KLCBT President’s Christmas Message 2016

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here already – where did this year go!

Each year that passes seems to have its own character – there are always challenges, and maybe a low point here and there, but more often than not, they are liberally sprinkled with many highlights that bring joy and gladness. As I look back over these past twelve months, I know that it has been about as full a year as I can remember. In this busy time of year, I encourage you to take a few minutes to count your blessings. We all have so much to be thankful for including our Chamber, community, businesses, family and friends, to name a few. Being a resident of the Lowveld, I’m still pinching myself at how lucky I am to live, work and be a part of this great region.

Christmas is a time for reflection and a rejuvenation of hope for the future. May we always be ever mindful of the spirit of caring, sharing, love and generosity of the Christmas season, and do our best at all times as we seek to develop our chamber, improve the prosperity of our businesses and grow as individuals, contributing in whatever capacity for the benefit of our families and communities.

I am particularly aware that the success of the Chamber rest upon the valuable support of our members and the hard work of the committees who so generously volunteer and give of their time, so let me take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your wonderful support and dedication. Regardless of your current level of involvement, I challenge you to become more engaged with the Chamber in the next year. There is a direct correlation to the effectiveness of both the Chamber and your membership, and how involved you are in the activities and networking opportunities provided by the Chamber.

I call upon every member to make suggestions on how best can we make the chamber more effective and beneficial to members. We are always pleased to have your suggestions for events, especially if this is backed by a willingness to help make it happen! Please contact me, the office or any of the committees to discuss your ideas and any other issues you would like to bring to our attention. The Chamber looks forward to your continuing support and encourages your active participation in our 2017 program which will be listed in the calendar on the Chamber website as well as communicated direct to you.

The City of Mbombela and all the other towns in the Lowveld are vibrant and growing nodes with a bright future – rich in heritage, with thriving and innovative business communities and tourism industry, many unique attractions and much to be proud of. As the Lowveld continues to grow and prosper we are blessed to have businesses that have succeeded for many years, a dynamic tourism sector and other stores and shops that are new to the areas. With that in mind, please let us all support our local businesses and shop locally.

On behalf of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, let me end by once again thanking you for your support and endorsement of our efforts, and pledge to work even more strenuously for you in the year ahead. We wish you a safe and very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with God’s peace, joy, productivity and prosperity.

Oupa Pilane

KLCBT President