Jeff Pett, Fleetwood Group, Inc.
As I write this (in Michigan) the forecast is for yet another winter storm to come through tonight with up to 12” of new snow. I ran into a local school superintendent at the coffee shop on my way in to work, and he is gearing up for a likely snow-day on the last day before Christmas break…not an ideal day for a snow-day if only because all those plans for a classroom holiday party and student gift exchanges would be out the window. (There is something anticlimactic about gift exchanges in January!) But there is that excitement, too, on the student’s part (and, truth be known, on most teachers’ part) that maybe we’ll get an early start on the holiday break. It is a fun week!
Looking back it has certainly been a year of tough challenges. While it is easy to remember the bad things, and the anxious-to-fill-24-hour-news-channels continually pound that in (this may be a good time to turn off the tube!), there has been a lot to be thankful for as well. The situation in Iraq has improved by most measures in the past year. Whether or not you voted for him, we have elected a new president that has been very positively received across the world. Our political process that did it demonstrated to the world how democracy CAN work. What we are paying at the pump for gas is low enough to ease the pain many families are feeling in their pocketbooks.
Despite the financial difficulties across all 50 states, by our count most bond issues on the November ballot passed, indicating that people still want their children to be educated in a good school that is keeping up with trends and challenges. That bodes well for our industry. Discretionary spending may be down for the moment while schools pull back to assess their short term ability to pay going forward, many districts across the country will be breaking ground on new schools and/or renovating their older buildings in the next few years. It may be lean for a bit, but it will move forward…maybe sooner than a lot of other industries. Some companies in our business will fail during these lean times, those that were on the edge in good times. But many will regroup and move forward with greater strength and more opportunities in their niche.
Whatever situation you find yourself in this holiday season, it is my hope and prayer that you can find good things to be thankful for with those who are near and dear to you. May you have a blessed holiday season! And a great 2009!!
