I am kind of google-eyed this morning after driving eleven hours yesterday to save and adopt a puppy downstate from a humane society. We have been looking for a new dog which has been complicated by my allergies and the need for certain breeds that are less prone to dander and allergens. We knew we wanted to save a dog from a humane society and we finally found one that met both criteria. We named him, “Jeter.” Sorry Red Sox fans.
Having a puppy is a new experience. Our previous dog was already trained when we received him. To call it overwhelming is an understatement. Jeter needs oversight constantly. But you can already see that he is thrilled to have a home and thrilled to have people to love and that love him. The slightest bit of attention throws him into a tizzy of delighted actions.
I was thinking about this before I wrote this morning and relate it to people as well. Life is difficult. Whether you are well off or have little, struggles are there from birth to death. They are just different. People often face these struggles alone. And when shown the least bit of kindness or to acknowledge that they exist, people light up and feel good inside. I cannot tell you how much a kind word lightens up my day and makes it instantly better.
If we were to understand how good it feels to be treated well and think about it more consistently, we might be more inclined to treat others well. Kindness is contagious. If someone waves you on in a heavy traffic day, we become more apt to show the same kindness to another who is desperately trying to enter the roadway from a parking lot or another lane.
Businesses also need to understand that this is the underlying and overwhelming reason why good customer service works. If you treat people kindly, if you acknowledge people as important, then the response will be positive and not only will you have a repeat customer, but word of mouth will lead others to that business door.
This same understanding is why we are all in the tourism business here in the Caribou area. If a visitor is treated kindly from the post office to the gas stations, then that visitor will feel good inside, want to return and tell their friends and family what a warm and wonderful region this is to visit.
I love when Mayor Aiken concludes his columns with, “What have you done for Caribou lately.” It is an important point. May I add one further thought? Who have you treated kindly today?
Did you know?
I started a “Did you know” feature last week to help readers to understand a little better how the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce touches the community. Among other events and things we do, the Chamber holds four big events each year. They are the City-Wide Yard Sale, Caribou Cares About Kids, The Arts & Craft Festival and Santa’s Workshop. The second and fourth feature Chamber-sponsored events along with other events by the Caribou Parks & Recreation Department.
There is difficulty in pinning down the numbers associated with these events. And as you know from recent columns, numbers are not my strong suit. But let me give you some guesstimates. The City-Yard Yard Sale usually features around 100 family yard sales. That is a hundred local citizens making a little (and sometimes a lot) of money selling unwanted things from around the house. Add that to the perhaps several hundred (or more) who travel around looking for deals and you have local stores, restaurants and lodging establishments benefiting as well.
Last year, 700 people participated in our Tye-Die Extravaganza, most of them children. Remember that another one is coming up on August 8! That is 700 people that are entertained with cool shirts available for purchase at just $2 a shirt. The rest of the entertainment is free.
The Arts & Crafts Festival in October probably sees 1,000 visitors come through the doors over the course of the weekend to buy the wares of over 100 artists and crafters. Many of those artists and crafters are local and are given the opportunity to sell in a unique setting where we bring the crowd to them. Again, this gives the local economy a bump as these crafters and artists from outside the area stay at local facilities and eat out. Add in the extra hundred people around the town at any given moment and local business gets a boost.
Finally, the Santa’s Workshop last year provided 500 youngsters the opportunity to have some free fun, see Santa and do crafts with their families. Like Memorial Day and Caribou Cares About Kids, the Chamber also registers participants for the parades associated with the events.
So if I do my poor math correctly, a conservative estimate is that Chamber-sponsored events enrich the community and touch 2,700 people, mostly in the community and those that visit during the events. That is a lot of people and we are proud of each smile and good time the Chamber provides during the year.
Don’t forget Thursdays on Sweden this week on July 31! It is Pirate Night and Sound Friendship is the musical act. Fifty vendors are already signed up. Holy smokes!
And don’t forget to sign up for the August 8 parade! Have a great week!
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or email him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
