The Chair Speaks:- Jan 2010
THE WHOLE PICTURE
An art expert will tell you that the only way to appreciate a work of art is to stand back – stand away and absorb the overall effect. Then you can understand what has been achieved, you can express your satisfaction or criticise and focus clearly on any one piece. Pressing your nose against the glass rarely pleases and the imperfections in every neighbouring square inch can cause you to walk away in disgust.
The picture I’m looking at is one of Hayle. It has been discoloured and cracked by thirty years of neglect. Many restorers have come along to claim that they can clean it up as good as new and their new ideas and materials will recreate the colour that we are told we remember.
The trouble is that when such a restorer starts on a patch many press against the glass and panic and want to go to another corner and try a different, maybe home made remedy. Then yet more come into the picture claiming that starting a different idea in another place will cure it all. I’ve never actually seen a group of headless chickens but they apparently career around being of no value to anyone and Hayle must not end up like that through getting too close to the whole picture!
The opinion of Hayle Chamber of Commerce is widely sought and the opinions of its 70+ member enterprises are valued. Thus it is often the case that the Chamber will be called on to rally round this idea or champion that cause or be quoted as pushing for another. Yes we make our feelings very clear – we are in business and anything that affects the micro-economy of Hayle affects us.
We can also be in a quandary. Our own business is to each of us our most important matter, so we may feel ‘don’t bother us with your squabbling’. However, most of us are also the residents, parents, governors, scout leaders etc etc so ‘your’ squabbles can be ours and those of our children and grandchildren. As we have feet in many camps we are surely in a good position to say ‘come and sit round our table and let us look long term at the whole picture’. We are always in danger of getting too close and we must, especially now, step back and look fairly at all ideas and solutions and make sure that the opinion we then hold is of real value.
In the midst of all that, we need to keep our focus on doing business and going about our daily way. We are not anti developers, trusts, big brother government or supermarkets, we are PRO-HAYLE! That’s not a “cop out” as some would accuse us – it’s a LONG TERM view of THE WHOLE PICTURE.
Have a good year!
Jeremy Joslin