A View From My Chair 021225

A View From My Chair

by Mike Stafford, Chairman of the Board 2025
February 12, 2025

 President’s Day

Today is Lincoln’s Birthday. Happy Birthday Honest Abe. Former President Ronald Reagan in his first inaugural speech summed up Lincoln’s impact on our country in one line, “Whoever would understand in his heart the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham Lincoln.”

For as much criticism as California gets, at least our state is one of the few that still honors President Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday with a state holiday. State and local offices are closed and so are the courts. However, Lincoln’s Birthday is not a federal holiday, so do check your U.S. mail today because postal carriers will be working. 

The federal government only recognizes George Washington’s birthday, not Lincoln’s, as a federal holiday and it’s not called Presidents Day and it never falls on Washington’s birthday.

Confused?  Probably President Washington would be, too, but not surprised. 

In an essay in Military Review, Lt. Col. Harry C. Garner, U.S. Army, Retired wrote about Logan Beirne’s book Blood of Tyrants in which Beirne reflects on “...the tumultuous relationship between Washington and the feebly empowered Continental Congress. He describes the experiment of congressional control over the war efforts during the initial phases of the revolution and Washington’s extraordinary effort to adhere to confused, unsynchronized congressional mandates and directives.” 

In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holidays Act which combined Lincoln and Washington’s Birthday into a single date on the third Monday in February beginning in 1971.This means that a national holiday honoring our first president’s birthday will never be on Washington’s actual birthday of February 22. Why wasn’t the fourth Monday in February chosen?  One reason mentioned was doubt as to when Washington’s birthday really was. Another was a concern about Lent and Mardi Gras sometimes happening at the end of February. 

Fine, then the third Monday is Presidents Day. Actually, no. There is no official Presidents Day.  It’s still Washington’s Birthday. Sorry, Abe.
​
Turns out we have California and Texas to thank for Presidents Day.  Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays were always good sales days for retailers, especially appliance and auto dealers. When the calendar aligns just right, as it did that first year in 1971, retailers get a heck of a good long shopping weekend.  Now it’s commonplace that we honor all Presidents on Presidents Day but shoppers really are honoring Presidents Lincoln and Washington. Honest. No lie.

Sources:
“Happy Uniform Birthday George”, Wall Street Journal February 10, 1971 Robert Bartley

Army U Press
Dallas City News

BIZ NEWS OF THE WEEK  

A Penny For Your Thoughts – Now we have a nickel problem.
CNN

Mamma Mia! It’s Wicked – The film adaptation of the Broadway musical has now grossed more than 2008’s Mamma Mia.
Billboard

Here’s the Skinny – Retailers are poised for an increase in sales as skinny jeans mean a closet makeover.   
CNBC 

​UCC UPDATE

Government Affairs Committee – February 24 (new date) Zoom (one week later than usual)
UCC Executive Board – February 24
State of the County Luncheon – March 5 (Porter Ranch Country Club)
LAPD Captains Luncheon – April 2 (CBS Radford Studios)
Inspirational Women’s Awards Luncheon – May 8 (nominations due March 3) 

CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Burbank (burbankchamber.org)
Burbank Chamber is alert everyone if you receive a suspicious email from Burbank Chamber that does not originate from their Burbank Chamber email address, mark as spam and report immediately. 
 
Calabasas (calabasaschamber.org)
February 20 - Good Morning Calabasas Networking Breakfast  Lovi’s 7:30am-9am
February 20 - Attorneys Forum 12-1:30pm Anza Hotel

Filipino-American (faccgla.org)
February 19 at 6pm - Join Us for Monthly Networking Nights!
Theme: Diversity, Inclusion, and the Power of Entrepreneurial Mothers
Event Title: Momprenuers: Celebrating Moms and Leaders in Business
This February, we celebrate the strength of diversity and the resilience of entrepreneurial mothers who balance family, business, and community impact. Join us for an evening of inspiration as we highlight stories from entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and honor the incredible contributions of moms in business. Connect with diverse leaders, share experiences, and discover strategies for growth and inclusion in entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a mompreneur, a supporter, or a business leader, this event is a chance to network, collaborate, and celebrate the diverse voices shaping our future. 

Granada Hills (granadachamber.com) 
Ongoing – Farmer’s Market Fridays

North Valley Regional (northridgechamber.org)
​February 21- The Friday Morning Buzz
Chamber Office
9 - 10:30 am 9015
Wilbur Ave. Northridge 91324

SAVE THE DATE
April 23 - Heroes in Education Gala

Northwest Valley (chatsworthchamber.com)
Happy Hour Mixer
February 20 at Los Toros 6-10pm 

Panorama City (panoramachamber.com)
March 11 - Next Monthly Meeting at U.S Bank 14500 Roscoe.

San Fernando City (facebook.com/sfcitychamber)
Congratulations to the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce Board installed last Friday by Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez at Bodevi’s. ​

​Sherman Oaks-Encino (shermanoaksencinochamber.org)
Participate in the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count to help collect the data to develop strategies to end homelessness and determine where funding and resources will be needed most.

Encino: Sherman Oaks/Encino Chamber Office, 8pm
Sherman Oaks: Church of the Chimes, 7pm

Studio City (studiocitychamber.com)
Be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market on the weekend
Located on Ventura Place, between Radford and Laurel Canyon

Toluca Lake (tolucalakechamber.com)
Community Clean Up – February 22

West Valley-Warner Center (woodlandhillscc.net)
Today – Ribbon Cutting Woodland Hills Urgent Care 10am-1pm at 21835 Ventura Blvd.

Winnetka (winnetkachamberofcommerce.com)
Board Installation in March. ​