Efforts are underway again to revitalize the Winona Business and Professional Association, an organization made up of local business and professional people with the intent to promote business and the community by working together.
In the past, the Winona Business Association was an extremely active association which not only organized the now-defunct Crossroads Fall Festival, Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, the Winona Christmas Parade, and other special events to draw people into the heart of Winona. The organization was staffed entirely by volunteers and funds raised went right back into the organization to fund a later event.
When I first moved to the area, I joined the Winona Business Association and was thrilled to be part of a group of like-minded individuals whose focus was on bettering the community. Becky Flowers of Flowers Accounting was president, and Sharon Kent of WONA was vice president. There were many excited members who also volunteered to help organize or staff various events.
My favorite memory was co-chairing the very first Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration with Gay Hammond of Hammond’s Pharmacy and Gifts. The two of us met in downtown Winona early that morning to put patriotic bunting around the stage, and we were so excited.
We had organized vendors to come in to sell food, live music, and of course, a fireworks show. It was going to be fantastic. However, Mother Nature had something else to say about that.
About 15 minutes after the music started, the sky opened up and torrential rains fell in buckets. Gay and I were running around trying to prevent the rain from ruining our decorations, sound equipment, and more. Finally, the two of us just stopped, looked at each other, and burst into a fit of laughter.
When you organize special events, you never know what will happen, but you make the best out of it. The rain might have dampened our celebration, but it didn’t spoil our fun. What’s more? Gay and all of the other Winona Business Association members who ended up soaking wet and laughing became some of my dearest friends.
Civic organizations are not only ideal for networking with other business professionals, but they can be a lot of fun. And you might make some new friends. I did!
So for those of you interested in getting involved in bettering your community, the Winona Business and Professional Association will have a Business After Hours at the Winona Community House on Sterling Street on January 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Hosted by those of us at The Winona Times and The Conservative newspapers, the event will include food and fellowship, and you can learn more about efforts to revitalize the association to work toward a better Winona.
If you have any questions about the Winona Business Association or the Business After Hours, call me at my office at 662-283-1131 or email me at publisher@winonatimes.com
I look forward to seeing you on January 23.
