A Message from Chamber CEO Douglass Wilhoit:

Chamber's Year off to a Rousing Start

AUGUST 2008- Thee 2007-2008 Chamber of Commerce year started out with a bang fitting for a Fourth of July celebration! It was truly a celebration of the community of Stockton when Huell Howser’s Road Trip to Stockton aired on July 5, 2007 on Chamber member KVIE Channel 6.

David Lowe of KVIE reported the next day that it was the second largest market share for a  program in primetime on a PBS station anywhere in the nation. He also reported that if we took into account primetime is different in other parts of the country then we, the 20th largest viewing area in the PBS system, were truly the No. 1 PBS viewed program in the nation during primetime.

That evening and for many days to come I heard from many people how much they enjoyed the program. They also learned a lot about ‘THEIR” own community that they had either forgotten or did not know. There were several positive letters to the editor in The Record and one ridiculous letter from someone who wrote “I’d wage Howser couldn’t get out of this town fast enough to suit himself.” To that person who must lead a sheltered life and does not get out into the community much, I am having printed up, from Mapquest, directions on I-5, Highway 99, Highway 4, 12 & 26 for the fastest way for him to get out of town if he does not like it here. He resembles the naysayer’s, negative thinkers and obstructionists who are becoming a very small group of Stocktonians as progress is taking place.

To that person I can say that Huell truly enjoyed his two days here and was absolutely impressed with the history, present and future of Stockton. He did hours of filming that could not be shown in one hour but you can rest assured that we will see some of the other stories he filmed in the future.

I want to thank Wes Rhea, Director of your Chamber’s Conference and Visitors Bureau, for a job well done in planning the shoot and escorting Huell and his cameraman around our great City on the 5^th and 6^th of June. I also want to thank all the people who allowed Huell to film at their location and he enjoyed meeting all of you and came away knowing that Stockton is a friendly and great community.

I have had the opportunity over the years of being in all of the places Huell filmed except one. Prior to the show I had not yet had the pleasure of seeing the Wat Dharmararam Buddhist Temple on East Carpenter Road just east of Highway 99 (maybe when the very negative man I referred to above leaves town using Highway 99 South he can stop by the Temple).

But that, happily, is not the case now. On Saturday July 14, Joan and I joined Mayor Edward Chavez, Council member Clem Lee, former vice mayor Gary Giovenetti, and representatives from Senator Mike Machado, Congressman Dennis Cardoza and the Sister City Association at the unveiling and blessing of the new statues that adorn the property. Wow, it was a sight to behold and I encourage all Stocktonians to visit the grounds and learn about a large segment of our “Community Family” and enjoy the hard work done by the Stockton Cambodian community.

A very special thank you to the person who had this dream and made it a reality and that is Buddhist Monk Kong Tith. I was able to meet him and thank him for leading his community in this labor of love and to also thank him for making us all feel welcome to their place of worship, pride and contribution to our community. It was an honor and privilege to have been involved in that day and I will visit many more times in the future. Please go to www.visitstockton.org for more information on this great site and for all the wonderful opportunities to enjoy that we have right here in Stockton.

I invite you to check out 339 W. Oak Street (see story above) and the fine job Terry Hull and Paul Jacobsen (Past Chamber President) did on rehabbing the apartment building near the ballpark, arena and Sheraton Hotel. This is just another example of what is to come when people invest in the area that is changing for the good since the investment by the City in the North Shore Project.

Shakespeare wrote “How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees!” I am referring to those who speak or write that there is nothing happening or if it is it is not happening fast enough FOR THEM nor will they give credit where credit is due.

I have said before and will say again it took 30-40 years for the demise of downtown and other parts of the community to take place but thanks to bold and courageous steps by many, great progress is being seen with more to come. Many of the detractors are people who write to The Record or have their five minutes of fame on Tuesday night at the City Council Meeting, but I never, never see them out enjoying what this community has to offer. I say that with confidence because I have the honor and pleasure of being out in the entire community every day from early morning to late at night and they are no where to be found. It makes me wonder where they are really coming from. Don’t you?

There are many examples of performers and groups who want to come back to the venues of Stockton to entertain you. A great example of this is that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (The Greatest Show on Earth) will be returning to the STOCKTON ARENA September 13-16, 2007.

Please check out on a regular bases www.visitstockton.org so you will not be like those I talked about above who have no idea at all the great places, people and things to do in your hometown STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.