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Show ‘most giving community I have ever known. That includes private citizens, volunteerism and yes, even businesses. Jim Thuesen Moab PS; Sorry this is so long, but growing up using a typewriter I just love computers and email. Otherwise this would probably have been two short sentences. Aren’t you thrilled we have computer and e-mail BUSINESSES in town? DEFENDING MOAB’S BUSINESSES... Editor: I'd like to respond to "The Nutshell” (by Steve Russell) in the August/September i issue. The main thing that caught my eye were the lines "On one hand are the business owners......On the other are folks working for a paycheck". THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES... I am not a business driver for United Parcel local Teamster’s Union treated correctly by the people in another era. The amenities they found and did not find surprise me. The journal described the tedium and discomfort of travel eighty years ago but even more displayed owner and in fact am retired after 32 years working as a truckService. For over 20 of those years I was the Shop Steward for my and was charged with seeing that my fellow 50-100 drivers were company. So, don’t make the mistake of thinking I am on the side of business owners and managers. However, in my position as Steward I was required to investigate and listen to both sides of any story or argument and attempt to find common ground and/or some type of justice for both sides. That said, I feel that your portrayal.of business owners and real estate interests to be a great disservice to many people in our community. Your article paints a picture of a bunch of fat cats living in million dollar homes preyirig on the "honest folk" of Moab. This is a picture I don’t see here. The business owners that I know in town are hard-working, good people who are concerned with their employees and want to see this area prosper not just in a monetary sense but in quality of life. The majority of our businesses are more like small mom and pop concerns than the type of mega-business, work-em -til-they-drop, BIG BOSS SAYS SO type of outdated owners that you portray them as. Many of them aren’t making a lot more money than their employees, and sometimes have to tighten their own belts just so they can cover the payroll for" their workers”. Many stay open even during the slow months of winter when they hardly make any money (and sometimes lose money) im, : Thanks for publishing The Severance Family's 1921 Trip to California. 1 am looking forward to the next installment. I would like to thank Owen Severance for letting you have accesss to the family journal of the trip. I am fascinated by the details of the daily life of the sense of adventure people have always felt in finding and seeing new places. The description of the roads enlightened me. (Perhaps I am a fanatic about roads. I think about them often. One of my prized possessions is a 1945 Utah State Road Map found in the attic when my father died.) A friend and I recently completed a road trip to San Diego. We left Moab at noon and were almost to the California border when we finally stopped after dark. We made the trip home in one day. Such-a difference a few decades have made in our west. We have the convenience of roads which make California a long weekend trip but we have lost the west of our heritage. We have lost the west of adventure. We have lost the immensity of the west. We are a smaller, more convenient place bereft of the mystery, adventure Wayne Y. Hoskisson rather than close their doors to their workers and the community. You mention that we don’t often see letters from dishwashwashers and bedmakers about the value of a tourist economy. The fact that we have jobs for dishwashwashers and bedmakers attests to the fact that tourism does help the economy no matter how little. No, tourists are not ever going to make high-paying jobs for unskilled labor. However, until someone comes along with a better idea to support us all, we are going to have to live with what we have and try to improve our lives and jobs with the least disruption possible. The way to do this is for us all to be concerned and active in community and governmental affairs. That is an area where the business owners tend to lead the way. They attend many local meetings and let their feelings and thoughts be known. Those who don’t let themselves be heard cannot complain that no one listens to them. Ido commend you for congratulating those who worked so hard to bring us the Fourth of July celebration. Just to make you consider your ideas concerning the business community and the Chamber of Commerce, I think you should know that the organizers are all members of or work with the Chamber of Commerce. I was one of the volunteers and as far as I know I was the only one helping to decorate before and clean the park after who was NOT a member of the Chamber. You're right, this was not an event that raked in much dough, and that was due to business owners donating their time and efforts to " bring something of benefit to the community. I can guarantee that the Chamber of Commerce members who held the "Taste of Moab" booths could have made a lot more money staying at their businesses than they did by paying their employees and selling their food at the low amounts they were charging. Let’s at least give credit where credit is due. Yes, the Chamber of Commerce and business owners want to see their businesses grow. Without a certain amount of growth neither the owner nor the employees stand a chance of improving their financial status. Just try talking to people one on one about what they want without issuing a blanket condemnation of a group of people. That is not supposed to be the American Way. If you think businesses don’t give back to the community, ask any non-profit or church and vastness of just a generation ago. I would like to thank Owen for sharing such an intimate look at our west of just a few — short decades ago. WALKABOUT TRAVEL GEAR” Supplying the Independent T-aveler with Essential Gear and Infc.:nation. One of America's Oldest On-line stores (We're older than Amazon) Call us at 1-800-852-7085 for a free catalogue | And order On-Line, Anytime, Anywhere www.walkaboutravelgear.com or school or youth group where they get their prizes for raffles, games ,etc. This is the NELSON'S HEATING & REFRIGERATION YPERVING MOAB SINCE 1962" I have a Dream today... Martin Luther King, Jr. 1070 BOWLING ALLEY LANE 259.5625 |