Published: October 31, 2009 09:08 am      

GOACC accepting noms for awards

The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce is now seeking nominations for several awards to be presented at its annual banquet Dec. 1, and it is seeking input from the public.

The chamber is accepting nominations for the 2009 Community Service - Business Award, Citizen of the Year award, and Nonprofit Community Service Award. All nominations must be in writing and the deadline to submit a nomination is 3 p.m., Nov. 13.

According to Sabrina Gray, GOACC president, the chamber is seeking nominations now because it has changed the date of its annual banquet from January to December.

“This year we are accepting nominations a little earlier than in years past because we have moved the banquet to December,” Gray said. “Also, we intend on keeping all of the award winners a surprise until the night of the banquet, which is different than in the past.”

Gray said one reason the banquet was moved is because January is typically so full of chamber related events across the area, plus the GOACC is also preparing for the annual Mardi Gras celebration at the same time.

“Years ago the banquet was originally held in December, so we are just going back to that previous tradition,” Gray said.

The banquet will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, inside the San Damiano Center at St. Francis of the Assisi Catholic Church, 4300 Meeks Drive in Orange.

The Community Service-Business Award is open to any business located in the Greater Orange area. The business is not required to be a member of the chamber and should be selected on the basis of its activities during the year for which it is being selected. However, the selection committee can consider the activities of the business for the previous five years.

The award should not be presented to any governmental entity, chamber or similar entity.

All entries should be submitted to Jarren Garrett, chairman; 2009 Community Service-Business Award.

Nominations for the above mentioned awards may be faxed to 409-886-3247, e-mailed to thechamber@orangetexaschamber.org or mailed to Jarren Garrett, Chairman; 2009 Community Service-Business Award, c/o the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, 1012 Green Ave., Orange, Texas, 77630-5620.

The Citizen of the Year Award is open to any resident of Orange County. The nominee can be, but is not required to be, a member of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce. The person should be considered on the basis of his or her activities during the year which this person is being nominated. However, the award should not be presented to paid professional leaders, such as city manager, county judges or others in this category.

The nominations are by secret ballot to preserve the enigma of the winner. If nominees are in a runoff, then only the committee chair, chairman of the board and president will know the results prior to the Dec. 1 annual banquet.

Nominations for the above mentioned awards may be faxed to 409-886-3247, e-mailed to thechamber@orangetexaschamber.org or mailed to Stephen Lee, chairman; Citizen of the Year Committee-Confidential; c/o the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, 1012 Green Ave., Orange, Texas, 77630-5620.

The Nonprofit Community Service Award is open to any Nonprofit organization with a 501 (c)3 tax status and is located in the greater Orange area.

The organization being nominated may be, but is not required to be, a member of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce.

The nominated organization should be selected on the basis of its activities during the year for which it has been nominated, but the committee can take into account activities over the previous five years. The award will be presented Dec. 1 at the chamber's annual meeting.

Nominations for the above mentioned awards may be faxed to 409-886-3247, e-mailed to thechamber@orangetexaschamber.org or mailed to Steve Aguillard, chairman; Nonprofit Community Service Award; c/o the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, 1012 Green Ave., Orange, Texas, 77630-5620.

The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce represents Orange, Pinehurst, West Orange, Mauriceville and Orangefield.