Winners to Be Honored at the October 21 Annual Awards Dinner at Point Lookout Resort
The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the award winners to be honored at the 50th Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Unitel/Bluestreak, and set for October 21 at Point Lookout Resort. The theme for the evening, "Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence," highlights the historic role the Chamber has played in promoting and fostering excellence in the community. The gala evening marks the achievements of business and community members and honors those who have contributed to the health and vitality of our region.
We welcome all community members to join us in celebrating the achievements of the award winners honored at the Annual Awards Dinner. Larry Sterrs, Chairman and CEO of the Unity Foundation, will present the keynote address. The night also features a cocktail reception, gourmet meal, and live auction of themed gift packages generously donated by Chamber members. The event is made possible through the support of our major sponsors, including Event Sponsor Unitel/Bluestreak, Reception Sponsor Bank of America, and Keynote Sponsor Unity College. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. Tickets are $50 for members/$60 for non-members and can be purchased by calling the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce office at 338-5900.
Waldo County Healthcare, Inc. (WCHI) has been selected as the Economic Development Award recipient. The award recognizes a person or organization that clearly represented a major influence in boosting the economic vitality and economic climate in Waldo County in the prior year, either as a catalyst for economic development or through contribution to economic development by added services or employment.
As one of the largest employers in Waldo County, WCHI offers comprehensive healthcare services through Waldo County General Hospital, an acute care facility with full outpatient services and 24-hour emergency department, four rural health centers, public health nursing and home health. They are one of the largest employers in Belfast and attract skilled workers to the region with numerous employment opportunities. In May, they cut the ribbon on a new building, doubling the size of their dialysis unit, and bringing the project in on-time and under-budget. Additionally, the healthcare facilities contribute to the core regional infrastructure necessary to economic prosperity.
Unity College has been chosen as the recipient of the Leadership Award, which recognizes an organization or business that has had a strong and positive influence in the community and displayed vision and courage in advancement of their business or organization or impact on community.
Founded in 1965, Unity College is a leader in environmental education. Consistently identified as one of the countries “greenest colleges” by numerous media, including the Princeton Review and EcoSalon.com, the college sets the standard for its commitment to the environment and educating tomorrow’s environmental leaders.
Bangor Savings Bank has been named the Business of the Year. The award recognizes a business that has demonstrated strong growth and a positive influence in the community. The award may also recognize innovation, unique methods or processes, special employee programs or services, or sustainability.
Bangor Savings Bank Community Matters More effort has supported the efforts of non-profit organizations in Waldo County and throughout the state. Philanthropy is a prominent aspect of the Bangor Savings Bank culture. In 2010, employees will give more than $100,000 to community causes and the Bank will give nearly $1 million. The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation was created in 1997 to help fulfill a commitment to improving community life in Maine. Several local organizations have benefited from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, including Unity College, the Waldo County YMCA, Waldo County General Hospital, and the capital campaign to build the Mt. View School of Performing Arts
GO Logic, selected as the Small Business of the Year, is a local company creating revolutionary spaces. Their project on the Crocker Road in Belfast will be the first certified passive home in Maine. The structure is so well insulated that is heated purely by the sun’s energy - no heating system is required. The homes designed and built by the GO Logic team are setting the standard for environmentally conscious design and raising the profile of high-performance building technologies in cold climates.
The Small Business of the Year award recognizes the smaller business that dot Waldo County. This award reflects something special about the business, whether it is a unique style or approach, new technology, special services, or some other criteria that distinguishes the business from others similar to it.
Broadreach Family & Community Services will be honored as the Non-Profit Organization of the Year. The award recognizes that many nonprofit organizations support the economic fabric of Waldo County as well as the populations directly effected by their direct services. This award reflects that the organization has displayed strong growth, developed and maintained a reputation for organizational excellence, made a recent significant change or improvement, and/or has had a major impact on the lives of individuals within the past year.
For almost 30 years, Broadreach has delivered a wide range of critical community services, including quality early childhood education and care, child abuse and neglect prevention, behavioral and mental health services for children and adults, after school programs for teens, and tutoring for low-literacy for adults. In recent years, Broadreach ensured the delivery of critical services by merging three non-profit organizations and by opening a new mental health agency. Their services have provided direct assistance to over 2,000 individuals in Waldo County.
Bluejacket Shipcrafters has been selected as the recipient of the Maritime Heritage Award. The award honors a business, organization, or individual that makes a significant contribution in sustaining our maritime tradition. This award celebrates the importance of the maritime industry to our communities and is awarded to mark an outstanding advancement, event, or product in that category.
BlueJacket Shipcrafters has been in continuous operation since 1905! They are, by far, the oldest ship modeling company in the U.S. Their models are prized by museums all over the country—more than 40 are in the Smithsonian alone. Their innovative idea of mass producing cast fittings and selling kits to the general public started a new industry in the United States and helped turn what had been the art of a few craftsmen into a hobby enjoyed by thousands. They are the official model maker of the US Navy and construct over 95% of each model in Searsport, with the talent of local craftspeople.
Chris Urick has been selected as the Community Volunteer of the Year. This award is designed to recognize an individual who has shown outstanding service as a volunteer for an organization or activity in Waldo County. The volunteer may be someone involved in a major community activity or someone who has worked hard for a single, smaller charitable organization.
Urick created Arts in the Park in 1995 for the purpose of raising money for the Belfast City Parks. Over the years, Arts in the Park has raised over $60,000 in support of the Friends of Belfast Parks, which uses the money to enhance established parks and create new opportunities, such as the Dog Park. Additionally, the local business community benefits from the influx of visitors during the two-day event.
She also participates in the Belfast Garden Club and was instrumental in creating the Open Garden Days, which provides more opportunities to visit the area and raises funds for the garden clubs efforts to beautify the city. Her work at St. Margaret’s Church helps sustain efforts in community outreach and she has been President of the women’s group several times. She also volunteers at the Chamber’s Information Center, where she guides countless visitors to explore the region.
The coveted Citizen of the Year Award remains a well-guarded secret until the evening of the Awards Dinner. The “secret” award recipient has been selected but will remain undisclosed until the unveiling of the award on October 21. Join the Chamber of Commerce to honor (and surprise) this well-deserving citizen who has contributed to the community in truly remarkable ways. The Citizen of the Year award recognizes a person who has made an outstanding positive impact on some facet of Waldo County during their lifetime, either by a single event or on a continuous basis. The 2009 Citizen of the Year award winner was Mary Frenning.
Award winners will be given individual awards and recognized at the annual dinner on October 21, 2010 at Point Lookout Resort from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. For more information about the event, check the Chamber’s web site, www.belfastmaine.org, or call the office at 338-5900.
#
For more information, contact Janet Dutson, Executive Director, Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
207-338-3310
