Gaye Morando Named Citizen of Year

After more than 25 years of service to the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, Gaye Morando has been selected as the Knights of Columbus St. John's (Council 5796) Milpitas Citizen of the Year for 2011.

“I think it’s a wonderful recognition of her service to the community—the fact that she worked so well as she did and was able to get cooperation from the ethnic chambers in the county,” said Vice Mayor Pete McHugh, who has known her for more than 20 years. 

Dennis King, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley, said Morando was the one to truly embrace diversity among the city chambers.

He said Morando encouraged him to revive Festiv'ALL, an annual networking event for minority chambers to celebrate the diversity of small businesses. At the first event, she was the only one who attended from a city chamber.

"It took courage for her, even though she may not think of that," King said about the politics between city chambers and minority chambers.  

He said the irony about Morando's ouster from the Milpitas chamber last summer is that she is held with such high respect from other chambers. From the beginning, she has been active in the Chambers of Commerce Coalition of Santa Clara County, comprised of 13 city chambers and three ethnic chambers.

"Congratulations to her," said Carol Kassab, the chamber's new CEO who started in the fall. "I think it's wonderful that she is recognized for the contribution that she's given to the community."

Morando said about her abrupt departure from the chamber, "I don't look back; I just look forward. I'm not one for sitting around. I'm kind of a doer."

She officially retired  from the chamber during the summer but has since worked part time doing membership sales for the city of Santa Clara's chamber. She also belongs to several community organizations, such as the Milpitas Host Lions Club, in which she was the first woman to join back in the day.

On April 9, Morando will be recognized at the Knights’ 37th Annual Award Banquet at Pavalkis Hall of St. John’s Parish. She will be alongside and .

Although Morando lives in Berryessa, the nomination does not stipulate that a nominee has to live in the community but rather contribute to the welfare of the community, said Lou Horyza, who co-chairs the awards banquet.

There's an interesting twist how Morando got involved in the Milpitas community.

“I believe in volunteerism,” said Morando. “Before I started with the Chamber of Commerce, I was involved in the garden club.” 

With the Green Thumb Garden Club, she volunteered with a fashion show luncheon where civic leaders would be invited, and she became chair for a fairgrounds exhibit.

"So I got to know a lot of people in Milpitas," she said. "A lot of my friends are there."

Nominations from anyone in the community are submitted to the chair of the event, who removes the names of the nominee to avoid favoritism or prejudice, according to Horyza. A prominent group of Milpitas citizens then votes on the selection.

Wanda Olinger, last year’s recipient of the award, nominated Morando this year.

“She was always trying to help people,” said Olinger, recalling when Morando tirelessly worked through a Lion’s Club annual festival last summer, even when others were taking shifts.

And when the chamber crab feed came, Olinger remembers Morando making the silent auction baskets at home.

“She took things home on her own time,” said Olinger. "She was crediting other people all of the work that she did. She never looked for a thank you or anything for all she had done."

Morando does remember a highlight in her career when she was recognized. In 2004, then state Sen. Liz Figueroa selected a woman in each city within her district as Woman of the Year.

"She was trying to encourage more volunteerism, develop leadership and encourage people to go into civic endeavors," said Morando of the reception that she attended. "I was overwhelmed and excited."