C’YA Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen, left, with Director’s Choice recipients Dr. Tom Lovett and Dr. Frances Lovett. Photo by Deb Minyard
Charles Tallman and daughter Kathy Landschultz. Photo by Deb Minyard
BY BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions
Last week Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA), announced the name of the Spirit of the West winner of the annual Community Asset Awards.
This week we take a look at the second highest award, the Director’s Choice. Two were selected from the 37 names submitted for the nomination.
This year the two selected were Charles “Chuck” Tallman and Nambe Drugs owners Dr. Frances and Dr. Tom Lovett.
Tallman was nominated for continuing to be a living treasure in a nod to his previous recognition as a Los Alamos Living Treasure. He is an active member of the United Church of Los Alamos, the Los Alamos Choral Society, the Lads of Enchantment Harmony Society and the Los Alamos Rotary Club.
He is an example of the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, and extends his good will to diverse areas of humanitarian service. He has almost 51 years of service and has served longer than any other member. His work includes Rotary Club President, and the Youth Exchange Program, a position he filled for almost 20 years.
The second to be recognized is the dynamic duo at Nambe Drugs along with a stellar staff. The team was recognized for their vaccination work during the pandemic. Their efforts during his historic moment and life changing event was nothing short of heroic. Their team and this small business contributed more than 14,000 COVID-19 vaccines in January 2021 for Los Alamos and Santa Fe.
They administered 600 vaccines during a drive-thru event at the Los Alamos and White Rock senior centers with only a week to plan. Never have so many people been so happy to be 75! Then one month later they did it all over again. Their work continued at many community events and then returned for two drive-thru booster events in November of 2021.
They still are going strong providing vaccinations of all kinds, filling prescriptions and supplying many items to boost health and spirits in our community.
You can learn more at www.cya-nm.org or on the C’YA Facebook page.