The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Boat House Wine Co.
Karen Griffin, Bloomfield Chamber Board Member, presented the Man of the Year Award.
Every year at this time we pause and look at our community to see a fitting person to honor as Man of the Year. This man has served the City of Bloomfield diligently in several areas of our community.
He has served as Stoddard County Road District Commissioner Board for over 10 years and Housing Authority Board Member for over 1 year.
This man spent several weeks and months a year in making the Bloomfield Country Club what it is today. His work on the golf course has made it one of the premier 9-hole courses in Southeast Missouri.
The other service which stands out in his undying work is on our our City Park Board. He has served on the Park Board for about 30 years. He has volunteered his time, has went above and beyond through the years taking it upon himself to fix things at the park, clean and pick up daily, worked tirelessly on every aspect of the park as well. Rain, snow, etc., did not stop him from his dedication to keeping our park and amenities working and keeping it very clean.
Bathrooms were always opened early morning and closed by him late at night. His service to our park was all volunteer without any pay. Our park would not be what it is today without the dedication and love for it by this man.
He is also very dedicated and committed to the First Baptist Church and his family, wife Mary Ann Allen, of 48 years and two children, Jennifer Waggoner and Jonathan Allen as well as three grandchildren. He is a very dedicated man to his friends and community.
The Man of the year is Kenneth Allen. Ken had decided to retire from the park board in December, but he still calls and checks in on the park board. He has done an amazing amount for work for our town!
The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Boat House Wine Co.
Janis Traughber, Chamber Board Member, presented the Woman of the Year Award.
"After narrowing down who will receive an award, we go to friends and family to get additional information about the award recipient. This year we asked this next recipient’s friend what her occupation is and she immediately responded with “seriously, put down Professional Volunteer” and If you were to ask this recipient directly, she will give you the same answer.
"Our next award goes to someone who has volunteered her time so much in the community that she has become a professional at it. She began her volunteering career back in college when joining Alpha Phi Omega, which was a service sorority. She is now Vice President of the Bloomfield High School Alumni Association, Vice President of Bloomfield Parent’s as Teachers, has directed numerous church Christmas programs and has led 10 years of Vacation Bible School at Trinity United Baptist Church of Bloomfield. She has a deep love for children and has been instrumental in leading them to Christ with all the work she does teaching at church."
"This recipient has a huge and generous heart. She is always willing to help others and jumps right in without thinking twice. She truly has been a blessing to so many in our community through the years."
Congratulations Tracey Tippen as Woman Of The Year.
The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Boat House Wine Co.
Dee Loflin, Chamber Board Member presented the City of Bloomfield Personnel of the Year.
"In 2011 the city hired a new face for the position of water clerk. That decision has proven to be a wise one.
In 2012 this same employee was offered the position of City Clerk. It has been assuring to walk into that office and see that same reliable person for the past 11 years. If you are able to attend any city meetings, or just step into City Hall, you would be quick to recognize this person. She is an asset to our city and is the go-to person for answers.
Time does not permit me to share in detail the job description of our City Clerk, and even if I tried, that description is always evolving. One of her most recent accomplishments was applying for and receiving the $20,000 Donation from Nestle Purina for construction of an Animal Shelter.
The faces we most associate with our City offices might be the mayor and alderman but without their “right hand woman” our City Clerk, I am sure they would tell you they would be at a great disadvantage. We haven’t seen everything that's been happening behind the scenes for the past 11 years, but we know our city is better and stronger because of the quality work she has provided.
At this time, we want to give honor to Kari Standley as the City of Bloomfield Personnel of the Year and convey our most sincere thanks for being so dedicated to her position and the City of Bloomfield. Our city is better because of her and we hope to have her for many more."
Pictured are Dee Loflin, Amy Haas, Chamber President, Kari Standley, and Herman Mores, 151st Mo State Representative.
Bloomfield, MO - The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Boat House Wine Co.
Zach Pounds, Chamber Board Member, presented the Business of the Year Award to GoSEMO Fiber.
GoSEMO Fiber is the broadband subsidiary for SEMO Electric Cooperative. With operations starting in the Spring of 2017, GoSEMO has now connected over 7,500 southeast Missourians to their services.
GoSEMO Fiber believes local business bringing local services. Which is why they strive to be involved in community activities, striving to always put community first.
This is shown in their yearly involvement in multiple food pantries as well. They also help by offering free Wifi hotspots to the community as well as free internet benefits for schools.
