Awards!

BladenJournal.com

Local leaders receive recognition and awards

by Rosita Age, Special to the Journal The Bladen Journal

06.23.11 - 08:33 am

DUBLIN — A crowd of 115 people congregated at Lu Mil Vineyard Tuesday evening for the Chamber of Commerce’s 59th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet.

The chamber took the opportunity to conclude the year by honoring inspirational people in the community with awards and standing ovations.

Four particular businesses and individuals were recognized.

President Scott Walters presented the “Outstanding Chamber Member Award” to Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co., P.A.

“They do a wonderful job in the community,” Walters said. “I think there are many businesses in town that could not go on without these accountants.”

Bryon Scott, who accepted the award, has been involved with the chamber for about 15 years.

“This is just a great honor and a great privilege to be thought of by such a nice chamber,” Scott said.

Denise Cross, who completed her service on the board of directors, presented the “Outstanding Small Business Award” to A Shelter Friend.

A Shelter Friend has saved 4,600 pets in the last four years, and spayed and neutered 416 this year alone.

“To accomplish what we have in the last four years we have to thank the network of volunteers in the community,” Hansen said upon receiving the award.

The “Caring Person Award” recognized another animal lover, Dr. Douglas Gensel of Elizabethtown Veterinary Hospital.

Gensel in his speech passed the acknowledgement along to his staff.

“The true reason I’m standing here is the staff of Elizabethtown Veterinary,” Gensel said.

Through the Bladen County Rabies Clinics 540 pets have been vaccinated this year, with two more clinics to go.

Brenda Clark presented the Honorary Lifetime Chamber Member award to Hubert Kinlaw, who has worked with Sampson-Bladen Oil Company for more than 52 years.

“His work ethics, his integrity, and his dedication and loyalty far exceed any of those of anyone I know,” Clark said of Kinlaw.

Kinlaw has integrated himself in multiple areas of the community. He has served as chief of the Elizabethtown Rescue Squad, Bladen County coroner, and continues to serve on the Bladen County Child Protective Services board.

“It’s been a good trip,” Kinlaw said, humbly. “I’ve worked with some good people,”

The banquet also recognized three outgoing members, Seth Campbell, Denise Cross, and Allen Johnson, and three incoming members on the board of directors, Charlotte Smith, Mike Davis, and Peggy Newman.

Paul Norris, president -elect, was announced to have obligations with his recent promotion that would not allow him to fulfill his duties as president, resulting in another year of Scott Walters as president.

Guest speaker North Carolina Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dale Carroll made an appearance at the meeting, providing encouraging words to the audience.

Carroll suggested that North Carolina was one of the main states leading the country out of the recession as a result of the new job creations and billions of dollars in investments.

“Rather than this being the Great Recession, I think this is the recession that will make us great,” Carroll said.