The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, January 3, 2001

Chamber sets Annual Banquet for Jan. 13

It's time to "connect with your calendar" and set aside Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001 for the annual Fayette County Chamber Meeting and Awards Banquet.

The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center will host the elegant affair once again, and all members are urged to reserve space now. According to Elissa Hall, president of the chamber, the ballroom is historically packed to capacity for the annual event. Individual tickets are available for $80 each, with corporate tables of 10 selling for $800.

The evening's highlights include the 2000 chamber Chairman Tate Godfrey, Pathway Communities, passing the gavel over to Darrell Cutts, Fayette Community Hospital. The prestigious Business Person of the Year will be named along with The Chet Wells Award and Ambassador of the Year.

This year's keynote speaker is Robert Steed. Steed is a well-known humorist, lawyer, columnist and author and is expected to entertain and delight attendees of the banquet, said event chairman Nancy Price.

Steed attended Mercer University for his undergraduate and law degrees. He holds an honorary doctor of law degree from Mercer University where he served five years as chairman of its Board of Trustees.

He has been a humor columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution since 1978 and his columns have appeared in The New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. Additionally, his humor essays have been broadcast on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

Former Attorney General Griffin Bell writes about Steed: "There is a raging dispute as to whether Steed is a lawyer or a writer. The lawyers say he is a writer and the writers say he is a lawyer. One certain fact is that Steed has written far more than he has read."

"Connect and Create Business" is this year's theme for the event, which is meant to focus on the business opportunities that are afforded members of the chamber, according to Nancy Price, event coordinator and chairman for the annual meeting.

"We want to emphasize the networking and educational advantages of chamber membership, and how we are integrating those advantages with the technological advancements such as the Internet," she added.

This will be the 34th anniversary of the annual meeting and banquet of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. The annual black-tie event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner and awards at 7 p.m. For information phone the chamber at 770-461-9983.