Quincy chamber welcomes new officers

QUINCY - The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet and installation of officers Saturday at Cave B Inn at Sagecliffe.

The event celebrated the outgoing board members and officers and the incoming ones for the 2009 year.

Outgoing board members are Tricia Villafana, Karen Vizena, Debbie Graff and Ann Vandyke.

Incoming board members are Joanne Medina, of Key Bank, Dustin Cornwell, of LeMaster Daniels, Todd Wurl, of Cave B, and Justin Ashley, of Edward Jones.

Villafana said throughout her eight-year term there was an increase in community participation.

"People have gotten more involved in the activities," she said.

Dan Robinson, 2008 outgoing chamber president, said the best part of his role is the company he keeps.

"Working with a great business group of people and the city of Quincy," he said.

"There's great people and great opportunity in this community. There's great vision within the city employees and amongst the business employees on what they need to do to expand and grow to be a profitable, positive community," he said.

Robinson said the chamber has Quincy's best interest in mind and strives to promote the area.

"A lot of work goes into promoting the city and just getting people from outside the city to come and learn that Quincy is a great place to live and work and play," he said.

The banquet received its highest turnout to date, with a sellout crowd of 140 people attending.

Robinson and incoming president Javier O'Brien hosted the program welcoming new officers and honoring some standout members of the community.

Awards were presented for Educator of the Year, Pam Sund, Business of the Year, Quincy Valley Medical Center, accepted by Don Condit, Volunteer of the Year, Rita Keene, and Lifetime Achievement, Lucy Jaques.

Sund told the crowd she is looking at the first teacher a child has, the parents.

"Thank you for giving me the best that you've got," she said.

The Quincy Valley Medical Center, dedicated in 1959, underwent recent changes, including the redesigned Sageview Family Care and posted its first profit in 20 years.

Speaking while accepting the award, Condit thanked the dedicated workers at the center. He said a dedicated staff is essential.

Employee turnover was once as high as 40 percent, but is now as low as 14 percent, he said.

"If anybody deserves this plaque, it's not me, it's (the employees)," he said.

Keene was honored for her volunteerism in the community for being an active church member and George Community Center board member, in addition to other groups.

"I'm very happy to serve my community," she said.

She said she plans to continue volunteering but wants to spend more time with her family from now on.

The final award was the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Jaques for her years of working and raising a family in the community.

The evening continued with the winners of the evening's raffle announced, followed by dancing to live music.

O'Brien said his plans for the upcoming year are to familiarize the new board members to the chamber and work on achieving the group's goals.

He said the chamber is in need of a new director and will probably be actively seeking one by next month.