Are you ready for this New Year? I honestly can't say I am ready. Heck, I'm still trying to finish some of the tasks I needed to conclude before the end of 2017. Plus, there are so many things I would like to try to do in 2018. Yet, I'm uncertain there is enough time to get to them all. Well, we'll try our best to get around to everything in 2018. Those items that do not get resolved… well. they become part of the list for the year of 2019, I guess.

The Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce's first lunch meeting of 2018 is scheduled for Thursday – January 4. It will be held at the Western New Mexico University Student Cafeteria "Sunset Room". The meeting will begin at 11:45 a.m. and end by 1:00 p.m. The cost of the lunch is $15.00 per person.

Our guest speaker is Mr. Ken Silagy. Ken will give the Chamber members a preview of a workshop that will be held in February titled "The Money Puzzle".

On Tuesday, January 9, the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce will host the initial meeting of the Gila Area Watershed/Forest Restoration Collaborative. This meeting will be held in the Grant County Business & Conference Center located at 3031 Highway 180 East in Silver City. The meeting will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Chamber of Commerce will participate in three legislative events this month in Santa Fe. There will be a Legislative Conference of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce Executives Association. The New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry / Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Legislative Reception at the Santa Fe Convention Center. The last event will be the Prospector's Grant County Day at Santa Fe. The Chamber of Commerce will have a display at most of these events marketing the Grant County area as a great tourism destination, a great place to reside and find work, and a fantastic place to have great weather year-round.

We will also actively market the use of the Grant County Business and Conference Center for regional and state-wide events that could be produced here in Grant County. We are already planning for Gun Shows, Weddings, Rock Shows, a Karate Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, Baby Showers, Regional and State-wide meetings, family reunions and workshops.

2018 will be a busy year. If we can help you with an event, call us at your convenience. The phone number is (575) 538-3785. You can also stop by the Conference Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays thru Fridays to tour the facility. We have lots to offer. Come check it out!