LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s time to nominate deserving community members for a Stars of Lake County award.

On Feb. 17 the Lake County Chamber of Commerce will produce the 20th annual Stars of Lake County Community Awards program at the Soper Reese Theater.

Stars originally had 14 categories which have now grown to 21.

Since 1998 the Chamber has had the privilege of acknowledging more than 1,800 individuals, organizations and businesses throughout Lake County under the Stars program.

To date, almost 400 recipients have been awarded the prestigious “Star Award,” all of which are listed at www.lakecochamber.com.

Look around your community at the individuals, organizations and businesses who work to make our communities better.

These are the entities that deserve recognition for all that they do to improve our quality of life in Lake County. From students to seniors there are so many who work daily to improve our lives.

Nominations may be submitted by anyone for the 21 available categories which also can be viewed on the chamber Web site.

Nomination forms are available at the chamber office, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport at Vista Point or by calling the chamber at 707-263-5092 if you wish a form mailed to you.

Chamber CEO Melissa Fulton said it is important to note that it is not the number of letters for a particular nominee but rather all the various details that will be reviewed by the Stars Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee includes individuals from communities around the county. These individuals know their communities and may have information to add to certain nominations during their discussions when they meet the week of Jan. 24.

A unique aspect of Stars is finding out about people whose community contributions would never be known without this county-wide awards event.

There are so many hidden Stars of Lake County that deserve to be on the stage at Soper Reese on Feb. 17 and it’s up to the residents of Lake County to tell the chamber about them through the nomination process.

Each nominee receives a letter from the chamber alerting them they have been nominated and requesting a photo for the video that is played during the reception.

Every nominee receives one free ticket for Stars. Nominees and one guest will be seated in the front sections of the theater. Additional guests of nominees and the general public are seated in the loge sections of the theater.

All tickets to Stars are reserved with no open seating; tickets will go on sale in November at $20/each and must be purchased through the chamber.

The reception begins at 5 p.m. with substantial appetizers and a no-host bar.

This event could never happen without the support of so many businesses and organizations in the county who step up to be sponsors.

The 2017 Stars sponsors are being contacted and anyone interested in supporting the 20th Annual Stars of Lake County is encouraged to call the Chamber at 707-263-5092.