Now through end-of-business on Jan. 4, the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its Outstanding Citizen of the Year award, which will be bestowed upon an unsuspecting honoree (or honorees) during the chamber’s annual dinner on Feb. 7.

The list of past winners is a virtual roll call of some of the most impactful people Alpena has been priveleged to host — people who, as Steve Schulwitz reported recently, “all have made a positive impact on their communities.”

Nomination forms can be picked up at the chamber office and can be downloaded from alpenachamber.com. Officials said the forms should include as much information as possible about the nominee — including any awards they may have won, charitable causes they support, organizations or churches they are members of, and other notes of interest –to help judges make an informed decision.

Alpena and all of Northeast Michigan is filled with individuals who care for their communities and show it through charity, volunteerism and activism. Too often, such gifts to fellow man and woman go unrecognized, and we applaud the chamber for honoring those who go above and beyond for their neighbors.

The honor is as much a pride for Alpena, showcasing the kindness of its people, as it is for the individuals who take it home.

We encourage you to think about those whose work has made better the lives of those around them, and to nominate them for the Outstanding Citizen award.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)