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DANIELSON — The Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s awards committee report has made its selections.
Civic Achievement Award - An award given to an individual or group for their broad-based involvement with clubs, civic groups, charities etc. over a long period of time.
The Committee’s selection is Carmel Osterlund. Osterlund’s involvement with numerous organizations runs deep and includes an array of organizations including the Tommy Toy Fund, the American Cancer Society, the Burke Memorial Golf Tournament, and the Michael Davis Memorial Golf Tournament. But her involvement with the Danielson Rotary Club has been significant. As a member and past president of the Danielson Rotary Club, Carmel quickly embraced the motto of “service above self”. In 2007, Carmel volunteered at the Big E fair in Springfield, MA to assist members of the Clinton Rotary Club in registering children in the AMBERAlert Child ID program. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created as a legacy to nine-year old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered. Carmel made it her mission to learn all she could about the AMBERAlert program, took it to heart, and started a local initiative through Danielson Rotary. Since then, she has managed to secure donated space each year at the Brooklyn Fair and mobilized a force of volunteers to work the four days to register children in the database program. In addition, to spearheading the initiative and working to register more than 4,000 children in the program, Carmel has worked tirelessly to fundraise and pay for two computer ID systems as well as a permanent structure within the Brooklyn fairgrounds. The awards committee is honored to recognize Carmel Osterlund for her extraordinary giving spirit with the 2014 Civic Achievement Award.
George J. Racine, Sr. Humanitarian Award-An award given to a person in recognition of their dedicated involvement with a specific cause or activity; that which promotes concern for human welfare. The committee’s selection is Betty Church of Brooklyn.
Danny Thomas once said, “success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself; it’s what you do for others”.
Betty Church defines that quote with her dedication and commitment to Day Kimball Healthcare and its subsidiaries. In her capacity as a Development Committee member, she worked on the Susan Chilkott Scholarship Committee, as well as numerous campaigns including the “Care in a Heartbeat capital campaign by soliciting pledges for the soon-to-be Townsend Emergency Medical Center.
She worked diligently on the “Twilight in the Country” fundraiser for several years generating thousands of dollars for Homecare, HomeMakers and Hospice of Northeast Connecticut.
She is a member of the DKH Women’s Board and works to raise money for the organization through their various fundraisers. Over and above her service on these various committees, Betty volunteers by assisting in many of the Day Kimball Hospital offices answering phones, stuffing mailers and filing.
es, Betty volunteers by assisting in many of the Day Kimball Hospital offices answering phones, stuffing mailers and filing. To date, she has generously contributed more than 2,800 hours. It is the committee’s belief that Betty is truly worthy of this year’s Humanitarian award.
Business Leader of The Year Award-An award presented to an individual for outstanding business leadership and active participation in community organizations. The Committee’s selection is Robert Fournier.
Fournier is being recognized with the Business Leader of the Year Award because he excels in both his commitment to business and the community. A third generation funeral director, Bob has owned and operated Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes in Putnam and North Grosvenordale since 2005. Most recently, Fournier expanded his business to include a crematory.
Professionally, Bob attends numerous conferences or conventions sponsored by the National Funeral Directors and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Associations. He has been invited to become a member of an elite group known as the Selected Independent Funeral Homes, an organiztion dedicted to integrity, ethical business practices and advancing and moving funeral service forward.
Bob freely gives of his time mentoring others interested in pursuing a career in the mortuary business. Additionally, he works with administrators at Woodstock Academy and Tourtellotte Memorial High School teaching classes on “Death & Dying” and the “Mock Car Crash”.
Bob is a firm believer in the philosophy that it is his civic responsibility to give back to the community and, therefore, generously donates his time to a myriad of organizations and causes. He is an active member of the Putnam Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus, a board member of Matulaitis Nursing Home, the Northeastern CT Chamber of Commerce and a major organizer of the Circle of Fun fundraiser for St. Mary’s Church. One little known donation made by Bob, followed the Sandy Hook tragedy last year when Bob assisted another director by offering his professional services to the family of one of the young victims. The committee is indeed pleased to name Robert Fournier as the 2014 Business Leader of the Year recipient.
Gold Key Award-An award presented to an individual or business for their outstanding service to the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. The Committee’s selection is David Conrad.
David Conrad has been an active supporter of the organization since joining The Citizens National Bank in 2000. David joined the Board of Directors of the Northeastern CT Chamber of Commerce in 2010 and quickly found his way into the chairs of the organization. Fairly early on in 2012, he stepped in as President when Mr. Deary resigned to focus on his health. David worked at completing Peter’s goals and had a banner year providing strong leadership for the organization that saw solid programming and outreach to the business community. In 2013, the organization re-elected him to serve a second term, a job only a handful of prior presidents chose to pursue. This year, has been marked with exceptional programs for the membership that included a focus on economics and workshop programming as well as formulating a Chamber strategic planning session that will serve as the foundation for the future success of the Chamber.
But over and above David’s involvement with the organization as a member of the board is his commitment and generosity to the organization as President and CEO of The Citizens National Bank. For decades, the bank has provided a home for the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, asking nothing in return and for that, the organization is grateful beyond words. It is as a result of this commitment to leadership and his giving spirit that we recognize David Conrad with the 2014 Gold Key Award.
The award recipients will be formally recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner & Awards Gala scheduled for Jan. 17 at The Raceway Restaurant in Thompson.