The 41st annual Winter Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at The Center at Bishop Park is great food, networking and a progress report all in one, according to Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Rae Ann Fields. This year instead of a featured speaker, the Chamber will feature people who have shown outstanding service to the community.
“It is the people who are building up our community, who are contributors on a large scale engaged in promoting activities that will make us greater and greater, that we will recognize,” noted Allison Ramsey of Staffmark , Winter Banquet Committee Chair. The event sponsored by Landers Auto of Saline County, begins with Silent Auction at 6 p.m., with dinner to follow.
Community Commitment Award recipients were nominated by Chamber members and then selected by out of town committees from other chambers to insure no bias in the selection. They review the nominators’ notes and the nominated’s information that they turn in on themselves, their companies or organization.
“We have 28 active nominations,” Ramsey noted. “We are excited to have that many nominated. That speaks volumes about how many committed, wonderful people and companies we have here.”
The Chamber will give a Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Organization of the Year award.
“We will be honoring true community contributors — not just people who do great work in the community, not just people who are involved but people who are truly invested in our community,” Fields said. “We will amaze you with the stories of these committed individuals, companies and organizations.”
The Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet is the largest gathering of professional and business people in the Bryant area of the year. The committee expects a crowd of more than 400 people at the Center at Bishop Park.
“We are excited to hold our banquet at this great facility and we are equally as excited about some of the great silent auction items that have been donated,” noted Ramsey.
The silent auction will provide a forum for local businesses and organizations to showcase their services, goods or products. This year a table of Valentine gifts will be featured.
“We do the silent auction as a fund raiser for the Chamber, but it also functions as a way for attention to be drawn to a business,” said Michelle Finney of Mr. Fix It, subcommittee co-chair for the Silent Auction. “Your message can come across loud and clear with the selection of the right item.”
“Certainly anyone in the community may contribute to the silent auction and anyone in the community may attend the Winter Banquet,” noted Nina Castaldi of Simmons First Bank (formerly Metropolitan Bank), co-chair for the auction. Several key items of interest have been donated to the silent auction by community friends in the past, she said. Donations already received for this year include a certificate for flowers, candles, meal coupons for two, activity packages and pampering certificates.
The menu for the night, catered by Dinner’s Ready, is Beef Tenderloin Tips with White Wine/Mushroom reduction, Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Green Beans Almondine, salad, rolls, French Vanilla Silk or Strawberry Whipped Cake.
Tickets are $30 per individual or $28.00 each if a table of eight is reserved.
Reservations may be made by calling 847-4702, e-mailing to raeann@bryantchamer.com or by responding the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce emailed invite.
