Final ballots were mailed to chamber members after the initial nomination process was completed last week. Under the chamber awards format, members are asked to nominate and all those receiving at least three nominations are included on the final ballot.

Winners are announced at the annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet, set for Thursday, Nov. 12, at Tecumseh City Hall. The event marks the ceremonial end of the year for the chamber and will include the passing of the gavel from 1998 president J. Cooper to Dr. Bob Evans, who will become president Jan. 1.

Seven people are nominated for Citizen of the Year, which honors the person judged to have contributed most to the community through business and civic activities. Last year’s winner was Terry O’Rorke, 1997 chamber president and then manager of Pratt Foods here, who is now with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. O’Rorke had also won the honor the year before. Other past winners are Dwight Wise (twice), Ronnye Sharp, Phil Hartoon, Jimmy Jordan, Jane Childers and Ronnye Sharp (tie), Jim Myers, Wayne Trotter, Bill Boyd, Bob Evans (twice), Charles Wilcox (twice), Sam Loveless, Joan Perry, and Wilson Dunn.