April 20, 2004 – The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2004 Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance on Saturday at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas. This year's theme is "Evening in Paris."
The evening's honorees will be presented various awards including the Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award. Established in 1983, the award recognizes the outstanding contributions to the Virgin Islands of public officials and private citizens "whose achievements reflect the commitment and dedication exemplified by the life and work of Bill LaMotta," a chamber release stated.
LaMotta, a renowned composer and musician who died in 1980, had been a president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, a Small Business Man of the Year and a civic leader.
"This award is presented to individuals who exhibit dedication, sincerity, forthrightness and ethics" in the performance of their duties or in the practice of their businesses or professions, Joe Aubain, chamber executive director, said.
This 2004 LaMotta Award recipients are: Henry and Penny Feuerzeig, community activists; Edmund Penn, president of the Magens Bay Authority; Edith deJongh Woods, preservationist and historian; and the Bethlehem House shelter program for the homeless of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands.
Also to be presented on Saturday are:
– The Award for Design Excellence, given to the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas "for the restoration of the Methodist Education and Outreach Center" on St. Thomas.
– The Student Achievement Award, which goes to Michael Toussaint, Charlotte Amalie High School senior and president of the V.I. Future Business Leaders of America chapter.
"The recipients are chosen by the chamber board of directors," Aubain said.
Tickets for the event are $110 per person and may be purchased by calling the chamber offices at 776-0100.
"Guests will dine on a delicious three-course meal in a Parisian setting complete with the Eiffel Tower," Aubain said. St. John's Cool Sessions band will provide music for the evening.
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