Nominations for consideration of the 2020 honorees are now open.
By Brittney Chamber
Since 1957 the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce has hosted an annual “Celebrate Morgan Hill Awards Dinner” in honor of the many remarkable people and businesses within our community. Award recipients are considered within the following categories: Man, Woman, Student, Teacher, Volunteer, Nonprofit Organization, Small Business and Large Business.
Every fall, nomination forms are released to the community at large and collected in confidence by chamber staff. A panel comprised of award recipients from the previous five years convenes in a locked boardroom and engages in deep discussion of each individual nomination form that is submitted.
There is a level of confidentiality and seriousness that would rival even the most secret society’s meetings.
Nominees are then ranked based on their history of outstanding service, civic involvement, volunteerism, awards received, philanthropy, accomplishments and leadership within the community. Votes are cast and the nominees in each category who receive the highest number of votes are awarded the accolades.
Then comes the fun part. Coordination begins to surprise these honorees with the news, my favorite part of the entire process because they are always caught unawares. Expressions of shock, disbelief, appreciation, broad smiles and teary eyes have graced the faces of honorees when surprised with this announcement!
These notable individuals and organizations are then celebrated at the Annual Awards Dinner and receive honorable mentions throughout the year including broadcasts and float rides during the Fourth of July and Holiday Lights parades in addition to a feature page within the Annual Chamber of Commerce Directory and Community Guide.
Nominations for consideration of the 2020 honorees are now open. If you know a person or business who you think is deserving of being a Celebrate Morgan Hill award recipient, please do not delay in entering them into the running.
Nomination forms are currently posted on the chamber of commerce website (www.morganhill.org) with the deadline for submissions set for 5 p.m. Friday Nov. 1. Stay tuned for additional announcements of the 2020 honorees and details of the “Diamonds and Denim” Awards Dinner taking place at 6 p.m. Saturday March 7 at Guglielmo Winery.
Happy nominating everyone and may the year’s most worthy champions of Morgan Hill win!
Brittney Sherman is the chief operating officer for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at (408) 779-9444 or at [email protected].
