As a young teenager at GLHS, Linda Chenet walks in with a crewneck sweater that pops in color and a plaid skirt about to be the graduating class of 1969. “I’m social and active, I like being with people. That’s my personality,” says Chenet. The heart of small towns and communities revolves around volunteer work and giving back. Linda Chenet does exactly that. She has lived in Latrobe her whole life being brought up by a blissful community. Everyone revolves around a Mr. Rogers community, being helpful, friendly, and proud.
Chenet’s high-school experience at Latrobe is where her love for giving back started. She was always going out to the football games to support her boyfriend Patt at the time. She loved coming out to support the players and be there for the wildcats. Whether it was Stew leading the defense or Micky running for the touchdown. She also loved to take initiative and play a leading role to others.
Chenet does most of her volunteer work through the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, which advocates for area businesses and industries to connect business, community, and education. The Chamber uses events to gather around the locals to collectively support each other.
Chenet got connected to the Chamber through her job at Somerset Trust. She has worked in banking since 1969 and in Somerset for the past seven years. Every banking job she has had in the past had been connected with the Chamber. “I represent the bank,” said Chenet. Following with, “I’m on the board of directors and in charge of the membership committee.”
The Board of Directors talk about the events they have had in the past and what is being planned. The current project is a “Civic Bee,” says Chenet. It’s where students from different areas compete with essays that are judged to win scholarship money. This helps support local young adults wanting to go to college and builds up the relationships with students.
“We have Morning Mingles where the committee gets together early in the morning to have a breakfast at the sponsors choice then Business After Hours takes place from 5:00 to 6:30 where a business wants to have people come in to see their place that usually has a DJ with some refreshments,” explained Chenet. At these Business After Hours events smaller businesses explain their products or what they have and draw for a door prize. “It’s a way for businesses to network and get to know each other,” said Chenet. It also helps the businesses with referrals from people. She also calls all the members to ask to come to the events.
Linda Chenet earned the Chambers “Volunteer of the Year” in 2023 for showing up to the most events and signing up the most to volunteer. It was an award that “Recognizes individuals who have contributed in the areas of time-donated leadership and community involvement.” She received a plaque and had a special dinner. “Briana and Jeff surprised me while I was having dinner at the Touchdown Club,” said Chenet. She also added, “It was fun, I had fun.”
Chenet goes to Derry and Latrobe high school for interviews. The interviews are for seniors getting out in the workforce. It helps by being able to talk to people and what they want to do in their careers. “We meet one on one with them. I have questions for them and they have questions for me,” says Chenet.
Anything that the Chamber has going on, Chenet likes to sign up for. She has previously volunteered at the Banana Split Festival and the 4th of July Parade. One of her coming up events includes helping her bank serve senior clients from the bank with about 500 people coming.
A memorable volunteer moment for Chenet was Steeler Fest. She loves the Steelers and as a lifelong fan, this was a special moment for her. She is a season pass holder for the team and gets invited to special events. They have Christmas parties where they get invited to the locker room and get to walk around on the field. “They had a couple steelers there signing autographs,” says Chenet about the Steeler Fest. They also had different kinds of food trucks and games.
Chenet plans on continuing to volunteer and grab new members to join and come to the Chamber events. Through Volunteering she has made connections with businesses and people all over. From meeting some Steelers to preparing kids for the workforce she has done it all. Chenet wants her legacy to be remembered by being kind, caring and helpful, promoting the local small business, and to be thought of as what a person in the Mr. Rogers community would be. Linda Chenet leaves this advice, “Be kind, caring, and not rude. Every problem has a solution, it might make you upset but you have to think it through because it will work out.”
