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Outstanding!

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Luverne Chamber recognizes Barb Bork and Sam Berghorst as 'Outstanding Chamber Members'
Lead Summary
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By
Lori Sorenson

Retired Luverne Building Center owner Sam Berghorst and retired Sewing Basket owner Barb Bork were named “Outstanding Chamber Members” for 2019 and 2020.
They were recognized Monday night at Sterling’s restaurant in Luverne where they were presented with Sioux quartzite stones etched with words recognizing their honors.
Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere joked that people were getting a “two for one” with the joint ceremony recognizing the past two years’ honorees.
 
Sam Berghorst
The 2019 honoree, Berghorst, would have been recognized a year ago, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic.
Monday night, Chamber Board President Robyn Wessels presented him with his award and read from a prepared biography listing his accomplishments.
“Sam brought his passion for this community into his business,” she said. “Luverne Building Center became a generous sponsor and supporter of many organizations and events throughout the community. When building or construction expertise was needed on a project, people came to Sam to ask for help.”
Much of his volunteer time went into the Blue Mound Ice Arena where he helped with the bleacher system, locker room, the larger lobby and concessions and space for dry-land training. 
When the First Presbyterian Church voted to renovate, remodel and re-configure the church, Berghorst was the first contact for the builder on the $1.1 million construction project.
“Sam has always been an active supporter of the Chamber by offering his equipment and resources to support community events,” Wessels said. “He stepped up to the plate to volunteer his time and financially support the programs and services we offered.”
He served for decades as a volunteer fireman and he volunteered and served on the boards of local organizations and institutions. Currently he is an active member of the Luverne Optimist Club, Rock County Fair Board and Luverne Eagles Club.
 
Barb Bork
Chamber Board Vice President Becky Walgrave presented Bork with the 2020 Outstanding Chamber Member award Monday night.
“No one has given more to the Main Street retail community than Barb, and we are thrilled tonight to publicly thank and honor her for her commitment to our community,” Walgrave said.
She said Bork and the Sewing Basket were partners with the downtown community.
“Barb served on countless marketing/promotion groups as Main Street businesses worked together to bring shoppers and visitors to the community,” Walgrave said. 
“When the opportunities came up to make Luverne a better place to live, work and play, Barb would lend a hand.”
Throughout her 41 years in business, the Sewing Basket became a retail hub for Main Street, attracting business downtown.
“Charter buses and carloads of quilters would pull up to the store to shop,” Walgrave said.
“Many of those quilters became longtime customers and would come back to the store time and time again for their supplies.”
Other retailers recognized the Sewing Basket as a downtown draw as quilters shopped other stores in the community.
“From special events like the ‘Shop Hop’ and ‘Row by Row’ promotions with other quilt shops – thousands of visitors would stop in Luverne every year for the unique experience they would have at the Sewing Basket,” Walgrave said.
  “We thank Barb for building a business that has grown into a quilting/sewing machine destination and creating a client base of visitors from throughout the tri-state region.”
 
Background
The Outstanding Chamber Member Award was developed in 2005 to honor retired persons who have made and are making significant contributions to the community through their time, actions, talents and dedication.  
Past honorees are: 2005 – George Golla, 2006 – Margaret Vegge,  2007 – Dave Smith,                 2008 – Merlyn and Lynn Lopau, 2009 – The Dispanet Family, 2010 – Betty Mann, 2011 – Terrie Gulden, 2012 – George and Corrine Bonnema, 2013 – Curt Bloemendaal, 2014 – Gary Papik,        2015 – Greg Burger, 2016 – Glen Gust, 2017 – Mike Engesser and 2018 – Mike Cox.

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