The Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce cordially invites the community to attend the 84th Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception to be held at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center on Thursday, January 22, 2009 beginning at 6:30pm.
During the evening the 2008 Woman and Man Of The Year Awards will be announced.
Nominations for the 2008 Woman Of The Year are in. The Bainbridge Pilot Club has received nominations for six area women, all of whom are more than qualified for the award.
The nominees for 2008 are Alesia Brinson, Dana Bryant, Marlene Free, Sarah Griffin, Susan Rathel and Joyce Robinson.
Joyce Robinson is an active member of the Decatur County Support Group for Breast Cancer Survivors Network and also a speaker for the Decatur County Relay for Life. A certified Southwest Georgia Hospice volunteer, she provides support to cancer victims and their families. She participates in special choir programs and is a member of the Heavenly Sunlight Singers who visit residents of nursing homes and care facilities twice monthly. Robinson is an active member of the First Baptist Church where she teaches Sunday School and serves on several church committees. She is an avid of the Bainbridge-Decatur YMCA and the Salvation Army. She is married to Dewy Robinson.
Alesia Brinson created the 1 on 1 Mentoring Program five years ago. She continues to coordinate the program and has over 100 volunteers and mentors that work with middle school children. She has spent time helping students participating in the Bainbridge High School Job Shadowing Program, served as a testing proxy and spoken with students about career development. She has shared her knowledge with organizations about self-esteem and emotional development in adolescent girls. She was voted to serve on the city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau Board and serves as co-chair. A 2008 graduate of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber Leadership Class, Brinson is also the owner and operator of New Vision Hair Salon. She and her husband, Eddie, have 3 children.
Dana Bryant is heavily involved with the BackPacks program and helps generate donations that provide over 117 children with food for the weekend and 106 children with food delivered to their homes. She also helped start the TLC room which provides clothes and food to anyone in need. Bryant, a member of the First United Methodist Church leads parenting groups, serves on the Lay Ministry Team and rotates as a Sunday School teacher. She serves as the Altruism Chair for ADK, YMCA Board of Directors, Samaritan Counseling Center Board of Directors, Touchdown Club, Family Connection Collaborative, Hunger Prevention Coalition Executive Committee and others. She has worked with UMC to bring Angel Food Ministries to the community. Bryant works as the Services Coordinator at Bainbridge High Westside Performance Learning Center.
Marlene Free is the chair for the Bainbridge Rotary Club's New Generation Committee. As chair she was responsible of the organization of the Bainbridge College RotarAct Club, the Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest for high school students and the promotion and expansion of scholarships for students. She serves as a trustee on the Ga Rotary Student Program Board promoting the Rotary foreign exchange program and has served as a host family. This past fall she represented the Bainbridge Rotary Club in Kenya helping treat children with AIDS. Free serves as co-chair of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Council for the Arts and helped with developing the Student Art Camp. She is and active member of the Bainbridge College Ambassadors and a trustee with the Bainbridge College Foundation, Inc. Free is a retired educator with 43 years of teaching.
Sarah Griffin does most of her community work behind the scenes. An active member of St. John's Episcopal Church and the V.F.W. Auxiliary Women's Group, Griffin provides any support to them as needed. She has provided rent money, food or help with children when needed. When officers are working late into the night on a case she has provided coffee and sandwiches. A retired nurse, she has assisted cancer patients in need. Griffin has also provided support for the Bainbridge High School football and cheerleader programs. She and husband Don own and operate Junior Mall.
Susan Rathel has supported area youth with her involvement in many sports, 4H and a variety of school functions and serves as an officer on the Bainbridge High School's Baseball Dugout Club and Softball Booster Club. She was over the Diamond Dolls and ran the concession stand to the BHS Basketball teams. She is a member of the Decatur County Young Farmers and an active member of the West Bainbridge Baptist Church where she serves on several committees including the Harvest Festival and Vacation Bible School the Lottie Moon Christmas offering and missionary trips. She and husband, Charles own and operate Rathels.
Tickets to the event are available for purchase at the Chamber of Commerce office located at the Earle May Boat Basin Park for $25 per person. Tickets will not be sold at the door and are non-refundable. Please RSVP and purchase your ticket by calling the Chamber office at 229-246-4774 by Friday, January 16. This has been an exciting year for the Chamber of Commerce and they look forward to sharing an evening of celebration including good food, good entertainment, and wonderful people.
