Chamber of Commerce presents awards at annual dinner

Along with outgoing Chamber of Commerce President Jason Witt, incoming President Amanda Trimble and Ward Bond, holding the 2015 Business of the Year plaque awarded to Bond Pharmacy, join Bond's pharmacy employees and Bond family members at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.
Along with outgoing Chamber of Commerce President Jason Witt, incoming President Amanda Trimble and Ward Bond, holding the 2015 Business of the Year plaque awarded to Bond Pharmacy, join Bond's pharmacy employees and Bond family members at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.

The California Area Chamber of Commerce presented awards at the annual dinner meeting Saturday, Jan. 23, held at Centennial Hall at the Moniteau County Fairgrounds.

The event began with a social time with entertainment by Planet Jazz, while guests conversed, sampled appetizers, bid on silent auction items and checked out live auction items. The Central Missouri group members are Mark Atkins Lieberman, Monty Safford, Bill Roe and Dennis "Doc" Marienfeld. The group's appearance was sponsored by Cargill.

On behalf of the California Ministerial Alliance, Dr. Peter Kurowski, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, California, presented the invocation about 6:30 p.m., after which the guests began the dinner portion of the meeting.

After the meal, which was New Orleans-themed, Chamber President Jason Witt welcomed everyone and introduced those presenting the awards. Norris Gerhart presented the 2015 Business of the Year Award to Bond Pharmacy. The award was accepted by Ward Bond. Gerhart spoke of the business history, which dated to 1876, beginning as Houser Drug Store, then Lehman's Drug Store in 1950. It became Bond Pharmacy in 1989, then relocated in 2004 to the present location on West Buchanan Street.

Sally Vogel presented the 2015 Citizen of the Year Award to Judy Scott. Vogel spoke of the attributes of Scott as caring, sharing, loving, one who takes projects beyond expectations.

Morris Burger announced the 2015 Volunteer of the Year was Lisa Parry, explaining that she could not be present at the event. He spoke of all the work Parry has done for years for the community, and for the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival.

Bryan Lawson served as auctioneer for the live auction. The live and silent auction of many items were donated from a number of sources. The live auction included sports ticket packages, a large cooler with many Cargill products, a meat smoker, a toboggan and much more. All of the auction proceeds go to the Chamber Scholarship Fund.

The chamber annual meeting included approval of minutes of the 2015 meeting and treasurer's report. Witt gave the President's Report. A report of the 2015 Chamber Year, including the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival, was presented by Brad Baer. Chamber Board officer nominees for 2016 were approved - President Amanda Trimble, Vice President Cale Brown, Secretary Robin Ratcliff and Treasurer Jenny Brown.