GoSEMO is also recognized as a MASA 2021 Missouri Friend of Education.
The GoSEMO Fiber team along with their electric teammates and contracted partners are glad to be on the journey to bridge the digital divide in our area. They truly make a difference with the great service that they provide to our communities.
Congratulations on being the 2021 Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year!
Pictured from left to right: Jason Pounds, Loyd Rice of GoSEMO Fiber, and Herman Morse, 151st MO State Representative.
This spring marks the eleventh anniversary of our father's passing. We lost Dad from this life on March 14, 2011, following a lung cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2010. After his passing, our family established the Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign (celebrating Healing, Optimism, Prayer & Example). The idea for the H.O.P.E. Campaign was born as our family was keeping vigil by Dad's hospital bedside, before he was finally discharged home on hospice. So many people were sharing stories with us about ways in which Dad had helped them in one way or another over the years. Dad was always helping others, and the H.O.P.E. Campaign was one way we could ensure he was able to continue helping people. We planned to raise money in order to help others who were battling cancer.
A couple of weeks after we buried Dad, our mother, Kathy, was re-diagnosed with breast cancer, this time, Stage 4. She had battled initially in 1998, and then, in 2011, the cancer came back in her bone. Our family became even more committed to the fight against cancer, and we were determined to focus our support not only on Mom's healing, but also on our previously committed mission of supporting others who were facing the same scary battle. We have raised funds annually since 2012, whether it be a fish fry, t-shirt sales, pork loin sale or a raffle. Time and again, our wonderful community has supported our family's little mission, and we've been able to gift financial "love offerings" to families battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses to help with their treatment and care.
In November of 2012, tragedy struck our immediate family again, and we lost our sister, Sara, unexpectedly in her sleep. There are no words to explain the deep and saddening loss of both Dad and Sara. Our family and community pulled together once again to support us through this devastating loss. We feel so blessed to be so loved, and we desire to return the love and give back as we are able, while also honoring the lives and memories of our loved ones. Through the H.O.P.E. Campaign, we are able to do this on a small scale, by providing for other families the feeling of love, support and hope that we felt following each of our parents' diagnoses as well as the love and support we felt following our family's tragic losses.
We were absolutely devastated following the losses of Dad and Sara, and completely broken when Mom was re-diagnosed, but Mom never gave up hope. She was an inspiration to us all, and her faith and trust in God reminded us all that He is in control. She battled valiantly for nearly five and a half more years, until she was reunited with Dad and Sara in Heaven in August of 2016. Our family pulled together once again, closer than ever, and God continues to help us get through each day. We do not have answers to God's why, and that's not ours to know right now. We still have moments of deep grief and pain, but we also have moments of complete joy and hope. I know you all can relate, even if your story is different than ours. Dad, Mom and Sara are all deeply loved and we miss them every single day. We feel nudged by God to continue this work, and we could not do any of it without you. Thank you.
The Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign was established in March of 2011, and in 2013, we officially teamed up with The Ben Kruse 18 FORE Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity out of Stoddard County, with a shared mission of benefiting area cancer warriors. Dad and Mom were both recipients of 18 FORE Life's love offerings in 2010 and 2011. We are honored to work with 18 FORE Life to help benefit others. Ben Kruse and Dad were friends this side of Heaven, which makes the partnership between the two charities even more special for the families. In 2016, following Mom's passing, the Larry B. Jones H.O.P.E. Campaign was renamed the Larry & Kathy Jones Family H.O.P.E. Campaign.
With the help of our wonderful family, friends and community, the H.O.P.E. Campaign has raised over $137,000 since 2011, and since 2000, 18 FORE Life has sent out over $3 Million in love offerings to families all over Southeast Missouri and beyond. Our prayer is that we can honor the memory of our Dad, Mom and sister by helping others, and in some way give hope and strength to others, in a way in which it's been given to us-- during both Dad and Mom's battles with cancer. Cancer has hit very close to home, and we've had a fire lit within each of us. We can't stop fighting and loving and supporting until cancer is no more. We're so grateful for all the individuals and organizations that are out there, fighting against cancer. We also realize there are many other very difficult life situations, and while the focus of our campaign, because of our family history, is support of cancer warriors, we also want to remember, support and pray for others who find themselves facing tragic events and other life threatening illnesses.
Thank you, and God Bless,
Lora Jones Galati, Kyle Jones and families
