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The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce held its 106th Annual Meeting on February 3, installing former longtime Mayor Frederick E. Turnage as the 2010 Chairman of the Chamber.
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The evening began with the Presentation of Colors by the 849th Quartermaster Company, many of whom are preparing for deployment to
Afghanistan
in the coming days; and the National Anthem was inspiringly performed by junior and senior young ladies of the Tar River Children’s Chorus Ensemble.
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This was a fitting beginning to the meeting that saw attendance reach 500 people and which featured keynote speaker General Henry Hugh Shelton, who delivered an important overview of the work of our brave men and women serving our country, as well as insightful glimpses of the history, background, and
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environment in which this important work has been and is continuing to be conducted. Shelton placed his vote of confidence in the current leadership in Afghanistan under General McCrystal and the dedication of those that serve under him. Shelton further shared the importance of character and leadership, which is the mission of the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative at NC State University.
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In Honor of his many contributions to our country, Mayor David Combs was on hand to present this area native hero with a key to the city. |
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The event serves to recognize a number of local citizens for their contributions and service, perhaps the most coveted of these being the Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Dr. Gaylord Lehman delivered the introduction of the 2010 award recipient - Norma B. Turnage, sharing highlights of this remarkable, energetic, enterprising, talented and highly
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lady's public life. Not just the wife of former Mayor Fred Turnage but a very distinguished lady in her own right who has served our community well as educator, as a member and leader of many local boards involving community good works and fundraising - such as the consolidation of the YWCA and YMCA, and currently as Nash Health Care's Foundation Board Chairperson. Mrs. Turnage has also served with distinction for citizens of North Carolina through appointments made by
Governor James B. Hunt to numerous boards and commissions - most notably in education with the NC State Board of Education for ten years and has served for the past seven years on the NC State Board of Education, currently as Program Committee Chair-Person. Awards and recognitions that have been bestowed on Norma Turnage include: Who's Who in Education; NC Association of Educators Award of Distinction; East Carolina Council Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen Award; the Order of
the Long Leaf Pine presented by Governor Hunt; and co-chaired a Day for Wesleyan twice, setting record fund raising for the campaign in 2009 along with husband Fred Turnage. Norma Turnage has been an outstanding leading lady for our city, her church and her family, and continues to have a great impact on our community and its people.
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2009 Chairman John Kincheloe announced The Chamber’s annual service award recipients recognizing outstanding volunteer leadership for The Chamber and the community. The honorees are: Lige Daughtridge, Daughtridge Sales, as the Woody Brown
Award Winner – highlighting his service to our area through Reach Out Rocky Mount/Fun Run for Charities and the organization’s work to develop a comprehensive community
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calendar, as well as his important work on behalf of The Chamber members in Small Business.
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Dorothy High, Guardian Holdings, was acknowleged as Ambassador of the Year – highlighting the behind the scenes work of an Ambassador of The Chamber who has given many hours of volunteer time on behalf of the organization and its members. |
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Kincheloe shared an overview of his year leading The Chamber’s community work and in the passing of the gavel, introduced 2010 Chairman Turnage - a leader whose longstanding public service has benefitted our city, its citizens, our region, our state, and in several cases our nation, since he began his mayoral service as Rocky Mount’s youngest Mayor in 1973.
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Turnage gave brief remarks about the coming year at The Chamber helm and inspired attendees to continue to work together to capitalize on every opportunity that can strengthen our area. Turnage stated, “businesses are linked to the overall economic prosperity of our region and if businesses are to do well in a community, the community itself has to be strong enough to support economic growth - chamber’s can
not go it alone and have to bring in a broader group of stakeholders. Whether we lead or just serve as a partner, we need to be at the table when big policy issues are being discussed in community.”
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The Annual Meeting is a Signature Event of The Chamber each year and is made possible by the following sponsors: Premier Sponsors: RBC Bank and Reach Out Rocky Mount/Fun Run for Charities; Presenting Sponsors: BB&T, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Nash Health Care, PoynerSpruill LLP, Suddenlink Communications, and WebPoint IT Solutions; and Host Sponsor Nash Community College. Table Sponsors were:
Battle, Winslow, Scott & Wiley; Batts, Batts & Bell LLP; Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc.; Century 21-The Combs Company; Construction Imaging/Express Employment Professionals; Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant; Fields & Cooper, PLLC; Nash County Sheriff's Office; Oettinger & Norwood, P.A.; Providence Bank; RSM McGladrey, Inc.; Standard Electric-SE&M Constructors/Southern Credit Adjusters; Southern Bank; Universal Leaf North America; Wachovia Bank-A Wells Fargo Company; Wells Fargo Advisors, Supporting
Sponsors were: Garry Hodges, Sunset Studios, LLC; Clevinger Creative Services and Flowers & Gifts of Rocky Mount.
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The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, a membership organization with over 650 business members in the region, serves as the leading business advocate for sustaining and promoting economic prosperity in the region and exists to foster economic growth and to advance the commercial, industrial, and civic well being of the region through a strong, expanding business base.
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