SHERBURNE – Commerce Chenango recognized two community members, a local business owner and a non-profit organization for their contributions to Chenango County Thursday at the 9th Annual Membership Appreciation Luncheon, held at Fox Run Event Center in Sherburne.

Those recognized were this year’s recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, Betsey Baio; Agricultural Advocate, Sheila Marshman; Woman Owned Business of the Year, Nancy Cushman of Seasons Gift Shop; and Non-Profit Agency of the Year, the Northeast Classic Car Museum.

The event was sponsored by Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, GHS Federal Credit Union and Frontier.

Volunteer of the Year Award

“Spirited and talented volunteers are a community asset that must be valued. Their contributions set us apart from other communities and help to determine our future,” said Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter as she introduced this year’s award recipient, Betsey Baio of New York Pizzeria in New Berlin.

Carpenter enumerated the many groups and organizations to which Baio has dedicated her time, including the New Berlin Youth Days Committee, the Smith Foundation, the Business Recruitment Committee, St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, the Commerce Chenango Advisory Committee. She has also served as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and as a member of her local PTO, and is a past recipient of New Berlin’s Citizen of the Year award. She is a member of the Leadership Chenango Class of 2010.

“Betsey cares about her community and is dedicated to finding time for those causes that she feels will impact the community she lives in,” Carpenter said. “Like most that volunteer, it’s not about the recognition or the acknowledgment; it’s about making a difference in the quality of life that we all deserve.”

Baio said she was humbled by the recognition, and to be counted in the ranks of those who have received the award in previous years.

“I’ve tried to make our community a little better,” she explained, by doing small things she didn’t consider “extra ordinary or special.”

According to Baio, she had been inspired to take a more active role after meeting Pegi LoPresti, who received Commerce Chenango’s Commitment to Community Award in 2009. She said she in turn hopes her actions will inspire others.

“I will continue to do my best to make Chenango County the best place to live,” she pledged.

Agriculture Advocate

“Our Agriculture Advocate of the Year is a leader in efforts to increase awareness of the issues facing by the agriculture industry and is focused on improving the future of agriculture in this area,” said Carpenter, as she announced Sheila Marshman as this year’s award recipient.

According to Carpenter, Marshman, who is a professor of Agriculture Business at Morrisville State College, had been selected to receive the award because of her knowledge of the industry, her commitment to agriculture in Chenango County and her ability to educate and promote agriculture on both a local and global level.

“Throughout her entire career and in her personal life, Sheila has dedicated her time and efforts towards the advancement of agriculture in Chenango County and New York State,” the chamber executive said. “She has served as an excellent advocate for the area and is driven in her support and development of this sector.”

Upon receipt of her award, Marshman took the opportunity to say a word of thanks to Commerce Chenango for their recognition of the role agriculture plays in the local economy.

“(Agricultural businesses) are a major employer in the county. Our farmers spend their money locally and contribute (to the tax base),” she said.