Mannco Trucking and Gearharts Floral & Gifts honored as large and small business; Pat Bjorum named citizen of the year at annual chamber awards
Pat Bjorum, Mannco Trucking and Gearharts Floral & Gifts were recognized for their contributions to the International Falls community during the local chamber awards Wednesday.
The International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Community Awards was held Wednesday night at the Thunderbird Lodge.
Emcee Paul Nevanen said he received questions about the necessity of even having such an annual event.
“It is a fair question: Why do we get together to celebrate?” Nevanen asked rhetorically. “It’s easy. It is an opportunity for the chamber and the local community to recognize and thank all the business owners in our area that provide jobs, essential services, merchandise. You’re part of the DNA that makes our whole community work.”
Melanie and John Gearhart, new business owners of a floral shop, were recognized for breathing new life into a local shop. They were awarded small business of the year.
“Gearharts Floral & Gifts is proof that excellence can be recognized almost immediately,” Nevanen said.
Melanie Gearhart accepted the award by saying “it has been a wonderful year and a half. ... A lot of big changes, but we love having the shop.”
Mannco Trucking, with owners Bob, Bill and Laurie Mannausau, were recognized as the large business of the year Wednesday.
Nevanen described the growth in Mannco Trucking since its humble roots when the Mannausau siblings’ father, Merv Mannausau, drove his first load with only a learner’s permit.
“Never ever did I think we’d be standing here today,” said Bob Mannausau.
Quoting some good advice he was given as a young man, Mannausau finished by saying, “‘If you like what you’re doing, just do it. You’ll be OK.’ I just like helping people out more than anything. And if you like what you’re doing, it’s not all work, you can have some fun along the way.”
Pat Bjorum, known across the community for her volunteer efforts, was named citizen of the year.
In honoring Bjorum, Faye Whitbeck, chamber president, listed some of the adjectives that nominators used to describe the St. Thomas Church employee and volunteer. But one word that seemed to resonate throughout the other descriptions was kindness.
“Our need for kindness is ageless, few of us are exempt,” said Whitbeck. “Yet we find these acts of humanity — understanding, compassion, support and encouragement — uncommon in a world that often seems spinning on speed, greed, gratification and competitiveness.”
But, Whitbeck continued, Bjorum is the type of person who provides hope for humanity.
“This is like opening a big present. And inside of it is all of your kindness,” Bjorum told the crowd upon receiving the award.
“I believe that International Falls is a place where ‘small town’ is a thoroughly understated description,” she began. “This is a place of community. A place where people try to live with intentions, to get to know one another, to be family.”
She listed three specific organizations which she said have touched her heart: Northstar Hospice, the Community Clothes Closet and Servants of Shelter. Bjorum has donated countless hours of her time to these organizations and others, above and beyond her position as pastoral minister at St. Thomas Church. But nominators noted that it was not just what she does, but the way in which she interacts with others, that makes her worthy of the title “citizen of the year.”
“We know that oftentimes a smile and a bit of conversation are as important as a new coat,” she said, speaking of herself and the volunteers at the Community Clothes Closet.
She told the audience, “You, and the people you connect with are the reason why we can change the word ‘small town’ to ‘caring community.’ It is something we do one relationship at a time.
“And let us not forget that while we feel good about our own acts of kindness, we are being allowed the honor of serving our neighbors. We need to remember that sometimes we meet others who by the very nature of our society are left without. Let’s be mindful that besides extending our hand in companionship we must also extend our energy in changing systems and lifestyles that keep people poor, left out and forgotten.
“We do our best on a night like tonight to celebrate the way we have shaped our town into a community. May we also feel the discomfort of knowing we are not yet finished.”
“With grateful hearts we continue the journey,” Bjorum closed.
