MUSCATINE, Iowa — An international business consultant urged Muscatine’s top business professionals Tuesday to “get in the game” despite economic uncertainty.

Courage and tenacity are two of the abilities leaders should possess, Patrick McGaughey told the approximately 300 people who attended the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual meeting and recognition night.

“The economy starts right here in the Chamber of Commerce,” said McGaughey of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

His grandmother was born in Muscatine, and his grandfather was employed at John Deere in Moline, Ill.

Chamber President and CEO Bill Phelan introduced McGaughey as an “entertaining, relevant and pragmatic” speaker.

McGaughey, the former president of the Northwest Chamber Leaders Conference and president of the Idaho Association of Chambers of Commerce, said chambers of commerce are the “most powerful powerless organization ever created.”

Chambers have no true authority, but the members together can do what none can do alone, he said.

“We’re powerful because we have members like you in the room,” he said.

But McGaughey said leaders cannot let fear over the economy undermine their power and vision for success.

He compared the financial crisis to the crumbling of the airline and tourism industries after the Sept. 11 attacks. People raised the U.S. flag on Sept. 12, he said, but were too afraid to board planes a few days later.

“Who are we as business leaders? We’re courageous. We get back on the plane,” McGaughey said.

Details

During its annual meeting and recognition dinner Tuesday, the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognized:

* Stan Howe, retired HON Industries president and CEO, as its first board member emeritus

* Bill Zinkewich, of SSAB Iowa Steel and former IPSCO Steel plant in Montpelier, as Volunteer of the Year for his support of technology and service to the community