Smiles is reactivated

Nevada and Vernon County are known for being friendly. Many visiting our community have expressed this as their experience of visiting the area. In addition there are many citizens who do good deeds. There are many who go beyond the call of duty -- doing extra things for customers or guests to the community. It is these people who help to make this community the great community it is. These are the people who are deserving of a special pat on the back, a special recognition.

Tuesday a news release out of the chamber of commerce announces that the Nevada Smiles awards will be starting up again. For a period of time Nevada Smiles was an integral part of the chamber's many recognition program. It now is time to get the program out of the moth balls and get it started again.

A few years ago, I realized that there was a need to recognize people who represents the community and doing special things for others. We needed to do something to give many of these people special recognition. The thoughts for this type of special recognition grew as a result of comments and observations by Carolyn Gray Thornton made in her column that was published in the Nevada Daily Mail. The results were the establishment of the chamber's Nevada Smiles Award. A number of citizens were recognized, and the members of the chamber involved with the program did a good job of implementing the program.

Naturally, the people who are doing the things to be deserving of special awards are not doing it for recognition or usually do not give any thought to the special things they are doing. Still, what they do is special.

Everyone needs to be on the outlook for someone who is doing something special, giving extra service or is making a good impression. As Kathi Wysong is quoted of saying in the chamber news release, "just pick up the phone and call our office." It is almost like getting a photographic moment, catching someone doing a great deed.

Each nominee will be notified. The committee will select a monthly recipient for $25 chamber bucks and the recipient will be invited as a guest to the chamber luncheon.

I was asked to serve on the committee. Others on the committee include Jennifer Braun, of the Osburn Financial Services Group, Michael Brown, of AgProvisionsLLC and the Nevada Regional Technical Center's DECA organization. It is good to have a youth organization as a member of the chamber and to have the organization involved on the committee to select recipients for the Smile's award.

There are many advantages to having the DECA organization to be involved. One is that they are a member of the chamber. Each club or organization need youth to be involved, they are a part of the community. The youth themselves needs to be involved, giving them responsibility and opportunity to gain experience. Working with the Smile's award will help them to be more conscious as they work at their own jobs, of the importance of good customer service and doing good deeds. The students will be noticing the service that is performed by others as they observe others at their jobs. They will be helpful in the campaign of obtaining nominations for the recognition.

As we approach the holiday season, this is a good time to start the program once again. There will be those who will be making themselves ambassadors of the community as they carry out the cheerfulness of the season. Still, there will be others who will feel stressed and will show that they are not in a good mood. It is important for all to be on their good terms.

There are many in our community who are always performing good friendly community service and continuously perform good deeds. This is often taken for granted and we do not realize that they are really special. That is one reason that this community is a good community to live in and a good community for others to visit.

The name Smile's is a good name. Smiling is a good trait. It is said that by smiling at others, they will smile back at you and perhaps smile at the next person they meet. It becomes contagious. After all, in a few weeks the season to be jolly will be here and smiles will certainly be appropriate. Still, the season to be jolly is at all times. Since we live in a good community that is friendly, you have much to smile about. Your smile contributes to making this a great community.

What will make the awards program successful is by you being in observance of someone doing something special and then making a nomination. Nominations may be made by calling the chamber office at (417) 667-5300 or stop by the lower level of the Carnegie Building at 225 W. Austin.