2021 Annual Meeting Address
Happy Holidays to our Durham Fair Association. On behalf Executive Team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
I had mentioned in our recent Annual Meeting the accomplishments of this past year and reminded our members regarding the great work of our predecessors. I mentioned that each of us has a community responsibility to keep this great tradition alive, and that all our volunteers make a significant impact on our Fairâs future. This fair has been a noble tradition and part of our heritage, itâs why we live here, itâs who we are, itâs in our individual DNA to be part of this incredible story.
I had referenced an article that I had come across a few years ago, but I thought it was worthy enough to re-mention. This article discussed our âshort timeâ here on this planet. In fact, it demonstrated how short our time is by mentioning all that is left when we leave here, is a small etching on our headstone which states when we were born, and the date when we died. It referred to this time as the âdash periodâ.  The article went on to discuss what really matters in life is not the two dates mentioned on your headstone but rather the âdash periodâ in between, which demonstrated to me the short time we haveâŠ. here on this planetâŠto make a difference⊠or not.
Making a difference means so many different things to so many people. Why is this relevant to all of you in our community? Because as volunteers, what you do during that âdash periodâ is most significant.
You can measure this time in a monetary sense, most of us spend a great deal of our time spent here providing for our families, but how do we measure or more importantly give back time? As volunteers you give back time. Time is the most precious resource in your lives.
If you consider that dash period again, how many hours are in there? Itâs not billions. Itâs not infinite. Money can be printed, Time cannot. Consider this, once you give an hour of your time it lost forever. That hour you gave volunteering can never be replicated. Your time volunteering at our great Fair can be valued, but we can never put a value on your time spent here. How then can we value something that is so priceless?
As Volunteers you bring much to this Association. You provide, personal skills, experience, friendship, vision, leadership, and inspiration. Thatâs what you provide, but itâs the time you give which is most important. All of you have chosen to donate the most precious commodity known to this universe, your time!
I would like to personally take the time to congratulate and thank you for the amazing time you give, and for sharing your most precious commodity with our Association for the notable goals of this Association.
We are all privileged to be part of Connecticutâs Best Country FairâŠ. Connecticutâs Largest Agricultural Fair.  We are, and continue to be, a shining example for all other Connecticut Fairs. Together, we continue to carry on the great tradition of our forefathers, while forging ahead regarding our Fairâs future.  Each of you have much to be proud of for your individual contributions this year. No doubt itâs a lot of sacrifice, hard work and dedication, but the outcomes are very notable, and the personal dividends are plentiful.
Each year at the Annual Meeting, I make this claim. âTo be part of this great tradition is truly a privilege and an honorâ. What is amazing to me year over year, is this Communityâs ârally callâ to get involved. Together we proudly encompass over 1700 volunteers who show up annually, to participate in one of the Stateâs largest Mass Gathering event which truly fosters a sense of community spirit and involvement like no other.
This past year was a testament to the dedication and fortitude of this organization. We were faced with some unusual challenges, like a Pandemic, but as a team, again we rallied. We overcame some very difficult obstacles. Despite any challenges presented to this Association, as in the past and looking forward to the future, this Association gets high praise for keeping our namesake and heritage alive carrying on this most honorable tradition.
In closing, consider what an exciting time it is to be part of this Association with our 102nd Anniversary on our doorstep. To have been a small part of this Agricultural legacy is truly a privilege. Despite a challenging past year, the State of our Fair Association is good, and I look forward to the prosperous endeavors of our great Fair and the impact we have on our surrounding communities for the future. As your President, I will continue to attempt to lead by example, listen to you always, and continue to find some common ground in areas that will benefit our Association.
Looking into the future, our solemn promise for 2022 and beyond should be.
to continue to work hard and to make an impact on our surrounding communities
to continue to preserve the Agricultural roots of our great Fair
and to promise to preserve the great New England traditions of the Durham Agricultural Fair.
God Bless you all and your families. Again, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Daniel Miramant
President
Durham Agricultural Fair Association
