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Local Business, Collective Advocacy, and Clean Water: Lancaster Chamber · Clean Water Conversations

0:11
SPEAKER_01: Hello everyone and welcome to Clean Water Conversations, the podcast where we have casual discussions about creating clean and clear waterways right here in Lancaster County.
0:20
SPEAKER_01: I'm Ken.
0:21
SPEAKER_01: Hello, everyone.
0:22
SPEAKER_01: This is Allison.
0:24
SPEAKER_01: Allison, we are in the throes of fall.
0:27
SPEAKER_03: Yes.
0:28
SPEAKER_01: A favorite season.
0:30
SPEAKER_01: And I I love going and doing stuff.
0:32
SPEAKER_01: Are they any events that you really look forward to that are fall related?
0:38
SPEAKER_03: I like taking hay rides and pumpkin picking.
0:41
SPEAKER_03: Yep.
0:41
SPEAKER_01: That's nice.
0:42
SPEAKER_03: And Ken, you have some pretty big family traditions.
0:46
SPEAKER_01: We do, especially with my oldest daughter.
0:48
SPEAKER_01: We love going to the haunted attractions.
0:51
SPEAKER_01: It's always funny because the scare actors are always trying to scare me because she's always been on the more diminutive side as they feel bad scaring her.
0:58
SPEAKER_01: It's like, no, no, no.
0:59
SPEAKER_01: I would I'm looking around at your at your surroundings here to scare her.
1:03
SPEAKER_01: She's the one who wants to be scared.
1:04
SPEAKER_01: So but we love doing that.
1:06
SPEAKER_01: And she's pushing 30 now and still loves doing that every year.
1:09
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
1:10
SPEAKER_01: It's fun stuff.
1:11
SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
1:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:12
SPEAKER_01: And speaking of fun stuff, it was it's fun for me anyway.
1:16
SPEAKER_01: Uh a neat thing.
1:17
SPEAKER_01: I just went to an event called Podcast Movement in New York City.
1:24
SPEAKER_01: And it's all about teaching us podcasters how to do what we do better.
1:31
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you found your people, Ken.
1:32
SPEAKER_01: I did, I did.
1:33
SPEAKER_01: It was a lot of fun.
1:34
SPEAKER_01: Very, very cool people there.
1:36
SPEAKER_01: And so I am taking that information and trying to improve both the content and the searchability of our podcast.
1:46
SPEAKER_01: So that so that more people can find it easier.
1:49
SPEAKER_01: And when they do, they enjoy the podcast more.
1:51
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
1:51
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
1:52
SPEAKER_03: We hope people keep listening the entire way through the episode.
1:55
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
1:55
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
1:56
SPEAKER_01: And you had something similar as well, too, right?
1:58
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
1:59
SPEAKER_03: Recently the board had an annual retreat and we were really focused on systems leaders and what a unique place it is that we get to be in this backbone organization.
2:08
SPEAKER_03: So learning what it means to be a systems leader, how to be better at it.
2:12
SPEAKER_03: Um so really grateful for work your values and how they came to help us be more aware of that.
2:16
SPEAKER_03: That's amazing.
2:17
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
2:17
SPEAKER_03: And a shout out to Historic Pool Forge, where we had the retreat.
2:21
SPEAKER_03: So thank you, Dawn, for your hospitality and for all the volunteers who are working in the upper headwaters of the Conestoga.
2:28
SPEAKER_03: Gotta keep shouting it out while we can all year long that the Conestoga is the river of the year.
2:33
SPEAKER_03: So we went to the headwaters up there at Historic Pool Forge for that day.
2:37
SPEAKER_01: And another learning opportunity is coming up on October 22nd.
2:42
SPEAKER_01: It is our fall full partners meeting.
2:44
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
2:45
SPEAKER_01: And then that is going to be at Hoffer Farm.
2:47
SPEAKER_03: Yes.
2:48
SPEAKER_03: And we would love if you can join us.
2:50
SPEAKER_01: Speaking of joining us, I know it's terrible.
2:54
SPEAKER_03: Wow, that was just like a waterfall of speaking of this connection.
2:59
SPEAKER_03: Man.
3:01
SPEAKER_01: Everything's connected.
3:02
SPEAKER_01: Everything's connected.
3:04
SPEAKER_01: Our guest this week is James Vicinos.
3:07
SPEAKER_01: He's the public policy coordinator for Lancaster Chamber.
3:10
SPEAKER_00: Let's go.
3:14
SPEAKER_00: I like to Viking bros.
3:15
SPEAKER_00: I love them so much.
3:17
SPEAKER_00: That's so good.
3:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
3:18
SPEAKER_00: But I haven't really explored that many Greek options in Lancaster, honestly.
3:21
SPEAKER_00: I usually go to Philadelphia or DC or anywhere like that.
3:24
SPEAKER_00: They have really good Greek food.
3:25
SPEAKER_01: Good options.
3:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, for sure.
3:27
SPEAKER_01: Hey, before we get too much further, let's do our icebreaker.
3:30
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
3:31
SPEAKER_01: And your icebreaker question is what is a lesson that you have had to keep learning over and over again?
3:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: So I think a lesson that I constantly am learning is that I don't really need to have an answer or every answer before I start a conversation.
3:44
SPEAKER_00: I really have the tendency to kind of just want to be fully prepared and know exactly where something is going.
3:50
SPEAKER_00: But I feel like this role really just kind of keeps reminding me that a lot of good work really just begins by asking the right questions and just listening to people who know more than I do.
3:58
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
3:58
SPEAKER_00: And just really be willing to learn as I go, kind of thing.
4:01
SPEAKER_00: And I've definitely learned that lesson several times and I'll probably continue to learn that lesson as well.
4:05
SPEAKER_00: So true.
4:06
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
4:07
SPEAKER_03: That's a really powerful one.
4:08
SPEAKER_03: Because it's hard to sometimes have to say, I don't know.
4:13
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
4:13
SPEAKER_03: But I'll go find it for you.
4:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
4:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's tough.
4:17
SPEAKER_01: Allison, how about you?
4:18
SPEAKER_03: Lesson that I've learned?
4:19
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
4:20
SPEAKER_03: Probably the same one.
4:21
SPEAKER_03: Like it's okay.
4:22
SPEAKER_03: I can't take it all on all the time.
4:25
SPEAKER_03: And so having to say, I need to find somebody else to help me do that.
4:28
SPEAKER_03: Or I can't get to it today, but let me give you it how flexible is your deadline?
4:35
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
4:36
SPEAKER_01: I think you've asked me that question before.
4:38
SPEAKER_01: Probably.
