It’s all here … for now

“It’s All Here!” has been the campaign slogan used to promote consumer participation in the purchase of products and services — as well as active involvement in entertainment and recreation — offered in the local community.

The sentiment is a good one, and some businesses and other organizations have em-braced this campaign and tried hard to foster the success of this worthwhile attempt to support all things local. However, the community as a whole has not embraced this campaign — at least not wholeheartedly.

The problem starts with the fact that many local residents do not believe the slogan. Even those who do believe it do not spread the word and share with others just how true it is.

If local residents do not embrace this philosophy and make a concerted effort to shop, do business, entertain, enjoy recreation, etc. locally, many of the choices now avail-able will no longer be available in the future. 

Many different hats

I come to this issue from different points of view.

I am co-owner of a local business and a person who is extremely involved in the business community through my industry’s trade associa-tions as well as through my involvement as a member of the board of directors for both the local and state Chambers of Commerce. I have also served as a member of the board of directors and am this season’s president for the Danville Area Association for the Arts & Humanities.

In addition to these roles, I am also a local resident who realizes the many things offered in the way of business, culture, and recreation in this community.

“It’s All Here” has meaning for me from all these perspec-tives. 

Doing business here

From a business standpoint, I think of the great value of the “keeping it local” approach. When members of this community support local busi-nesses, those businesses flour-ish … or maybe in this kind of economy, they at least survive.

When people in this community purchase products my company sells, they do more than support my beverage distribution company. They keep my staff employed, and the employment of my staff reaches the financial well being of dozens of family members in our community. Employed people have the money to keep the economy healthy.

If my company is successful, we make a profit, and we in turn pay taxes and buy products and services offered in the local community — so we contribute to the local economy and keep other businesses healthy in many ways. When my business is healthy and makes a profit, it is able to contribute to numerous charitable organizations and worthwhile cultural and recreational activities in the community, too.

My company is just one small example. Supporting other businesses in this community allows what happens on a small scale with my business to multiply over and over again when people make an all-out effort to do business locally with all kinds of businesses.

Wanted: More local support

When I approach this phi-losophy from the standpoint of one intricately involved in a nonprofit arts organization, I also see much value in the “support local” way of thinking. There is nothing inherently wrong with going out of town for recreation and entertainment occasionally. However, if more local residents took the time to learn more about what many cultural offerings as well as other recreational activities are available right here in the Danville area, they would be pleasantly surprised.

Furthermore, support of such local activities would have far-reaching effects on the economy in several ways … some obvious and some not so obvious.

The Danville Area Associa-tion for the Arts & Humanities’ board of directors worked hard at the conclusion of last season to reach out to the community with a variety of top-notch performances that its members hoped would attract and entice community response in the form of increased ticket sales and performance attendance and overall support of its performing arts series.

The board was extremely proud of the line up of shows, and comments made by those people who have attended the events this season have been overwhelmingly complimentary — often extremely enthusiastic rave reviews for the shows.

The problem is that not enough people came to see the shows to know just how good a line-up it was. The board had hoped to maintain the interest of the devoted supporters of the series, reinvigorate interest from former ticket buy-ers/patrons and attract first-time supporters to the series. The problem is that the number of supporters was not what it should have been to offset the cost of such high quality pro-ductions.

With the ever decreasing availability of grants, though, it is becoming very difficult to maintain such a high-level performing arts series. Board members are now reaching out with great urgency to all in the community who would like to see the series remain alive and well. The board had hoped that much support would come from its big Derby Day fund-raiser May 2, and the event was a big hit with all attendees. However, not enough money was raised to pay for a full 2009-10 season, so the A&H board is currently having to solicit contributions just to keep the series alive in the year to come.

A typical local problem

My particular experience on the board of Arts & Humani-ties is not isolated. It is only one of many examples of local organizations dealing with major challenges when it comes to community support needed to sustain its existence. Keep in mind, also, that Arts & Humanities — as is the case with other organizations — continues to bring to this community high-caliber cultural experiences, entertainment and recreation even amidst the challenges associated with difficult economic times. Local support, though, would go a long, long way in keeping the current variety of offerings in place in the future.

I honestly think local residents either forget about or ignore so many of the wonder-ful opportunities around us. For theatrical productions, in addition to A&H events, there are shows at Averett and the North Theatre among others. If we want concerts, there is the local symphony or perhaps a Danville Concert Association event. There are also lots of shopping, restaurant, and movie offerings. We can bowl or skate or maybe take a canoe ride down the Dan River if we are feeling a bit adventurous.  There are theme parties as well as outdoor festivals and con-certs throughout the year. For art and history, we can visit the Danville Museum, or for mili-tary history, we can go to the Tank Museum. If we feel scientific, we can visit the Danville Science Center. If we want to go racing, we are only minutes away from VIR. If we want to go hiking, biking, or running, we can enjoy the Riverwalk. If sports-minded, we might watch youth sports or college games or even see the Danville Braves. We have so many choices. It is hard to know where to begin!

Why do I spend so much time pushing the concept of doing business locally? Why am I so hung up on that “It’s All Here” campaign that needs more support now than ever?

The answer is this: When we support the businesses and organizations in this area, we keep them healthy. This, in turn, gives us a quality of life that makes living in the Dan River Region pleasant for those already here and attractive for those who will consider locating here in the future.

If we are to survive, thrive, and grow as a community, we must take this local approach seriously right now.

It’s all here … for now. However, it won’t be for long if we as a community do not embrace all these opportunities for local business, shopping, cultural enlightenment, enter-tainment and recreation. If this community commits itself to supporting the great things the Danville area has to offer, we will not only sustain but continue to improve upon the wonderful quality of life we now enjoy. Quality of life is the basis for economic devel-opment as well as cultural, and recreational enjoyment. It’s all here — both now and in the future — if we buy goods and services, participate in cultural activities and spend recrea-tional time right here in our own community.

Dalton is co-owner of Lawrence Distributing Co. and also serves on the board of directors for the local and state Chambers of Commerce as well as on the board of directors for the Danville Area Association for the Arts & Humanities.