Flint Township View

Flushing Chamber to hold virtual awards presentation on March 18




FLUSHING — With COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings still in place, the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce has decided to move its annual awards celebration online in 2021.

On March 18, the Chamber will host the first-ever virtual Flushing Chamber of Commerce Awards presentation in lieu of its traditional banquet and gala. Awards will include Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Veteran of the Year and the Community Spotlight presentation, along with City of Flushing and Flushing Township employee of the year awards; educator and employee of the year recognitions from Flushing Community Schools; and the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year honors.

Nominees for the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award include: Lindsay Caterer, director/manager of Rossell Funeral Home; Mary Anne Orme, certified fitness instructor; LeeAlan Weddel, owner of Farmers Insurance LeeAlan Weddel Agency; Terry Bigelow, program manager at the Flushing Christian Outreach Center; and Flushing Mayor Joseph Karlichek.

2020 Business of the Year Award nominees are as follows: Bueche’s Food World, Rossell Funeral Home, Flushing Christian Outreach Center, Jeffrey T. Straley, DDS and Lacquered Ln.

Susan Little, Executive Director for the Flushing Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber is planning to make prerecorded presentations and interviews with award recipients.

“Many people and businesses go above and beyond for our community and deserve recognition,” she said. “Even though we’re living in unusual times, it’s very important that these people get acknowledged for the things they’ve done to make Flushing a better place.”

Little said that the Chamber awards will be livestreamed on Facebook and recorded so that people can watch it on their own time. Visit the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page to view the awards presentation premiere on March 18 at 7 p.m.

The Chamber is also kicking off a virtual auction starting today and will be offering gift baskets valued at $100 each. To register, visit flushingchamber.com. The auction will run for the next two weeks until March 18.

The Flushing Chamber Awards Banquet is typically held each February to honor the city’s finest business and civic leaders and to announce the Chamber’s Ambassador the Year recipient and incoming president for the Chamber Board of Directors.