One of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce's largest networking events is the Annual Banquet and Meeting of the Membership that occurs each year in January. This formal evening kicks off with a cocktail social hour followed by a delicious three-course meal and formal program. The passing of the gavel from the MPACC Past President to the New President and the announcements of the Expansion Awards, Volunteer of the Year, and Citizen of the Year are a traditional part of the evening. New Members to the Chamber are invited to have a booth at the Banquet to showcase their business products and services.
2010 Annual Banquet Date to be Announced
2009 Annual Banquet, What a Great Success!
Despite record low temperatures for January, the Chamber's Annual Banquet was the place to be. The Mt. Pleasant Golf & Country Club rolled out the red carpet for 200 Chamber Members who started the evening off with a social hour featuring an opportunity to win a Wii game console and music by the Iowa Wesleyan College jazz group. Iowa Wesleyan College President Jay Simmons welcomed everyone and performed the evenings invocation followed by dinner. The Chamber's Board President, Susan Smith of US Bank, kicked off the evening's program with the official meeting. She proceeded with humor passing the gavel from herself as Past President to herself as current President and honored Terry McWilliams for six years of service on the Chamber Board of Directors.
Next up on the agenda, Vice President of Business Development Tony McDowell of Hearth & Home Technologies awarded 2008 Expansion Awards to three deserving Members: Digital Resource Partners Plus, The Fellowship Cup and the Mt. Pleasant Community School District.
Our very own past Director of Entreprenurial Support, Amy Lowe, took the stage and recognized three recipients of the 2008 Henry County Business Plan Competition: Big Creek Outdoor Supply, Grasshorse Technologies and Huffy's Iron Works. One of the more touching moments of the banquet came when JD Schimmelpfennig of Lomont Molding gave the years Entrepreneurial Excellence Award to John Mitchell, owner of MD Orthopaedics of Wayland. Mitchell's company manufactures braces for children born with clubfoot disorder and his speech inspired everyone in the room to find passion in their own lives as he has found in his work.
Richard Realty & Auction kicked it up a few notches with the evenings live auction featuring prizes from a one year membership to The Rec Center, to golf lessons by IWC Coach Ted Peetz, catered luncheon from Sheila McAllister and much much more!
Terry McWilliams of Midwest Old Threshers was awarded 2008 Volunteer of the Year. McWilliams' dedication to the Chamber is simply unmatched, never hesitating and never failing his volunteer tasks, he will be surely missed as he steps down from the Chamber Board. However, we will still see his smiling face in the Alliance office as he joins the Main Street Mount Pleasant Board of Directors.
And last but certainly not least, Mr. Paul Dennison of KILJ Radio awarded Todd Mabeus as the 2008 Citizen of the Year. Mabeus' reaction will never be forgotten as he heard his name called. He simply looked at his wife, Amy, in shock and disbelief. Mabeus' children, mother and father and other family members who had been waiting in another room at the club, entered the room to offer congratulations.
At the end of the night, almost all the food was eaten, all the awards given out. Newcomer to Henry County, Mark Gingrizh of Whaley Waste Systems walked home with a brand new Wii and Mr. Todd Mabeus was still in disbelief he had been named 2008 Citizen of the Year.