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ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
For photos and details of past Chamber Award Banquets, click here.

The Annual Awards Banquet was held Thursday, January 21, 2010.

Community Service Honored
Constitution-Tribune, Fri Jan 22, 2010

Several individuals and one business were honored during the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet and Auction Thursday night at the Chillicothe Elks Lodge. The event included a silent auction, dinner and awards which honored Chamber members for their efforts in supporting the area chamber throughout the past year. The evening concluded with a “Dancing with Our Chillicothe Stars” dance competition featuring local citizens as the dancers. Around 230 people attended.

Outgoing Chamber Chairwoman Diane Garber began her remarks by listing the many local events in which the Chamber participates and helps organize each year, including the Great Northwest Days at the Capitol, the fundraising golf tournament, Holiday Parade, Chautauqua in the Park and more. She noted that even during a depressed economy, “Chillicothe rocked.” She noted the support that each activity receives from Chamber members and volunteers. “Events like these would not happen without teamwork,” she said. Garber said that the chamber has “awesome leaders” and then introduced members of the Chamber board who assisted her throughout the year.

Chamber Banquet, Dancing with the Stars
Constitution-Tribune, Friday, January 22, 2010

Here are a few photos from Thursday night's Dancing with the Stars competition at the Chillicothe Elks Lodge during the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet.

Photographer Butch Shaffer took the photos.
	Shanna Murray and Jim Houseworth
Eric Sensenich and Jessica VanDusen
	Nicole Booth and Matt Wenzel
Linda Gray Smith and Jim Valbracht

Steele Earns Lifetime Achievement Award
Constitution-Tribune, Fri Jan 22, 2010

C-T Photo / Butch Shaffer

CAPTION: Outstanding contributions to the community were recognized during the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Thursday evening at the Chillicothe Elks Lodge. Those honored are front, from left: Martha Berry, who was named Ambassador of the Year and who served as chairwoman of Diamonds are Forever Ambassador Team which was named the Ambassador Team of the Year; Karen Kay Summerville, who was named Chamber Person of the Year; and back, Shanna and Kevin Murray, co-owners of Golden Corral, which was named Chamber Business of the Year; Kenneth Lauhoff, who was presented with the Personal Community Service Award; and Paul Steele, who was presented with the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Outstanding contributions to the community were applauded during the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet at the Chillicothe Elks Lodge Thursday night.

• Paul Steele received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Kenneth Lauhoff received the Personal Community Service Award.
• Martha Berry received the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award. The Diamonds are Forever Ambassador Team, chaired by Berry, was named the Ambassador Team of the Year.
• Karen Kay Summerville was named the Chamber Person of the Year, and Golden Corral was named the Chamber Business of the Year.

Outgoing Chamber President Diane Garber presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul Steele. The recipient of this award, which is presented annually, must be a respected resident of the community, a leader, and someone who makes a significant contribution to the community over many years. Additionally, the recipient must have led several campaigns to promote the community and special events. Garber said that Steele has invested time, money and effort into other businesses around the area. In addition to farming, some of his other business ventures have included T&R Soil Service, S&S Construction and KMZU and WHB radio stations. “A generous, giving heart and spirit exemplify the way our winner lives his life,” Garber said. Steele has served on the boards of Chillicothe State Bank and the Litton Agri-Science Learning Center capital campaign. He also served 15 years on the Chillicothe Board of Education, serving as president three terms.

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