Chamber of Commerce honors three
For Thelma Sandy, Thursday’s 2002 Fayette Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner was simply another opportunity. Sandy, who took home the 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of dedicated service to the Uniontown area, was honored to win the award, but she also saw the recognition as an opportunity to allow area residents to see that something can be done to help the community.
“This is an opportunity to get others to understand that there is a lot that can be done and that there are people who are doing it,” Sandy said.
Sandy, a lifelong resident of Uniontown, has worked in a variety of administrative roles at the Uniontown Hospital and the school of nursing and is the president of the Uniontown Hospital Foundation.
She helped to develop the Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership and is closely involved with programs like the school immunization program and the Big Brother/Big Sister program.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented periodically to individuals who have given themselves in service to the community over a lifetime.
Sandy said she was honored and proud to receive the award and that it is the duty of good citizens to do as much as they can to help those in need.
“I see the issues and the need, and those of us that have so much have a great opportunity to step forward,” she said. “I’d like to challenge people to do one thing, get involved in just one thing. They can make a difference.”
Nearly 300 members and guests attended the chamber event, held at the Shadyside Inn in Uniontown. Executive Director Muriel Nuttall told the audience that she is proud of what the chamber stands for and what it is accomplishing in the community.
“We are a large and diverse group with one common goal, economic growth in the community,” Nuttall said. She also noted that the chamber has seen its membership grow by 20 percent over the past year.
In addition to presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, the chamber also recognized John McDermott with the 2002 Citizen of the Year Award, which is given to an individual who has volunteered extensively in the community. And, the chamber recognized Stephen Neubauer with the 2002 Herman M. Buck Award, given to an individual under age 45 who has given time to the community without remuneration.
McDermott, who works at Mark IV Office Supply in Uniontown, was recognized for his dedication to area organizations, like the American Cancer Society and the Salvation Army.
“We have a moral duty and obligation to help fellow Americans in their time of need,” McDermott said.
Neubauer, who has owned and operated Neubauer’s Flowers in Uniontown for nearly 20 years, was honored for his commitment to community needs and events. Neubauer has served as a member of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council since 2000, is a member of the United Way and serves as a board member of the Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority.
He said he was honored and proud to receive the award and encouraged others to become more involved.
“Trying to be one guy and making a difference doesn’t work, but if we can become an example and encourage one another to just give one hour, it would make a significant difference,” he said. “If everybody does one thing, I do believe that the community will be a much better place to live.”
In addition, the chamber awarded Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa with the 2002 Business of the Year Award and the Uniontown Mall with the Sponsor of the Year Award.