A Message From The Meyer C. Weiner Company
May 4, 2026
By: Joshua T. Weiner, President & CEO
By: Joshua T. Weiner, President & CEO
As we are in the year of our country’s celebration of 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the words of Thomas Paine from December 23, 1776 seem as apt today as they were then. “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”
Frankly, I am more than tired of these messages of crises---our democracy, our governmental authority, our national health, our judicial rulings, our climate, our civility and the very dignity of self and our interaction with our fellow human beings. While there are numerous righteous individuals and worthy organizations who raise their voices in condemnation of words and actions that lack the founding principles of our nation, far too many conduct their lives in silence. “Last year we said, “Things can’t go on like this.” And, they didn’t. They got worse!” Will Rogers.
I have tried over these past few years to craft a message of hope and optimism. After all, our business is about the future. However, in order to succeed in the future, we must take care of today and that requires learning from the past. We must act and we have to remind ourselves of the traditions from our Declaration of Independence such as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” and that we stand for freedom, equality and a government whose purpose is as a protector of individual rights. We must respect each other, protect each other and take care of each other.
We rely on these traditions to guide us in these “times that try men’s souls.” “Without tradition, life would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!” Joseph Stein from the stories of Sholom Aleichem.
One of the great traditions of my business life is attendance at the Convention, with a capital “C” or the “Show” as my father would call it. The spring gathering of those in our industry who know it is of importance and magnitude measured by the degree of preparation, the active presence during the show and the all-important follow up. This is a “double” year for me. My 77th year (age) and my 55th Convention. I intend for it to be a meaningful one and will take the opportunity to continue our culture of people and process, relationships, long term asset appreciation and tradition.
However, to keep from falling off the roof by blindly following traditions, we must use balance. That is a tradition, too!
I look forward to another great Convention and another great year!
Frankly, I am more than tired of these messages of crises---our democracy, our governmental authority, our national health, our judicial rulings, our climate, our civility and the very dignity of self and our interaction with our fellow human beings. While there are numerous righteous individuals and worthy organizations who raise their voices in condemnation of words and actions that lack the founding principles of our nation, far too many conduct their lives in silence. “Last year we said, “Things can’t go on like this.” And, they didn’t. They got worse!” Will Rogers.
I have tried over these past few years to craft a message of hope and optimism. After all, our business is about the future. However, in order to succeed in the future, we must take care of today and that requires learning from the past. We must act and we have to remind ourselves of the traditions from our Declaration of Independence such as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” and that we stand for freedom, equality and a government whose purpose is as a protector of individual rights. We must respect each other, protect each other and take care of each other.
We rely on these traditions to guide us in these “times that try men’s souls.” “Without tradition, life would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!” Joseph Stein from the stories of Sholom Aleichem.
One of the great traditions of my business life is attendance at the Convention, with a capital “C” or the “Show” as my father would call it. The spring gathering of those in our industry who know it is of importance and magnitude measured by the degree of preparation, the active presence during the show and the all-important follow up. This is a “double” year for me. My 77th year (age) and my 55th Convention. I intend for it to be a meaningful one and will take the opportunity to continue our culture of people and process, relationships, long term asset appreciation and tradition.
However, to keep from falling off the roof by blindly following traditions, we must use balance. That is a tradition, too!
I look forward to another great Convention and another great year!
