Watertown, NY– The Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 19th annual ATHENA Award®. The award is presented to an individual who is recognized for professional excellence, for providing valuable service to his or her community and for actively assisting women in realizing their full leadership potential. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday August 14, 2009.

The award recipient will be announced at a press conference on Tuesday August 18, 2009 at 3:00 pm at the Black River Valley Club, 131-133 Washington Street, Watertown, NY.

The prestigious ATHENA Award® was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan. There are over 5,000 recipients in the United States, Canada and around the world.

The Chamber’s previous recipients for the ATHENA Award® are:
1991 ---- Rose Frattali, New York Casualty Insurance Company; Retired
1992 ---- Michelle Pfaff, Community Bank NA
1993 ---- Janice Charles, North Country’s Children’s Clinic
1994 ---- Chandler Ralph, Adirondack Medical Center
1995 ---- Lana Brown-Taylor, Indian River School District
1996 ---- Cathy Pircsuk, WWNY 7 NEWS
1997 ---- Elizabeth Calhoun-Fipps, HSBC Bank USA
1998 ---- Deborah Running-McGloine, Jefferson Community College; Retired
1999 ---- Jayn Graves, United Way of Northern New York, Inc.
2000 ---- Maria Roche, Carthage School District; Retired
2001 ---- Peg Fargo, YMCA; Retired
2002 ---- Ruth-Ellen Blodgett, Samaritan Medical Center
2003 ---- Pam Caswell, Watertown Urban Mission; Retired
2004 ---- Jane Gendron, 1000 Islands Girl Scouts
2005 ---- Mary Corriveau, City of Watertown Manager
2006 ---- Cindy Intschert, Jefferson County District Attorney
2007 ---- Katherine Fenlon, Vice President to Student Affairs, Jefferson Community College; Retired
2008 ---- Donna Dutton, City Clerk, City of Watertown

The 2009 ATHENA Award® recipient will receive the award at the Chamber’s Fall Dinner. The dinner is scheduled Thursday September 10, 2009, at Ryan’s Lookout in Henderson Harbor.

Nomination forms are available by contacting the Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce at 1241 Coffeen Street or online at www.watertownny.com. For more information call 315-788-4400 or email events@watertownny.com.