Chamber of Commerce now accepting nominations for annual Awards Gala

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce awards, and the gala event is slated for March 10 at Kirtland Community College.

According to the chamber, the deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, February 3. Nominations can be completed online at https://getfoureyes.com/s/6xl7E/

The Chamber of Commerce will be presenting six honors at the annual Awards Gala, according to the nomination page.

The Kirk Wakefield Service Member Of The Year 2022 award “was inspired by the 2018 recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award, the late Kirk Wakefield. This award may be given to someone whose contributions and/or commitment of service as Military or First Responders (i.e. Police Officer, Public Safety, Firefighter, EMS, etc.) has made a positive impact on the Grayling/Crawford County community over the past year. This award recognizes those who continue to put their lives on the line for the safety of others in our community/country,” according to the Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber Member Business of the Year 2022 goes to a business “that exemplifies exceptional customer service, generosity, giving of their time, money, staff, and/or facilities for community benefit, or has implemented new construction or renovation projects that serve as an investment or as an enhancement to Crawford County over the course of the past year. Must be a current Chamber member as of 2022,” according to the nomination page.

The Chamber Member Organization Of The Year 2022 goes to a group “that has exemplified excellence in service work throughout the past year. For showing generosity by giving time, money, staff/volunteers, facilities, among other things, for community benefit, setting an example for other organizations in the community, supporting the Chamber, and being a leader in the organization as well as the community. Must be a current Chamber member as of 2022,” according to the chamber.

The 2022 “You Made It Happen” award is “given to a person, business, or organization who, through exceptional contributions and/or commitment, positively affected the growth of the Grayling/Crawford County community over the past year by implementing one specific event, service, project, or idea (i.e. fundraiser, community event, etc.),” according to the chamber.

The Longevity Award 2022 will go to “a business that has withstood the test of time, has sincere relationships with their employees and their customers, has helped make an economic impact in Crawford County, and continues to help our community thrive. Must be a current Chamber member as of 2022,” according to the online nomination site.

Citizen Of The Year 2022 goes “to the person who has given of themselves to make Crawford County a ‘great place to live!’ The person who goes above and beyond the call of duty, is always there when someone needs a hand, and who has contributed to make Crawford County a special place. The nominee may be recognized for contributions made during the previous year or over the course of a lifetime,” according to the Chamber.

“Previous winners” of the six awards “from the last five years are NOT eligible for nomination for 2022,” according to the Chamber of Commerce. The previous winners are listed at the bottom of the page at the nomination site.