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ALEXANDRIA LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | ALEXANDRIA, MN
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      • Alexandria Area Young Professionals
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      • Personnel Committee
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      • Grow Minnesota
      • Membership Team
    • Newsletter
    • Visitor & Resource Center
    • Do Business Local >
      • Chamber Bucks
      • Pride of the Lakes
    • #CommitToKindness
  • Visit Here
    • Lodging
    • Food & Drink
    • Fishing
    • Things to Do
    • Shopping
    • Find Us
  • Live Here
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    • Health Care
    • Economic Development
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Respect one another this election

10/26/2021

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By Tara Bitzan, Executive Director, Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
It’s election season again. While most of us would rather forget last year’s election and all the negativity, lack of respect and in some cases hatred that surrounded it, I doubt we ever will.

This year we have a few special elections going before Douglas County voters. Alexandria, Osakis and Parkers Prairie have school board vacancies to fill, and the Brandon-Evansville and West Central Area school districts have building referendums.

While these will likely not garner as much controversy as last year’s presidential election, there are still plenty of signs that there are strong feelings on these local issues.

And there should be! Referendums and school board elections are important to local communities. We should care, and we should exercise our right to make our voice be heard by voting, or by campaigning on behalf of the candidate or the position we support. But we should do so respectfully.

What does that mean? Don’t attack a candidate personally, rather dispute their position on an issue. Don’t pass judgement or attack people who support the other side or don’t share your viewpoints. Don’t call names. Don’t slander. Don’t falsify information. When you can’t act or react respectfully, walk away.

Here is something I wrote last year during election season that bears repeating: “If you and a friend always end up arguing when you talk politics, agree to not talk politics with each other. If a family member’s Facebook page always gets you riled, unfollow them. If your neighbor’s political sign bothers you, focus on the other side of the street every time you drive by or go a different direction. But please, don’t tell your friend they are an idiot because of their political views, don’t criticize your family member in the comment section on their posts on their Facebook page, and don’t sneak out in the middle of the night and set your neighbor’s sign on fire.”
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There is so much damage done to a community when people lose control of their actions and reactions during an election. Don’t let this happen to our community. No matter what happens on election day, Tuesday, November 2 – if it is the outcome you wanted or not – be respectful, be proud that you voted, and do your best to keep focusing on the role you play in making our community the best place to live, work, play and prosper. 
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member spotlight...homegrown nutrition!

10/19/2021

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Bradley Challes is the owner of HomeGrown Nutrition. It is a shake shop offering healthy fast food options such as meal replacement shakes, healthy energizing teas, aloe refreshers and more. HomeGrown Nutrition is open Monday - Friday, 7 am - 4 pm and Saturday 9 am - 4 pm.
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It isn’t them, it’s us

10/12/2021

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By Tara Bitzan, Executive Director, Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
At a recent Wake Up Alexandria event, a member was talking about domestic violence and stated it was a “community issue,” which is so true. The comment got me thinking about how strong our community could be if we viewed everything from the general sense of community. 
Our community farmers market, our community theaters, our parks, our businesses, our community banks…. This particular Wake Up was at a bank, and there were several other local banks represented at the event. I thought to myself, “these are ALL our community banks.” It doesn’t matter if you only do business at one or two of them, ALL of them give back to our community and help it prosper, so we can and should claim them ALL with pride as “ours.” 
Of course it can’t just be that way with all the great things about our community. It also must be our view with the issues our community faces, such as domestic violence, lack of childcare or housing, mental health issues, poverty, lack of diversity, theft… these are also “ours” and we need to own them. 
This is our community, the good, the bad, the strengths, the weaknesses, the successes and the challenges. Only when we are able to recognize that and claim ALL of it, will we be able to build something incredible.  
I challenge you to begin rephrasing things from “them” to “us”, from “theirs” to “ours”, in your mind, in your words and in your actions.  
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testimonial tuesday...minnesota resort sales!

10/5/2021

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206 Broadway St.  Alexandria, MN 56308
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