by Rachel Hunter
The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce’s 114th Annual Banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 5:30 p.m. (social hour), 6:30 p.m. (roast beef dinner), at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, 1419 US Highway 11, Gouverneur.
Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Besaw of Gouverneur confirmed with the Gouverneur Tribune Press this week that tickets are still available at $25 per person. For more information, visit gouverneurchamber.net.
The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce will honor 2024 Award of Merit Recipient Clark Porter, a local businessman and entrepreneur. Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that a full sketch was published in the April 19 edition. The Award of Merit is presented annually to a “business or businessperson active in the community over a long period of time or has a notable record of accomplishments in civic activities.” Clark Porter has had membership in the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce since 2021.
Past recipients of the Award of Merit include Eldon B. Conklin (1991), Robert A. Porter (1992), Gale Ferguson (1993), Dr. Alexander Dodds (1994), Eleanor Jackson (1995), Korleen Spilman (1996), E. J. Noble Hospital Auxiliary (1997), Ice Storm Community Leaders (1998), Joe Laurenza (1999), Della Evans (2000), Gouverneur Rotary Club (2001), Dr. Tim Monroe (2002), Kinney Drugs, Inc. (2003), Dale and Kay Bush (2004), Fred Easton (2005), Cives Steel Co. (2006), Nancy J. Cappellino (2007), Judy Peck (2008), Dr. Robert Saide (2009), Joe and Carolyn Pistolesi (2010), Harland Brown (2011), Dick and Brad Conklin (2012), Spilman’s Garage (2013), Gouverneur Auto Parts (2014), Casablanca Restaurant (2015), Fun Unlimited (2016), Newvine’s NAPA Auto Parts (2017), New York Pizzeria (2018), Wilson and Glenda Bickford (2019), Hometown Heroes (2020-2021), Blevins Ford/Team Blevins (2022), Charles A. Gardner, Attorney (2023).
Anticipation is high in the Gouverneur community for this year’s Chamber Banquet as news spreads about local businessman/entrepreneur Clark Porter being selected for the Chamber’s 2024 Award of Merit. The banquet has been a topic of conversation at local municipal board meetings, the Gouverneur Area Development Corporation (GADC) meeting, among others. All North Country residents are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure their seat at the 114th Annual Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet on May 1. For more information, visit www.gouverneurchamber.net or call 315-287-0331 or visit the Chamber office at 53 Herm Towne Road, Gouverneur.