Chamber looking for 'Achiever of the Year'
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Only two nominations for the 2007 Achiever of the Year have come into the El Campo Chamber of Commerce office so far - and the deadline is fast approaching.

Tuesday, Jan. 15, will be the last day to make a nomination.

"It can be an individual, group or organization - any age," Chamber President Becca Socha said.

Unlike the Citizen of the Year - a recognition of a lifetime's worth of effort, the Achiever of the Year is a recognition for a single year's effort.

Nominations can be delivered to 201 E. Jackson or mailed to the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, P.O. Box 1400, El Campo, Texas, 77437.

The nominating letter should be clear and concise, Socha added, saying bullet points are fine and letters should preferably be a page or less in length.

The Chamber board will review nominations and make a selection.

The Junior League World Series winning El Campo boys were honored last year.

Former El Campo Assistant City Manager Mindi Snyder was the first recipient of the award which was created for the January 2006 Chamber banquet.

Winners will be announced at the upcoming chamber banquet set for Thursday, Jan. 31.

"We will have three surprises that night," Socha said. "The Achiever of the Year, the Citizen of the Year and we will also be honoring a special war hero."

The chamber added the war hero recognition this year.

"We all have our hearts and prayers out there for those serving our country and we have many locals who have family and friends serving," Socha said.

With the current wave of national patriotism, those individuals are being honored, she said, adding, "We also want to recognize those who fought for our country many years ago and are still living in this community."

Also at that banquet, the chamber will announce its 2007 Citizen of the Year.

The honoree has already been selected, Socha said, but added that identity is a closely guarded secret - the announcement of which is the highlight of the annual banquet.

Traditionally, Citizen of the Year honorees are older individuals recognized for a lifetime of efforts to make El Campo a better to place to live or to help its residents better themselves.

Past recipients have included those who have worked tirelessly to establish and maintain organizations from the El Campo Museum to the Beautify El Campo Extension, the local chapter of the Boy Scouts and programs for seniors or the mentally disabled.

The award is not for a single shining moment, Socha said.

Please look to upcoming editions of the Leader-News for more on the Chamber's annual banquet.