BANQUET: ‘LIGHT, HOPE AND NEW BEGINNINGS’
Community, chamber supporters honored at annual awards banquet
The Logan County Chamber of Commerce celebrated “Light, Hope and New Beginnings,” as it honored supporters and those who make a difference in the community at its annual awards banquet Saturday evening at Northeastern Junior College.
“Thank you for being the light, the hope and the beginning of great things for this county,” Executive Director Elinor Brown said in brief welcome remarks before awards were handed out.
Citizen of the Year
The Citizen of the Year Award went to Delinda Korrey Mcdowell. This award is given to a resident of Logan County for outstanding leadership, commitment and service to the culture and economic health and welfare of Logan County over a lifetime, someone who has demonstrated support to the county through significant contributions including time, volunteerism, financial donations, in-kind donations or the involvement and promotion of programs and projects that truly make a difference in Logan County.
“This person did not retire from devotion and commitment to public service. This person is a true behind-the-scenes volunteer, with some great editing skills and advanced knowledge of local history,” Wade Tyrrell, the Chamber’s 2022 board president, said about Korrey Mcdowell.
The former owner and editor of the South Platte Sentinel, she gives her time to help select the Nell Propst Historical Essay Contest award winners every year.
“Her contribution of a smile, sense of humor and dedication help our community thrive,” Tyrrell said.
“This is really a surprise to me. It is an honor to serve this community and anything we can do to keep it strong and going forward I think we all are trying to do and I think anybody that can do that deserves the Citizen of the Year, so I’m going to share this with everyone here tonight,” Korrey Mcdowell said upon accepting the award.
New Business of the Year
The New Business of the Year Award is given to a business that has been in business for less than three years in Logan County and has enhanced the community and promotes growth, employment and service to Logan County. This year’s recipient is The Tipsy Cow Bar & Grill, in Merino, owned by Darrell and Marcie Nestor.
“We love the community that we live in; we enjoy supporting youth and everything about this community itself. We’re fortunate to be here and we greatly appreciate everybody that helps every small business here, it means a lot. Without the public and people that support us, we don’t survive, so we appreciate each and every one of you for everything you do for every business in the community,” Darrell said upon accepting the award.
Chamber Supporter of the Year
The Chamber Supporter of the Year Award, given in appreciation for exceptional leadership, dedication, time and service to the Chamber, to an individual who has generously contributed time, talent and energy to Chamber activities, events, projects and committees and contributed to the success of furthering the mission of the Chamber, went to Tyrrell.
“Without a doubt, the Logan County Chamber would not be where it is today without the gracious and extraordinary time dedication to see the Chamber succeed,” Brianna Mcbride, the 2023 Chamber board president, said of Tyrrell.
“It was a fun opportunity. I learned a lot and I will tell you that I am handing it off to an amazing young lady and she’ll continue the trend that we started in 2022,” Tyrrell said.
Prior to the awards presentations, Tyrrell gave a year in review, speaking about the uncertainty businesses, organizations, families and individuals experienced this past year.
“Yet through a common focus of strength and a sheer determination to do the right thing, we stand together opened armed, with our eyes wide open, ready to face and welcome 2023,” he said.
He pointed out that opening and owning or leading a business in 2023 is not for the timid and certainly not for those who won’t make the effort to do it the right way.
Tyrrell went on to speak about how the Chamber today is not the same one it was last year. This is a result of the Chamber’s executive committee taking “a deep purposeful look at ourselves” and finding many things they didn’t really like. They looked at the Chamber’s mission, members, processes, and methods of building and recognizing, including enhancing local businesses and discovered they weren’t really truly where they wanted to be.
The executive committee’s first task was to find a catalyst for synergy, excitement, and inclusion, and they found that in Brown, the Chamber’s new executive director. They also found it in the Chamber board members who stood in staunch support of the executive committee and the decisions they had to make; in the Chamber’s marketing assistant, Tami Brown; and from those who wisely advised the committee and supported their next moves.
“Most importantly, we found it from all of you,” Tyrrell told the audience members. “You are our mission.”
He concluded by saying, “the hope we take to 2023 is to challenge ourselves as an organization to serve and promote each of you as a community and business. This is not to say that this will be a small task, but more to say that we are here very aware of the size of that task.”
“Now here we are in 2023 with new momentum. We’ve heard rightly so from a lot of our members, ‘being a Chamber member, what is in it for me and for my business?’ I end my brief talk tonight by saying with confidence that in 2023 and beyond it won’t be necessary to ask, because you will instead experience what is there for you and your business,” Tyrell said.
Following the awards presentations, Mcbride shared her president’s vision for 2023.
“The theme of our banquet tonight, ‘Light, Hope and New Beginnings’ is so fitting for the year ahead for the Chamber. There are many new adventures for the Logan County Chamber, starting with our new Chamber Director Elinor Brown,” Mcbride said.
She shared that the executive committee was impressed during the interview process when Brown spoke about how she would connect with current chamber members and non-chamber members throughout the community and about meeting with individual businesses and tailoring help to those businesses’ success.
“Elinor’s vision for our community aligned with the Chamber’s vision of seeing our local businesses become successful. I knew Elinor would be a great benefit to our Chamber moving forward,” Mcbride said.
Under the new director’s vision, the Chamber will offer new community events throughout the year, including Ag Day @ The Depot on Saturday, March 25, which will see the Chamber partner with many agricultural community leaders for a full-day agricultural experience with demonstrations and food vendors.
Along with new events, many of the Chamber’s well-established events will continue, as well including ribbon cuttings, Business of the Week, business after hours, e-newsletter, business roundtable, July Jamz beer garden, virtual marketplace, Corn Maze Mania and Parade of Lights.
“As the Logan County Chamber embarks on a new adventure ahead, we look forward to partnering with our community businesses to see growth and success ahead,” Mcbride said.
The awards banquet concluded with a live auction.