LOCAL CHAMBER TO HONOR 50-YEAR MEMBERS AT ANNUAL DINNER FEB. 2

There will be something new on the agenda of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce annual meeting this year -- special recognition for 50-year-plus members.

"We'll honor 11 chamber members," said Linda L. Minner, marketing and special projects director of the chamber.

Heading the list is Knaup Floral Co. and Greenhouses, 136 S. Pacific.

"The chamber was only three years old when Knaup joined in 1920," said Minner. The chamber was founded in 1917, and on June 20, 1920, Knaup became a member.

Ten other members who joined in 1945 will be recognized for more than 50 years of membership during the Feb. 2 meeting-dinner dance at the Show Me Center.

Seven of the members -- Hecht's Store, JCPenney, the Southeast Missourian, Sears Roebuck and Co., Lone Star Industries, Oliver, Oliver and Waltz, and W.E. Walker Insurance -- joined the chamber Jan. 1, 1945.

Georgell Investments Inc. joined Feb. 1, 1945, and Baker Implement and Mid-America Distributing each joined Dec. 1, 1945.

Three other awards -- the Small Business of the Year, the Rush H. Limbaugh and the Go-Getter -- will be presented during the dinner.

Retiring chamber directors and chairmen will be recognized.

The event starts at 6 p.m. with a social hour. A buffet dinner will be served at 7. Dancing will start about 9 p.m., following awards presentations.

"We're getting good response for the dinner," said Minner. "We're expecting from 700 to 800 people for the dinner."

Dennis Marchi, manager of Schnucks Food and Drug, is new chamber board chairman, succeeding James Rust, president of Eagle I Inc., who will remain an ex-officio on the board for one year. Other new officers are James Wente, administrator of Southeast Missouri Hospital, chairman-elect; Mike Kohlfeld, president of Kohlfeld Distributing, vice chairman; and Doug Groesbeck, Union Electric chairman, secretary.

New board member are Kim Swartz, executive director, Community Counseling Center Foundation; Jay Knudtson, vice president, Boatmen's Bank; Steve Green, vice president, commercial lending, Capital Bank; Don Hill, general manager, Capetown RV Sales; Alan Gregory, project manager, Gregory Construction Inc.; and Howard Meagle, vice president and general manager, KFVS-TV.

More than 90 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S. during the past two decades have been created by small businesses.

"We have always realized the importance of small businesses," said Minner. The small business award, for businesses employing less than 150, was initiated five years ago.

The award is one of two presented to industries each year by the chamber. The chamber presents its Commitment to Excellence Award, recognizing the 1993 Industry of the Year, during the annual Industrial Appreciation Dinner

Advance Business Systems was the first Small Business of the Year in 1992. Ford Groves Motor Co. became the fourth recipient of the award in 1995.

In between, Bluff City Beer was honored in 1993 and KBSI-TV was the winner in 1994.

Judging criteria for the award is based on business history and growth, financial soundness and profitability, customer satisfaction and reputation, employee relations and civic and business leadership by the owners, managers and employees.

Winners are unknown, except to the judges, until they are announced at the chamber's annual meeting.

The Limbaugh award goes to an individual who has expended exceptional effort on behalf of the community for an extended period of time.

Limbaugh, a practicing attorney for more than 75 years here, was first recipient of the award. Others include longtime radio and television station owner, the late Oscar Hirsch; businessman and former mayor Howard C. Tooke; businessman Harry Rediger; businessman Charles Hutson; businessman Joe Gambill; and last year's winner, J. Hugh Logan, who worked with Moon Distributing for more than 30 years before retiring.

Rozan Bonsignore received the Go-Getter Award last year. The Go-Getter Award is presented by the chamber for a member's outstanding work with the organization's membership committee.

The cost of the program is $25 a person. Additional information is available by calling the chamber office, 335-3312.