MANISTEE, MICH. - In writing this, there are only a handful of days before we enter 2025. Once we do, we'll never be in 2024 again. Do you ever stop and think about the significance of that? Greek philosopher Heraclitus said that "no man ever steps in the same river, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." In the same way, as we reflect on our past year, could we agree that it was unlike any year before it, that when we enter January of 2025, it won't be the same as when we entered January of 2024? Regardless of all of the good and bad that happens in a year, time always marches on. The times are always changing.

While I have no interest in turning this into a philosophical piece– quite the opposite, really– that's the topic I want to talk about today: change. Change means a lot of things to different people, but it can agreed by most that no community is immune to its force. Here in Manistee County, we see people relocate, visit for a day, new businesses open, old institutions close, babies born, and people pass away, sometimes all in the span of a single day. Change comes and goes in all communities and Manistee is no exception.

A lot of good can come from change. When the leg of your chair becomes so feeble it snaps off, you don't resort to teetering on it while eating dinner: you fix the chair or get a new chair entirely. I think of the Manistee Downtown Development Authority Facade Grant program, in which businesses in the downtown district have the opportunity to apply for grants to revitalize the exterior of their buildings. I also think of the Bungalow Inn, in which earlier this year, Dave Gunia passed down ownership of the restaurant to his nephew, Nolan Gunia; they even held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the occasion. I use these examples to suggest that change can be seen just about anywhere: change in ownership, change in a storefront's appearance, change in the leg of a dining room chair.

Even our leadership changes. We recently saw new people join the City Council, and the Manistee County Board of Commissioners, among several other contested roles and boards in our community. Changes such as these ensure that we never get stuck in the way we do things, that are elected officials are representative of a community's population, and that we may always be receptive to new perspectives and ideas.

Let's be honest here: change isn't always easy. Sometimes it's unexpected. Sometimes it's scary. Sometimes you strive for a goal, only for a single change to come out of nowhere and wipe away all of your work, bringing you back to square one. That kind of change can be discouraging, whether it impacts you in the workplace, in your home, or the entire community.

So how does a community thrive in a world where things are always changing for better and for worse? I can't pretend to have the perfect answer, but I think identifying your vision is a good place to start. What grounds you when things get turbulent? Whether it's for your personal life, your business, your team, identifying your vision can keep you on the right track.

I think about my place here at the Manistee Area Chamber. In the past year, we said farewell to Stacie Bytwork, President & CEO of the chamber for over 11 years. We welcomed two members to the team: Andrew Stafford, our new Director of Economic Development, and Nicole Kaminski, our new Program Specialist. Yet our vision remains the same: to build and support a dynamic and sustainable organization to serve the business, workforce, and economic development needs of Manistee County. Having a clear mission is what allows us to move with confidence. Even when things change, our mission stands.

Will things continue to change? Of course they will. A lot can happen in a year. For all I know, my perspective on this topic will change, and in a year from now, I'll rip this column apart. As we head into 2025, let's embrace that change is found in all communities. Let's stay grounded in our vision for Manistee County. Let's be the ones to initiate change for the better.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and may 2025 be the best year yet!

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Blade Gates is the Marketing & Communications Specialist of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit 501 C (6) organization, whose mission is to build a dynamic and sustainable organization to serve the Business, Workforce, and Economic Development needs of all in Manistee County. You can contact the Chamber at 231-723-2575 or communications@manisteechamber.com.