Chamber members vote on changes to Article V By-Laws

During the Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet Tuesday, April 27, President Lupe Marquez called a special session for members to vote on a change of the ByLaws in an Amendment Proposition.

The amendment regards Article XIII Section 1 of the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce & Ag Bylaws.

Notice is hereby given on April 12, 2021 to the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce and Ag membership of proposed changes, approved by the C-CA board.

Article V-Section 1 currently reads as follows:

The government of the Cham ber, the responsibility for the direction of its work and the responsibility for the control of its property, shall be vested in a Board”of Directors consisting of fifteen (15) members, five (5) of whom shall be elected annually for a term of three (3) years, as herein provided and not be eligible for re-election for one Chamber of Commerce year.

Article V-Section 1 proposed change go read as follows:

The government of the Chamber, the responsibility for the direction of its work and the responsibility for the control of its property, shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of ten (10) members, five (5) of whom shall be elected annually for a term of two (2) years, as herein provided and not be eligible for re-election for one Chamber of Commerce year.

The president called for a motion, and after members made motions and seconds to change the By-Laws as stated, the vote was unanimous.

The business meeting was closed, and the banquet activitiess continued.

Administrative Assistant

Kathy Shipp, member of the Littlefield Rotary Club, which sponsored the award, introduced Lisa Muller for the Adminisrative Assistant of the Year Award.

Lisa is a life-long Lamb County resident, who enjoys spending time with her family, reading, spending time outdoors, and an annual girls’ trip to Ruidoso every fall with her family.

She graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1977 and then moved to West Texas.

She married her now-late husband, in 1979 in Littlefield, at First Baptist Church, and together they raised two successful daughters, Sara Fillman and Jenna Ozbirn, who are now married and have beautiful families of their own. Both Sara and Jenna have successful careers; Jenna in healthcare and Sara in finance. Her son-in-laws, Ryan Fillman and Garry Ozbirn, are equally loved. They too have earned their way into successful careers in law enforcement. She loves spending time with her grand-daughter Olivia. She is a dedicated mom, mother-in-law, sister, and Ma-maw.

She was a substitute teacher for many years for Littlefield ISD while her girls were growing up. She enjoyed teaching children and being in the school system, as well as having the same schedule as her girls.

The 2021 Administrative Assistant of the Year is what any employer would be honored to have. It is a balance of hard-work, personality, organizational skills, and confidant (with an a, not confident). She has a history with her customers of accountability and trustworthiness. Her customers ask for her by name. Her employers know when they require top production and delivery, and when everything is on the line, she is the one to turn to. She cuts no corners. Thorough is an understatement. When asked, she knows or will find out. She’s is super organized, prepared, educated, and accountable.

There is no question where you stand with her. Her confident voice can be heard from down the hall. She says what she means and means what she says. It’s an office joke, that before you can finish asking her for something, POOF! She’s gone to get it and back with what you are asking for before you finished your sentence. She has purpose, and is always prepared. She gets things done far in advance. At the office, she is all business. If she’s got 5 minutes to sit down and read a newspaper article it’s because she has already prepared the paperwork in full for a loan that won’t even close for weeks from now… oh and know that it is complete with copies for everyone that needs them already. Put simply, She’s the best. This lady does all this with a sense of class that perhaps, newer generations have lost, to an extent. She’s an example to us all, and thank you ma’am for your tireless contribution to our lives.

“BUSINESS OF YEAR”

C-CA Board member, Robert Watson, introduced John Roley as the owner of the 2021 “Business of the Year.”

John Roley’s AutoCenter, began its story 32 years ago. The late 1980s marks a time when analog technology began to meet digital technology. Industries changed, arguably more so in the industry of this year’s business of the year. This business has survived five US presidencies, technological advances, regulatory changes, fierce competition, and most recently, a pandemic to name a few.

Its young founder, John Roley, relative to his counterparts, found himself facing issues that demanded productivity in all aspects of a successful businessman. Many businesses fail early. Of those, many do not make it beyond 5 years for many reasons. Possibly diminished passion demands of time, disheartening feelings when failures occur (and they did), lack of character, lack of focus, financial struggles, personnel management, balancing home life and business, and so on. Entrepreneurs know all too well these challenges exist. This business met those demands. In many ways, it welcomes these trials, as so, to only build on them and thrive. For these reasons, this business has made 32 years of retail service and auto service look seemingly easy.

Nowadays, its where many turn-to when they need a donor for their community project, or somewhere they know they will get dependable auto services for their car or truck. The community-focus mentality has helped this business endure the test of time. Countless hours have been volunteered from the founder, the partners, and all the employees over the years. Time and financial donations have been given to this Chamber of Commerce, The Rotary Club of Littlefield, local stock shows, the old denim days, Waylon Jennings concerts, The Christmas Toy and food drives, Celebrate Littlefield, CC Swing for the Cure, the Rotary Readers, Writers, and Reasoners program, community theater projects, the Rotary scholarship program, and the local political forums. All these sacrifices make up the fabric of this business.

Businesses like these do not ordinarily choose the rural economic setting of communities like Littlefield, but this one did. The employees over the years are household names in our town. They are our neighbors. They balance the mix of a national brand and small-town business manners. They answer the phone instead of customers talking to a customer service center representative who likely has not a clue where Littlefield is.

That person likely has no clue how beautiful (pause and take a deep breath) a Wildcat maroon, 2021 High Country Chevy Silverado, with a 6.6 Liter Duramax Diesel V8 Engine, housing 445 horses and 910 pounds per foot of toque, complete with full leather interior, trailering options, and the new car smell sending you into lala land, really is. It just makes you feel good to say that doesn’t it? Now imagine what it would feel like to purchase one and drive it off the lot right here in Littlefield! Well, you can. Thanks to this year’s business of the year.

In a year when margins were thin, demand was low, inventory was hard to find, and sales were tough to find, this business kept on. They even donated a new car to a LHS graduating senior, who had perfect attendance. The community solutes you.

The 2021 Business of the Year is none other than Wildcat Roley and his team at John Roley’s Auto Center!