About 230 people Saturday saw the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce honor the area’s best for their service to the community, install new officers and were treated to an encore performance from the Paper Slip Theatre during its 90th annual banquet at Matt’s Steakhouse.
The Chamber faithful gave a standing ovation as Larry Thomas, the senior vice president for Central Federal Savings & Loan, received the Edmund Ward Bishop Award for this 30-plus years of volunteerism to Rolla.
Other recipients Saturday include developer Dale Wands, who received the Annual Achievement Award, for his renovations of historic downtown buildings, Renae Hammons, the current Phelps County Fair Board president, who received the Spirit of Rolla Award, and Jim Marcellus, who received the Ambassador of the Year Award.
The banquet also included the annual transition of volunteer leadership. Immediate Chamber Past-President Caroleen Ferrell passed the gavel to new President Barry White, who is the director of Missouri S&T’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach.
Supporting Chamber President White for 2010 is President-Elect Sue Brown, Treasurer Shad Becker and Past President Caroleen Ferrell. Members of the Chamber Board include Bagnall, Crystal Bahr, Caron, Angel Johnson, Marilyn Langston, Dr. Greg Stratman, Mike Thompson, Dave Watkins and Gina Zervos.
Phelps County Public Administrator Kathy Oliver was the big winner of the evening as her ticket was drawn to win the tropical three-night, Riviera Maya trip, the Chamber’s annual fundraiser.
Keeping with the tropical theme, the banquet had three levels of sponsorships: The top tier was the Big Kahuna sponsors: Phelps County Bank, Tommy’s Tater Patch, Town & Country Bank, US Bank and Phelps County Regional Medical Center.
Flamingo Sponsors include the Walmart Distribution Center.
Tidal Wave Sponsors include BPJ Insurance, Celebrations Catering, CenturyLink, Citizens Bank of Newburg, City of Rolla, Columbia College, El Maguey, Fidelity Communications, First Community National Bank, For Your Convenience, Investment Realty, Jenks Long Insurance, Mid Missouri Credit Union, Missouri S&T, my-doorkey.com, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Rolla Presbyterian Manor, St. John’s Clinic, The Centre, The Public House Brewing Co.
The Chamber also thanked Blossom Basket flowers, JC Penney, Lori Moss, Tan Oasis and Trips and More.
The Paper Slip Theatre, a group of five, performed five playful skits with the assistance of the audience. It was a repeat appearance for the troupe that entertained the Chamber during last year’s banquet.
Saturday’s banquet menu included roast beef with a creamy horseradish sauce on the side, baked orange roughy, a broccoli salad, green-leaf salad, green-bean casserole, red-skin potatoes, a seasoned bread stick and iced tea.
