2012 "Saline Salutes" Awardees Announced

Posted: Mar 16, 2012 at 1:32 PM [Mar 16, 2012]

Saline, Michigan – Jill Durnen, Dr. Joseph Labuta, and Cindy Czubko will be honored at the 2012 “Saline Salutes” ceremony, it was announced today.  The event is presented by the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce with support from the City of Saline.  Jill Durnen was selected as Citizens of the Year, Dr. Joseph Labuta will be honored for Lifetime Achievement, and Cindy Czubko will be presented with the George A. Anderson Vision Award.

                     The honorees were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of community leaders assembled by the Chamber.  “Receiving an award at Saline Salutes represents the most widely-respected recognition given to individuals living or working in the Saline area each year”, commented Larry Osterling, Executive Director of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce.  “Community leaders select the awardees with the Chamber coordinating the decision-making process.  We have the best possible representation from across our entire community for these important selections.  I thought this year’s group, along with Chamber Board President Karen Ragland’s assistance as facilitator, did a fantastic job.  We’re especially proud of each and every awardee not only for their own accomplishments but also for what they represent in terms of the hundreds of other great volunteers we have in this area”.

                     Jill Durnen is being recognized for her volunteer efforts in 2011 with the Business Development Association/Saline Main Street, Saline Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Saline Rotary Club.  Dr. Joseph Labuta is being honored for the creation and growth of the Saline New Horizons Band and his many efforts to bring music into the lives of Salinians.  Cindy Czubko “visionary” leadership led the City of Saline and community’s successful application to become a select city in the Michigan Main Street program.

                     In addition to the awards for these honorees, there are two other recognition awards.  The Saline Youth Council will present their “Youth of the Year” Award to Maura McCann, a senior at Saline High School, for her volunteer service in the community and leadership roles at school and in local organizations.  Saline Area Chamber of Commerce is adding its own award for “Lifetime Community Promotion and Development” selected by the Chamber Board of Directors. This year’s awardee is Stan Poet, former Facility Manager of the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds.  Over his career Stan oversaw hundreds of events at the facility that attracted over 250,000 visitors every year.  Government officials and civic leaders are special invitees of the City of Saline and the Chamber and will be given a salute of thanks for their dedicated commitment to our community.

                     The Saline Salutes event will be held on Friday, April 13th at Saline High School in the Ellen A. Ewing Performing Arts Center.  Included is a reception with entertainment, a strolling buffet, and the awards program.  This special community event is sponsored by DesignHub Inc., one of Washtenaw County’s leading website design firms located in the greater Saline area.  Cost for the event is $20 for Adults, $10 for Students, ages 6-18, for reservations made by April 6th.  Reservations can be obtained by calling the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce at 734.429.4494 or by going to the Chamber’s website, www.salinechamber.org, calendar page.

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