Chamber moves to virtual model for annual dinner

In what has become the way of the world in the last 10 months or so, the Putnam County Chamber will conduct its annual dinner virtually on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The meeting, which will not technically be a “dinner” this year, will include a silent auction, sharing of the brights spots of 2020, words from past Chamber Citizens of the Year and, yes, the annual naming of the Chamber Citizen of the Year.

Chamber Executive Director Brian Cox acknowledged that this year’s dinner will be different, saying he modeled it on what Putnam County Hospital did for its annual gala in November.

“I think people are tired of the virtual meetings, but it’s the only option we have right now,” Cox said.

So, while COVID-19 as dominated life for nearly a year now, the goal of Cox and other organizers is not to let the ongoing pandemic cast a pall over the festivities.

The live portion of the event will commence at 7 p.m. with a brief video regarding where Chamber leadership sees the community as it tries to emerge from the pandemic.

“This is where we are,” Cox summarized, “and this is what we’re looking forward to.”

Following this, several past Citizens of the Year — Denise Sigworth, Ken Eitel, Sue Murray, Joy Marley and last year’s honoree Laurie Hardwick — will share their thoughts on some person or group they’d like to thank for their commitment to the community in the last year.

After this, Cox will make the announcement of who will be Citizen of the Year.

“Tune in to see if you’re Citizen of the Year,” Cox said.

He added that there will be no business or non-profit of the year awards this time around.

“We didn’t figure it was a fair playing field this year,” Cox said.

There is no charge to attend, as there will be no dinner served this year.

To sign up, visit https://tinyurl.com/y6jp3td5.

Signing up will also entitle attendees to a paddle in the silent auction, which will raise money for the Chamber’s Buy Local campaign.

Bidding on these 20 or so items opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the sign-up link provided above.

Additionally, in the spirit of promoting the positive things happening in the community even during the pandemic, the Chamber began releasing a series of lead-up videos on Monday, in which leaders of non-profits and other local organizations give some highlights of the year that was.

“It’s just kind of a positive lead-up to say that great things did happen in 2020, so take a look,” Cox said.

The videos will continue to be released throughout the week.