The Tuxedo Park Business Portfolio generously offers space in their publication for the Chamber to discuss an issue or make an announcement. Below is a collection of past articles. We want to thank Ken and Nanette at TPBP for their generosity. This article originally appeared in the January 2012 edition of the Tuxedo Park Business Portfolio. Candidates from both sides of the aisle will likely spend
the next 11 months pointing out the strength of small business in the USA. On
this one issue, they’re both right! Small Business is responsible for roughly 50.7% of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2011, the total figure is estimated at $15.1 trillion, meaning that small business produced approximately $7.64 trillion worth of goods and services, exceeding the total GDP of China ($6.99 trillion), and the GDP of Germany ($3.63 T), France ($2.81 T), and Mexico ($1.19 T) combined. In 2009, there were 27.5 million small businesses employing 60.2 million workers – more than 50% of the American workforce – which doesn’t even account for 10.1 self-employed individuals many of these companies represent. Start-up firms create jobs at a disproportionately high rate, and while this is mitigated by the fact that they fail at a higher rate than their big brothers, small firms are responsible for 9.8 million new jobs (65% of the total job growth) since 1993. Wal-Mart, Ford, Facebook, and Apple all began as American small businesses and went on to change the way the economy works. The Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce is American small business at its best. I am honored to represent close to 70 firms and the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. To find out what you can do to support the engine of the American economy, please join us during our next meeting on Wednesday, February 8th, at the Tuxedo Train Station at 6:00 PM. See you there! William A. Sweet President Sources: Small Business as Share of GDP, Katherine Kobe, Economic Consulting Services LLC GDP estimates calculated by International Monetary Fund Staff as of September, 2011 Special Report of the SBA to the President, The Small Business Economy, January 2009 SBA Office of Advocacy Frequently Asked Questions, January 2011, retrieved January 2012 "The Myth of the Small-Business Job Engine," Yuval Rosenberg, The Fiscal Times, August 29th, 2011 "Think Small Business Is Job Engine? Think Again" Kathleen Madigan, The Wall Street Journal, September 10th, 2011 This article originally appeared in the November 2011 edition of the Tuxedo Park Business Portfolio. Leading up to the important election, one candidate called
another “a blind, bald, crippled, toothless man.” The offended party retaliated
by positing that if the first was elected, “murder, robbery, adultery, and
incest will be openly taught and practiced… and the soil will be soaked with
blood.” The harsh worlds above are credited to Thomas Jefferson and Jon Adams in the election of 1800. Thus, political vitriol is obviously nothing new in the USA, nor to our usually serene Tuxedo. While we may question whether the name-calling and accusations are really necessary, the right to vote is something that I fought for during my time in the US Army, as did many of our proud Veterans right here in Tuxedo – I certainly understand that it is something to be passionate about. I’m hoping that last week’s town election marks the end of the mudslinging (for a little while anyway) as we move forward into 2012. We work hard to ensure that the Chamber of Commerce is a force that brings the town together, reaching across lines that divide us, be they political affiliation, business interests, neighborhood, school district, religion, sports team, or favorite color. We really are all in this thing together, folks. To that end, I hope you are able to join us on December 8th at 6:00 PM at the Tuxedo Junction Inn for our most popular event of the year, the Annual Holiday Mixer. The event features delicious food from the Junction as well as all-you-can drink house beer, wine, and soda, all for $30 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. Plus, we’ll be holding a (gasp) election for three trustee positions on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in running for office or just joining us for a night of fun, please contact me at 351-5657 and/or Bob Thompson at 351-5006 or visit us at www.tuxedochamber.org. William A. Sweet President This article originally appeared in the September 2011 edition of the Tuxedo Park Business Portfolio. One of the things that impresses me most about Tuxedo is how the greater community comes together during a time of crisis. We have had a lot to overcome in 2011 – from slow economic growth to blizzards, spring floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, and the New York Mets – and we continue to pick up the pieces, even today. If you haven’t already, consider supporting the continuing relief efforts, particularly as we help those who lost their homes last month. There are several options – from the Town’s relief fund, to St. Mary’s, and the Tuxedo PTO’s – for more information visit our website at www.tuxedochamber.org. I want to thank all of our sponsors, donors, and participants who came out for our 6th Annual Charity Golf Outing. We had a great turnout and in spite of the rain were able to raise several thousand dollars toward the relief effort. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – and please keep us in mind for the 7th annual outing next September. We will continue to rebuild our homes and our businesses – and we will emerge together as a stronger community. Let’s get to work and make it happen. William A. Sweet President This article originally appeared in the August 2011 edition of the Tuxedo Park Business Portfolio. The dog days of August are upon us here in sunny Tuxedo. We here at the Chamber of Commerce want to thank you for supporting our locally owned businesses and helping us to create the unique, small-town atmosphere that Tuxedo embodies. Our humble request this month is to get out and explore a piece of our community that you haven’t before. First on our list: pay a visit to Sterling Forest State Park and breathe in the fresh air of 22,000 acres of nearly pristine natural refuge right in your backyard. Plan a morning hike to avoid the heat or a picnic over the lake. Or experience the story of Sterling Forest in the park’s beautiful visitor’s center. A more medieval experience begins August 6th and runs through September 25th weekends at the New York Renaissance Faire. Complete with 16th century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music, and dance, the Faire is an excellent weekend stop that allows you to travel to another time and place that is literally just up the road. Find out more at renfair.com/ny. Above are just two examples; we haven’t even mentioned the Tuxedo Performing Arts Group, all of the summer events at Tuxedo Ridge, nor the myriad of activities at the Tuxedo Park Library. Explore this and more of what’s happening in Tuxedo at our website, tuxedochamber.org. William A. Sweet President |
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