As we come to the middle of the fourth quarter, all around me I see optimism and excitement.
Permit activity in Northeast Florida is at a level we haven’t seen since 2007.
Large-scale developments, both residential and commercial, are under construction and being announced. That’s good news indeed.
In the midst of this good news, however, we as a city and state are still reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Matthew.
Many were spared the worst of the disaster that was predicted and we are thankful for that. But for those who were not so fortunate, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families.
Through the generosity of our great association, our efforts do not end at thoughts and prayers.
NEFBA’s charitable foundation has agreed to match up to $50,000 in donations to those affected by Hurricane Matthew who are not able to seek aid elsewhere. As I write this (mid-October), we already have raised $31,000.
Over the past month, we have had quite a bit to celebrate.
Our Havana Nights Gala was an incredible night of celebration. Held again at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, more than 750 tickets were sold and we were reminded this is the premier event on NEFBA’s annual calendar.
I’d like to thank the staff and members who worked so hard to bring us together for an evening of fun, food and games with longtime friends and new ones.
Beast Feast was also special this year. Threatening weather forced a change of date but as always, there was an amazing turnout on a beautiful night one week later.
It was an occasion to be grateful for, to have the ear of many of our endorsed candidates and local officials, to thank them for what they do for our city and to enjoy the amazing barbecue that the Beast Feast is famous for.
Again, a special thanks to our dedicated NEFBA staff for planning and then re-planning this successful event.
Keep in mind, we still have much work to do. I believe we can make this a banner year if we keep the momentum going and build on our success as we head into the New Year.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, remembering that truly we have so much to be thankful for.
Chet Skinner, NEFBA president