Chamber honors Sleep as 'volunteer of the month'

Tawnie Sleep, owner of Sleep’s Cabins, was honored by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce as its volunteer of the month for her efforts to organize the successful 2009 Winter Carnival.

 “Tawnie was instrumental in keeping Winter Carnival alive after she and a group of business owners pulled together to organize the event,” said  chamber director Amy Little.

“When the announcement went out that there would be no Winter Carnival this year, Tawnie rode the upwelling of disappointment and helped turn that emotion into one of the most positive and memorable Winter Carnivals of recent years,” said Pend d’Oreille Winery owner Stephen Meyer, who played a key role in organizing the event. “She inspired the entire Winter Carnival committee to pitch in and create events that would be sure crowd-pleasers,” he said.

Sleep’s efforts including organization of a rail jam and bonfire in downtown Sandpoint. Tawnie, with the help of her husband Brent and his construction crew, set up the area for the rail jam, created a fire pit, and maintained it throughout the night’s activities.

“It was wonderful seeing all the young and old people coming out to watch fire dancing, take in the art gallery offerings and their friends on the rails,” Meyer said.  

“Tawnie performed a year’s worth of work in a month and a half,”  Little noted. “And yet with all that was on her plate, she made time to help us at the 2009 Taste of Sandpoint.”

 “She’s a tireless worker, cheerful and always a positive presence at every event she supports,” said neighbor and friend Judy  Thompson.

In addition to the Winter Carnival, Tawnie is an active member of the chamber’s Recreation & Tourism Council serving the Visit Sandpoint members of the organization. Recently she and her husband were awarded Tourism Partner of the Year at the 2008 Chamber Choice Awards.

Tawnie is not only active within the chamber but many other organizations such as the Pend Oreille Arts Council where she serves as a hospitality chairperson for their performing arts committee.

Chamber officials offered a sincere thank you to Tawnie Sleep for her continuous generosity to support the business community of the Greater Sandpoint area.