Remembering Miss Kay
Obviously, you join a chamber of commerce to help grow your business. But there is an added benefit few think about when signing that check for your membership dues: New friends. If you’re active in all the events and activities the chamber provides, you’re going to meet a lot of new people who you might never have met any other way. Those people can become close business associates, but many times, they also can become close friends as well.
Unfortunately, the chamber is now mourning the loss of one of our chamber friends. Our dear friend and part of our chamber family, Kay Todd, recently passed away. Kay had been struggling with health issues for quite some time but that hasn’t helped ease the pain of her loss within our ranks.
Her chamber family knew her well. But they wanted me to share a little bit about her with some of you who may not have known her as well as we did. Kay was the chamber’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year. And she embodied that spirit of volunteerism in her life. She also volunteered at the Sun City Center Security Patrol and was a marketing rep for Bryan Hindman Electric at whose location a tree has been planted in her honor.
Her volunteer day at the chamber was Wednesday for our networking group — The Exchange. Before her illness progressed to the point that she could no longer attend, she was our bright spot at The Exchange. She would arrive early every Wednesday to clean the tables in the event room and rearrange the tables and chairs from an earlier meeting. She wanted everything to be “just right” for us. But what we really looked forward to was her “kisses.” Each attendee was given two Hershey’s Kisses — unless you were clever enough to talk her into more — and she made you work for them. I never told Kay, but I’m allergic to chocolate. But there was no way I would turn down those weekly “kisses” from Kay. As the chamber now says, “Every kiss begins with Kay.” Sorry, Kay Jewelers … but your tag line is now ours.
I mentioned her health issues. Well, she didn’t. Instead, Kay wanted to know about you: How you’re feeling? Is work going okay? How’s your family? Every conversation was about you. First and foremost, she made you feel special. As the saying goes: There are those special people who come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep her for our lifetimes, but for the season she was with us and the reason she was in our lives, we’ll always be grateful. Rest In Peace, Miss Kay.
Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. Call her at 813-634-5111, or email lynne@sccchamber.com.