January 14, 2010

Ritzville chamber celebrates community

A year full of change, new events and new faces was recognized last Saturday as the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated local community members during its Annual Meeting, Community Awards and Benefit Auction at the C.J. Newland American Legion Memorial Hall.

Live and silent auctions totaling $4,664 topped the evening set amidst an Italian-themed, buffet-style, catered dinner.

After outgoing President Connie Galbreath led the Pledge of Allegiance, she noted accomplishments and challenges the chamber faced in 2009.

“We began the year with our first ever board of directors retreat and tried to make sure our goals were directed in the right place in order to benefit our membership, Galbreath said as she greeted everyone.

“We’ve experienced many changes in the year 2009, some good and some not so good. Our community has lost a few businesses through the year, but we also gained a gained a few and we have some new ones coming in. We’re excited about those,” she continued.

Among the changes and experiences of 2009 was the personnel change in the chamber office and the continued support from the city’s mayor.

“It takes a combined effort from businesses, individuals, employees and board members together to make the Chamber of Commerce successful and we have all those pieces in order,” Galbreath said as she announced the new slate of board members as well as recognized outgoing officers.

Based on the tallied ballots, Ron Evans, Danielle Miller and Kayla Katsel have joined the board of Chad Hoeft, Paul Lewis, Virginia Jones, President Jessika Cruz and Vice President Al Seaton. Galbreath will serve this year as past president.

In addition, Francie Barnes will fill a one-year term after being nominated entirely by write-in votes.

Galbreath then turned her attention to outgoing board members Darrel Koss and Dale Andersom.

“We as a chamber board appreciate all the service they have provided. These folks have served in all different ways. They’ve been just a board member, they’ve been vice president, president, they’ve done it all,” Galbreath said. “I appreciate them so much and I know the community does as well.”

“It’s been fun. It’s been a lot of work too. We’ve come a long way. The chamber is on the right track,” Koss said as he accepted a plaque from the chamber.

“I personally have to thank Dale. They twisted my arm really hard to make me do this because I don’t like to talk in front of people. (Dale) said, ‘You can do it, Connie. I’ll help you all the way.’ And I have to tell you that he has been a huge help, so thank you, Dale,” Galbreath said as she introduced Anderson.

“This is really kind of a surprise,” Anderson said. “I appreciate everything you are doing. I appreciate all the things you have done, Connie. I know it hasn’t been an easy year, but you’ve done a great job.”

In other business, copies of revisions to the chamber’s bylaws were available for review in preparation for approval at the next regular chamber meeting on Jan. 14.

A committee of Lewis, Hoeft, Seaton and Kin Kade revised the bylaws, which Galbreath said were “really outdated.”

As guests finished with their meals, attention was diverted to the podium where Ritzville School District Principal Deborah O’Brien presented awards to three individuals who were selected as female student of the year, male student of the year and educator of the year.

“I’d like to thank the chamber for including the students and staff in this community celebration,” O’Brien said. “We appreciate that you recognize the district and its students as an integral part of a rural community. Sometimes, on a Friday night, we are the event. We appreciate your support always.”

Female and Male Students of the Year

“In the Ritzville School District, we look at six pillars of character and we try and focus on those throughout their years of growing up with us. Those pillars are citizenship, respect, caring, responsibility, fairness and trustworthiness,” O’Brien explained.

“Our students of the year not only exemplify these characteristics, they maintain them while choosing to have a rigorous schedule; they have a lot on their plate.

“These are students who participate in athletics, in a lot of our Ritzville community events and are an integral part of those as well – all of this while trying to maintain their social life, be prepared for college and for life beyond… They’re also trying to balance between still being a kid and learning to be an adult…

“These two students come from a senior class that really has strong character and a number of students could have been chosen this year. The Class of 2010 is a model for the six pillars of character that I named earlier, and that’s why the selection this year of Renae Harder and Jacob Schofstoll as Female and Male Students of the Year… We appreciate all the students of the Ritzville School District and the leadership that Jacob and Renae give to them.”

Educator of the Year

Before announcing who is the Educator of the Year for 2009, O’Brien provided a brief history of how the district chooses the recipient.

“In a small school, it takes a team of individuals really working equally toward a common vision for us to be successful.

“Every year when the chamber approaches the administration and asks us to pick a teacher of the year recipient, the starting point we look at is what are the goals of the board for the year and what are we trying to move toward as a district…

“When we examined the Ritzville School Board’s goal of sharing resources with neighboring school districts, the obvious choice this year was Kathy McAnally.

“Since August, Kathy has been navigating the school year within two districts and between two districts. This is a physical task as she travels every day between Ritzville and Lind to teach Spanish.

“There’s also this mental navigation part because now she is navigating through two sets of teachers, parents, principals and students, two sets of expectations, practices, rules, the way you go about things.

“She’s a veteran teacher in one place and a rookie teacher in the other place. That alone is enough to make most teachers shy away from that challenge.”

Special Recognition

After announcing the end of the silent auction, Galbreath captured the audience’s attention with the presentation of a special award for a “hard-working volunteer who has done a lot for our community.

