ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce had a luncheon on Wednesday, February 23 at Magnolia Blossom Cafe in Robertsdale to honor four women who have given of their time and talent to help the chamber put on different events throughout the year.

Chamber director Jamie Mangion, president Steve Brook, past president Joseph Shaw and incoming president Tommy Herndon gathered to recognize Mary Carolyn McDaniel, Dolores Sturma, Mary deLaunay and Kay Arnette. Darlene Roper, owner of Magnolia Cafe, provided a delicious lunch for those in attendance and the women were given handbags as special gifts.

“These ladies work so hard during the year and worked especially long and hard setting up for the Annual Banquet and decorating our office with the pictures in the lobby. We just felt like they needed some recognition for all they do,” said Mangion.

Arnette, who works for RBC Bank, has been a volunteer for about four years and works on the Events Committee mainly with the annual banquet, prayer breakfast and Flavors of the South.

“I love meeting new people and seeing people get involved. There is always something going on and it’’s never boring. When one event is over it is time to start planning the next and sometimes they overlap. It’s pretty much a year round commitment ,” Arnette said.

Involved with the chamber on and off for the past 30 years, Sturma also works with the events committee and the education committee.

“I enjoy helping with the events and seeing them come together. I also enjoy seeing people attend the events and have a good time. There is a great group of volunteers who through the years have worked on the same committee and events as well,” said Struma.

Working on the education committee, Sturma volunteers with the Junior Ambassador program through the local schools. “The students must be either juniors or seniors and we also oversee the Academic Banquet which honors the seniors who have maintained a 3.5 grade point average throughout high school.”

Like Sturma, McDaniel , who works at Citizens Bank in Robertsdale, has been volunteering with the chamber for many years, and even served on the executive board for a few years as well. She serves on the events committee and puts in countless hours helping with that, Mangion said.

Also a board member as well as a volunteer since 2006, Mary deLaunay, who is very active in the Silverhill senior center, serves also as an ambassador for the chamber.