On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for the gifts that Mayor Keith Summey brings to my life. He has been extremely supportive of the employees of the City of North Charleston. He gave me the opportunity to work with all of them – all of them. Many cities train department heads and supervisors, but North Charleston opened the training to every employee. We did not separate them by rank. We mixed all levels. It was a tremendous experience. Some employees with the most unpopular jobs were the most dedicated. Mayor Summey took one of the courses along with other employees, had good attendance and did his homework. He has a great vision for the city and a wonderful way of relating to the people. I have seen him in many different venues and he is always the same. He was the first to issue a proclamation for Say Something Nice Day which gave the effort instant credibility. His associates Ray Anderson and Bob Connella laid the groundwork. Mayor Summey sometimes runs the cash register at Aunt Bea’s Restaurant, a great place to eat, but you had better go there hungry. If you haven’t been to the old city of North Charleston lately, you owe it to yourself to go. The transformation is miraculous. Take a good look at what vision, hard work and perseverance can accomplish. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the gift of Keith Summey to my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize the importance of someone to our lives and to let her or him know of our gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.