This year the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association celebrates its 100th anniversary. That’s a lot of Strawberry Days celebrations. It’s also an incredibly long time to continuously provide support and encouragement to local business.
The GSCRA is an independent, not-for-profit association that works to protect and promote our local businesses. Our vision is to make Glenwood Springs the ideal mountain community. Our mission is to provide leadership, promote commerce, encourage measured growth and continue to support endeavors that will enrich the quality of life in our community. And we’ve been doing this for 100 years.
Glenwood Springs has become a mecca for tourists, homebuyers and businesses alike. We have such amazing strengths that time has only made stronger: education, health care, state-of-the-art infrastructure, quality of life, culture and amenities, healthy lifestyle and transit. We are now a world-class destination. This achievement is possible because of the hardworking businesses in our community.
Getting to this point has not been without its struggles and changes. The ways we conduct business have evolved drastically in 100 years. We have the Internet. Business is now about speed, technology and instant gratification. What once was the horse and buggy is now a V8 motor on four rubber wheels or an airplane. We’ve gone from telegraphs to telephones, from rotary dial to cordless to smartphones. There was good old-fashioned snail mail and now there’s email. Dial up used to be a thing, but now there’s Wi-Fi.
These changes have had a significant impact on business and communication. The GSCRA has spent the last century working hard to keep up and adapt so we can continue to help local businesses thrive in this ever-changing technological world.
We also believe that business shouldn’t be confined to just the office. Face-to-face interaction is still one of the most powerful forms of communication in business. Email is easy and convenient, but putting a face to a name, creating a relationship and giving a firm handshake are irreplaceable. GSCRA has and will continue to provide opportunities for local business owners and employees to meet, mingle and network, creating relationships to build a better community.
We look to the next 100 years, continuing to be the champion for a thriving community, the catalyst for business growth and development, and the convener of leaders and influencers to get things done.
A wise man once said to me, “Change is good, as long as it’s in a forward motion.” What better time than our 100th anniversary to reflect upon and celebrate the last century while looking forward, getting excited for the good changes that will come?
Join us on Nov. 2, as we celebrate our Centennial Gala, presented by FirstBank. This cocktail-style reception will have small plate food stations, games and live music throughout the evening. There will be no shortage of dancing and singing along with two favorite local bands, Hammered Straight and Shady Lane.
Our new format will be from 6-9 p.m. with a special presentation at 7:30 p.m. announcing the Citizen of the Year and Top Brass Outstanding Business of the Year. Following is a champagne toast and cake generously provided by Hotel Colorado.
The Hotel Colorado is offering a $100 per night room special for event guests in honor of the 100th anniversary for Nov. 2. The deadline is Oct. 18. Also, take advantage of early bird pricing before Oct. 15 for $65 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets or reserve a room, please visit glenwoodchamber.com/gala. We look forward to celebrating with you.
Tara Harman is vice president of special events and programs for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.
