The Weston Chamber of Commerce posthumously presented its 2026 GLOW Award to longtime volunteer and community promoter Lorri Stanislav during the chamber’s annual dinner Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Holladay Distillery Event Center.

Stanislav died July 8 at age 68. The GLOW Award recognizes an unpaid volunteer whose service goes beyond expectations and helps strengthen the Weston community.

William McQueen delivered the evening’s tribute, describing Stanislav as someone who consistently answered calls for help and approached challenges with optimism.

“I don’t recall her approaching anything as ‘we can’t,’” McQueen said. “She was much more of the mindset of, ‘How do we make it happen, and how do we make it happen together?’”

McQueen said Stanislav had an ability to identify the right course of action — even when it was not the most popular, obvious or easiest choice. He credited her compassion, empathy, selflessness and grace with helping Weston’s volunteers navigate unexpected problems and bring community events to life.

He recalled Stanislav’s early-morning work during Applefest, including calls that began around 4 a.m., as well as the time she donned an apple costume and called to visitors in an effort to draw more traffic to Short Street.

“There were way too many stories for me to include tonight,” McQueen said. “But I can include this: Every single one of those moments was better with Lorri a part of it, and we all are better for having known her.”

McQueen said Stanislav’s influence will continue through a culture of integrity, positivity, collaboration and compassion that she helped establish in Weston.

“Our secret is our people and volunteers and all that they are able to accomplish,” he said.

Chamber board member Jennifer Lowman said the GLOW Award has been part of the annual dinner for roughly two decades. Its recipients are selected for outstanding volunteerism and a willingness to go the extra mile for the community.

The dinner also gives chamber members an opportunity to review the organization’s work over the previous year, meet its board and network with other business and community leaders.

Chamber President Erik Olson said the organization’s primary goal is to bring people to Weston while showcasing the town’s businesses, attractions and events. He said the chamber counted 34 events on Weston’s calendar during the past year.

“What town of 1,700 has 34 events in a year?” Olson said.

Olson said the chamber markets Weston throughout Missouri and neighboring states, positioning the town as a regional day-trip destination. That strategy may become even more important as higher travel costs cause families to reconsider longer vacations, he said.

“Instead of maybe that person going to Florida for the long trip, they might do a bunch of day trips,” Olson said. “I think that’s where we can fit into that niche.”

The chamber also works to balance tourism-focused events with activities intended for residents, Olson said. He invited residents and business owners to become more involved, noting that the chamber’s marketing committee meets every two weeks and welcomes people with ideas for new events or improvements.

Mayor Kim Kirby used her remarks to emphasize cooperation between the city and chamber.

Kirby said one of her early priorities after becoming mayor in April 2025 was updating the working agreement between the two organizations. She credited Olson and both governing boards with reaching an agreement focused on what is best for Weston, its businesses and its visitors.

“That spirit of cooperation is what makes Weston one of the greatest small towns in America,” Kirby said.

She said the city supports chamber events through the work of the Weston Police Department, Public Works Department, City Hall staff and other community partners.

“The city and the chamber share one goal: to give every visitor a wonderful experience in Weston,” Kirby said.

She said that requires continued cooperation, mutual respect, shared responsibility and teamwork. Kirby also called on local leaders to approach public meetings and disagreements with dignity, saying respectful processes can build trust and turn conflict into a constructive force.

McQueen closed his tribute by encouraging others to volunteer so the GLOW Award can be presented to another deserving community member next year.

“Lorri, you stand for exactly what this GLOW Award embodies and symbolizes,” he said. “We miss you. We all owe you so much. Weston owes you so much.”

“Our time with Lorri was cut way too short,” McQueen added. “But if we are all being honest, any amount of time with her was never going to be enough.”