Chamber of Commerce Ball is back

Members if the Chamber of Commerce will have the opportunity to attend a fun, traditional event to begin the new year.

The second annual Lake City-Columbia County Chamber Ball will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28.

The ball kicks off with a golf tournament on Friday at the Country Club at Lake City, which is sponsored by Gulf Coast Financial Services, Inc.

Dennille Decker, Chamber executive director, said this event gives members the opportunity to get out of the office and enjoy a day of fun out on the green.

The 18-hole tournament is $60 per golfer, and each hole will be sponsored by a business.

Sandy Kishton, board member of the Chamber and golf tournament chairperson, said “As [members] sign up for different sponsorships, they will be sponsoring a hole.”

Kishton said there will be prizes given for hole-in-one and par-3 that are sponsored by McDuffie Marine. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win raffle prizes.

In addition to the tournament, there will be a putting contest, closest to the pin contest and long drive contest.

The second event for the ball is an extravagant dinner which will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. The dinner is sponsored by Rountree-Moore Automotive Group.

Decker said, “We’ll start at 6:00 with cocktails and socializing.”

At 6:30 p.m., the dinner will be serves and the meeting will be conducted.

The highlight of the evening will be the inauguration of the new president.

The 2011 Chamber president, William Haley, will “pass the buck” to the 2012 Chamber president Todd Wilson.

“The focus for the night is on Todd. It’s his year,” said Decker.

During the meeting, Decker said the high points from 2011 will be discussed, and the plans for 2012 will be announced.

A silent auction will take place at the dinner.

“Anybody can donate. No item is too big or too small,” Decker said.

Attendees will also get to enjoy a live band and dancing.

Dinner tickets are $60 per person and the attire is business or semi-formal.

The ball was held last year to reinstate an old tradition that was once called “play day.”

Decker said that since the Chamber must have a meeting to introduce the new Chamber president, they might as well have fun and do it in style.

“Last year, we had so much positive feedback,” she said. “We’re looking forward to it being bigger and better than last year.”

Decker said preparation for the event began in November.

“As of last week, we have already sold 220 tickets,” she said.

She said there are only 350 seats available so Chamber members who would like to attend are encouraged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.

There are additional sponsorships and golf and dinner packages available.

For more information, contact the Chamber at 752-3690.

Published 01.04.12 Lake City Reporter