The North Quabbin Chamber and Visitors’ Bureau tapped numerous area individuals and businesses for recognition at their annual dinner meeting and awards night. The event was held recently at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner, and saw well over 100 people in attendance.
Guests arrived to the strains of Frank Sinatra, enjoying hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in the lobby as they caught up with one another. As they filtered into the dining area, many worked their way down tables of silent auction items ranging from gift certificates to furniture, donated by a number of North Quabbin businesses and individuals.
Chamber President Kim Stewart of Kessler Investments gaveled the annual business meeting to order, introducing President-Elect Tabitha Fournier; Treasurer Lisa Carey, CPA; Clerk Carol Courville, of AOTV; and directors Chris Milusich of Stan’s Liquors; Nick Kimball of Kimball Law Office; Deni Ellis of Clamber Hill Inn & Restaurant; Zach Rand of Kimball-Cooke Insurance; Kelly Chaisson of TD Bank; Tristan Bedinger of Athol Credit Union; and Jennifer Prouty of Workers’ Credit Union.
Chamber Ambassadors introduced included Tabitha Fournier, Myra MacLeod, Marcia Berkall, Jean Rubin, Linda Lee, and Angela Paul, along with Executive Director Mark Wright, and Communications Manager, Emily Boughton.
A number of dignitaries were welcomed, beginning with State Representative Susannah Whipps (U-Athol); Senator Anne Gobi’s District Director Lucas Mcdiarmid; Orange Selectman Ryan Mailloux; Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski; Phillipston’s Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Flynn; Marine Commandant Jim Sotille, Department of MA Marine Detachments; and Greater Gardner Area Chamber of Commerce President Carole Jacobson.
Elections were held, with the following slate of directors elected to serve until 2022: Carol Courville, Lisa Carey, Patrick Davis, Linda Lee, and Liza Hurlburt. For the ensuing year, the following will serve as officers: President Tabitha Fournier; President Elect Marc Ostberg; Treasurer Carol Courville; and Clerk Tristen Bedinger.
The gavel sounded the conclusion of the meeting, and was presented to incoming President Fournier who offered brief remarks, then called Director Wright to the podium.
NQ Chamber Executive Director Mark Wright welcomed guests, recognizing the impressive array of dignitaries, and updating the audience on area business happenings. He asserted, “…the state of the North Quabbin Chamber and Visitors Bureau is strong.”
Wright continued with many examples of business successes, and cited recent statistics showing unemployment dropping even faster in the region that at the national level. A recent job fair for new Chamber member MassGrow, for example, drew more than 500 applicants; the cannabis-based business expects to employ on the order of 400 people in the next 18 to 24 months.
As dinner was being served, Wright reminded everyone the silent auction would close promptly at 7:15, and he referred guests to the list of items that would be auctioned off during the meal. He introduced Auctioneer Mark Ellis for the live auction of 11 items ranging in value from $150 from Workers’ Credit Union for two Red Sox tickets for the August 16 game against the Orioles, to $1,000 donated by Bear Country & the Outlaw Radio for 25 radio spots over a seven-day period.
Other donations included three seasons passes for the 2019 season by the 1794 Meetinghouse, valued at $450; an overnight stay for a family of four at Great Wolf Lodge of New England, valued at $500; Spirit tasting for up to 10 people at Clamber Hill Inn & Restaurant, valued at $300; AOTV & WVAO multi-sponsorship package valued at $350; and an adult membership to the Athol Area YMCA, valued at $510.
Also donated were two seasons tickets for 2019/2020 to the Cultural Center at Eagle Hill, valued at $900; two tickets from Hometown Realtors for the Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA in July, valued at $238; 100 gallons of home heating fuel from Ron’s Fuel, valued at $250, and a “priceless” package from Senators Anne Gobi and Jo Comerford, for a personal tour of the Statehouse, with lunch at Cheers.
The evening concluded with the presentation of several awards to well-known, highly-respected movers and shakers in the North Quabbin region. Orange Selectman Ryan Mailloux was tasked with introducing award recipients and reading bios.
The Chamber selected their Citizen of the Year from a wide field of well-qualified candidates, all of whom represent the best of the region. It can be a long process, choosing someone from a list of great people, but this year’s candidate made the task a little easier.
Full of energy, enthusiasm, compassion, a get-right-to-it spirit, and never one to let an opportunity pass by that could mean transformative change, Jeanette Robichaud could have been the inspiration for Dr. Seuss’ famous adage, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
Robichaud has served as the Athol Area YMCA’s Executive Director for the past 11 years. After working in several Ys in the Commonwealth, she was thrilled to take on her role as CEO at the Y where she began her professional career as the Aquatic and Youth Director in the late 80s. As Executive Director, she worked with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers to develop new programs and services to meet the changing needs of the community.
Some of her new programs included LIVESTRONG at the Y, for adult cancer survivors; the Y Diabetes Prevention Program; Project Purple (substance abuse education, awareness, and prevention program); expansion of the Y’s nursery school to a full-day preschool program; and funding and implementation of two, 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, one at Athol Community Elementary School, and one at the Athol Middle School, providing academically-supportive after school programs for enrolled students.
Robichaud has also implemented new strategies to increase annual fundraising to support the financial assistance the y provides to ensure that everyone can access the Y, regardless of their ability to pay. This assistance totals more than $125,000 per year. Her skill at grant writing has secured more than a million dollars of capital funds for improvements to the Y facility on Main Street in Athol, and at Camp Wiyaka, ensuring both facilities offer safe, up-to-date services for all.
Her involvement in the community is wide, and as robust as you might expect from someone of her caliber. It includes membership on several boards including Valuing our Children, The North Quabbin Community Coalition, the United Way, North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin. She is a member and past president of the Athol-Orange Area Rotary Club. She also served on the Athol School building Committee for the construction of a new elementary school complex.
“Whatever Jeanette is involved in, she brings her energy, enthusiasm, a sense of humor, ability to work with people from all backgrounds, and her driving passion to make our community a better, safer, kinder place for everyone, especially children. She is a fearless friend, a devoted mother, wife, and a true, community hero,” said Mailloux.
Robichaud was gracious in her acceptance of the award, and with great emotion, credited her late mother with instilling such a strong commitment to community.
(Tomorrow, part 2 of the North Quabbin Chamber Awards will be published: Outstanding Municipality Award, Arthur H. Platt Community Service Award, Business of the Year, and North Quabbin Inspiration Award.)