Merve Johnson, University of Oklahoma (OU) director of football operations, was the guest speaker at the banquet.
Five autographed OU footballs were offered in a silent auction to raise funds for a television set for the chamber office. Jeff Mayo, outgoing chamber president, said the auction raised $1,625 and the television will be used to show visitors recordings of the highlights of chamber activities and projects and Sallisaw's attractions. Mayo said 38 bids were received, and one football went to the Blue Ribbon Auto Group, two went to Ed's Truck Stop and two went to Armstrong Bank.
The chamber's projects for last year and the coming year were reviewed. They included Bassnanza, which will be expanded this year to include a Diamond Daze Fly-In Festival with a car show, barbecue cookoff, arts and crafts, entertainment, a bike show and the aircraft fly-in; the Fourth of July celebration; annual rodeo; Veteran's Day ceremony; the Merchant's Christmas Open House and parade; Santa's Workshop; the banquet; and Junior Livestock Show, which will be Feb. 23 and 24 this year.
During the evening Mayo and Judy Martens, the chamber's executive vice president, thanked the chamber members and volunteers who assisted with chamber projects throughout the year. They included:
*The 2005 chamber board and Sallisaw Improvement Corporation board members - Larry Randolph, Debbie Edgmon, Cheryl Mills, Mike Neer, Todd Martin, Marley Abel, Ron Wyrick, Buddy Spencer, Terry Nation, Dr. Bob Wells, Shannon Vann, Bill Baker, Gary Schaefer, Dwight Spencer, Jeff Mayo, Terri Daniels and Gary Winton.
*The Sallisaw employees who assisted the chamber, Keith Skelton, Keith Miller, Julie Ferguson and Kasey Moran.
*The top sponsors of the chamber's Bassnanza project, People Inc., Wal-Mart, Blue Ribbon Auto Group, and Choctaw Blue Ribbon Downs.
*The chamber and community volunteers including Clif Meece, Linda Copeland, Tommy Simms, Ronda Vinson, Dale Wood, Wendall Mills, Jane Hadley, Ernie Martens, Tucker Martens, John Augustine, Cheryl Vann, Sheila Smith, Matt Bennett and Traci Abel.
The chamber also thanked Jim Mayo for his donation of photos of the city and county, which now hang in the chamber office; Carol Couch and her staff at The Green House who provide decorations for chamber events; Alta Matthews and her Elegant Edibles by Alta which cater chamber events, and provided hors d'oeuvres for the banquet; and to Ann Augustine who assists Martens.
Jeff Mayo also thanked the Sallisaw High School Jazz Band, Rhoda Wilson and Holly Martens who provided entertainment for the banquet, Charlie's Chicken which provided the steak dinner; the Sallisaw Future Farmers of America and National Honor Society members who served the dinner, and Boy Scout Troop No. 742 who presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Incoming chamber president, Cheryl Mills, presented outgoing president Jeff Mayo with a plaque.
The corporate sponsors for the dinner were The Green House, Sammy's Taco Ranch & Steak House, Mallory-Martin Funeral Home, National Bank of Sallisaw, B
