Do you ever stop and consider just how things get done?

I mean, when you walk or drive down Main Street in downtown Newberry and you see decorations placed along the sidewalks, do you consider the work it takes to erect and then maintain?

Let’s say you come to Oktoberfest. Do you consider the work that went into setting up all the tents as well as the signage, the barricading, the traffic coordinators, and all the people that (almost instantly) come in and clean-up the city before dark?

How often do you take the time to tell somebody, “Thank you for the great job you do?”

If you cannot remember telling some of the following folks how much you appreciate the effort they put into helping organize and maintain our city, then don’t you think you should?

Take the master gardeners; all they do is decorate Main Street at different times of the year just to make our city appealing. They are not paid; they take time out of their busy days to brighten up our city in an attempt to encourage our visitors to feel welcome and desire to stay longer.

Then there are the city employees. They include the city manager, the parks and recreation staff, and the ladies that work in city hall.

On the day of Oktoberfest, all they do is get up at 4 a.m., erect street barricades and set up approximately 80 tents down Main Street and around Community Hall, then continue by decorating each tent so that when vendors arrive, all they need do is display their product.

They work all day long ensuring that everything goes smoothly and at the end of the day, they continue, after everyone has driven off, by removing the tents, barricades, and tons of trash left behind.

Why do you think they do all that work? Don’t you think it is time you told them how much you appreciate the things they do?

If you have a business in Newberry, I feel certain that on the day of Oktoberfest, you would have to say this is your best sales day.

How often do you say “Thank You” to the people that work so hard to bring shoppers to your business?

Four years ago, I was a part of the group at the city working to bring Oktoberfest to you and I can tell you first hand, this is very difficult work.

Please, this year seek out these people and tell them how very much you appreciate the work they do.

We, here at your chamber work to ensure local businesses are represented and we will certainly follow up and say “Thanks,” but you need to do the same.

Tell people you appreciate the work they do.