On April 21, the stairway of the Kitsap Golf and Country Club became a time machine that took us back to the era of flower children, peace signs, and disco music. The 2022 Silverdale Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards Gala was a 70’s style party complete with silent and live auctions, a sit-down dinner, and a cutthroat dessert dash. It was tough to quiet the hundred plus attendees, as everyone was overjoyed to be in the same room enjoying each other for the first time in two years.
Pictured: Silverdale Chamber President/CEO with Silverdale Rotary Co-Presidents Jennifer Strong and Erin Shannon
David Emmons kicked off the ceremony by recognizing the Chamber’s Board of Directors and inviting VIPs, including Congressman Derek Kilmer, to give speeches regarding our area’s rebounding businesses. Finally, the highly anticipated awards for the top business, non-profit organization, and individual citizen were unveiled.
The Paul Linder Service Award went to our Co-President, Jennifer Strong (pictured on right), for her tireless volunteer work on multiple non-profit boards.
- Chung’s Teriyaki, whose owner funds college scholarships through our club every year, won Hospitality Business of the Year.
- And, drum roll please – Silverdale Rotarian Rich Arper was chosen as Citizen of the Year!
Pictured left to right: Chad Melton, President, St. Michael's Medical Center; Rich Arper
Pictured left to right: Silverdale Rotarians Rick Soper, Cathy Bisaillon, Nancy Whitaker, Chuck Kraining, Christie Scheffer, Rich Arper, Amanda Smith, Jennifer Strong, Ed Hamilton, Erin Shannon, Scott Shoemaker
The many Silverdale Rotarians who donned their 70’s garb for some food, fun, and fellowship were loud and proud when our club members won top honors. Who knows? Next year, that could be our club at the podium receiving best non-profit organization of the year. That would be…like, far out!