January 18, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 14

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Chamber Page 6 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saurday, January 18, 2020 Banquet City is the heartbeat of West- She said she would chal- Route 66 Museum. She She encouraged people em Oklahoma,” she said, lenge people who think also mentioned the annual to work together for the “It’s set perfectly along I-40 Elk City is just an “oilfield Beutler and Son Rodeo and greater good for the city, and between Amarillo and Okla- town.” She said they should Christmas in the Park. But she thinks the people in the Continued from page 1. said people should building homa City, and if Elk City look around town and see she said there was some- life, women in life,” she bridges to foster understand- is the heartbeat of Western the assets that the city has, thing that set the city apart. room have a special love for said, adding that she wanted ing. Oklahoma, I truly believe which she deems “incred- “What truly makes Elk the community, adding she to share what “we live out in She ended by asking peo- that the chamber is the heart- ible” and “special,” City amazing is its people,” was grateful to be part of the our everyday world.” ple to remember high school beat of Elk City.” such as Route 66 and she said. chamber for 2020.Banquet Merrifield said she wants football coach Eric Taylor’s to inspire and encourage pep talk to his team in the people and said she wants to television drama “Friday support audience members Night Lights,” in which he for what they do in the city. said, “Clear eyes, full hearts, “I hope to bring some can’t lose.” challenge that can get us to “Elk City, let’s win. Let’s the next level,” she said. win in our hearts, let’s win Merrifield said she has in each other’s hearts and seen good and bad leaders let’s fight for each other’s in her life, and she herself highest good,” she said. wants to become a “leader Smith mentioned how the worth following.” chamber is involved in 64 “You see, we're raising events all year long. a generation right now that “So why do we do this?” doesn’t care about titles, Smith said. “We do this be- they don’t about positions, cause we want to support and but they do care about integ- promote our community. We rity, they care about coop- do this to establish a strong eration and they care aboutcommunity because when following someone they can we come together as one we believe in,” she said. define what is acceptable People who want to be and what is not within our Top, Ronda Smith, leaders have to love people, community. We build a rap- chamber president for she said, and that starts in port with our peers, which 2019, speaks during their homes and families and in turn creates a very posi- the chamber banquet spreads to their jobs, organi- tive impact on what goes on Tuesday. Middle, Ronda zations and ultimately com- around us.” Smith, right, poses munities. She said one definition of with new 2020 chamber “T want us to have a heart- community is a sense of be- President Angi Wyatt. beat that doesn’t just talk longing felt among people. Bottom, Casey Merri- but acts,” she said, noting “And that’s exactly what fied poses with husband community is — we want that love is “fighting for the Scott Merrifield. Photos highest good of the people to feel like we are part of by Terri Chervenka. we lead and the people we something very special and encounter everyday.” She unique,” she said. added that Jesus Christ said Smith announced _ that people should lay down the chamber has purchased their life to lead. a piece of land in the 700 She learned about conflict block of North Main Street resolution when she worked to build a permanent home with a discipleship program for the chamber. with teenagers at a church. “This is a huge step for- Merrifield got into a dis- ward for us and for all the agreement with a teen and changes and blessings that reacted by calling her names, we went through in recent essentially unloading on her. years,” she said. The church’s girls minister Smith said she was hon- found out about the situation ored to serve the chamber and called Merrifield the this past year and appreci- next day, summoning her to ated the support it receives. church to discuss the matter. She then introduced Wyatt as in the incoming president. Merrifield, who realized her reaction to the teen Smith received a plaque for wasn’t appropriate, said the her work. experience in meeting with “Ronda, you're going the minister and girl that to be one tough act to fol- day changed her life in that low,” Wyatt said. “It’s been she learned about maturity my absolute pleasure over and dealing with conflict in the last few years to get to that kind of situation. She know you and to work with appreciated how the min- you through the chamber. ister treated her during that There’s been many hours meeting and that she learned that we’ve done chamber about training people to do board meetings, relocation what’s right. committee — it’s just been In wrapping up her a pleasure and I appreciate speech, she encouraged peo- you.” ple to understand the differ- Wyatt described her back- ent kinds of love that show ground, explaining she and leadership, including, for husband Jay own Anadarko example, how people should Dozer and Trucking. Her eschew the “cancel cul- theme for her speech was ture” — that contemporary home, as she explained Elk behavior in which people City has been her home for abandon or reject those with her immediate and extended whom they don’t share val- family. ues or opinions. Merrifield “T truly believe that Elk We would like to take a moment We would like to thank the We would like to e ress to thank the Elk City Chamber of Chamber of Commerce for our gratitude to the Elk City Commerce for everything they do! a wonderful year! Charmber of Commerce for Kilhoffer Flooring Center a wonderful year. American National Express Insurance Company DBA Bell's Carpet Tyson Trout “Quality at Affordable Prices” 5th and Main St. Hammon, OK Sixth & Main + Elk OK 73644 580.339.1733 Residential & Commerical EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS a BB secccxtgenorcar-ntonacon 580-225-1291 903 5. 10th St, Clinton, OK 73604 » 580-323-4400