reflect that motto with my every word and step! I want to be a more humble servant leader in all my roles.”