San Diego Foundation to unveil plans for Ramona Foundation at chamber banquet
Plans for the formation of a Ramona Foundation under the auspices of the San Diego Foundation will be unveiled at the Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Installation & Awards Banquet in the San Vicente Inn at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. A no-host bar will open at 6 p.m.
Special guests Jack Raymond, chairman of the San Diego Foundation’s Board of Governors, and Bob Kelly, San Diego Foundation CEO, will discuss how the foundation works with public-spirited citizens to address community needs.
San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob will administer the oath of office to the chamber’s 2009 directors, and the citizen of the year and business/organization of the year will be announced. A lifetime achievement award may be presented, and a special recognition award is expected to be presented.
Finalists for Citizen of the Year honors are Ray Cardona, executive director of the Ramona Senior Center; Charlotte Jensen, chair of the annual Oktoberfest; Woody Kirkman, Ramona Town Hall Board president; Kevin McNulty, Ramona Tree Trust grants coordinator; and Jim Robinson, Ramona Junior Fair Board member.
Finalists for Business/Organization of the Year are E.P.S. Lumber/Hurricane Fence/Ramona Fence, Ideas in Wood, Nulite Inc. and Ramona Disposal Service.
Patrick Meskell of the chamber’s Annual Awards Committee said many more nominations were received, but the committee reached consensus on the finalists based on the overall contributions of each to the community.
Other special guests will be U.S. Congressman Duncan D. Hunter and Assemblyman Joel Anderson. State Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth may also attend.
The evening’s theme will be A Small Town with a Big Heart. A full house that is anticipated.
“It’s a sold-out crowd,” said Carol Fowler, outgoing chamber president who helped plan the evening.
Ralph Mittman, owner of Manzanita Press and a former chamber president, will be the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Anyone with questions may call the chamber at 789-1311.