Wow! The past six years enhanced my perceptions and opened my eyes to the virtues of this place known as the Queen City!
To be sure, Cincinnatians let you know where they stand - whether it’s
the high school or college you cheer for, the brand of chili you eat,
or the value you place on wanting Cincinnati to be the best. People
here are committed. You don’t just go along to get along. You question
and probe. You let others know how you feel. Boy, do you let folks
know how you feel!
I have experienced this tutelage in person - often with hugs and smiles
that would ignite a bonfire! Others of you have taken a more
diplomatic path, issuing me a slight nod here and there, a question, a
prod, an outright correction. Still others of you decided early on to
keep your distance.
But happily there are those of you who actually tried to teach me a
thing or two. What I have learned is that Greater Cincinnatians take
pride in your region, but are relatively humble about it. By and large,
you recognize the importance of our nine Fortune 500 companies. You
appreciate that we have one of the most successful Chambers of Commerce
in the nation. You celebrate the successes of the United Way campaign
and the Fine Arts Fund. You were proud to host the NAACP and National
Baptist convention here. You know that our small businesses are the
engine for our economy. You appreciate that the University of
Cincinnati is one of the top public research institutions in the
nation. But, you don’t make much noise about all of that, or the many
other accomplishments and assets of our region - because that’s how you
are.
Cincinnatians also always want winners. Cincinnatians want to win in
life, and Cincinnatians will continue to step up in support of the
"cradle-to-career" initiative called
Strive. Cincinnatians want to win as a
community and have joined together to create a vision for the future
called
Agenda 360. Cincinnatians want
to win on a worldwide scale and have been vocal in support of academic
progress, research excellence and dynamic innovation at the University
of Cincinnati.
So, in my time as a Cincinnatian, I have seen and learned much about
Cincinnati, and I appreciate those qualities that make this city a
wonderful place. Thank you for a great six years in this remarkable
city.