Do you know someone who provides unparalleled service to the community of San Luis Obispo?

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the business organization’s most prestigious honor and the only award given at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner: the Citizen of the Year Award.

Anyone may be nominated, but only Chamber members may nominate. The deadline to nominate is Nov. 18 by 5 p.m. Nominees generally demonstrate an unselfish involvement in the community that is not job-related. Finalists are chosen by Chamber volunteers, and the winner is chosen by the Chamber Board of Directors.

• RRM Design Group CEO Erik Justesen
• Clever Ducks COO Amy Kardel
• Rademaker Design owner Pierre Rademaker
• Mission Community Bank CEO Anita Robinson
• Local attorney John Spatafore
• Thoma Electric, Inc. President Bill Thoma
• Longcrier & Associates CPAs Manager Hillary Trout
• Digital West Networks Inc. President Tim Williams

It’s that time of year again to vote for your Board of Directors. Members of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce can once again vote exclusively online for the Chamber’s 2012 Board of Directors.

Members will choose from 13 nominees who represent the diversity of the local business community to fill nine openings.

The 2012 Board nominees in alphabetical order are William (Bill) Borgsmiller of Aviation Consultants Inc. and San Luis Jet Center; Cheryl Cuming of San Luis Obispo County Business Improvement District; Kathy Eppright of Andre, Morris and Buttery; Donna Lewis of Central Coast Mortgage Consultants; Eric Linkugel of Pacific Gas & Electric Company; Candace (Candy) Markwith of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center; Bruce Ray of the Tribune and SanLuisObispo.com; Missy Reitner-Cameron of iii DESiGN, Inc.; Marco Rizzo of Café Roma Restaurant; Rick Stollmeyer of MINDBODY, Inc.; Barry VanderKelen of San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation; Stacey White of Mode Associates; and Matthew Woods of REC Solar.

Leadership San Luis Obispo is now accepting applications for its 20th Class. Next year's 10-month program is designed to bring participants out of their comfort zones.

Diversity is important to Leadership San Luis Obispo, and each class is created to have representatives from different cultures, sexual orientations, backgrounds, economic conditions and ages, as well as a range of businesses.

The only prerequisite is a desire to give back to the community.

Next year’s Chamber trip takes members and friends on a 10-day journey across the Emerald Isle, a land renowned for its “forty shades of green,” filled with rolling hills, warm people, stately castles and rollicking fun.

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce members will travel to Ireland with friends and associates from San Luis Obispo and build relationships that last a lifetime.

On the trip, guests will

• enjoy an evening of fun with traditional Irish entertainment,
• travel the Ring of Kerry, one of the world’s most beautiful coastal routes,
• meet an Irish family during a visit to a working Irish farm, and have coffee and scones while they explain their everyday life,
• behold the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, and
• stay overnight on the grounds of a castle and experience old Ireland at its finest.

The City of San Luis Obispo Public Works’ Tree Division is sponsoring a woodchip and firewood giveaway at 25 Prado Road, City of San Luis Obispo Corporation Yard, on July 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until wood chips are gone.

The wood rounds and rough wood chips are generated from various tree trimming activities within the City of San Luis Obispo. This green waste recycling program is for residential use only — please, no contractors or retailers.

City staff will be on site to assist with loading of pickup trucks and small trailers. Residents are encouraged to bring smaller containers to fill themselves and are asked to follow the directional signs at 25 Prado Road to the loading area.  

Donations will be accepted to help cover future Arbor Day activities and tree plantings within San Luis Obispo’s Urban Forest.

For more information, contact Urban Forester, Ron Combs at (805) 781-7023 or Maintenance Supervisor, Keith Pellemeier at (805) 781-7022.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to oppose an initiative that seeks to prevent the planned extension of Prado Road.

The initiative, which will be discussed at the San Luis Obispo City Council tonight, is expected to be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide.

The Chamber believes that the initiative – if passed – will have significant adverse effects on traffic circulation, neighborhood safety, areas already zoned for affordable housing, and local businesses.

“This type of ballot box governance not only provides no alternative solution to the extension of Prado Road, but it creates many foreseeable problems, including increased traffic congestion at Tank Farm Road and South Street, creating unnecessary hazards for the existing neighborhoods on those roads,” said John Ewan, chairman of the SLO Chamber’s Board of Directors. “The last thing San Luis Obispo needs now is another road to nowhere.”

On July 1, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce launched the latest edition of its award-winning Visitors Guide complete with a new contemporary lifestyle magazine layout, enhanced graphics, award-winning photographs, and features that have never been in the guide before. 

Additions to this 2010-11 edition of the Visitors Guide are an enhanced wine section, a new health and wellness section, and an extra section that includes jewelry and shopping, as well as current written content and an interactive online copy of the guide at visitslo.com.

This year’s Visitors Guide theme is “Wish You Were Here” – a thought that resonates with visitors whenever they stay in the San Luis Obispo area.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce was recently recognized as an organization that inspires hope and creates a brighter future in San Luis Obispo County.

The Community Spirit Award was presented to the SLO Chamber by United Way of San Luis Obispo County at its Annual Recognition Event on June 17.

“We are very proud to have such great, diverse partnerships and appreciate what these individuals, businesses and their employees have contributed this past year to improving the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County by working with United Way,” said Charlene Rosales, United Way COO. United Way also honored several other local businesses and individuals at the event for their contributions to the community.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce was also recognized for holding an ongoing workplace giving program and participating in community service activities.