The South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet was held Thursday evening, November 12, 2015, at the Cherokee Yacht Club on Duck Creek. The event included an evening of celebration, including the organization’s 44th year of continuous operation, accomplishments for 2015, the awarding of the coveted Barbara Conner Achievement Award and a keynote address from Oklahoma Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman.
The program was preceded by a social period and dinner prepared by the Cherokee Yacht Club staff. The program got underway with a summary of the year’s accomplishments by executive director Rusty Fleming. In addition to the three major chamber events designed as fund raisers and economic stimulus for the area, Fleming cited the organizations efforts in uniting the lake area organizations to restore a minimum lake level of 742’, which was achieved, and the chambers involvement in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the construction of the Pensacola Dam. Fleming applauded the organization’s board for voting to unify Grand Lake not only on the water level initiative, but other issues as well. He introduced the 2015 board members as follows:
Outgoing President Ray Claggett, Bank of Grove
Incoming president and outgoing vice president, Mike Vaughn, Edward Jones
Treasurer Judy Florida, Harbors View marina
Secretary Kendra Sue Montana-McGeady, Home of Hope Inc.
Bob Sullivan, retired GRDA Assistant General Manager
Mike Torrone, Logan & Lowry Law Firm
Joe Johnson, Entrepreneur, fish cooking champion and master of many deeds
Art Box, Pine Lodge Resort
Lori Starks, retired from GRDA
Speaker Hickman was introduced by GRDA CEO Dan Sullivan and delighted the crowd with his obvious love of Grand Lake and making memories with his family just as thousands of others do. He summarized the economic effects of this massive lake on all of northeast Oklahoma and applauded the business community for being the driving force behind that success.
But not all was a bowl of cherries as he addressed the revenue shortages being experienced by our state during the current down-turn of Oil and gas prices. Mr. Speaker is obviously a supporter of Grand Lake.
The coveted Barbara Conner Achievement Award was presented to the Pensacola Dam & GRDA in recognition of 75 years of operation. The award is being presented to Dan Sullivan by chamber executive director Rusty Fleming.
Victoria Perry is flanked by Lori and the honorable mayor of Vinita, Ronnie Starks.
Executive director Rusty Fleming presents Joe Johnson the Volunteer of the Year Award for his service to the organization in 2015.
Oklahoma Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman was the keynote speaker at the event.
The Awards presentation was next with an appreciation award going to Ray Claggett as the outgoing president and the announcement of the winner of the Conner Award. Barbara Conner was the undisputed leader in taking a chamber in a rural lake community and transforming it into one of the largest non-metro chambers in the state. She served as the organization’s executive director for a number of years and was later appointed as a board member for the Grand River Dam Authority.
Fleming described this year’s recipient as representing a team effort, which probably could not be achieved this day in time. That team was made of workers, politicians and even a president. Fleming said, “Some will recognize this year’s recipient as the Pensacola Dam, but to us she’s the Goose who laid the golden egg in northeastern Oklahoma.”
He then added, “It’s my pleasure to present this year’s Barbara Conner Achievement Award to the Grand River Dam Authority and the Pensacola Dam.”
Accepting on behalf of the GRDA was Dan Sullivan who said, “The evening was a huge success and should serve as a springboard for the 200 member organization.”
Next on the agenda was an award not presented every year, but when a member has contributed above and beyond the norm. Entrepreneur and former Mayor of Vinita, Joe Johnson, was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for his continuous service and active involvement in promoting the Hook n’ Cook-Off and other chamber events, including the cooking of fish on live TV in a promotional appearance on Tulsa’s KTUL Channel 8.
The next regular meeting of the group is scheduled for January 21st in the GRDA Eco-Systems Building in Langley. For more information, visit their web site at www.southgrandlakechamber.com, e-mail them at grandlakechamber@gmail.com or call the office at 918-782-3214.
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