By Marge Hammersly

Don’t you want to put your two cents worth in about what Albert Lea will look like in the future?

Over the past three months, the “Albert Lea Area Listens” committee has sought the opinions of over 350 citizens and other individuals who are interested in the Albert Lea Area.

The committee has collected data on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the community as well as a “vision for Albert Lea.”

The collection of this data through listening sessions is in its last month and then will be sent on to the consulting firm Virchow Krause, which has been hired to help shape the data into a strategic plan.

The ultimate goal is to give our civic leaders and our citizens a plan that we can act upon with confidence in the priorities.

I urge everyone to make your voice heard. There are two listening session scheduled for friends, Chamber members and the general public which will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. at Dillan’s Restaurant.

These sessions are open to the public, so come and invite a friend or neighbor.

The final result will be one that has been shaped by all the interested folks who have been involved in the process.

If Albert Lea is to change and grow or reshape itself, it will happen only if all of our community gets involved. Join the process and make your ideas heard.

Call Cindy at the Chamber to RSVP (373-3938) if you’d like to attend.

(Marge Hamersly is associated with the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce.)