The Chamber will be having its eleventh annual gala to celebrate its golden anniversary. Sponsored by Quad Graphics and Alex Toole, with State Farm Insurance. The event will take place on May 3rd at the Tripoli Shrine Center in Milwaukee. We are sure that this event will be very fun and exciting as we have set quite the line up. Bobby Way and the Fabulous Wayouts will provide live music and entertainment. There will be casino style gambling by Knights of Columbus, great silent auction items, and a delicious meal.  All of the invitations have been sent, so if you have not received yours in the mail, please contact the Chamber for details.

   This Gala will also be a special one. We will be presenting a video filled with the history of the Chamber with mention of our businesses that have been members for 25 years or more. We will also be presenting our annual Citizen and Business of the Year Awards. These awards are given to outstanding citizens and businesses for their longevity in the community, involvement with community-based projects and other contributions that go above and beyond.

    The 2007 West Allis / West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year for West Allis will be awarded to Laura’s Hallmark on 68th and Greenfield. They were nominated and chosen for being very involved in the community through various initiatives such as WA Police Crime Stoppers events, served on the Chamber Member Services Committee and because they are “ a small store with a big heart.” Laura’s Hallmark has also conducted semi-annual bake sales to raise money for the Holy Assumption Food Pantry.

   The 2007 Citizen of the Year for West Allis is Joanie Luedke. Joanie has a long list of accomplishments. She is currently the Director of the Family Resource Center, an excellent place for young children to play in a safe environment and for parents to learn through workshops and seminars. Joanie is also a member of the West Allis/West Milwaukee Board of Education, the Chamber Education Foundation and others. Her contributions have been very important to the community.

    The 2007 Business of the Year for West Milwaukee will be awarded to Culver’s of West Milwaukee. Owners Mike Busalacchi and Brian Schubring have made sure that their Culver’s participates in all of the Village events. According to Village President Ron Hayward, they were the first to move in to the Village

at the start of its ‘renaissance.’

    The 2007 Citizen of the Year Award for West Milwaukee has been awarded to a couple. Tom and Judy Fell have been Village residents since 1972 serving the village both professionally and charitably. Judy has retired from the WA/WM School District as a teacher at General Mitchell Elementary and Tom is a Sales and Marketing specialist. Together they have formed the Wisconsin Brain Trauma Association, now the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin, received lifetime service awards from that organization and are recipients of the BIAW Presidents award. They have served as Co-Chairs of the West Milwaukee Centennial Celebration Committee and are active members of the Mustang Booster Club.

      The members that will be honored at the Gala are: Allis Bike and Fitness, Anchor Bank, Associated Bank, Able equipment, Community Newspaper, Feld, Schumacher & Co, Glojek Limited Attorneys, Gordie Boucher Lincoln Mercury, John G. Borgwardt Funeral home, M&I Bank, Piranha Paper Shredding, Poulos, Sengstock and Budny, Target, Unit Drop Forge, Wells Fargo, West Allis Memorial Hospital, WI Festivals, WI State Fair Park, and the Village at Manor Park. If you have been a member for 25 years or more and you are not shown, please contact us as soon as possible.