4:40
SPEAKER_01: How about you, Ken?
4:42
SPEAKER_01: For me, it is just when I think I have a really good grasp on how to do something.
4:50
SPEAKER_01: Something new comes along.
4:52
SPEAKER_01: So I am constantly learning.
4:54
SPEAKER_01: So I have to keep learning that I need to keep learning.
4:58
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
4:58
SPEAKER_03: You've been doing a lot of certifications for AI and certain tools online lately.
5:04
SPEAKER_03: It seems like you found them helpful.
5:06
SPEAKER_01: I have.
5:06
SPEAKER_01: I have.
5:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
5:08
SPEAKER_01: Good, good.
5:09
SPEAKER_01: So you grew up in in Lancaster County.
5:11
SPEAKER_00: I did, yes.
5:11
SPEAKER_00: I grew up in like near the Denver area.
5:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:14
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's a small town called Reamstown.
5:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:16
SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
5:16
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
5:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:17
SPEAKER_00: So I I've lived here forever.
5:18
SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's cool.
5:19
SPEAKER_01: Like were you like on a farm or in a little town or how Yeah, so it's a little town.
5:23
SPEAKER_00: I actually live right behind the Reamstown elementary school.
5:26
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
5:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:26
SPEAKER_00: So I grew up there.
5:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've been there forever.
5:28
SPEAKER_01: Oh, very cool.
5:30
SPEAKER_01: Now I'm curious what in your childhood kind of led you to where you are now?
5:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:36
SPEAKER_00: So back in, I would say my passion for politics kind of came around 2016 during that election.
5:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: So good time to get into it.
5:45
SPEAKER_01: That wasn't a contentious election.
5:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, not at all.
5:47
SPEAKER_01: Not at all.
5:48
SPEAKER_00: My brother, he's actually a press secretary for a labor union called AfsMe.
5:53
SPEAKER_00: So he kind of got me into politics and kind of just that whole realm there.
5:56
SPEAKER_00: And originally I've interned for different political communication firms and then different campaigns as well.
6:02
SPEAKER_00: So I just I just love it.
6:03
SPEAKER_00: I think it's just a it's fun, fast, and exciting.
6:06
SPEAKER_03: Wow.
6:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:07
SPEAKER_03: What was your main connection to the chamber then?
6:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:10
SPEAKER_00: So I actually didn't have a connection to the chamber at all.
6:13
SPEAKER_00: Like I when I applied, I was like, I didn't know what a chamber was, honestly.
6:16
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
6:16
SPEAKER_00: So I I kind of just saw the job posting and I thought it was just a perfect fit.
6:21
SPEAKER_00: And did the whole interview process and it here I am.
6:24
SPEAKER_01: Perfect.
6:24
SPEAKER_01: Perfect.
6:25
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:26
SPEAKER_01: Now, out of idle curiosity for anybody who's listening that doesn't know what is a chamber.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: So the chamber really just uh connects businesses all throughout Lancaster.
6:35
SPEAKER_00: Um we provide different services for my end personally.
6:38
SPEAKER_00: I advocate business concerns to elected officials, and I really love doing that.
6:41
SPEAKER_00: I just really feel like I'm doing a positive thing for the community and just helping these businesses out.
6:45
SPEAKER_00: So it's something I have a real passion for and I just love it so much.
6:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:50
SPEAKER_03: You advocate two legislators for the chamber and for local businesses.
6:55
SPEAKER_03: Do you feel like you have to walk a line with that?
6:58
SPEAKER_00: I feel like I do because it's I will say sometimes it's hard to kind of keep your personal opinions away from different things.
7:04
SPEAKER_00: But I I really do enjoy kind of just speaking to both sides, kind of hearing what they have to say.
7:09
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes one side can help you a little bit more than the other.
7:12
SPEAKER_00: It just really depends on what kind of the topic is and what their specialty is.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: So I will say for our next event is uh wake up to the issues about housing.
7:20
SPEAKER_00: And I'm working with Ismail Smith Wade L on that because he does a lot of housing work.
7:24
SPEAKER_00: Sure.
7:24
SPEAKER_00: And then there's sometimes like the state budget.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: I'll work with Scott Martin on certain things.
7:28
SPEAKER_00: So we really do work with both sides and kind of just try to get everybody's input so that way we can get the best results for our members.
7:34
SPEAKER_01: Got it.
7:35
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
7:35
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
7:36
SPEAKER_01: And you also worked with our side because the chamber was one of the original organizations that helped put together Lancaster Clean Water Partners.
7:42
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
7:42
SPEAKER_01: Now, why is clean water important in the business community?
7:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
7:47
SPEAKER_00: So I will say I think for local businesses that support the clean water and kind of the watershed restoration, I feel like the first step is really recognizing that business does need to be a conservation organization to contribute.
7:59
SPEAKER_00: So I feel like businesses can examine their own properties and operations, support those local projects, and really give employees opportunities to volunteer and lend their voice to practical investments that improve the water quality.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: So I feel like the right action will kind of look different for every employer, I would say.
8:16
SPEAKER_00: I feel like it could include better stormwater management, responsible landscaping, reducing runoff or waste, supporting stream restoration, things like that.
8:24
SPEAKER_00: The chamber can really help by making those opportunities just easier to understand and connect those businesses with the people that really know how to implement them.
8:33
SPEAKER_03: Clean water, it may be one of the topics that you bring up with businesses and the entire community.
8:38
SPEAKER_03: Can you give the nuts and bolts?
8:40
SPEAKER_03: Like how does the chamber bring different voices together around common issues?
8:44
SPEAKER_03: It like in some places you said it might be clean water, but uh you guys have all kinds of different issues.
8:49
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
8:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
8:50
SPEAKER_00: Really, I would just say we really just start by listening.
8:52
SPEAKER_00: I think like a manufacturer, a farm, healthcare organization, and even just a small downtown business in Lancaster, they can really just experience an issue very differently.
9:00
SPEAKER_00: It's pretty crazy to hear.
9:01
SPEAKER_00: So we really can't begin by like assuming an answer, I would say.
9:05
SPEAKER_00: We really just look for the practical impact that they that they all share.
9:09
SPEAKER_00: So for me, we really hear from members through just direct conversations that we have at certain events, committees.
9:15
SPEAKER_00: I host regional meetings all throughout the county.
9:17
SPEAKER_00: So I really get to hear everybody's inputs, which is awesome to hear.
9:20
SPEAKER_00: And then just events and surveys that we do that with like the relationships across the county.
9:25
SPEAKER_00: So we really just try to translate those perspectives into a common question, which I always kind of keep in mind is what would help Lancaster County remain a strong place to operate a business, um, employ people, and just really build a stronger community.
