Registration for Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Nov. 7 Required by Oct. 31

Registrations are required by Thursday, October 31st for the Thursday, November 7, Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce's 49th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner that will honor local leaders and businesses. The highly-prestigious 2013 Community Leader of the Year Award will be presented to Chuck Frigon, Watertown Town Manager. The 2013 Unsung Hero Award will be presented to Sorrina Salvatore, of Naugatuck Savings Bank. The 2013 Beautification Award will be given to Tony & Son’s Seafood, located at 639 Main Street in Oakville. 

The Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Oak Villa in Oakville at 555 Sylvan Lake Road in Oakville and will include a silent auction to raise funds for the Chamber, a division of the Waterbury Regional Chamber.  

Rich Dupont, president of Resource Development Associates and chairman of the Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce, explained that the criteria for selecting the Chamber’s Community Leader of the Year involves a nominee’s personal impact on the business community; how he or she demonstrates leadership; noted accomplishments and the extent of their community involvement.

Previous Community Award Recipients have been Susan Atkins of Bradshaw Jeep in 2006; in 2007, Dr. Joseph Erardi, Superintendent of Schools; in 2008 Bill Dunbar of Copes Rubbish Removal; in 2009, Peter Baker of Crystal Rock; in 2011, Dennis Strozzi of Siemon Realty; and in 2012, Stephen Martino of Martino’s Pizzaria.

When speaking about the Unsung Hero Award, Dupont stated, “The Watertown-Oakville Chamber understands that many members of the local business community are unsung heroes, those who often do a tremendous amount of work to benefit their community but their deeds are seldom, if ever, formally recognized.” He explained that the criteria for this award can go to any person or group who often works behind the scenes; who has provided substantive yet unrecognized contributions to their community or business; who exhibits fair and honest business practices; either lives, works, or owns a business in Watertown-Oakville; helps others move up, supports and empowers them, leading from the middle; and does not have to be a Chamber member.

The Chamber’s Beautification Award recognizes individuals, companies, and organizations for efforts that add to the aesthetics of the area by improving their properties or key access points to our community. Dupont stated that the criteria for this award is that the nominee must be a Chamber member; an Watertown-Oakville-based business; has demonstrated a special effort to improve and/or maintain a high standard of beautification of their property; and that physical enhancements may be, but are not limited to, exterior renovations, landscaping, signage and seasonal decorations.”

Gold sponsor of the 2013 Watertown/Oakville Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner is Naugatuck Savings Bank. Silver sponsor is Thomaston Savings Bank.

Tickets for the Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce’s 49th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner on November 7, 2013 are $50/person. Reservations are required by Thursday, October 31 by calling the Watertown Oakville Chamber at 203-757-0701 or visiting www.watertownoakvillechamber.com.