Chamber President Jaquet recaps 2018, introduces 2019 officers and directors
In addition to handing out its Citizen of the Year and Friend of the Chamber awards, the Galva Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting Saturday night at Kewanee Dunes.
Galva Chamber President Adam Jaquet welcomed those in attendance, and said, “We are here tonight to celebrate a few of the people who help make Galva a great community we are proud to call home."
The court from the Harvest Days Pageant, which is sponsored by the Chamber, was in attendance and introduced.
Jaquet also introduced the Galva Chamber of Commerce directors and officers.
n Adam Jaquet, president, from Eagle Enterprise Recycling.
n Stacy Hanks, secretary, from Community State Bank.
n Jake Anderson, treasurer, from State Bank of Toulon.
n Mike Yepsen from CSB Insurance.
n Mike Keup from Galva Family Dentistry
The same directors will remain for the 2019 year.
It was approved Saturday night to amend the by-laws as there are two officers who have served three years in their offices. According to the by-laws, they could not serve another year in that office. The Chamber did not have anyone at this time to move into those roles, so it was amended to increase years a person may serve from three to four.
In the absence of treasurer Jake Anderson, Jaquet went over the treasurer's report.
The Chamber had a busy year, highlighted by the following events:
n The annual meeting and awards night in 2018 honoring Jordan Murray as Citizen of the Year, and Teresa and Donna Haga as Friends of the Chamber.
n The Easter Egg hunt in Wiley Park and breakfast at the newly-opened Feltner’s Fun Center Day Care in March. More than 200 children participated, and State Bank of Toulon provided the Golden Egg prizes in each age group.
n In the summer, 10 organizations hosted Dinner in the Park raising about $5,000 for their groups.
Delta on the Square and Crescent City Tap were thanked for the use of their facilities when Dinner in the Park had to move inside.
Jaquet also thanked the Galva Public Works for putting up and taking down tables each week for the dinners.
n The Harvest Days Pageant was held in the fall, with Ana Gerard crowned queen.
n The Ol' Fashion Christmas celebration was held on its traditional date, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Jaquet said the day before 13 inches of snow blanketed Galva, the downtown was filled with Christmas cheer as Santa Claus greeted kids, horse- drawn carriage rides carried families through town, and crafts, gifts and sweets were plentiful.
n In 2018 the Galva Chamber welcomed three businesses that came to town or opened a new facility — Mersman Memories Photography, Feltner’s Fun Center Day Care and Nutrien Ag Solutions.
Jaquet added a ribbon cutting was held Saturday morning to welcome a new florist to Galva, the Enchanted Florist. The flower shop opened in November.
Galva Citizen of
the Year recipients
1967 — James B. Young
1968 — Milo Watson
1969 — C. Forrest Bailey
1970 — Roy Holding
1971 — Charles Whitney
1972 — Leo Windish
1973 — Sam Mendel
1974 — Dr. L.C. Burkey
1975 — R.M. Everett
1976 — Homer Pryor
1977 — Mary Lou Holding
1978 — Dr. C.J. Maginel
1979 — George Swank
1980 — Carolyn Ossian
1981 — Dr. Paul Schmidt
1982 — Chuck Hay
1983 — Leon Lewin
1984 — Frances Thompson
1985 — Galva Food Pantry
1986 — None
1987 — None
1988 — Marian Blust
1989 — Rev. Kenneth Starnes
1990 — William Heiwig
1991 — Ann Smith
1992 — Marilyn Wilson
1993 — Keith Carter
1994 — Warren Arter
1995 — Herb Rodgers
1996 — None
1997 — None
1998 — Rob Clark
1999 — Sherm Raley
2000 — Bob Miller
2001 — Pete VanDeVelde
2002 — Tim Foley
2003 — Emily Kneen
2004 — Galva Tutoring Center
2005 — Bev Everett
2006 — Denny Anderson
2007 — John Sloan
2008 — Sharon Murray
2009 — Duane Bell
2010 — Will Thomson
2011 — Bernie Cromien
2012 — Rip Everett
2013 — Nancy Ingels
2014 — Dwain Jacobson
2015 — Steve Bell
2016 — Scott Caravello
2017 — Teresa Byers
2018 — Jordan Murray
2019 — Jason Bates