Nominations sought for Annual Tamaqua Citizenship Award

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking nominations for its oldest and most prestigious award.

In 1963, the chamber's board of directors established the Tamaqua Citizenship Award, to be bestowed on a deserving area resident. This year will be the 47th year the chamber is presenting the honor.

The award will be presented at the 60th Annual Chamber/TIDE (Tamaqua Industrial Development Enterprise) Dinner, to be held on Wednesday, April 28, at the Tamaqua Community Center.

Randy Gormley was the 2009 winner of the Citizenship Award. Gormley is a long-time member of the Tamaqua Elks Lodge, and has been involved in many other civic activities.

The award is not a "Citizen of the Year" award and is not based on the activities of the nominee in the year of his or her nomination. It is not based solely on any subdivision of civic endeavor, such as religious, economic, or charitable activity, but on overall service on a variety of community efforts.

Any work for which a nominee has been paid will not be considered in the selection process. The recipient is selected based on voluntary contributions to the civic advancement of the Tamaqua Area and the well-being of its citizens.

The award is open to all residents of the Tamaqua Area School District, 18 years of age or older.

The award is given to a person living at the time of the selection. No posthumous Citizenship nominations will be considered. If a nominee dies before the award is presented, he or she will be considered for a special award in its stead.

A seven-member selection committee, which includes chamber members, clergy, and school district and civic representatives, will determine the award after reviewing nominations submitted by various fraternal, social, religious and civic organizations, as well as individual residents of the area.

Nominations in the form of signed letters or emails will be accepted. Emails will be verified for their authenticity.

Nomination letters are to be mailed to the Citizenship Award Committee, Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, 114 West Broad Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252, faxed to (570) 668-0826 or emailed to tamaquachamber@verizon.net.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, April 7 by 12 noon.

For more information about the award, contact the Tamaqua Area Chamber at (570) 668-1880.