CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKS AWARD NOMINEES.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

The Chamber of Commerce is taking nominations for its annual community service awards, to be announced on the same night the newly elected president and other officers take over.

Lori McGee, 33, was elected to head the chamber through 1999, and will be installed at a Feb. 6 dinner reception. At the same time, the chamber will bestow its Business Person of the Year and the Lifetime Service Award.

McGee, vice president of Conejo Insurance in Thousand Oaks, said her main goal is to continue the work of the past to heal a rift between the business community and the city of Moorpark, which until recently was largely seen by chamber members as unfriendly to business.

The Moorpark resident said that while the relationship has gotten better, there is work still to be done.

``Businesses are a very important part of a working community because they provide the tax base and without that tax base we don't have the services that make the city run,'' she said.

She said the 250-member chamber works as a liaison between the city and the business community, ensuring that each is doing all it can to make the community stronger. The city uses it to let businesses know how to comply with its rules and regulations, and the businesses use it to let the city know what it can do to help them thrive.

McGee also said a good relationship with the local school district is a third element to a community's success.

McGee became involved with the chamber in 1991 and has served on the board, most recently as its vice president of internal operations, since 1995.

Other officers to be installed at the dinner are President-elect Steve Sill, who will serve in 2000; vice president of governmental relations Charles Devlin; vice president of education Al Schwartz; vice president of internal operations Diane Galvin; vice president of membership Charlie Robertson; and vice president of visitor and community affairs Don Stanley.

New board members are Joe Ahearn, Judy Winzer, Scott Green, Dan Marran, Debbie Voss, Laure Galardi and Francis Okyere.

Chamber officials said nominees for the business person award must be employed by or own a business in Moorpark, be a current member of the chamber but not a board member, and must be an active participant in the community.

For the lifetime service award, nominees should be Moorpark residents, individuals or couples, who have been extensively involved with the community and have made significant contributions to the area.

Nomination forms can be submitted by Jan. 12 at the chamber office, 225 W. Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark.