About 65 people turned out for the Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s 45th anniversary dinner party, held Saturday at the Arnold VFW Post 2593, said Terry Starwalt, the chamber’s executive director.
Starwalt said the party was held not only to celebrate the chamber but also to give people an excuse to go to an event.
“I believe people were just happy to get out,” she said. “We just had a good time.”
Starwalt said the event included a silent auction and raffles. She said some of the silent auction items included a sapphire jewelry set donated by Fortune Bank, a hammock, a Kate Spade basket, a gravity lounge chair and a Pit Boss grill.
Raffle items included a cooler with beverages, a hammock and a laundry basket filled with washing items, Starwalt said.
“Almost everything we had was valued at $100 or more,” she said.
Starwalt said the silent auction and raffle brought in about $4,000 and will be used to rent the VFW and pay other costs associated with the event.
“The goal was not to make money,” she said. “It was to honor our members for 45 years.”
Starwalt said the Frankie Gianino’s restaurant in Imperial served and donated the dinner.
Dan Govero, owner of Govero Land Services in Imperial and one of the Arnold chamber’s 10 original members when it was formed in 1976, attended the event.
“He actually wore his name tag from 45 years ago,” Starwalt said. “He still had it.”
Starwalt said she was happy to celebrate the anniversary.
“Without our members, we would not have been able to do this,” she said. “It was great to celebrate that and it was great to see the growth of 45 years.”
Starwalt said the event also was a thank-you to members who supported the chamber during 2020.
“I know a lot of chambers had a hard time through the pandemic,” she said. “I know the struggle was real for them and we did well.
“I know our members struggled, but they hung in there with us.”