When you invite a group of friends or family members to your home, you usually tidy up a bit and do things to make them feel welcome. The same simple concept is true when 50,000 guests pay a visit to your community. Sioux City recently rolled out the red carpet for a historic number of bicyclists and support crew members for the 50th Anniversary of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Since the initial announcement of Sioux City as the RAGBRAI starting point, volunteers from all corners of the community worked together to create a fantastic event that highlighted what makes our city truly special. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a successful weekend.
I am incredibly proud of the way so many Siouxlanders stepped up to greet our guests, address our appearance, and put our absolute best foot forward. I cannot remember a time when our downtown district, streets, and neighborhoods looked better. Thank you! Your efforts did not go unnoticed. Crews from the City of Sioux City and the Iowa Department of Transportation worked long hours to make sure spaces were mowed and litter was picked up. City leaders and staff, the RAGBRAI committees, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, countless volunteers, and businesses also went the extra mile to prove our community can look exceptional. I heard wonderful compliments from fellow Iowans who made the trek to Sioux City, as well as first time visitors from other parts of the country. It proves that when we work together, we can accomplish so much. We have wonderful things going on in our community.
This year I have the privilege and honor of serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. One of my priorities is the reduction of litter in our community, including strategies for cleanup and prevention. This is possible when we work together. It is my sincere hope and humble request that we all work to maintain this momentum and continue to do our part to eliminate litter. Visitors are in our community every day. We host concerts, conferences, sports tournaments, and weddings all year long. Since you never get a second chance to make a first impression, I challenge everyone to do their part and make sure we continue to be a destination that instills a sense of pride.
By Kristie VerMulm McManamy
Chair, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
