Over the last seven months, it has been so refreshing to experience the outcome of the three area Chambers of Commerce working together in an effort to build a united coalition for advancing community and economic development in this region. We have continued to meet on a regular basis and it has been exciting to see that everyone on the committee is taking part in our effort to pull together in order to make this community everything that it can be.

Various experts have helped identify our strengths, as well as our weaknesses, but just having this knowledge is not enough. Now is the time for us to formalize a plan for moving forward and taking action.

It should come as no surprise that our greatest identified strength is our citizens — a diverse, talented and caring group — lacking only a viable plan for uniting and moving our community forward. In order to formulate this plan, our chambers of commerce have set dates for three forums at which the public will be able to address the Miss-Lou Regional Steering Committee, ask questions, as well as make suggestions on how the group should move forward.

Because it is essential to have public input, great care was taken in selecting centralized locations for the public forums in hope of making them accessible to everyone in Adams County and Concordia Parish.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, there will be a Joint Chamber Luncheon at the Bryant Hammett Vidalia Conference & Convention Center from noon until 1 p.m.; on Tuesday, Feb. 23, a breakfast meeting will take place at the Arcade Theater in Ferriday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.; and on Thursday, March 11, an after-hours will be held at the Natchez Community Center from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

To allow for proper preparations, please contact one of our area chambers of commerce to make your reservations at least one week before each event.

You are welcome and urged to attend all three events. (Ferriday — 318-757-4297) (Vidalia — 318-336-8223) (Natchez — 601-445-4611)

This is your opportunity to play your part and join us as we unite as one body in order to bring about the changes needed to make our community prosper.

Your opinion really does matter! It is impossible to stress the importance of having representation from each and every part of our community. Please make every effort to attend at least one of these forums.

Debbie Hudson

president, Natchez Chamber of Commerce