2021 Community Recognition Awards - Cheers to Our Honorees!
Did you miss the 2021 Community Recognition Awards? Fear not, because there is still a chance to win big with the 2021 CRA Raffle! Tickets are $10 each and there are seventeen (17) different items to choose from. The 2021 CRA Raffle ends at 5:00pm on Friday, Nov. 19th, so don't delay and get your ticket(s) today.
The 2021 Community Recognition Awards were be held on November 6th at Carson Valley Inn. The Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Record Courier honored individuals and organizations in the following categories:
- Employee of the Year - Liz Begovich (Douglas County Animal Services)
- Volunteer of the Year - Tom Hein (East Fork Fire Protection District)
- The Bill Henderson Citizen of the Year - Dennis Little (Douglas County Historical Society)
- Business of the Year - J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room
- Non-Profit of the Year - Partnership Douglas County
The 2020 Award Recipients
The 2020 Business of the Year is the Eddy Street Vintage Market. The business is a family affair in a beautiful Gardnerville property. What started out as a one weekend event turned into an ongoing business. Merideth Fisher gathers friends and family to sell unique gifts and antiques once a month. This pop up vintage market changes its theme each opening, going the extra mile to create a unique and wonderful customer experience in a quaint location. Their successful marketing and business strategy allows them to remain vibrant in a small community of challenging retail trends. Congratulations on your achievements and thank you for your dedication. Click here to see their video.
The recipient of the 2020 Employee of the Year Award is the Town Manager of Genoa, Mr. JT Chevallier. JT joined the Town of Genoa in January of 2019, which seems like a lifetime ago. Who could have predicted the challenges he would have to lead his town and his board through over the last nine months. His tireless efforts to keep his tourist based town safe and informed this year were second to none. As events have been cancelled, he has found ways to supplement fundraisers while engaging the community is a positive and energetic manner. His Board is very pleased with his efforts not just in the wake of the latest challenges, but since the start of his tenure. Thank you JT, congratulations. Click here to see his video.
The recipient of the 2020 Service Club of the Year is The Carson Valley Sertoma Club. Their mission “to meet the needs of the community through volunteer service” is a subtle statement but speaks volumes about their commitment to the community. Like many clubs, their fundraising events have been curtailed this year, but that hasn’t kept them from their efforts to ensure they provided scholarships to students, clothes and food to the underserved, and funding to other organizations. They have quietly helped build this community, before and during the pandemic. Thank you Carson Valley Sertoma Club, congratulations. Click here to see their video.
The 2020 Non Profit of the Year is the Douglas County Historical Society. They are the authority for the history of the Carson Valley. For decades they have maintained an exhaustive archive of artifacts and history of the Carson Valley and Douglas County. The operate two museums in the Valley, the Genoa Courthouse Museum and the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center, which just celebrated its 25th year of operation. They also opened the Edwin L. Wiegand Ranching and Agricultural wing this year. They have continued operations throughout the pandemic, providing historical context and information to the residents and students of the Carson Valley. Their dedicated staff of volunteers help keep the past alive and enhance our community in a beautifully historic building in downtown Gardnerville. Click here to see their video.
The 2020 Volunteer of the Year is Mrs. Kathi Rittenhouse. Kathi is an active volunteer with many service clubs and non-profit organizations, including project Santa clause, the GREAT Minden—Tahoe Airport, the Kids Fishing Derby, the Genoa Candy Dance and our own Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she continues a program founded by her mom over 50 years ago, hosing international students at Stanford University. She is often the first one to events and the last to leave, spending countless hours in between helping make sure everything goes smoothly. Thank you for all you do, Kathi! Click here to see her video.
The recipient of The Bill Henderson Citizen of the Year Award for 2020 is Mr. Corey Thacker. Corey has been teaching and coaching basketball at Douglas High School since 2008. He also coaches the Carson Valley Basketball Association, a youth club basketball program for players third grade through high school. You can often find him on the weekends running form court to court coaching young players then varsity players in the same afternoon. Corey also coaches flag football and helps with many other programs. His greatest contribution to our young people is his infectious enthusiasm and positive attitude. He encourages his players to be quality young citizens, having them coach basketball camps for younger players and encouraging them to give back to the community. His teams are a part of his family, complete with team dinners. Win or lose, every player loves playing for coach Thacker. Thank you coach, congratulations. Click here to see his video.
Mr. Bill Henderson left us this year, another loss in a year of challenges. While we miss his presence, his spirit embodies that dedication we all strive to achieve. He left an indelible mark on so many, whether working side by side with us at Carson Valley Inn or in volunteering at one of the many organizations in which he served, we were all impacted by his commitment to our community. Sad as we are he is gone, the smiles and laughter we shared with him and remember in his absence reminds us of what is important in life, lessons Bill taught on a daily basis.
Bill is survived by his wife Dawn and daughter Lindsay who are with us here tonight. We are so honored to have them here to share our remembrance of Bill and to recognize those who have to follow in his footsteps. We are all thankful and grateful for the years we got to spend with Bill and will continue to serve the community in his steadfast manner. He remains a leader, mentor and friend to all of us. Click here to see his video.
We want to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors and board members who contributed such great prizes and to all of you who bought tickets to help support our Chamber. Without you we wouldn't be here.
