Our community is much like others in one respect, a coming and going of key people who render their expertise on the job, then move on.

Witness the moving of the Martyn Clays, he leaving his post at Bainbridge College and accepting a new position in New Mexico, and she, Evelyn, as president of the Chamber of Commerce, joining her husband in a few weeks.

People come and people go.

Bainbridge College was able to replace someone in Dr. Clay’s position, but now the search is on for a new person to handle the administrative day-to-day operations of the chamber.

As one who has been an active chamber member—six-year board member, chairing two committees, fair committee publicity—I can truly attest that the president’s job is a test of one’s work ethic.

Cile Warr managed it admirably for more than 10 years, and Evelyn Clay came here 20 months ago and expertly continued the task, moving the chamber’s work program forward without a blip.

The chamber of commerce is a vital institution in our community. Its success can be attributed to the committee work of its members, each of which outlines at the beginning of the year, goals it wishes to accomplish. Each committee’s goal is part of the annual work program, and the committee chairman along with the board of directors, and the chamber president, administer the work program.

And getting it done is what happens best.

Yet people come and people go.

We see this movement not only at the top job in the chamber, but also other posts as well within other organizations. It would be easier if we could recruit these top jobs from among ourselves, but we often launch nationwide executive searches to be sure the person that will fill the vacant slot is the best we can find anywhere, here or there.

They come, stay awhile, and move on.

People come and people go.

Such is the way of commerce.

Yet we are lucky that our community has the ability to attract superior executives to these positions. They bring their expertise, they share their knowledge and experience of their backgrounds, and leave us a better place.

In the meantime, those people who remain in subordinate positions always seem to get with the program, and help those newly appointed to be successful even though they may feel just as qualified.

I have always wondered what could be wrong with those people in administrative assistant positions who don’t move up. Are we saying, sorry folks, you don’t measure up to the top job. Are we saying, sorry, you folks aren’t ready. Are we saying we don’t have any program in place that nurtures long-time employees to cultivate skills to take over the top job.

When you work for an organization or company, one should always have their sights set on the top job. But then too, we need experts in secondary positions because the job they do is also just as important.

It seems the proper thing to do when we need a new city manger, county manger, school superintendent, hospital administrator, college president or a director for any key position. We want to get the best person for the job, which we attain, until that person moves on, and we undertake nationwide executive searches again with the intent always the same.

People come and people go.

The best testament of course goes to those people who stay on the job for years here, giving our community excellent public service. What makes a better testament to our community, is when the job holder retires and they elect to remain among us, continuing in other ways to render public service.

Thanks Evelyn, you did a great job while among us. Best to you and Marty in your next great adventure.

Good people come and good people go, and good people take their place. It is as it should be.