by DICK SCHNEIDER
Buda Chamber of Commerce
As life goes on, changes occur which are beyond our control and that cause us to take a look at where we are and what we are doing.
Such a change occurred to me during a 90-day period in 2010 when I lost my youngest son Stephen to a rare brain disease and lost my wife Carolynn to pulmonary fibrosis. Those losses caused me to look at myself and try to figure out what I would be doing for the rest of my life.
I didn’t want to make any major changes immediately so I took the year of 2011 to adjust to the changes and hopefully make some decisions regarding the future. After going through that time period I came to the realization that I didn’t want to be committed to a daily job.
The Chamber Board was extremely understanding about my situation and certainly offered me the ability to do whatever I wanted to do regarding my activities. The problem for me was that I wanted to be gone more and I was uncomfortable being gone as much as I was. I didn’t feel that it was fair to the Chamber. So, that situation required that I make a decision about my future and my position at the Chamber.
After a lot of soul searching, I came to the decision that I would retire from my Chamber position effective February 29, 2012. It was a difficult decision but one that I feel will be in everyone’s best interest.
My replacement is Terry Capps who has lived in Buda since 1983. Terry has ably served on the Economic Development Board of Directors and also served six years on the BACC Board with two of those years as Chairman of the Board. He knows the community and will be a good steward of the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce.
My 11 years at the helm of the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce has been filled with hundreds of good memories. From starting with a briefcase and a cell phone to an organization with 300 plus members we have had the good fortune to be associated with wonderful hard working business people. The Buda Area Chamber of Commerce is a great organization and under Terry’s guidance will take the next step into the future.
Thank you all for reading my little monthly life stories. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them for you. I look forward to being involved with the Chamber in the future but in a different role. As we say in the Chamber world, onward and upward. As an ex-pilot, Terry will certainly take us onward and upward.
My best to you all and your families.
Dick Schneider, President
Buda Area Chamber of Commerce
