The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce Golden Spike and Golden Service awards were presented at the Chamber's annual general meeting on Feb. 11 in the El Rancho banquet room.

Weyburn city councillor Ray Hamm was the individual chosen for the Golden Spike Award, from seven nominations, while Myron and Evelyn Bruder, owners of Gone Hollywood Video, were chosen for the Golden Service Award by their peers in the business community.

Hamm was clearly surprised and moved.

"I had no inkling," he said, on receiving the award from outgoing Chamber president Todd Lawrence, who called him "the voice of reason," on city council.

"I'm speechless," said Hamm.

"I feel very humble. Sitting out there are people who've done more than I have," he told the audience. Hamm said he expected nothing more from the evening dinner meeting than to take greetings from the municipality to the city's business community.

In an interview after the meeting, he said he's worked in community service since he came to the city 38 years ago. Why? he was asked. "It's just my nature. I like to be involved," he answered.

Hamm said he believes his long service to the community helps him know the public and the way the public thinks. "Knowing so many people helps me make a decision (at city council) when an issue comes up," he said.

A retired teacher, formerly with the Weyburn Comprehensive School, Hamm was first elected to city council in 1991. He has served on most of the city's committees and boards, including the city facilities commission, the Weyburn 2020 committee, the parks board and the economic development committee. He has represented the city on regional boards, including the Tatagwa parkway planning commission and SEREDA. Hamm has also served on professional teacher organizations, United Church committees, the Kinsmen Club, the Silver Seals parent organization, sports and arts committees.

Hamm has agreed to serve as co-chair of the 2004 Saskatchewan Summer Games, to be held in Weyburn.

Bruder said it was great to get the award. "It's good to know your hard work and keeping customers happy pays off." He thanked his staff and his family when he accepted the award from incoming Chamber president Ian Carleton.

He's always made customer service his number one priority, said Bruder in an interview. "If you can't make people feel welcome when they walk in the door, you're not going to be in business long."

With seven part-time staff in the store, staff training and their attitude in the business are very important to him, he said. "When I hire someone, I want someone I know will be good with the public," he says. "If you don't have the staff backing you up, you don't have the service."

When the Chamber first announced the award four years ago, Bruder actually turned it into a business goal. "It gave me something to work toward. If there is a service award in town, I want to work toward it," he said. Bruder and his wife have operated the business in Weyburn for the past six years but Bruder has worked in retail for about 30 years.

The Chamber's outgoing president was presented with the Chamber's Golden Gavel award. Lawrence has just finished his third, one-year term.