Friends told Gretchen Ramlo she wouldn’t be able to make one of her signature toasts when accepting a lifetime achievement award from the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.

She was a step ahead of them.

Though alcohol wasn’t served at the chamber’s annual fall meeting at the Austin Country Club, Ramlo stashed a manhattan under the podium so she could toast the crowd of business and community leaders.

“Thanks to everybody here for being a part of my life and letting me get involved in all these wonderful things,” she told the crowd as she raised a glass. “Here’s to all of you for that, and here’s to all of us here working to continue to work to make Austin the very best place to live on the whole earth.”

The chamber’s board of directors gave the lifetime achievement award to Ramlo Wednesday for her business accomplishments and a lifetime of service to the community.

“It’s kind of unreal to get an award for things you like to do,” Ramlo said. “And having fun in my career and job also, so I’m pretty darn lucky. This has made me realize that.”

There was little doubt among chamber leaders that Ramlo was worthy of the award, Quality Pork Processor’s Mel Gilbertson noted she was a unanimous choice.

Friend, former mayor and fellow volunteer Bonnie Rietz spoke about Ramlo and the many, many things she’s been involved with.

“There’s not many people who are as busy or involved as Gretchen Ramlo,” Rietz said. “And she’s fun to work with too.”

Ramlo worked as a buyer at Fantles, she taught advertising and marketing at Riverland Community College, she ran Gretchen’s on Main, she was a Spam ambassador at the Spam Museum, and she had a stint at Parkside Pete’s. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Recently, Ramlo has been a key leader with the Austin ArtWorks Festival.

She’s now coordinating the new retail space at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Ramlo is or has been involved with the chamber, the Riverland Foundation, Spruce Up Austin, the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Austin Country Club, Park and Rec, Summerset Theatre, and the Downtown Association, the PEO chapter, and a Vision 2020 subcommittee.

“It’s pretty incredible when you take a look at the list of all the volunteering that Gretchen has done,” Rietz said.

Ramlo also helps coordinate volunteers at the Hormel Institute.

“It’s a really special place to be able to spend time,” Ramlo said.

Rietz joked there were many stories she couldn’t share about Ramlo and her store, Gretchen’s on Main, but said Ramlo would often serve wine or mimosas to chamber members at events. At one chamber event, Rietz remembers Ramlo turning — mimosa in hand — to come face-to-face with the chief of police. Though she wasn’t jailed, Rietz joked, the chief did not join in and take a mimosa.

Rietz also remembered calling over to the Spam Museum when she used to take groups there to ask if Ramlo was giving tours.

“She represents our community so well,” Rietz said.

Ramlo thanked her husband, Mark, for supporting her and for being OK with her stacks of papers from Spruce Up Austin, the ArtWorks Festival, the Spam Museum and other groups stacked on their dining room table.

Ramlo said the most gratifying part of all her work and volunteering has been watching new ideas grow into something that makes the community better, referencing things like Freedom Fest, the Austin ArtWorks Festival and the ArtWorks Center. The festival, she said, has been a source of pride for the community.

“I think it was great for us all to realize there are so many talented people in our community, and they’ve gone so many places,” she said.

Ramlo was also excited about all that Spruce Up Austin has done for Austin, most recently the tree walk along East Side Lake.

Rietz also wrote a poem for Ramlo, which she framed and read for her.

“Gretchen, exceptional describes you best,” the poem began.

Chamber appoints new board members

The Austin Are Chamber of Commerce also appointed new members to the board of directors. They are:

•Jana Gray, Austin Daily Herald

•Charles Moline, AdvisorNet Financial

•Doug Nuckolls, First Farmers & Merchants Bank

•Jackie Bumgardner, Games People Play

•Taggert Medgaarden, Cedar Valley Services

•Steve Murley, Eastwood Bank

•Bill Budion, Austin Country Club