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The shocking stabbing of author Salman Rushdie at Chautauqua Institution last week has left many in Chautauqua Institution – and throughout Chautauqua County – feeling violated. We think of the Institution as a safe space where the ideals of free speech, polite discourse, and respectful disagreement can thrive. Chautauqua is a place where civility reigns.
Outside the gates of Chautauqua Institution, our county is a haven for year-round tourists who enjoy our lakes, golf courses, hiking trails, museums, wineries, and so much more. It is also a place where many have always felt safe to raise families in an environment where the crime rate is low, and neighbors look out for one another.
This incident is also a wake-up call. None of us is immune from the increasingly encroaching culture of violence. Locally, many organizations have tackled these issues for years. Schools, governments, and many human service organizations have long-standing safety plans in place. Both law enforcement and mental health professionals have been working to root out the causes and stem the tide of aggression in our communities.
The episode at Chautauqua Institution was very clearly a targeted assault on a public figure. Targeted attacks can happen anywhere, and they don’t have to be aimed at a public figure. Disputes happen all the time between individuals and sometimes they escalate.
All businesses and organizations should have a safety plan. Regardless of the size of your organization, incidents can occur anywhere, anytime. It may not be a violent act that impacts your business, but general emergencies can happen at any time. Beyond the obvious 9-1-1 call if someone has a medical emergency or a fire, do your employees all know what to do in case some other situation arises? Do they know what to do if there’s a water emergency or if they smell gas? If there’s a burglary or a robbery at your place of business would your employees be safe? When you’re organizing a large event and expecting a lot of people do you let them know where the emergency exits are? These are questions that all businesses should grapple with at some point.
We urge every business owner or manager to look at their safety plans and make some decisions and create lists about points of contact and procedures to follow. No one knows your business or organization as well as you do, and no one can make plans for your company like you can. You may want to ask some employees to weigh in and think through a variety of scenarios that could impact your facility. Then write it down, and make sure all employees know what to do in case of an emergency.
Chautauqua is resilient and its residents, guests, and staff will recover. By resuming programming and beefing up their admission requirements immediately, they are already on the road to renewal. Our thoughts are with Mr. Rushdie as he continues to mend, and with Chautauqua Institution as its people continue to rise above an egregious act of violence that has permeated our entire region. Let this be a “teachable moment” for your business, always keeping safety and security in mind as we move forward.
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT
Sincere thanks to all who golfed, volunteered, and sponsored the annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament this year at Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer. We were proud to host 136 golfers and were fortunate to have ideal weather. Our par sponsors were: A Automotive, AES/Empire Solar, Blackstone-Ney Ultrasonics, Brooks-TLC-Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Community Bank, Dahlstrom Roll Form, Dave Warren Auto Group, DFT Communications, ErieBank, Express Employment Professionals, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Kitchen & Bath, Jamestown Mattress Company, Koester Associates, LaBella Associates, Lake Shore Savinbs Bank, Lawley, National Grid, Nestle Purina, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, R & R Property Services & Landscaping, Shults Auto Group, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.
GET TICKETS NOW FOR HOPS AND POPS SEPT. 15
The Dunkirk and Fredonia Community Chambers of Commerce proudly present Hops and Pops, a great evening of beer and wine tastings, to be held Thursday, September 15 at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 30 Lake Shore Drive East in Dunkirk. Enjoy local wines, beers and appetizers! Samples will be available, and you can purchase by the bottle or the case while you are there. In addition, there will be five $100 prize drawings throughout the evening for a total of $500 – plus additional raffles and giveaways. The cost is $15 per person or two for $25. Proceeds help support the scholarship funds for the Dunkirk and Fredonia Community Chambers of Commerce. Hops and Pops is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Farrell Roofing, and LaBella Associates. Buy tickets through the Chamber’s web calendar at https://ift.tt/lB47wQP or call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101 for the ticket location nearest to you.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT BEMUS GOLF CLUB
IS SEPT. 27
Join your fellow Chamber of Commerce members for a Business After Hours networking event and visit this charming spot in Bemus Point! The Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House is at 72 Main Street in Bemus Point. Enjoy appetizers and a cash bar while you network with other businesspeople. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no cost. The price is $10 for non-member businesspeople or for additional member attendees above the two free. Be sure to bring business cards for our door prize drawings and come prepared to give a quick (30 second) overview about your business so other attendees can get to know you. Sponsors for this event are DFT Communications, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Register now through the Chamber’s web event calendar at https://ift.tt/lB47wQP. We look forward to seeing you there!
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