Industrial Opportunties will spotlight, present awards

Industrial Opportunities will spotlight and present its disability awards to clients and businesses who hire people with disabilities to give them a chance to be productive members of the workforce and to feel good about themselves. These awards will be given out on January 15, 2008 at the Cherokee Chamber Awards Dinner Meeting.

The Fourth Annual Awards Night will be part of the night's celebrations. The awards presented are Citizen of the Year, Civic Club or Community Organization of the Year and Chamber Member of the Year. Nominations are being sought for these awards and should include a resume of the candidate's or organization's contributions to the community during 2008.

Any individual who has made significant contributions to the community during the past year or prior years should be considered for Citizen of the Year.

Anyone can submit a nomination for these awards. While the annual dinner is for chamber members and their guests, nominees for the Citizen of the Year or Club or Community organization of the Year need not be a member of the chamber to be considered for the honor. Deadline to submit a nomination in the form of a biography is December 15, 2008.

Past recipients for Citizen of the Year include Dr. Brian Mitchell, Edwin Manchester and Barbara Hughes. Past recipients for Service/Community Organization of the Year are Murphy Rotary Club, ACS Relay for Life Cherokee County and REACH Inc.

Please send nominations to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 805 W. U.S. Highway 64, Murphy, N.C. 28906; or email to director@cherokeecountychamber.com. For more information, call 837-2242.

Past chamber members of the year include John Carringer, manager Murphy Electric Power Board, Betsy Lane of Betsy Lane State Farm Insurance and Paula Watson, Paul's Jewelry. Chamber Member of the Year is given to a current member who has made outstanding contributions to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Each year's honoree is chosen by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Sponsors for the dinner are needed. Dinner tickets are $30 per person and includes complimentary wine bar.