Recognizing local: Othello Chamber seeking nominations for 2024 banquet

OTHELLO – The Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 2024 Annual Awards Banquet fundraiser Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Othello, during which the chamber will announce this year’s award winners based on community nominations.

Chamber Manager Jackie Wilhelm outlined which awards community members can nominate people for. 

“We will have a Civil Servant (of the Year), a Citizen of the Year, two Teachers of the Year and then Business of the Year,” she said. “Throughout the year, we do Business of the Month, so those businesses that have been recognized as Business of the Month are now in the running for Business of the Year.”

The event’s seats and tickets are a limited supply, Wilhelm said, and the chamber expects a full house for the black-tie affair.

“We will have a catered dinner and dessert and we will have a silent and live auction. We're having our food catered by Blacky’s (Smokin’ Sweet BBQ) and dessert is by The Cow Path (Bakery),” she said. “I'm excited about the auction side because we are bringing in things that we haven't done before. So we'll have like baseball tickets and overnight stays and a family getaway.

Wilhelm elaborated on the nomination criteria. 

“The Civil Servant of the Year is a law enforcement, protection, local government employee, fire and rescue or military official or team member who has exceptionally impacted our community in the line of duty,” Wilhelm said. “Citizen of the Year (is) a member of our community who has contributed positively or has been an inspirational role model for over five years. Then (Teacher) of the Year, is an educator who has gone above and beyond for their school and students for over three years. We've kind of adjusted the criteria a little bit just because we want someone who is constantly active.”

The event’s attendees will be the ones to vote for the business of the year, a concept Wilhelm said started at last year’s banquet. 

“So the way the criteria works for Business of the Month is we really try and focus on, ‘Are you active in the community? Are you doing anything to give back? What does your business look like in Othello? Are you active, are you visible?” she said.

The event, as the only chamber fundraiser during the year, is extremely important to being able to put on chamber events like the Fall Festival and the Independence Day celebration, Wilhelm said.

“I'm trying to make the banquet bigger and better because the bigger it is or the more that we can offer then we can get more funds,” she said.

Many new businesses have joined the chamber recently, Wilhelm said. 

“This is a perfect way to kind of just get your foot in the door and see what the chamber is about,” Wilhelm said. “We have been working hard to revamp the chamber and not only give back to the community and to events, but really support our businesses because they're the ones who help the chamber and sustain the chamber. So, we're really working on ways that we can give back to them.”

Wilhelm spoke about how the chamber’s “revamp” is playing into the banquet.

“I think our goal is just to include more businesses and provide an opportunity for all businesses, regardless of size,” she said. “If you are home-based or if you are storefront, I want them to feel like they can participate in this event because it's to highlight everybody and to honor everybody in our community.”

The event is still very similar to years past, Wilhelm said. 

“We're keeping true to its bones, and the purpose of raising funds,” she said, “but also highlighting the special individuals in our community who make Othello what it is.”

The nomination deadline is Feb. 7. To nominate someone, visit bit.ly/ChamberNomination.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.

Greater Othello Chamber Awards Banquet

Feb. 23, 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
616 E. Juniper St.
Pre-purchased tickets: $50
At the door: $65
Tickets can be purchased at the Othello Chamber offices or Othello City Hall

    Mike Ruble, right, receives a special award from Greater Othello Chamber president Heather Miller, left, and former president Thalia Lemus, center, in honor of his late daughter, Othello teacher Mary Jo Harvey, at the 2023 Annual Awards Banquet.
  

    Othello Mayor Shawn Logan talks with banquet guests at the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet in February 2020.
  

    Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce 2023 award winners from left to right; Jannette Zuniga, K-5 Teacher of the Year, Regina Holmes-Zamora, 6-12 Teacher of the Year, Ken Johnson, Citizen of the Year and Maria Montalvo, Civil Servant of the Year.