Page 4 - March-April 2025 - REPORTER v2 - web optimized

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

HELP US HELP YOU!

BARBARA SCHERING

LBMAO Chair of the Board
CashierPRO Retail Systems Inc., North Bay

s we venture into the bright and bewildering realm of 2025— to us. So, if you have any ideas, suggestions, or even just a nice, warm
Anow in its fourth month, and yet, somehow, it feels like we’ve just compliment to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our office is
blinked and the year zipped past like a squirrel chased by a dog—I always open, and our contact information is as easy to find as a kid in
can’t help but reflect on the familiar sentiment we all share: time truly a candy store. Yes, we truly embrace the chaos of communication, even
has a mind of its own, and it seems to be on a caffeine high! Remember if it means wading through a sea of emails! Oh, and let’s not forget
those lazy childhood days? Long car rides that promised adventure the incredible team that’s here for you—Trevor, Gail, and Carolyn are
(and ended in “Are we there yet?” torment), weekends that stretched your go-to peeps, even if they might be juggling flaming torches and
before us like an endless buffet of fun, and holidays that felt like they committees!
would never end? Ah, sweet nostalgia! Don’t miss checking out the events and training sections on
Yet here we are, grappling with the fact that those days of our website. We had some fabulous training sessions lined up this
timelessness have slipped through our fingers faster than a politician spring—you guessed it—even in Thunder Bay! And if you love a good
dodging responsibility. And while the whirlwind of time can drive, mark your calendars for the Cool Car Ride on Thursday, June
sometimes feel like a hurricane of chaos—especially when political 12th, in the Niagara region. Get your engines revved up because our
leaders decide that tariffs are a great idea, like adding hot sauce to motorcycle enthusiasts will be grinning like kids in a toy store—just a
ice cream—we can take solace in knowing that these storms, albeit hop, skip, and a jump from Port Dover for Friday the 13th!
inconvenient, are only temporary. Sure, our wallets might feel a bit Now, to ensure that our association continues to serve you in the
lighter, but I firmly believe that with resilience, laughter, and a pinch of best way possible, we’ll be sending out short surveys—for the most
luck, we’ll emerge not just intact, but even stronger and possibly wiser. part more straightforward than trying to assemble IKEA furniture!
Now, let’s shift gears from these challenges and roll into some Please, if your organization has someone who can tackle this task,
exciting updates since my last column. The board recently held an shoot us their contact info at info@LBMAO.on.ca. It’ll save you from
online meeting, which was both informative and filled with the kind receiving a barrage of emails and help ensure we gather solid insights.
of camaraderie that feels like a warm hug after a long day. Don’t As I wrap up, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your
worry, no one was actually hugging through the screen—technology continued support and engagement as we navigate these exciting,
hasn’t reached that level yet! We are eagerly anticipating an in- albeit occasionally bumpy, times together. Every column is a labour
person gathering in the near future, where the energy is sure to be of love, filled with reflections from our past escapades and plans for
electrifying—minus the danger of virtual background fiascos. the future—mostly uncovered during my adventures in retail support,
Speaking of excitement, we’re thrilled to welcome several new helping stores wrestle with software and operational shenanigans.
board members into our fold. They’re like fresh ingredients in a While I wish I could personally wander the aisles and observe market
recipe—you mix them in, and suddenly everything tastes better! I trends as they unfold, my heart lies with you all, cheering us on as we
encourage our board members to send in brief biographies for future tackle both good and bad days.
editions of The Reporter, so when you see their names, you won’t be Thank you for being part of this wild ride in 2025. Keep smiling,
left scratching your head wondering, “Who’s that?” keep thriving, and remember: in the grand scheme of time’s escapades,
As a member-driven organization—yes, we don’t just drive around we’re all in this together!
without a map, we actually listen!—I want to remind you that your
thoughts, questions, and mumblings at the coffee machine matter

4 LBMAO Reporter - March-April 2025 www.lbmao.on.ca