9:40
SPEAKER_00: So sometimes I think the common ground is a little bit narrower than any one member's full position, but that narrower area can still be pretty meaningful.
9:48
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
9:49
SPEAKER_00: Just growing up here and just kind of seeing how Lancaster was 15 years ago compared to now, it's the the growth is tremendous to see.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: So I think just kind of explaining that and kind of just showing like our future plans on how we're gonna increase workforce by 2030.
10:04
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna bring all these different important organizations to Lancaster and finding that common ground and just bringing people to the table that are important.
10:13
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
10:13
SPEAKER_03: And how does the chamber determine its priority topics?
10:17
SPEAKER_00: We really just look at an issue whether it meaningfully affects our members or not.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: Um so Lancaster County's economic health and the chamber's mission.
10:25
SPEAKER_00: We really also like to ask whether the chamber can add value to by convening people, explaining the business impacts, or really just advocating for a workable outcome as well.
10:34
SPEAKER_00: I would say that our member input is so essential and important.
10:38
SPEAKER_00: We really just use the conversations we have with them, committee discussions, events, and kind of just feedback from different regions all throughout the county and industries.
10:46
SPEAKER_00: So we also just like to consider the the scale and timing of the issue as well.
10:50
SPEAKER_00: So I think it's it really just depends on what's going on.
10:53
SPEAKER_00: I know from an advocacy standpoint, it's so timely, just everything.
10:56
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you guys you have to respond so quickly to some things.
10:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
11:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, exactly.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: So like the state budget, I think would be like the biggest thing where it's pretty timely.
11:05
SPEAKER_00: We'll get like a statement out and bring it past the committee and just bring everything up that way.
11:09
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
11:09
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
11:10
SPEAKER_03: Well, Ken and I in former lives were involved in local business very intimately in separate ways, but we really appreciate the chamber and the work that you do.
11:18
SPEAKER_03: So I'd love to hear that.
11:19
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
11:20
SPEAKER_01: And you just mentioned the phrase again, the podcast this season is is all about collective advocacy.
11:26
SPEAKER_01: What does that term collective advocacy mean to you?
11:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think for me, collective advocacy really just means taking the concerns that many people or organizations share and just turning that into one clear constructive voice, I would say.
11:38
SPEAKER_00: It's not really about everyone agreeing on every single detail.
11:41
SPEAKER_03: So true.
11:41
SPEAKER_00: It's really just about identifying.
11:43
SPEAKER_00: Very much so.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: So I would say just trying to find things we have in common and work toward that common goal.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: I think that's the main thing there.
11:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, definitely.
11:50
SPEAKER_01: Aaron Ross Powell That's kind of like what what we're doing as the the network of likes or clean water partners is we all have that goal of uh of clean and clear by 2040, and everybody's working towards that one goal in spite of the differences within the organizations.
12:06
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
12:07
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
12:07
SPEAKER_03: And as you said, the all those voices have value.
12:10
SPEAKER_03: And when there is a place that there's a a need for a value add, the chamber can step in.
12:15
SPEAKER_03: In the business community, you are the leader for that.
12:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
12:18
SPEAKER_03: What makes that concept or that practice of collective advocacy more powerful, let's say, for the chamber than an individual business?
12:26
SPEAKER_03: You know, like everybody could be, should be sending messages to their legislators.
12:31
SPEAKER_03: No, definitely.
12:32
SPEAKER_03: But you guys do that in a certain way.
12:34
SPEAKER_03: And you've said the business community is your main group you're gathering.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I really think like a single story can just make an issue real.
12:41
SPEAKER_00: But I think a coalition really just shows that an issue is bigger than one experience.
12:46
SPEAKER_00: So I think it combines the personal experiences with the broader credibility, um, just relationships, information, and the reach as well.
12:53
SPEAKER_00: So I think it also gives public officials and community leaders just a clear signal from us.
12:58
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
12:58
SPEAKER_00: If organizations from different sectors kind of arrive at the same concern or recommendation, just kind of tells the decision makers that the issue has been discussed from multiple angles, I would say.
13:08
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
13:08
SPEAKER_03: You mentioned the wake up to the issues is coming up.
13:11
SPEAKER_03: What are some of the other types of events?
13:12
SPEAKER_03: You said you do surveys, events, listing sessions.
13:15
SPEAKER_03: Give us maybe a rundown of some of your calendar.
13:18
SPEAKER_00: Well, it's pretty busy.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: I was like, yeah.
13:20
SPEAKER_00: So actually, tomorrow we have an event here at the Farm and Home Center.
13:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's our Agriculture Issues Forum.
13:25
SPEAKER_00: Uh we do four of those a year.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: And that'll be about the FFA and how they prepare students for the work.
13:31
SPEAKER_03: Not an acronym.
13:32
SPEAKER_03: Nope.
13:32
SPEAKER_03: Not an acronym.
13:33
SPEAKER_03: We've been over that.
13:36
SPEAKER_00: Um honestly I love the agriculture events because it it's not the typical crowd that you would have at different uh chamber events, I would say.
13:44
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's really cool to hear what the agriculture has going on, and they really are doing some very cool things.
13:50
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
13:50
SPEAKER_00: And I would say too, we were talking about this earlier, Lancaster Farmland Trust, didn't use the acronym there.
13:55
SPEAKER_00: Right.
13:56
unknown: Yeah.
13:56
SPEAKER_00: They're doing that that farm that they're making with to bring people on and kind of show them their conservation efforts and everything like that.
14:02
SPEAKER_00: It's it's amazing.
14:03
SPEAKER_01: And if you want to hear more about that, two episodes prior to this one when we when we talked to uh Jeff Jeff Sweinhart, he talks all about that.
14:11
SPEAKER_01: You can learn more about that.
14:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Jeff's great.
14:13
SPEAKER_00: That was a that was a great listen, by the way.
14:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
14:16
SPEAKER_03: Well, and just did you is the FFA event coming up?
14:19
SPEAKER_03: Is that with the city of Lancaster?
14:21
SPEAKER_00: It is not it is not, no.
14:23
SPEAKER_00: It is with directly with the FFA, the PA.
14:25
SPEAKER_00: The state chapter.
14:26
SPEAKER_00: The state chapter, yes.
14:27
SPEAKER_00: Uh it'll be their state vice president as well as their executive director.
14:30
SPEAKER_03: Nice.
14:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I'm very excited about that.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: And then our wake up to the issues, those are also four times a year.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: The main one that we only repeat would be the state budget one, just because that's so important and impacts pretty much every part of Lancaster.
