"Celebrate Putnam's Pride & Progress 2012" is the theme of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner Meeting later this month.
The dinner meeting will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Charleston Town Center Marriott. The social hour will get underway at 6 p.m., with dinner and a brief business meeting afterward.
Live entertainment will be provided by The Bob Thompson Unit.
"This event is the largest event of the year for the Chamber," said Ashley Alford, public relations spokesperson for the Chamber, "with over 350 members present."
Alford said the dinner has been a tradition for more than three decades. In addition to enjoying fine dining and fellowship, one guest will receive a special distinction at the dinner.
"At this event, we recognize a member of the business community with the Mayo Lester Award, which is named for the late Mayo Lester," Alford explained. "He was the first chairman of the Board of Directors of the Putnam County Chamber in 1979 and was also the first recipient of the award, given to him for his work toward the development of the Hurricane Community Park.
"Some of the criteria used to select the award recipient includes extraordinary amount of devoted time, energy and personal resources for the betterment of a Putnam County project," she said.
Alford added that nominees nor the recipient must be a Chamber of Commerce member to qualify for the Mayo Lester Award.
"Nominations must include background information on the nominee and details of how this person has met the complete criteria," she noted.
"The dinner has taken place for over 30 years," said Alford, "and it is a great way for all Chamber members to join together for an evening of commemoration and planning.
"In past years, the dinner has taken place at Wellington's, but due to closing of the business, the dinner has found a new home at the Charleston Marriott Town Center. The Charleston Marriott has been an active and supportive member of the Putnam County Chamber for many years," Alford said.
Supporting the success of the annual dinner in 2012 are the following sponsors:
Gold Sponsors: AEP John Amos Plant, Arch Coal, Putnam County Bank, Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia.
Silver Sponsors: CAMC Teays Valley, City National Bank, Charleston Marriott Town Center, West Virginia American Water
Decoration Sponsors: Huntington Bank; Poca Valley Bank; Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC; Randolph Engineering/A.S.A.P; Rock Branch Community Bank; State Electric Supply Company
Reception Sponsors: BB&T; Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP; Triad Engineering
Associate Sponsors: Baker-Bohnert; Chapman Printing; Diamond Electric/Parkline; Fifth Third Bank; Generations Physical Therapy; Gino's/Tudor's; HSC Industrial; Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC; Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC; Yeager Airport; Workplace Solutions.
Chamber of Commerce members should be receiving their invitations by mail during the early part of the month. Individual tickets cost $75 per person.
The Chamber of Commerce is also accepting sponsorships for the event.
Early reservations and sponsorships are encouraged.
To confirm reservations, place sponsorships, nominate Mayo Lester Award candidates or receive more information about the dinner meeting, send an e-mail message to chamber@putnamcounty.org or call 304-757-6510.