The 42nd annual Winter Banquet and Silent Auction on Thursday, Jan. 29 at The Center at Bishop is a showcase of the stars in the community. Instead of a featured speaker, the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce will feature people who have shown outstanding service to the community. The event sponsored by Landers Auto of Saline County, begins with Silent Auction at 6 p.m., with dinner to follow.
“All our attendees will be stars that night along with the Community Commitment winners,” noted Rae Ann Fields, Chamber Director. “Everyone will feel like a star as they enter on the Red Carpet and the paparazzi takes photos.”
Community Commitment Award recipients were nominated by Chamber members and then selected by out-of-town committees from other chambers to ensure no bias in the selection. They review the nominators’ notes and the nominee’s information that they turn in on themselves, their companies or organization.
“We have 31 active nominations. We are excited to have that many nominated,” said Fields. “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. Additionally, a Preschool Teacher of the Year will be honored this year.
“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,” said Fields. “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 Melinda Johnson, Silent Auction chairperson.
Platinum and Silver donors have given items of $1,000 or more and $100 or more, respectively.
“We do the silent auction as a fundraiser for the Chamber, but it also functions as a way for attention to be drawn to a business,” Johnson said. “Your message can come across loud and clear with the selection of the right item. The silent auction will provide a forum for local businesses and organizations to showcase their services, goods or products.
“Certainly anyone in the community may contribute to the silent auction and anyone in the community may attend the Winter Banquet,” noted Fields.
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 multiple four-man golf package to Hot Spring Village courses, a Pearl and Jasper necklace and earring ensemble by Baker’s Fine Jewelry, a $100 Chef Shuttle restaurant delivery gift certificate, a $100 gift certificate to McClain & Co., a Bose Bluetooth speaker from Merchants & Farmers Bank, a Keurig Coffee maker from WalMart and a year’s supply of K-cup coffee from L.O.V.E./Healing Waters, a protective coating sprayed ice chest from Line-X and a George Foreman grill from First Electric Cooperatives Corp.
The menu for the night, catered by Dinner’s Ready, is Pale Ale Braised Beef Brisket and Panko Parmesan Crusted Chicken with a Tomato Basil Relish, Chipotle Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Almondine. Dessert is New York Cheesecake and Chocolate Layer cups.
Tickets are $35 per individual or $30 each if a table of eight is reserved.
Reservations may be made by calling 847-4702, emailing to raeann@bryantchamber.com or by responding to the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce email invite.
