Honorees of the year lauded at annual banquet
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — In front of a capacity crowd Thursday evening, the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce celebrated the achievements of four local citizens, welcomed new members and marked the transition from one president to the next.
More than 200 turned out for the chamber’s 2016 annual dinner and awards program, held at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center.
Key honorees of the evening were Dixie Shaw, director of hunger and relief services for Catholic Charities Maine, who received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award; Don Bouley, chief of the Ashland Fire Department and founder of that town’s 9/11 Memorial, who was named the 2015 Citizen of the Year; and Pineland Farms Potato Company of Mars Hill, the 2015 Business of the Year.
Chamber Executive Director Theresa Fowler also recognized Floyd Rockholt, a member of the executive board, as Chamber Director of the Year.
Karen Gonya, 2015 board president of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, displays the gavel award she received for her service as Bill Getman, the 2016 board president, prepares to lead the chamber for the coming year.
(Staff Photo/Paula Brewer)
Karen Gonya, outgoing chamber board president, took the podium to introduce Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Shaw, honored for her commitment to alleviating hunger in Aroostook County.
She credited “Dixie’s can-do spirit” for growing a small food pantry and home supplies store into its present, multifaceted array of services including the local Threads of Hope thrift stores and the Farm for ME program, which this past year produced 100,000 pounds of vegetables.
“Through Dixie’s efforts, the little engine that barely could, now runs two food banks that supply 25 food pantries serving 24,000 people, a full one-third of The County’s population,” said Gonya. “Instead of focusing on what could not be done, Dixie focused on what could be done and, in the process, created a world of good for her people in northern Maine.”
Accepting the award, Shaw expressed gratitude to her team. “I want to thank my crew,” she began. “There’s a whole team of people behind me.” She credited several Catholic Charities Maine employees, as well as many volunteers, donors and all who help keep the food coming.
“We couldn’t do this without everybody’s help,” she added. “This means so much to me — but it’s us, not me.”
Don Bouley, chief of the Ashland Fire Department, holds the 2015 Citizen of the Year Award he received during the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner. He was honored for bringing Ashland’s 9/11 memorial to fruition.
(Staff Photo/Paula Brewer)
Incoming Chamber President Bill Getman introduced Bouley, outlining how the fire chief brought Ashland’s 9/11 memorial to fruition, an effort which took 12 years. Bouley orchestrated the town’s purchase of a 3,600-pound piece of 9/11 wreckage to serve as the memorial’s foundation, and thanks to many volunteers, including local mason Nelson Craig, as well as donations of materials and labor, the memorial opened last year next to Ashland’s fire station.
“His efforts to establish a place where people could come and reflect and pay respects has ensured that the people of Ashland will not forget the terrible happenings of that day,” Getman said. “It takes someone like Don to remind us that we must never forget.”
“Donations came from Massachusetts, Michigan and all over the state,” Bouley said. “Without those donations, we would not have this memorial.”
He related that after the effort’s first fundraiser, he asked his wife what the total was. “She said, ‘$343.’” He paused. “There were 343 firefighters who died in the 9/11 cleanup. Somebody up there wanted us to make this monument.”
Nancy Fletcher, past chamber president, presented the year’s top business honor to Rodney McCrum, president and COO of Pineland Farms Potato Company.
She offered highlights of the company’s history and some of its products, which include not only Maine mashed potatoes in four flavors, but also mashed sweet potato and now several varieties of cheese.
“Pineland Farms is a wonderful example that there is still opportunity in Aroostook County,” Fletcher said. “Providing quality local jobs, steady growth, bringing pride to the community, markets for local farmers and stewardship to the environment, Pineland Farms has a great line of products that can make an impact in the marketplace and is a most worthy recipient of our 2015 Business of the Year Award.”
Dixie Shaw, director of hunger and relief services for Catholic Charities Maine, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015 from the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. She was presented with the award during the chamber’s annual dinner Thursday evening.
(Staff Photo/Paula Brewer)
McCrum expressed thanks to company employees as well as to the community at large for standing behind Pineland. “I would just thank the community for the support,” he said. “Your support and belief in us have been wonderful. Thank you.”
The honorees were chosen, Fowler explained, with a vote by chamber membership. The Director of the Year award, however, was presented by Fowler herself and was a surprise to attendees. She recognized Rockholt for his dedicated work on the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival and the Rotary Auction, among other events.
In other highlights, Gonya offered a recap of the past year, which saw the first Aroostook County Brewfest with participation from 20 New England breweries and wineries, the start of a new breakfast meeting series and monthly customer service awards.
“We had more ribbon cuttings this year than we ever have had,” she said, “and this was one of the most successful years for the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival.”
In addition, the area chamber has absorbed Caribou and surrounding communities into its ranks following the closure of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 31. “It is wonderful to be able to welcome the Caribou chamber and expand our reach into these communities,” Gonya said.
On behalf of the membership and executives, Fowler presented Gonya with a special award for her service.
In looking ahead to the coming year, Getman acknowledged the chamber’s commitment to working with its newest communities. “Our goal in 2016 is to operate with a regional perspective,” he said.
Getman thanked outgoing chamber directors Dawn Poitras, Gail Clukey, Nancy Fletcher, and Stacy Shaw, and welcomed six new directors for the year: Bobbie-Jo Caron, Jim McKenney, Karen Ouellette, Justin Pelletier, Penny Wickstrom and Miles Williams.
One of the chamber’s objectives, Getman said, will be to grow the new Chamber Bucks program. Introduced this past holiday season, Chamber Bucks could be purchased and used as gift certificates at any participating area business. Getman said more than $20,000 in bucks were sold this past season.
To round out the evening, local auctioneer Matt Gregg humorously auctioned off several items, and music was provided by Heath Bartley.