14:43
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, all the other events are pretty much timely kind of things.
14:47
SPEAKER_00: So their next one will be on housing, like I was saying.
14:49
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and then some other events we have are our regional meetings where we go across the county and kind of hear what people are saying, kind of what issues, problems, questions, concerns, things like that are saying throughout the community.
15:01
SPEAKER_00: And I do love those just because sometimes when people hear the Lancaster Chamber, they think we're a city-based organization, but really we're countywide.
15:09
SPEAKER_00: And it's really, I would say inspirational to kind of hear what different people are saying.
15:14
SPEAKER_00: And I really want to help as many of them as I can.
15:17
SPEAKER_00: Um, so our next regional set of meetings will be about uh Main Street development and main street investments, things like that.
15:23
SPEAKER_00: So those are all very exciting.
15:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
15:25
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
15:25
SPEAKER_03: Well, as you said, stormwater needs and permitting issues, those are some of the things that we've heard from boroughs and small town areas that are built out.
15:34
SPEAKER_03: They don't have as many options.
15:35
SPEAKER_03: So keep an ear open for that, I suppose.
15:39
SPEAKER_03: There's ways that we can help maybe after that, or maybe maybe we should make sure one of us goes to that.
15:48
SPEAKER_01: Anything else?
15:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
15:49
SPEAKER_00: So for the upcoming midterms, we actually planned a uh candidate meet and greet.
15:54
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be through all of the districts that are running in Lancaster County.
15:58
SPEAKER_00: Um so we're bringing in both Republican and Democratic candidates.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna be as nonpartisan as possible.
16:03
SPEAKER_00: So it is um like I said, we're bringing both of them to the table.
16:07
SPEAKER_00: And then it's really just gonna be giving the business community as well as the public an opportunity to meet these candidates.
16:13
SPEAKER_00: It's a little bit different.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: It's not a debate.
16:15
SPEAKER_00: There's no speeches, anything like that.
16:17
SPEAKER_00: It's really just a formal Hi, how are you doing?
16:20
SPEAKER_00: Um just tell me about your issues.
16:21
SPEAKER_00: And I'm really excited for it.
16:23
SPEAKER_00: And uh I hope the the public makes it out, and I hope the business community makes it out and asks those important questions they need to get answered for their voting.
16:30
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
16:31
SPEAKER_00: So if people want to get more information about those, where can they go?
16:35
SPEAKER_00: They can go to the Lancaster Chamber website and there is an advocacy tab.
16:40
SPEAKER_00: And in there it will uh show you all the things we're doing about advocacy, first of all, and then it will have this event listed.
16:46
SPEAKER_00: It'll also be listed in our calendar as well, so you can see all the dates of when those are coming up.
16:51
SPEAKER_01: And I have that uh link in the show notes.
16:55
SPEAKER_01: You've mentioned it a few minutes ago that there are different opinions on things, there's different perspectives, there's different ideas that people have.
17:04
SPEAKER_01: And sometimes that can create a little friction.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
17:08
SPEAKER_01: So how do you find common ground in a situation like that?
17:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, disagreements are normal.
17:14
SPEAKER_00: They represent the the broad business community, I would say.
17:17
SPEAKER_00: And I think my job really isn't to erase those differences.
17:21
SPEAKER_00: I think it's kind of just to try to understand what's driving them and what and kind of just determine whether there's still a useful point of agreement there.
17:28
SPEAKER_00: We ask how each member is trying to can protect and accomplish so where the practical impacts overlap and whether there's a shared principle that can guide us, sometimes that produces a clear position.
17:39
SPEAKER_00: So and sometimes it just really means supporting a goal while recognizing that the implementation needs more work.
17:45
SPEAKER_03: You guys are on it.
17:46
SPEAKER_03: What is the training that you all receive?
17:48
SPEAKER_03: I mean, that's like facilitator training.
17:50
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
17:51
SPEAKER_03: That's negotiations.
17:52
SPEAKER_00: That's I will say I was kind of thrown into the fire when I first started.
17:57
SPEAKER_03: Um, like you said, you have a lot going on.
17:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, my my first day was literally an event with Representative Lloyd Smucker.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: So there's and I I kind of just showed up and I was like, nice to meet you.
18:07
SPEAKER_00: I don't know what's going on here.
18:09
SPEAKER_00: So I was just taking notes.
18:11
SPEAKER_03: Eager to learn.
18:11
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, just eager to learn.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: But I'll say my past experience has really just kind of led me up to this.
18:16
SPEAKER_00: Whether it's talking to voters or just working in different political firms, kind of just understanding a constituent and how to speak with people and things like that, I would say, has really prepared me for this role.
18:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:26
SPEAKER_03: That's awesome.
18:27
SPEAKER_03: Well, I know you're part of the Leadership Lancaster cohort right now, too.
18:30
SPEAKER_00: Just started, yeah.
18:31
SPEAKER_00: Just started?
18:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:32
SPEAKER_00: Last uh Thursday.
18:33
SPEAKER_00: How'd it go?
18:33
SPEAKER_00: It was great.
18:34
SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm so excited.
18:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:35
SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
18:37
SPEAKER_01: Oh, should I put in the little plug for Lancaster leadership in last season?
18:41
SPEAKER_03: Well, that one plus the FFA episode, yes.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:44
SPEAKER_03: With the school district of Lancaster.
18:46
SPEAKER_00: I'm plugging everybody.
18:48
SPEAKER_03: Did we mention that we collaborate here in Lancaster?
18:53
SPEAKER_01: Just a smidge.
18:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
18:56
SPEAKER_01: So can you share an example of a time where bringing multiple businesses or organizations together helped to move an issue forward?
19:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, definitely.
19:04
SPEAKER_00: I'll actually bring up Lancaster Farmland Trust again.
19:07
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
19:08
SPEAKER_00: I think uh one example from my work is the Chambers Conservation in Action Farm Tour that we recently hosted.
19:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
19:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we partnered with Lancaster Farmland Trust or LFT.
19:18
SPEAKER_00: You can say that.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: And the Lancaster County Conservation District.
19:23
SPEAKER_00: Just to kind of bring members directly onto a farm and let them see the conservation and agricultural leaders.
19:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
19:29
SPEAKER_00: And kind of just hear what they have to explain when it comes to reasonable stewardship and how that looks in practice.
19:35
SPEAKER_00: That wasn't really a legislative victory, but it would I would not oversell it as one.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: It's really just a value that was in creating shared understanding.
19:43
SPEAKER_00: Businesses, agriculture, and conservation partners were able to just kind of learn from one another that day.
19:48
SPEAKER_00: So I thought it was a great event.
19:49
SPEAKER_00: And then we would love to do that again sometime.
19:53
SPEAKER_01: Collaboration in in farming in Lancaster County, who knew?
19:57
SPEAKER_03: Well, and somehow sometimes it is unknown what those wins might be later.
20:03
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
20:03
SPEAKER_03: Like you said, it doesn't have a specific piece of legislation tied to it.
20:06
SPEAKER_03: But the fact that Lancaster is the number one county in the country for farmland preservation, that is part of the story.
20:12
SPEAKER_03: That is part of the reason that businesses have people that want to move here.
20:17
SPEAKER_03: They want to be part of a community with that.
20:19
SPEAKER_03: I'm curious what was the response that you had from your members or participants that day?
20:24
SPEAKER_00: I was actually so proud of that event just because it was it was kind of a long time coming, I would say.
20:29
SPEAKER_00: I was very excited to get it planned.
20:30
SPEAKER_00: And everybody that attended was saying that it was the best ag issues forum that they've attended.
20:35
SPEAKER_00: So that made me feel very, very happy about it.
20:37
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, they just they wanted more of them.
20:39
SPEAKER_00: So they they want us to continue to do that.
20:41
SPEAKER_00: So they made me feel very positive about the work that we're doing.
20:44
SPEAKER_00: And um, I just love hearing member feedback from our members and just especially when they're positive.
20:48
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, we love the positive feedback.
20:50
SPEAKER_01: But you're you're still beaming, by the way.
20:52
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
20:54
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
20:57
SPEAKER_03: What specific policy changes or community investments should the Lancaster community lean into harder?
21:02
SPEAKER_03: I think that we've talked about collective advocacy and how that can be a value add, but that approach sometimes can achieve those things in a better way.
21:10
SPEAKER_00: Aaron Powell Yeah, definitely.
21:11
SPEAKER_00: I will say from the chamber perspective, we've had the we've had this conversation so much internally, just kind of trying to figure that out exactly.
21:18
SPEAKER_00: And I think the strongest opportunities are likely to be those practical investments that give communities, farms, and property owners kind of that capacity to compete with real projects.
21:27
SPEAKER_00: So I think that can really include just reliable infrastructure funding, um, like you were saying, support for those stormwater and wastewater improvements, and then just incentives and technical assistance as well for those conservation practices.
21:39
SPEAKER_00: And then I think just making sure as well, because this is always confusing, at least I think it is, yeah, is the permitting processes and making sure that those are all clear and predictable as well.
21:48
SPEAKER_03: Yes, yes.
21:49
SPEAKER_03: We were just talking with the board last week and they were kind of clarifying the need for industrial permits and stormwater.
21:55
SPEAKER_03: And then there's construction, like new businesses or growth of a business.
21:59
SPEAKER_03: The permit.
22:00
SPEAKER_03: There is a reason for permits.
22:02
SPEAKER_03: And no one is trying to say, like, we don't need them, but you have to understand the system of how to get through it in an efficient manner so that businesses can continue to grow and stay here and pro and do well.
22:13
SPEAKER_03: So I'm curious if your members are saying the same thing.
22:15
SPEAKER_03: Is it that people want more resources?
22:17
SPEAKER_03: They want resources in a different format.
22:20
SPEAKER_03: Like, are there enough videos?
22:22
SPEAKER_03: Or is it a quick one, two, three, one pager?
22:25
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
22:25
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
22:26
SPEAKER_03: What are the kind of things that we can make sure?
22:28
SPEAKER_03: Not saying that we're going to create them all, but somebody might have them that we just need to get to you.
22:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
22:32
SPEAKER_00: And I think the details obviously really matter there.
22:36
SPEAKER_00: And I I'm not going to sit here and say I'm the expert on all of that.
22:40
SPEAKER_00: So I would say I would really just rely on those technical experts around the table to kind of just identify which investments would create the best water quality benefit.
22:49
SPEAKER_00: And I think the business community role is really just to help explain the economic value of effective infrastructure.
22:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
22:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
22:56
SPEAKER_03: So maybe my question then is who's the right messenger for that kind of information?
23:02
SPEAKER_03: You know, like you mentioned the ag issues form, or you have your regional meetings.
23:06
SPEAKER_03: Is there a messenger for the business community that permitting details, for example, would be best received from?
23:13
SPEAKER_03: You know, like having a person from the Department of Environmental Protection is the right messenger for some things.
23:17
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
23:18
SPEAKER_03: But if you're LGH, sorry, if you're Lancaster General Health, or if you are a manufacturer building the new coffee machines and you want to understand permits, like who do we bring to the table?
23:32
SPEAKER_03: Because we can make sure that's on the agenda or we share those opportunities with you at the chamber so that you have more resources.
23:38
SPEAKER_03: But who should we bring?
23:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
23:41
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's that's also a question we're asking as well.
23:44
SPEAKER_00: You know, I think it's it's hard to really know the answer to all of that every single time.
23:49
SPEAKER_00: So I honestly really rely on leadership.
23:51
SPEAKER_00: I really rely on, I'll shout them out here.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: I really rely on our CEO, Heather Valudez, for a lot of that.
23:57
SPEAKER_00: She really I feel like she knows everything.
23:59
SPEAKER_00: It's insane.
24:00
SPEAKER_00: Um she I really rely on her when it comes to those kinds of things, especially when it's the real technical matters, I would say, like permitting and all that.
24:08
SPEAKER_00: Um, like again, I'm not I'm not the expert.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: I'm just the public policy coordinator.
24:12
SPEAKER_00: So I'm not but I would really rely on just our leadership there to kind of finding those uh solutions.
24:18
SPEAKER_00: They really it's a great team and they really just I feel like they have all the answers when they need it.
24:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
24:23
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
24:23
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
24:24
SPEAKER_03: That's an important reminder that advocacy happens within an organization as well.
24:29
SPEAKER_03: And so we will continue to ask questions to support everybody.
24:33
SPEAKER_01: In what ways can sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship not only strengthen our natural ecosystems, our environment, but our local economy?
24:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
24:47
SPEAKER_00: I really think the strongest opportunities are likely to just be those practical investments that give communities, farms, and property owners just the capacity to compete for those real projects.
24:57
SPEAKER_00: And I think that can really include just reliable infrastructure funding.
25:00
SPEAKER_00: And again, I'll say that's support for the stormwater and water waste improvements.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: And then just incentives that and technical assistance that really provide for conservation practices and making sure, again, those permitting processes are really clear and predictable.
25:13
SPEAKER_03: I'm curious if you've seen certain businesses grow more because they've had access to that kind of practical funding.
25:20
SPEAKER_03: Like is there an example of somebody who either expanded their square footage or has a higher income for the quarter because of something like that?
25:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
25:28
SPEAKER_00: The farm that we toured for during our ag issues forum, he was telling us he's this Amish man that's been a family-owned farm forever.
25:35
SPEAKER_00: He wanted to expand, but he didn't really have the resources to do that.
25:39
SPEAKER_00: And he actually found a state grant that helped him out there.
25:42
SPEAKER_00: When he got this grant, he was able to just increase his water quality, I guess you could say.
25:55
SPEAKER_01: And you know, the cool thing is we have had more than one example in Lancaster County of one farmer finds the benefit in doing doing this work on his farm.
26:06
SPEAKER_01: And his neighbor comes over and says, Hey, what are you, what are you working on there?
26:09
SPEAKER_01: Really?
26:09
SPEAKER_01: You got funding for that?
26:10
SPEAKER_01: And then you wind up with neighbors encouraging neighbors, and then we wind up, like, for example, in Hammertown, you get like a mile and a half of stream on people's property that has been restored.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: And that's all all because one landowner saw the value in it.
26:26
SPEAKER_01: That's amazing.
26:27
SPEAKER_03: Well, and it becomes part of their business plan.
26:30
SPEAKER_03: That makes it possible for them to have a legacy for the kids.
26:32
SPEAKER_03: It makes them possible to have a higher income because their herd health has improved.
26:37
SPEAKER_03: And so they're spending less on vet bills, they're spending less on nitrogen fertilizer.
26:43
SPEAKER_03: So the economic benefits are totally there.
26:47
SPEAKER_03: It's harder to see sometimes.
26:48
SPEAKER_03: So I think it goes back to what you said about being really obvious about those benefits and how simple it can be.
26:54
SPEAKER_03: Doesn't mean the experience feels that way every time, but we definitely need to be able to present it that way.
27:00
SPEAKER_03: No, definitely.
27:01
SPEAKER_01: Kind of in that same vein then.
27:02
SPEAKER_01: I mean, where do you see opportunities for nonprofits, government, ag conservation organizations to invite businesses in the community to work alongside them on shared challenges?
27:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
27:15
SPEAKER_00: So I really see opportunity wherever one sector has a resource another sector needs.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: So I think businesses can kind of bring employees, funding, communication reach, and just that operational knowledge or relationships to that.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: Conservation organizations really bring that technical expertise and project experience as well.
27:35
SPEAKER_00: So I think agriculture really just brings direct knowledge of the land.
27:38
SPEAKER_00: And then the government can align infrastructure, uh, policy or public resources to that.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: And then I think for the chamber, we can really just help connect those pieces.
27:47
SPEAKER_00: So I think like with our employer roundtables, our site visits, any educational programs and pilot partnerships can really just give people a manageable place to begin with.
27:57
SPEAKER_03: Sometimes it's easy for people in the nonprofit sector to say, well, the business community needs to contribute more or needs to be more actively engaged.
28:06
SPEAKER_03: You mentioned sometimes that's funding, sometimes that's employees.
28:10
SPEAKER_03: I'll give a shout out to the Landon Lancaster website.
28:13
SPEAKER_03: It's so helpful and such a cool collection of things that all of us can use.
28:17
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
28:17
SPEAKER_03: But I'm curious, how much of a weight do you feel like the business community feels that they are they're asked to contribute probably more so than they really could be, should be.
28:27
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
28:28
SPEAKER_03: Do you experience that?
28:29
SPEAKER_03: Do you hear any pushback that there's an expectation that the for-profit sector can be contributing more?
28:35
SPEAKER_00: That's kind of the time we're in right now where I think a lot of people are saying that the for-profit businesses should be contributing more to just society in general and just all of that.
28:44
SPEAKER_00: So I think for us, it's it's really just about bringing the right people to the table and kind of just seeing what they can contribute to the community.
28:52
SPEAKER_00: And like I said, we have an amazing team that's really good at finding those people and just bringing benefits to the community.
28:58
SPEAKER_00: So I would, I would shout out our membership team there.
29:01
SPEAKER_00: Uh, they do a great job at bringing the right people to the table, whether that's nonprofit, for-profit, whatever it may be.
29:07
SPEAKER_00: They just do a really great job at bringing the right people around and kind of just solving all of that, I would say.
29:12
unknown: Okay.
29:12
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: What do you think would be the difference if more businesses decided to collectively advocate for clean water for the environment rather than rather than trying to go things alone?
29:26
SPEAKER_00: If we got more businesses to care about the environment, we could make a massive change.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's somewhat of an issue at the moment.
29:33
SPEAKER_00: I think people are more concerned about not every, obviously, not everyone.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to just give a generalization here, but I think if more people cared about the environment over, let's say, profits or just things in general, we could really see a massive difference in how things are going, whether that be temperature rising or just water levels, water issues, things like that.
29:51
SPEAKER_00: Um, I think it makes a massive difference.
29:53
SPEAKER_01: And as we've mentioned before, like every business needs clean water to operate in one way, shape, or form.
29:58
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's a workforce issue for sure.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
30:02
SPEAKER_03: Well, if there's ways that we can make that more accessible or more obvious of why supporting clean water cleaning, uh supporting conservation locally does support your bottom line, does make this a better place for you to recruit employees.
30:17
SPEAKER_03: Please send it our way.
30:18
SPEAKER_03: We would love to either find those resources or make sure that you have them for your slides at the next regional meeting.
30:24
SPEAKER_03: So Yeah.
30:25
SPEAKER_00: And I think kind of a question I would I would love to ask both of you.
30:28
SPEAKER_00: And would just kind of be what is one collaboration you would like to see from Lancaster County businesses uh over the next year, kind of with us and kind of just what kind of collaborations would you like to see there?
30:40
SPEAKER_03: I'll give a good one.
30:41
SPEAKER_03: We've got some funding available to support tree planting in specific areas, but it's also a workforce development opportunity.
30:49
SPEAKER_03: So I think the collaboration can be with a business or a church or a landowner that has a need.
30:57
SPEAKER_03: And I mean, that could be PPL, the power company.
31:01
SPEAKER_03: I don't know what that stands for.
31:02
SPEAKER_03: Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Power.
31:03
SPEAKER_03: Power White Light.
31:04
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
31:05
SPEAKER_03: They, for example, they a few years ago exp expressed some interest in doing some work on their property.
31:11
SPEAKER_03: They have stream frontage on a little conestoga.
31:13
SPEAKER_03: Their employees go sit at the picnic bench and enjoy that as a fishing location on the weekend.
31:19
SPEAKER_03: But there's a chance if they want to plant more trees.
31:21
SPEAKER_03: So we have the funding for that right now.
31:24
SPEAKER_03: And that could include work with the Lancaster Conservancy to do native gardening or native landscaping.
31:31
SPEAKER_03: So if somebody traditionally has used a landscaping company and let's just say that they use a lot of chemicals, plants that are not native to Pennsylvania, not everybody does that.
31:42
SPEAKER_03: But let's just say that's something that the landowner wants to change, there's funding available to switch that.
31:47
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
31:48
SPEAKER_03: And so small steps, that would be an awesome way to collaborate.
31:52
SPEAKER_03: And the nonprofits locally have, as you said earlier, had they have the technical expertise and we have some funding to do it.
31:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's amazing.
31:58
SPEAKER_00: I would I would love to work with you on that actually.
32:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's that's amazing.
32:02
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
32:02
SPEAKER_00: That's so cool.
32:05
SPEAKER_01: Well, and then you mentioned the tree planting as an example, but there needs to be people on the ground to plant those trees.
32:11
SPEAKER_01: I'd love I'd love to see more.
32:12
SPEAKER_01: There are there definitely are businesses out there that have this, but I'd like to see more businesses that provide time for their employees paid time to volunteer and do some of these projects.
32:23
SPEAKER_03: And I know there's been growth in that.
32:25
SPEAKER_03: The economic development company has talked about team building time, interest in going kayaking or going on outdoor adventures as part of the outdoor rec work.
32:34
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
32:34
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
32:35
SPEAKER_00: Their outdoor rec work is is so cool.
32:37
SPEAKER_00: It is.
32:37
SPEAKER_00: I love it so much.
32:38
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:38
SPEAKER_00: I know they they talk about trail conservation and everything like that.
32:41
SPEAKER_00: It's it's so cool to see.
32:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:44
SPEAKER_03: I have heard interest in a more coordinated funding approach.
32:48
SPEAKER_03: And that could be because every, as you mentioned, there's a lot of pressure on for-profit companies to be providing sponsorships or participating in financially specific ways.
33:01
SPEAKER_03: And so rather than maxing everybody out and having people get frustrated because they continuously get approached by will you sponsor this event?
33:08
SPEAKER_03: Will you come pay for part of this breakfast, whatever it might be?
33:11
SPEAKER_03: I have heard an interest from the for-profit side say, we would love to have this done in a coordinated way so that we can continue to align with our values and not get approached over and over again.
33:23
SPEAKER_03: So it may be it because one organization is really dedicated to education, then kind of everybody is more aware of that and they can really lean in and support that.
33:32
SPEAKER_03: And then the other people who are getting pinged and pinged and pinged, they can lean in and support conservation or they can do more tree planting.
33:40
SPEAKER_03: So some of it is that awareness.
33:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
33:42
SPEAKER_03: But it also then has a different type of result.
33:45
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
33:46
SPEAKER_01: So looking ahead, how can local businesses play a larger, more direct role in supporting clean water work around Lexter County?
33:56
SPEAKER_00: I would say education is a massive part of that.
33:58
SPEAKER_00: I think just really having them understand why they should be having clean water.
34:02
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think that's a little self-explanatory, but not always.
34:06
SPEAKER_00: Not always, yeah.
34:07
SPEAKER_03: Well, like we're in a really fortunate place that we can turn the tap on and trust the water that comes out.
34:12
SPEAKER_00: True.
34:12
SPEAKER_00: True.
34:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
34:13
SPEAKER_00: And I think just kind of explaining that to people that that's that we are really fortunate in that and that we should continue these efforts to keep it that way.
34:20
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
34:21
SPEAKER_00: I think, yeah, I think it's it's a challenge, but it's also something that's so important.
34:25
SPEAKER_00: And we're we're so grateful for the work that you guys are doing.
34:28
SPEAKER_00: And we would love to support that in any way we can.
34:30
SPEAKER_00: So I think just the education side of things there is really important.
34:34
SPEAKER_03: I think that gets back to some of like we were saying, we have to go back to the basics.
34:38
SPEAKER_03: People don't understand that the creek in your backyard is where your drinking water comes from.
34:42
SPEAKER_03: It is being pulled by the wonderful public work staff and whatever your drinking water authority area is.
34:48
SPEAKER_03: But there's a cost to that.
34:50
SPEAKER_03: And so yes, we can trust what comes out of our tap, but it also affects our wallet.
34:55
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
34:56
SPEAKER_03: So we need to be aware of how the more we can protect, then that ultimately protects our costs later.
35:04
SPEAKER_03: And that that applies to homeowners and businesses.
35:07
SPEAKER_03: So with our theme this season, James, cause what do you think successful collective advocacy looks like maybe for you or for the chamber in five to ten years?
35:17
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think I think really just collaboration.
35:19
SPEAKER_00: I think it's it's more routine rather than something we just build from scratch.
35:23
SPEAKER_00: Whenever a problem becomes urgent, I think businesses, nonprofits, the agriculture side, government, and then just community organizations would already have that trust relationship and clear ways to share information and kind of act together there.
35:36
SPEAKER_00: So I think for the chamber side of things, I would really just hope businesses feel that advocacy is accessible to them.
35:43
SPEAKER_00: It's not just something that's reserved for the lobbyists or the just the large organizations.
35:48
SPEAKER_00: So then on the clean water side of things, I think a success would mean employers just have that better understanding and their connection to the issue.
35:55
SPEAKER_00: And partners can really just point to more businesses participating in these practical projects.
35:59
SPEAKER_00: And Lancaster can really just pursue growth without losing the natural resources and the quality of life that makes this place so special.
36:06
SPEAKER_03: That's James Mic drop.
36:11
SPEAKER_01: Well, that brings us to my favorite part of the show, and that is trivia time.
36:18
SPEAKER_01: James, you are proud of your Greek heritage.
36:21
SPEAKER_00: Very proud.
36:21
SPEAKER_01: From culture to food, as we mentioned, some of the best food in the world.
36:25
SPEAKER_01: Yes, sir.
36:26
SPEAKER_01: Uh history, mythology.
36:28
SPEAKER_01: So I have devised a round of trivia called Greek or not Greek.
36:32
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
36:33
SPEAKER_01: The rules are simple.
36:34
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to give you an example of a person, place, or thing, and you let me know if it's Greek or not Greek.
36:38
SPEAKER_01: For example, if I say the Parthenon, you say that's Greek.
36:41
SPEAKER_00: There you go.
36:42
SPEAKER_01: And you will hear that.
36:43
SPEAKER_01: There you go.
