Fayette

County, like any community, is a collection of very

different people who must share and compromise with each

other. Our community is a product of the choices we make

and the quality of those choices is directly proportional

to the quality and openness of communication preceding

these decisions.

In order to

get anything really worthwhile done, a community must

respectfully listen to each other, always keep an open

mind, and be ready to compromise between conflicting

positions. Otherwise, as is often the case (especially

recently) in Fayette County, people attack each other,

not the problem, and reasoned discussion and difference

of opinion descends into bickering, name-calling and

complete refusal to even consider "the other

side's" ideas. The result is often bad blood, and a

divided community, and stalemate.

Fayette

County must learn to work through its problems and come

to terms with differences of opinion. In order to do that

we must see that two-way communication happens. There is

an incredible amount of self-righteous opinion and

vitriolic posturing being presented as irrefutable fact.

Groups of

people with similar values "talk" among

themselves all the time. Unfortunately the groups seem to

communicate with each other only in anger, with no

respect for the other side's opinion, and frequently

through the media where no real interchange of ideas or

viewpoint can occur.

Newspapers

have the right to print practically anything they wish no

matter how inflammatory. However, the recent headlines,

fueling deep-seated resentments, do not contribute

greatly to resolving differences.

Good

community leaders are those who insure that quality

communication takes place in the right forum so we can

make the best choices and each side can have a window

into the other. The proper use of citizen task forces,

advisory councils, workshops, town hall meetings and the

like can greatly improve communication and

decision-making. But these forums only work if all

involved continuously strive to stay calm, religiously

focus on the issue not the person, and stay open minded.

Remember,

we all have the same basic goal of making Fayette County

its best.

The Board

of Directors of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce

challenges our leaders, interest groups and citizens to

listen first and communicate more. The Chamber of

Commerce is willing to serve in any capacity that

contributes to the process. We believe the current level

of dissension is hurting our quality of life, our

businesses and our collective futures.

Fayette

County leads Georgia in many categories. We should now

set our sights on leading Georgia in leadership,

cooperation and problem solving. That alone will insure

that we will continue to be the best place to live and

work in our state.

J. Tate

Godfrey, Chairman

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce