Take time to make a nomination

Set a deadline, and it’s virtually guaranteed those involved will wait until the last minute.
It’s true of research papers for school, applications for jobs and — quite often — stories for the newspaper. A lot of us are procrastinators.
And for those of us who are, a deadline is fast approaching.
Nominations for the renamed Jay County Community Awards are due Saturday.
Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Dean Sanders and his board have made some modifications to the awards this year with the goal of making them a more community-oriented event.
That effort includes separating the awards from the chamber’s annual meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 29.
The finalists, three for each honor, will be announced then, with a dinner and ceremony to crown the winners scheduled for March 5.
The chamber will continue to hand out its traditional honors — Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year and Dunkirk Commitment to Community. And it will also introduce honors for Young Professional of the Year (for those ages 21 through 40), Innovator of the Year and Not-For-Profit of the Year.
We encourage taking a moment to think about that list.
Is there someone who stands out for the work he or she has done this year in the county, or in Dunkirk specifically? Someone who has made an impact throughout his or her career? A business, industry or not-for-profit that makes this community better every day? A young professional who displays the qualities we seek in our current and future leaders? A free-thinker who is changing the local landscape?
Given a few minutes of consideration, it’s easy to think of individuals or entities that qualify.
So pick up a form from the chamber office, or at http://www.jaycountychamber.com, take a few moments and nominate a deserving member of our community.
The deadline is right around the corner. But there’s still time. —R.C.