Chamber making plans for socially distanced banquet in 2021

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is moving forward with plans to host its 46th annual banquet and awards program, to be held Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale.

While the event normally draws about 375 guests, tickets will be limited for this year’s event to ensure proper health and safety guidelines are followed, said Chamber President/CEO Gail Quezada. Tickets are $45 per person, $80 per couple or $320 for a table. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Chamber office at 251-947-2626 or purchase online by Jan. 14. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Members are asked to wear a face-covering unless seated at your table and practice social distancing during the meeting.

“While we are doing everything we can to follow all CDC guidelines to ensure a safe event, we are looking forward to bringing a little normalcy in recognizing businesses for their achievements over the last year,” Quezada said. “Businesses have overcome so much over the last year, from Coronavirus to Hurricane Sally and beyond, and they certainly deserve to be recognized for that.”

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with bidding for silent auction items. Dinner will be served at 6:30, catered by L.A. Barbecue of Summerdale with the program set to begin at 7 p.m.

“It’s going to look a little different this year,” Quezada said, “everything, including the silent auction, will be a lot more spread out and dinner will not be served buffet style but will be brought to the tables by the caterer.”

Awards will include the Fell, Gilbert, Mack, Pearson – Founders Award, created last year to recognize the Chamber’s founding members, Raymond Fell, Jimmy Gilbert, Huey Mack Sr. and Percy Pearson.

Awards will also be presented for the “Business of the Year,” given to a business in each of the four municipalities served by the chamber: Loxley, Robertsdale, Silverhill and Summerdale; along with the “Small Business of the Year,” and “Emerging Small Business of the Year,” which were voted on by Chamber members, along with the annual “Chamber Volunteer of the Year” award, “Generations” and “Good Government” awards.

During the evening the 2020 Chairman of the Board Jeff Windham of Hamm Enterprises, will pass the gavel to 2021 Chairman Baldwin County Probate Judge Harry D’Olive. Jenny Buck of Baldwin Land Title in Robertsdale will be the chairman-elect for 2022. The chamber will also acknowledge the incoming executive board and board of directors for 2021 and honor and acknowledge outgoing board members.

Baldwin EMC is this year’s presenting sponsor.

Additional sponsors are: Diamond Sponsors: Coastal Alabama Community College; Mack Funeral Home & Crematory; Power Productions; South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. Gold Sponsors: Baldwin County Cattle & Fair Association; Budweiser-Busch Distributing; Coca Cola Bottling Company United; Pen Air Federal Credit Union; Riviera Utilities. Silver Sponsors: Campbell Hardware & Sporting Goods, Johnson, Slaughter, Driver, & Northcutt P.A. Bronze Sponsors: Advantage Business Solutions; Front Porch Network, Sherry Frost Photography, SSM Real Estate Service LLC, TeamLogic IT, and Bay Images.

For more information, contact the chamber at 251-947-2626.