BEING CENTRAL TEXAN
In Search of Community O
ur family moved to Belton in 1988 in search of community. We found opportunities to invest and engage as we discovered a community in which to sink deep roots. Like many others, we were drawn to the Belton area by the quality of life and community environment that included the things we valued. At the top of that list were high quality public schools for our children. We found schools that would nurture and challenge our kids to excel, as well as opportunities for us to engage. It did not take long for us to find ways to connect with our community and RANDY PITTENGER schools, as we quickly became volunteers with local churches, PTAs and other school-related groups. The volunteer work was encouraging and rewarding as we found we could make a difference by showing up and being involved. That involvement eventually led to serving on the Belton ISD Board of Trustees for 24 years, and then to my current position as president/CEO of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce. My grandfather served for 24 years as a United States Congressman, so it was instilled in me from an early age the importance of community connections and service to community. My grandfather wisely counseled me that “all politics is local” and listening to people around you is the best way to learn how to help those in need. I found that to be true in my experience as an elected official, and cherish the relationships that come from being connected to and listening to those with whom we live in community. Throughout the time I served on the school board we worked diligently to maintain the community values we cherish as our school district experienced rapid growth. On many occasions when people would lament the anticipated loss of community that would come with growth, we repeated a commitment to actively working together to hold true to our values and community
spirit: a legacy of high expectations and great opportunity. For many years when asked why I love Belton my most common response was about the community support for our kids and our schools. The long tradition of support for our public schools is a treasured feature of our community, and demonstrates the commitment we have collectively for investing in our kids. Certainly there are numerous other aspects of our community that make it distinctive and special, but you can learn a lot about a community by how it values and invest in its children. Another long time tradition that makes our Belton community distinctive is the great support for our churches and non-profit organizations; another indicator of the health of a community. I am always amazed and proud of the way our community comes together to help our neighbors in need. Helping Hands Ministry of Belton, Project Apple Tree, and other similar programs are great examples of what can happen when churches and individuals work together to provide a more efficient delivery of resources. My transition to the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce was an opportunity to continue to promote our community as a great place to live, work, shop, play and raise a family. We have experienced tremendous growth in the Belton area as more people search for such a community. While this year has created some unique challenges for our locally owned businesses, we have seen the results of working together, adapting to changing circumstances, and supporting each other. One of the key lessons from the 2020 health and economic crisis is that we are all in this together and we are stronger together. The importance of community, of helping each other, has been evident throughout our area. While many are still struggling during this pandemic, we are encouraged by how many new businesses have opened, and how people are continuing to choose the Belton area. Ultimately we are all in search of community. I am thankful that we found one that is special and is our home. #ILoveBelton Randy Pittenger is president and CEO of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce.
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