36:45
SPEAKER_01: And so away we go.
36:47
SPEAKER_01: You're a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
36:49
SPEAKER_01: Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Bill McRides.
36:53
SPEAKER_00: That is an Eagle, go Birds.
36:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
36:56
SPEAKER_00: And is he Greek or is he not Greek?
36:58
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I'm sorry.
36:59
SPEAKER_00: He is Greek, I would say.
37:00
SPEAKER_01: Yes, you're correct.
37:02
SPEAKER_01: Greek American quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 40s.
37:06
SPEAKER_01: Late 40s.
37:07
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
37:09
SPEAKER_01: You mentioned it.
37:09
SPEAKER_01: Now I'm going to mispronounce it.
37:11
SPEAKER_01: Sovaki.
37:13
SPEAKER_00: Sovlaiki.
37:14
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
37:14
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
37:14
SPEAKER_01: And that is is that Greek or no?
37:16
SPEAKER_01: That is Greek.
37:17
SPEAKER_01: That is Greek.
37:20
SPEAKER_01: That I just found a found a love for that.
37:23
SPEAKER_01: And unfortunately, yeah, I don't.
37:24
SPEAKER_01: The Coptic language.
37:26
SPEAKER_01: The Coptic language.
37:28
SPEAKER_01: That is not Greek.
37:30
SPEAKER_01: That is not.
37:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's not a Greek language, but it's often confused with being Greek because it uses the same version of the Greek alphabet.
37:38
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
37:38
SPEAKER_01: So there you go.
37:40
SPEAKER_01: How about algebra?
37:42
SPEAKER_00: That is not Greek.
37:44
SPEAKER_01: That is not Greek.
37:46
SPEAKER_01: It sounds vaguely Greek, but it's actually from Arabic.
37:48
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
37:49
SPEAKER_01: So baklava.
37:50
SPEAKER_00: That is 100% Greek.
37:52
SPEAKER_01: That I'm I'm gonna give that both, actually.
37:55
SPEAKER_01: It is and is not, although it's associated with Greek cuisine, certainly how I know it.
37:59
SPEAKER_01: Its origins go back to 8th century BCE.
38:04
SPEAKER_01: I don't even know what that even stands for anymore anymore, but uh before the current era, I think, is what that stands for.
38:09
SPEAKER_01: Assyria.
38:10
SPEAKER_01: So modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey.
38:13
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
38:13
SPEAKER_01: We'll take that right at it.
38:14
SPEAKER_01: Probably all Greece.
38:16
SPEAKER_01: It was probably all part of the Greek at some point.
38:19
SPEAKER_01: The Pancratian.
38:22
SPEAKER_00: I would say that sounds Greek.
38:24
SPEAKER_01: That actually is Greek.
38:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:26
SPEAKER_01: That is a that is a fierce mix of like boxing and wrestling with almost new rules.
38:30
SPEAKER_01: It's basically the UFC when it first got started, before they put the rules in.
38:34
SPEAKER_01: This that's what it was.
38:35
SPEAKER_01: Get in get in a cage and win.
38:39
SPEAKER_01: However, that looked like Pittsburgh Steeler running back Franco Harris.
38:45
SPEAKER_01: I would say he's not Greek.
38:46
SPEAKER_01: You are correct, he is not Greek.
38:47
SPEAKER_01: He was actually African American and Italian, and his fans were called Franco's Italian army.
38:54
SPEAKER_01: There you go.
38:56
SPEAKER_03: You just had to put a Steelers thing in there.
38:58
SPEAKER_03: I did, I did.
38:58
SPEAKER_03: Also go birds.
39:02
SPEAKER_01: I like them both.
39:03
SPEAKER_01: How about Thor?
39:04
SPEAKER_00: I would say he's not Greek.
39:06
SPEAKER_00: You're correct, he is not Greek.
39:07
SPEAKER_01: He is the hammer-wielding god of thunder in Norse mythology.
39:12
SPEAKER_01: Pegasus.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: That is Greek.
39:14
SPEAKER_01: That is Greek.
39:15
SPEAKER_01: Winged horse.
39:16
SPEAKER_01: Greek mythology.
39:18
SPEAKER_01: The word democracy.
39:19
SPEAKER_00: That is 100% Greek.
39:22
SPEAKER_00: It is.
39:22
SPEAKER_01: I found this interesting.
39:23
SPEAKER_01: It actually comes from the word demos, which means people, and Kratia, which means roll.
39:29
SPEAKER_01: So there you go.
39:30
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
39:30
SPEAKER_01: Tune into the podcast and learn stuff.
39:32
SPEAKER_01: How about how about the word hippopotamus?
39:34
SPEAKER_01: I would say that that is Greek.
39:36
SPEAKER_01: That is Greek, actually.
39:37
SPEAKER_01: It means river horse.
39:39
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
39:39
SPEAKER_01: I got one more here for you.
39:44
SPEAKER_03: I love it.
39:44
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
39:45
SPEAKER_01: Stick it into the trivia.
39:47
SPEAKER_01: You betcha.
39:48
SPEAKER_01: How about pajamas?
39:50
SPEAKER_01: Ooh.
39:51
SPEAKER_01: That's an interesting one.
39:53
SPEAKER_01: No.
39:53
SPEAKER_01: I would say that's not Greek.
39:55
SPEAKER_01: You know, you're going to get this either way.
39:57
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
39:58
SPEAKER_01: Because the word is not Greek.
40:01
SPEAKER_01: The clothing article is not Greek, but there are four very large textile companies in Greece that manufacture pajamas.
40:09
SPEAKER_01: Interesting.
40:09
SPEAKER_01: So you get it right either way.
40:11
SPEAKER_01: Love that.
40:12
SPEAKER_01: And that's our trivia.
40:14
SPEAKER_01: That is our show.
40:16
SPEAKER_01: James, thanks for coming on.
40:17
SPEAKER_01: Telling us about how the chamber works with the businesses in the local area and how that all fits together.
40:24
SPEAKER_01: As part of this collaborative clean water effort.
40:26
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
40:27
SPEAKER_03: Thanks, James.
40:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thank you for having me.
40:30
SPEAKER_01: And we will be back in just a couple of weeks.
40:32
SPEAKER_01: Until then, take care.
40:36
SPEAKER_01: Cleanwater Conversations is brought to you by Lancaster Clean Water Partners.
40:40
SPEAKER_01: If you have comments or suggestions on show topics, or would like to be a sponsor for a season or an episode of Cleanwater Conversations, send us an email at info at Lancaster Cleanwater Partners dot com.
40:51
SPEAKER_01: Thanks for listening.