As we all gather with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we should take time to reflect on how truly lucky we are to live in this state and, in particular, the Lake Champlain region. No matter where I walked on the day before Thanksgiving, Vermonters were out on the streets engaged in conversations with friends and acquaintances. They all seemed genuinely pleased to see acquaintances and to be genuinely interested in their plans for the holiday weekend. Here at the Chamber, the Council on World Affairs is hosting a delegation from the Ukraine who is interested in learning about Vermont’s tourism industry. They asked to experience some Vermont traditions while they were with us. Families of staff have opened their homes to share with our guests the traditions of a traditional Thanksgiving. I know of many others that are volunteering at food shelves; shelters and crisis centers so that those less fortunate can share in the fellowship and bounty of this day. It is easy to take these simple outreaches for granted. After all, it is the Vermont way. We tend to accept people for whom and what they are and we tend not to judge those that are different from us. The motto ‘freedom and unity’ about sums it up. We want to be able to conduct our lives in the manner we see fit but we come together to celebrate community.

I guess it is the concept of community that makes us a bit unique. On a daily basis we experience the seamless transition from the world of business to the world of community engagement and volunteerism. Vermonters seem to understand that we are stronger when we work together and share our skills and strengths to shore up areas needing improvement in other. Likewise each of us if better off for the strength and talent we absorb from others.

Sure, there are always things that can be done better and issues that make us want to pull out our hair. But, when all is said and done, most of us choose to remain firmly rooted in the solid soil of Vermont.