Never give up. English golfer Allan Errington told the British Broadcasting Company he had barely played a dozen rounds of golf in his life before he aced the last hole of a tournament and won a new car. On the other 17 holes he lost 23 balls.

The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its two prestigious community-wide annual awards, Tammany and Community Leadership.

Each year the Tammany Award is presented to a business that has demonstrated leadership and drive, making it a leader in its field and in the community; experienced growth in employment; increase in sales or volume; responded to adversity in a positive manner; and shows evidence of contributions toward welfare of the community. This is a business award — government agencies and non-profits are not eligible.

Community Leadership is awarded to an individual who has played a prominent role in the quality of life in our community through exemplary service in non-profit, civic or charitable organizations, and has visibly demonstrated leadership abilities through outstanding accomplishments for organizations to which they contribute their time and expertise.

Please nominate a worthy business and/or individual and help the chamber recognize those most deserving. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, Dec. 3. Visit www.sttammanychamber.org to download a nomination form or call 892-3216, ext. 21 to have one faxed to you.

The winners will be announced at the chamber’s annual Installation & Awards Banquet on Friday, Jan. 16 at the Castine Center. Tickets for this event can be purchased by contacting the chamber.

Humor writer Ed McManus recently wrote: “People called for jokes on subjects like crisis management and diversity. Lead time was always a problem.

I hit bottom one night when a sales executive called for a joke ‘to kid sales people who plan everything at the last minute.’ I said, ‘When are you speaking?’ He replied, ‘I follow the guy who’s talking now.’”

Terry Maddox is publisher of St. Tammany News.