News Staff Report
The Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting (Gala) tentatively set for late January has been rescheduled for March 12, and plans are to have it outside to comply with COVID-19 guidelines. The Chamber is not releasing details other than the event will have a Mardi Gras theme.
However, the Chamber is taking nominations now for the awards to be presented that evening – Lifetime Achievement Award, Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, and Lifetime Business Award.
The following guidelines were issued by the Chamber.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Through this award, we seek to identify a leader whose long-term active engagement in our community has had a significant, positive economic impact locally. A Lifetime Achievement Award winner is a successful leader in a company, industry, and in our community. Furthermore, the Lifetime Award allows us to recognize a true pillar who will teach future generations by example. This award recognizes contributions over the entirety of a career and life, rather than, or in addition to, a single contribution. The nominee has been active in the community for at least 10-15 years cumulatively. Note: Individuals will not be honored more than once for this award.
Citizen of the Year – The Citizen of the Year Award is a very special honor meant to recognize individuals, not for a particular year of volunteer service, but rather to recognize a person who has performed outstanding and dedicated volunteer service to the community and/or towards helping others over time separate from their employment responsibilities. It may be presented to living persons or posthumously. With the Citizen of the Year award, usually, there are significant accomplishments that have occurred during the past 1 to 3 years. This award differs in that the recipients are individuals whose service to the community has been so significant in civic, economic development, political, educational, and/or religious activities over a sustained period of time that the history of the Atmore area could not be written reasonably without their inclusion.
Business of the Year – The Business of the Year will have demonstrated how they stand out from the crowd in our community including ambition, profitability, growth, sound business planning, customer satisfaction, and management of people. They will have a “WOW Factor” that is worth celebrating. This business must (1) be in good standing as a member of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, (2) be established locally in the same business for at least 5 years, (3) demonstrate community leadership by participating in community activities and contributing their time, effort and resources, (4) demonstrate exemplary business practices, including the use of quality products and/or services and conducting business in a facility with an attractive image, (5) demonstrate growth and profitability, (6) reflect leadership and community involvement through volunteer, contributions or in-kind services, (7) Demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit
Lifetime Business Award – Through this award, we seek to identify a business whose long-term active engagement in our community has had a significant, positive economic impact locally. A Lifetime Business Award winner is a successful business leader in both industry and our community. Furthermore, the Lifetime Business Award allows us to recognize a true pillar who will teach future generations by example. This award recognizes contributions over the entirety of a career and life, rather than, or in addition to, a single contribution. The nominee must (1) be established locally in the same business for at least 10-15 years cumulatively, (2) demonstrate community leadership by participating in community activities and contributing their time, effort, and resources, (3) demonstrate exemplary business practices, including the use of quality products and/or services and conducting business in a facility with an attractive image, (4) demonstrate growth and profitability, (5) reflect leadership and community involvement through volunteer, contributions or in-kind services, (6) demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit.
For details on submitting nominations, visit the Chamber’s Facebook page or website www.atmorechamber.com, or call 251-368-3305.