GOACC Celebrates Olean Chamber Week
GOACC Celebrates Olean Chamber Week
Accomplishments, Awards and More…
(L-R) Jason Crisafulli, GOACC Board Pres, Paula and Al Bernstein, Meme Yanetsko, GOACC COO. Photo / Greater Olean Area Chamber
OLEAN - Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Chamber Week, September 17 to 23. It provides the Chamber an opportunity to celebrate its many accomplishments and achievement, and an excellent time to thank the many people who make them happen.
Each one of GOACC’s programs and activities is an orchestrated effort of numerous volunteers. Many of them have been serving on their committees or working on an event for a long time. Their efforts and dedication make each happening a reality. During Chamber Week, GOACC presents the Eric Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award to a volunteer who has shown extraordinary involvement in the Chamber and who supports the chamber to its fullest. This person, selected by the GOACC staff, must be a volunteer for the entire fiscal year; must be active on one or more committees; and must be a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
Each year, we keep the Volunteer of the Year a secret until the reception. Included in her speech presented at the reception Monday, September 18th, Mrs. Yanetsko stated, “The first person has volunteered for the corporate challenge, Gus Macker, Santa Claus Lane, the dice run, sold gift certificates in our office and has even joined the events committee. The second person themselves wear many volunteer hats for other organizations but still finds time to volunteer for the Chamber – when one of our judges couldn’t make the parade, this person braved the cold weather and sat with our other judges for the Santa Claus Lane Parade, she also has cycled for our running events as a clean up caboose, and she also has joined the events committee. Our volunteers of the year are Mr. and Mrs. Bernstein – it’s a two for one special that we will gladly take each and every event. They are both very busy volunteers for many grateful organizations and we love that the Chamber is on their list of helping out.”
Paula and Al Bernstein were named the GOACC’s Eric Garvin Volunteers of the Year 2023. “It’s great that all of our volunteers give to our office and to these events – with their volunteering our events (the Chamber) succeed!” added Mrs. Yanetsko. Without the dedication, drive and true spirit of volunteerism in this community and surrounding area, GOACC would not be able to do all that we do. This event is to honor those who work so diligently to provide opportunities and growth to our events and activities.
GOACC Board of Directors renamed the previously named Volunteer of the Year to the Eric Garvin Volunteer of the Year beginning in 2021. Eric Garvin was a long time Chamber board director, volunteer and overall supporter of all things Chamber. Eric received the award posthumously in 2021 with the renaming to occur for 2022 and beyond volunteers.
For more information on the Chamber, please call 716-372-4433 or email info@oleanny.com.