The importance of service

I was thinking of how beautiful the first major snowstorm is when it occurred to me: I should be writing about Lenox selectmen and the Lenox Chamber of Commerce.

Apparently, they are not in tune with one another.

It would seem  if the town had an extra $50,000 to help generate more tourists in the summer season (What about the shoulder seasons of spring and fall?), then the first place to park the money would be the chamber.

Meanwhile, the selectmen are looking for an event coordinator. This is on top of a new department of public works head and the appointment of a town accountant.

As to the chamber, we need to take a peek at the organization and see if some new blood, new goals and ideas can help re-invigorate its membership operation.

What we don’t want to happen is the group to be taken over by the Central Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

According to a recent news story, a local business group is resurrecting the North Adams Chamber of Commerce for small-businesses.

It won’t be replacing the regional chamber out of Pittsfield, but rather offering a voice for small business owners to help promote its economic development, according to one public statement.

Back to the snow and its beauty and how it impacts Lenox.

What Lenox has is a small-town environment.

Given this notice, it also has service. Thus on a cold winter day, one can be thankful for Hoff’s Mobil to be greeted.

“Fill ‘er up?” asks the attendant.

And one can stay in their vehicle while the meter runs…and if there is a problem with the vehicle, one can inquire as to when it may be serviced and what the estimate may be.

These full-service stations are becoming scarce.

Even Glenn A. Hoff, owner, is looking to the Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals for relief to grant a special permit and/or issue a variance for a convenience store, noting gasoline stations are not allowed according to the town by-laws. This matter comes before the ZBA on Jan. 16. Dan O’Brien, owner of O’Brien’s, an abutter, is opposed.

This installment of “The View” is not to settle the issue, but to acknowledge Hoff’s does provide service from gasoline to repairs to towing under the banner of service.

And today, Lenox has a chance to offer service to its visitors with controlled cash inducements to help promote tourism for its lodging and its restaurants, make sure the chamber – now operating out of the library – runs as a well-oiled machine, encourage businesses to put out the welcome sign of good hospitality with good hours to meet the demand and look to increase bathrooms in the town.

Let’s look to maintain our local businesses with our support. If the chamber is not meeting the demands from its membership-induced members, then the selectmen can make suggestions to increase its vitality with new members and economic development, thus becoming a bonified leader in the protection of our historic district.

These little shops are our bread and butter.

They are here to serve us, and in return, we should honor them with our business. And, if it is Hoff’s, say thanks to the attendant for his service.

If it is O’Brien’s, say we are grateful for your service to the community, and if it’s Earl Albert at Loeb’s, give him a kind word, because he goes beyond the normal expectations of 9-5. He is there each morning by 6:30 and doesn’t leave before 6 p.m. Where else does a local businessman put in daily 12-hour days?

Let’s, this new year, offer our thanks, for and within the community.

It will make us individually feel better and the community-at-large a better place to live.

We do have something special. Enjoy the amenities, from the library to town hall to our banks to our nursing and retirement homes.

We are the community of Lenox.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on January 3, 2013. Filed under Opinion,View from the Tower. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry