The Heritage legacy continues. South Carolina’s only PGA Tour event has secured a date for April 18-24, 2011.  Not our usual placement immediately after the Masters, and according to PGA, it’s a one-year only schedule change.  Even with the change, there are still so many positives about what’s happening in 2011.

Will millions of viewers once again see Hilton Head Island through the coverage received with CBS and The Golf Channel?  Yes!

A special word of thanks to Simon Fraser, Steve Wilmot and the trustees of the Heritage Classic Foundation for their tireless efforts. Tournament and PGA officials are working hard to secure a sponsor for the event for 2011 and beyond.

Visionary thinking and community support have long been mainstays of the Island’s signature event and one of the greatest tournaments in golf.  It’s not only a fan favorite; it’s a player favorite as well.  When the 42nd Heritage tournament tees off, more than 135,000 spectators will be with us, along with the millions of television viewers and the $82 million dollar economic impact on our economy.

Get ready, get your tickets, get involved, and get your plaid on!

You never know where the best, new idea might come from.  When a good idea strikes, most of us instinctively recognize it. It’s an immediate connection. But, it doesn’t do us any good if we’re not listening.

Some of the most innovative thoughts come up in a quick, casual conversation or informal brainstorming session.  Or it might strike you as you’re driving to work, or when you’re talking to colleagues, during those times that used to be known as “around the water cooler conversations.” In my case, it’s the Monday morning meetings when we gather around the boardroom table to plan the week, discuss priorities, and in general, take the long view on what’s coming up.

As we start talking, ideas begin to flow. Sometimes we find the best strategies weren’t even on the list.   That’s because we’re engaged and listening. Some of the best ideas in business are hatched this way.  Think about Apple CEO Steve Jobs, IBM’s Tom Watson, and other business visionaries. Their ideas are a big part of the way we work today.

Here’s something to make you think. A top executive was recently quoted in Harvard Business Review as saying, “I never thought of listening as an important subject by itself. But now that I’m aware, I think 80% of my work depends on my listening to someone, or someone else listening to me.”

Take a few minutes to listen.  It will help you gain insights into the issues that matter in your business, to your employees and the customers you serve.  That’s the real value of listening.

The decisions made by our elected officials make a difference to all of us and the good news is that in a democracy, we get to decide who those elected officials are.

Tuesday’s primaries determine who’s on the ballot in November. In some cases, with uncontested races, tomorrow decides who’s in office making decisions on your behalf.

Men and women have literally fought for our right to live in a free society where “We The People” decide the fate and future of our country.  Your vote serves as recognition of that sacrifice.

Apathy is the enemy of any democracy and history has shown time and time again, that one vote can make the difference.  Voting in tomorrow’s primary election is a great way to be involved in your community.

If you have questions about who’s on the ballot click here; or where to vote, click here for Beaufort County voter information.

Each year about this time, those of us in the Lowcountry can count on a few things happening…the azaleas will bloom…the Heritage and the TV coverage that comes with it reminded us again how beautiful this Island really is and “they” will come.

“They” is the thousands of visitors who will call the Island home for a few days or for few weeks and all that they bring; bigger crowds in our restaurants, busier beaches, more rounds of golf and more than a few confused drivers along Hwy. 278.  For those of us who call the area home, it can be a hectic time of year.

“They” also bring something that we all value and appreciate—their hard-earned dollars that they leave behind.  In doing so, they provide our jobs, our quality of life and support for hundreds of businesses.

Tourism is a two-way street.  The greeting they receive from you when asking for directions, or the patience you show in the Sea Pines traffic circle, or the Southern smile you offer up is all part of the charm and hospitality we want to give every guest this season.   Easy to forget that many of us were once one of “them” too.

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for being part of the chamber “staff” during high season.  We’re all ambassadors in one way or another and without your patience and hospitality, they might just consider someplace else next year.

Sooner than you think, “they” will be gone and we will once again have the area a little more “back to ourselves” to enjoy all that they have left behind, like great restaurants to choose from, an arts and cultural community that’s thriving thanks to the support of both visitors and residents and all the amenities not usually found in an area our size. We get the year-round benefits and are fortunate to call this our home.

Thanks for making this a world-class destination they want to return to year after year.