The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
TriCounty Area Chamber gets ready for annual dinner
POTTSTOWN » The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce is shaking things up a bit with this year’s annual dinner, scheduled for April 26 at Rivercrest Golf Club & Preserve in Upper Providence.
The theme for this year’s dinner is “A Fun Night Out.” Chamber President Eileen Dautrich said the chamber decided to take a more lighthearted approach this year.
“Last year was full of pomp and circumstance — which was appropriate, because we were celebrating our 90th anniversary,” she said. “Not that the dinner doesn’t deserve the formality, but we thought being a little less formal this year would be a great chance to have people experience a different chamber event.”
Dautrich said humor works well with the chamber’s membership.
“Whenever we have a speaker — talking on any topic — that can make the audience laugh, we get great responses and feedback,” she added.
The keynote speaker for this year’s dinner is comedian Joe Conklin, known as the “Man of a Thousand Voices.” Dautrich said once the decision was made to work with Conklin, “we decided to make the whole event a comedy type feel — a ‘come hang out’ atmosphere.”
Dautrich said that once the theme was set, it was reflected in the chamber’s marketing for the event. Emails to members and social media about the event have incorporated the “laughing emoji,” for example, and members received emoji note pads at the March membership breakfast.
Instead of a balloon pop for prizes, this year will feature an emoji pop – with poppers that have a bottom that looks like an ice cream cone and an emoji on top.
For $20 members can purchase the chance to “pop” an emoji to win prizes donated by chamber member companies.
The dinner will also feature an ice cream sundae bar.
“We are encouraging people to come to the event in jeans — be comfortable and have a good night,” Dautrich added.
Dautrich said the annual dinner typically attracts between 200 and 225 people. Dautrich said she expects more than 200 people this year.
As in past years the event will feature the presentation of awards, but like the dinner itself, the awards have gone through a bit of a makeover this year.
“For us it was an opportunity to focus on those who support us and to make the awards presentation what we want the event to be — fun — and recognize these people for what their support has enabled us to do,” Dautrich added.
Different award categories were developed this year: Making a Difference; Delivering Possibilities; Delivering Solutions; and Be the Bridge awards.
Being recognized this year are:
• Pottstown Hospital and Exelon Generation will receive the “Making a Difference” award.
• Tompkins Vist Bank will receive the “Delivering Possibilities” award.
• TriCounty Community Network will receive the “Delivering Solutions” award.
• TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the chamber’s Ambassadors will receive the “Be the Bridge” award.
Two additional awards are being presented this year. Chairman of the Year & Volunteer of the Year will be presented to Rich Graver, The Victory Bank; and Ambassador of the Year will be presented to Bill Wellen, FASTSIGNS.
The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce Annual dinner runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 26. Tickets are $90 for members, $150 for non-members and $850 per member table of 10. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased by Noon on Monday, April 16.
For more information about the dinner or to register visit http://business.tricountyareachamber.com/ events/details/annual-dinner-2018-849172 Email business story ideas to business editor/ writer drovins@21stcenturymedia.com