The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce honors Marcella Nelson as January’s Volunteer of the Month for her service to our community. Among her other accomplishments, there were years when she pretty much single-handedly, as a volunteer, kept the Chamber running. She was the Chamber Citizen of the Year recipient in 1991. She worked in the office, chaired committees, and championed all kinds of causes and events on behalf of the Chamber.
“It is so fitting the Chamber honor Marcella,” said Kate McAlister, CEO of Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.
Marcella was raised on a farm in Paradise Valley outside of Bonners Ferry and learned early on to be a hard worker. She ran the Job Service office in Sandpoint for many years and when she retired, totally devoted herself to making things better in her adopted hometown. She is the only person who has served as president of POAC, the Panida, and the Festival, working to make Sandpoint the arts mecca that it is.
Currently, Marcella still serves on all the boards of POAC, Panida, the Festival, and Bonner General Hospital Foundation Advisory Board. She runs Ponderay Community Development Corporation (PCDC) and has so since 2004. She is a BCATT Member and has represented PCDC in that role since 2004, Community Assistance League member since 1990, Bonner County Republican Women member, Rotary Club of Ponderay member, Idaho Community Foundation member and Bonner County Historical Society member.
Marcella hits the gym several times a week, regularly attending aerobics---and even kick-boxing! “She is the youngest 83 year old I know, and I want to be just like her!” exclaimed McAlister. “She is so smart, unfailingly kind, elegant, thoughtful, funny, and generous with her time. She is an absolute Sandpoint Treasure!”
Her many other accomplishments include: Retired May 1, 1984. Worked for the State of Idaho 1947 to 1984. Started volunteering at the Sandpoint Chamber in May of 1984 and continued to do so for 20 years to 2004. The Festival at Sandpoint: Fundraiser, Vice President and President, 1985- Present and still on the Board of Directors. Pend Oreille Arts Council: Fundraiser, President and Ticket taker Auction Chair, etc. from approximately 1987 to the present. Panida Theater: fundraiser, ticket taker, concessions and volunteer. Transportation Design Team: approximately 7 years beginning I think in the early 2000’s. Community Star for Panhandle State Bank 2004. International Association of Personnel in Employment Security: twice Retiree of the Year. Honored as the Woman of Wisdom 2000. Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board 2008. Holly Eve Foundation: fundraiser- work on and support. Community Cancer Services, Kinderhaven Festival of Trees, Ponderay Rotary fund raiser: work on and support. Bonner Mall Chili Cook Off: work on.
“AND there is ‘The Power of the Bun,’” explains McAlister. “No one can ever say ‘no’ to Marcella---she is an amazing fundraiser!”
Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Marcella Nelson in being honored as the Volunteer of the Month and thanking her for all of her wonderful qualities as citizen of our community. Her hard work has done a lot for our past and continues into the future. Thank you Marcella!
Photo: Kate McAlister honors Marcella Nelson as January’s Volunteer of the Month.
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