“Sandy (Hansberry) attended the first Blues, Brews and BBQs out at the fairgrounds… The blues event has come a long way since then. Sandy attended that first year and she was so moved by the event that she knew she wanted to volunteer her time.

“From there, she went on the volunteer list. She worked some gates, she did whatever anybody asked of her. And the time came when she was asked to step up to the plate and become our executive director.

“In 2005, she took over and has served in that position since. She has put in a tremendous amount of time for the Blues Fest event and I personally thank her so much, for all she’s done for the chamber and for the community.”

A plaque from the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ritzville Blues Fest Committee stated, “Presented to Sandra Hansberry, Ritzville Blues Festival Executive Director from 2005 to 2009. In appreciation for your many years of dedicated service, outstanding accomplishments and commitment to excellence on behalf of the Ritzville Blues Festival and our entire community.”

First Responder of the Year

Doug Barger took the stage to announce the recipients of this year’s award, a group of four dispatchers and one corrections officer – Melissa Shepherd, Terry DeVore, Bobbi Hunt, Sandy Neisinger and Scott Carruth.

“On Oct. 3 and 4, for a 24-hour period, Mother Nature decided to test all the resources for Adams County, or at least we certainly felt like we were taking it personally at the time.

“During that 24-hour period we received 283 telephone calls – not talking radio calls, 105 of them were 911 calls…

“In listening to those 911 calls, they took everything from ‘we’ve been involved in an accident, we’re not sure if we’re on I-90’ to ‘I’m at the roadblock, not moving and I’m okay. But I called my mom and she said I’m supposed to call 911.’

“They handled people who argued with them that the dust was actually blowing and it wasn’t ash. They argued with people who could not understand why they couldn’t tell them when the windstorm was going to stop. And that, believe it or not, is more of a typical day for these folks…

“But to also listen to the compassion from all of these folks’ voice when people were calling truly scared to death. They were in an event and they thought the world was coming to an end. I’m extremely proud of all of them…

“Scott is not a dispatcher. Scott is one of our corrections officers. On that very first night, Terry was working and was just overwhelmed with radio traffic. Keep in mind, we still have our assaults, fires, everything else that was going on, plus the fatality accident. And this was from Othello to Ritzville…

“They had multiple fire trucks out, multiple ambulances, multiple law enforcement and they had to work with the state patrol, Grant County, Department of Transportation.

“Scott was working and he stopped doing his duties to come assist, and just answer some phones. You can hear in the transmissions, Terry’s talking on the radio in the background and Scott’s fielding these calls…

“I was very pleased when they were selected for Responder of the Year. I don’t know if the chamber usually does it in groups like this, but I really couldn’t single one of them out. It was the absolute perfect definition of teamwork… I think they did an outstanding job and they certainly reflect well for the community that they’re serving.”

Volunteer of the Year

Melanie Kin Kade handled the introduction and explanation of why this year’s nominee, L.R. Keith, was selected.

“This person has been incredible and I can’t even begin to explain what this gentleman has done for our community. He is the first one there without asking. He just somehow has this sixth sense of just showing up when he is needed…

“This man has worked with the Ritzville Museum Volunteers for a number of years, taking care of our depot, being there and running our telegraph office. Not only running it, but setting it up, and setting it up historically correct.

“He is a huge asset to our community… He always has a smile on his face. He never ever hesitates to be the first one in line to help, and I can’t just imagine anyone more deserving of this award this year. This gentleman is near and dear to me, and has always been there no matter what.”

As Keith (pronounced ‘Kite’) accepted the award, he said, “Projects I’m going to be working on this year include floor restoration, work at the new arts center, the usual cleaning of the Burroughs’ home and the depot, restoring a train order stand, preparing for the 100th anniversary of our depot, two demonstrations, two banquets… And I’m supposed to be retired.

“But I love doing it. I like to do this. I’ve restored about three or four other telegraph offices. I want to tell you that the best equipped railroad telegraph offices in the entire North America continent is right down the street… This is the best there is in the entire North America continent and it’s going to stay that way!”

Farmer of the Year

Incoming President Jessika Cruz was charged with presenting this year’s Farmer of the Year award to Ross Heimbigner.

Cruz read the nomination letter received by the chamber. “I know that Ross is a successful farmer, but I do not know the details of his business.

“The reason I nominated Ross for Farmer of the Year is because of two of the qualities I have observed in him.

“The first quality is respect. I have observed how Ross is respectful and gracious to people regardless of their station in life.

“The other quality I see in Ross is bluntness. For me, this is another word that is not the root of what needs to be a good man. A good man does not have a hidden agenda.

“Respect and bluntness are two qualities that I often not put together. Some people are blunt but not respectful. Other people are respectful but not blunt. One who is respectful and blunt is a winning combination and I see in Ross Heimbigner.”

Business of the Year

According to the nomination letter read by Cruz, “I have found that the staff led by Fred to give a new meaning to the word service. Each time I’ve gone to the hardware store, I’ve come away feeling good.

“There is no question that Fred will treat his customers right, and when we are treated right it leaves us with a good feeling. There are some who treat their customers right out of obligation, not because they want to but because they have to. The core of Fred’s being is to treat his customers well.”

Kelly Yockey accepted the award on behalf of Fred and JoRene Zumdahl, owners of Coast Hardware.