A Message from Chamber CEO Douglass Wilhoit:
State of the City, new book give positive view of the city

MARCH 2008 - I want to thank everyone who was involved in the State of the City Lunch held on Thursday, February 28th at the 75-year-old Port of Stockton . It was a great event and those who attended truly understand and support that everyone who IS REALLY WORKING to make Stockton a better community have the best interest of ALL the CITIZENS of Stockton at heart. These people face challenges ranging from forces of individuals (society with its lack of personal responsibility or respect for others), other government agencies and/or local special interest groups or entities not under the control of the City of Stockton who constantly complain and criticize but do little or nothing (outwardly or proactively) to help.

It was wonderful to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Port of Stockton and your Chamber is proud to have been a partner of the Port for the past 75 years. Your Chamber looks forward to many, many years of success at the Port and for what it means to the City of Stockton, San Joaquin County, the State of California and the world.

Speaking of the Port is a good segue into a wonderful and successful event held by the Stockton Ports on Sunday Feb. 10, 2008 at the brand new Sheraton Stockton at Regent Pointe. I am talking about the Stockton Ports first annual Hot-Stove Banquet to benefit their newly established COMMUNITY fund, the Stockton Ports Anchor Fund. This fund aids many COMMUNITY projects, with a focus on youth center and youth sports.

The Port’s have stepped up to the “plate” and are setting the example, as are our other teams, of how a COMMUNITY works together to overcome problems not uncommon, unfortunately, to many other cities of all sizes around this great nation of ours. They do it by playing fairly, running the bases full speed ahead and do not sit on the sidelines and take cheap shots or look for the quick fix. They are TEAM PLAYERS and are an example to others.

Your Chamber was a sponsor of the event and as a result we were given a cookbook named, “Home Plate, From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine.” The cover has four chefs in front of PETCO Park in San Diego in their chef attire and each holding either a bat or glove.

The inside cover states, “home plate is much more than a compilation of recipes FROM MANY OF THE MOST NOTABLE NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEXES. Indeed, it is a celebration of the games we love to watch, and the food we want while we’re watching. Throughout its pages you’ll find everything from decadent, lip-smacking fare that will never be out of style to elegant gourmet courses that delight the most discerning of guests.

“From Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden to San Diego’s PETCO Park to Edmonton’s Rexall Place and many venues in between, we’re pleased to tell the story of the marriage of sports and food.”

But here is the most important part of this nationally distributed cookbook tied to sports and cities: the list of cities in the book. Read very carefully to this alphabetical list: Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Arlington, Detroit, Edmonton, Frisco (just outside Dallas), Milwaukee, Nashville, Peoria, St. Louis, San Diego, STOCKTON, Tampa and Toronto. What, Stockton in the same book with other major cities, DAMN RIGHT.

Each city is described and a recipe of favorites is included for each venue. Wait till you see what is featured in Stockton, but first:

On page 141 is STOCKTON in bold letters with an evening photo of the arena reflecting off the water and a photo of a Lightning game. The description that along side says so much about this community and again it is written by someone outside of the community who is not afraid to say something good. Title Stockton Arena: “Capt. Charles Weber was not alone in his pursuit of California gold in the mid-1800’s. What set him apart, however, was his realization that serving the needs of fortune seekers was an infinitely more worthwhile-and profitable-endeavor. So, the German immigrant purchased a parcel of land and founded the city of Stockton in what is now the San Joaquin Valley.

“Fast forward a century and a half to 2005. The same town opens Stockton Arena, a top-of-the-line facility that has quickly gained acclaim as a host for big-time concerts and events. That is no small accomplishment in a state that is rich with big-time collegiate and professional sports teams, not to mention famous venues. But as the home of Major League Soccer’s California Cougars; the Stockton Lightning, an Arena Football League team; and the Stockton Thunder, an ECHL division franchise, Stockton is holding its own. And then some.

“An integral piece of a waterfront entertainment center that includes Banner Island Ballpark, home of minor league baseball’s Stockton Ports, Stockton Arena give fans the thrill of being close to the action in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Equipped with the Comcast Club and fully catered suites, it’s also a fine place to dine. When it’s filled - as it often is - the arena can give 11,800 people one of the greatest live entertainment experiences possible.

“Which goes to show you Weber was right. There’s gold in Stockton.”

Turn the pages from 142, 143, 144 to 145 and you find recipes and photos for: fried asparagus with wasabi dipping sauce (do you think of the Asparagus Festival?) and seafood crepes with champagne cream. Wow, take that you nay sayers and doom-and-gloomers!

With this national recognition of Stockton, yes it is positive and I do not deny the problems that are here (not unlike problems facing the cities we share the book with), it is very important to note that we enhance the positive and at the same time, ALL OF US, work together to diminish the negatives. It does not just take city hall or your Chamber but ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND ASK IF THEY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM AND IF SO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION?

On more occasions, both in public presentations and in this column, then I can count I have used the noted quote by President Theodore Roosevelt. I always feel it is necessary to bring it to the forefront from time to time the fact that it is easy to stand on the sidelines and take “cheap shots”, without full knowledge of what is happening around you or without personal involvement.  In this era of sound bite information or only a slanted view of the community or world around us it is important to remember that perception is not always reality.

President Roosevelt stated, “The credit belong to the man who is actually in the arenas; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who know the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

And to my good “friends” that work just a few blocks to the east of me ---- Confucius once said, “He who is really kind can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be confused. He who is really brave is never afraid. .