Chamber cha-ching: Annual banquet raises money for Gonzales Chamber of Commerce programs

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The 97th Annual Gonzales Chamber of Commerce Banquet was held at the J.B. Wells Expo Center last Friday evening with a near-capacity crowd in attendance for the yearly fundraiser. The mood was festive, the catered meal by Baker Boys Barbecue was well-received, and attendees did their job by bidding on the silent and live auction items.

The night's haul should approach approximately $20,000 for chamber programs, according to officials.

At the centerpiece was a lively auction conducted by J.D. Shelton, who peddled everything from rodeo and George Strait tickets to a life-size cannon and game hunts. He was joined by emcee Egon Barthels, and the duo kept things light with their witty banter and colorful asides.

The meal was hand carved by Wayne Baker himself and served by his trusty crew. The menu was raspberry chipotle pork loin served with green beans, mashed potatoes, side salad, and cake slices. It was bussed to the tables by members of the Gonzales Anchor Club and Gonzales High School Apache Flames.

The finale was a set of awards bestowed to local individuals and organizations for their volunteer efforts in the greater Gonzales community. Community service awards were given to Grace Morgan for her tireless work in helping less-fortunate youth around the holiday season; Barbara Crozier for her committed work in theatre with young thespians; and the Noon Lions Club for the charitable work that they do.

The prestigious David B. Walshak Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Norma Ehrig, who enjoyed the surprise with a table full of family members. Ehrig was chosen for her years of service to clubs such as 4-H, FFA, FUMC, NEA, and TSTA; her years as a school counselor where she frequently transported children and their families to doctors appointments and raised money for underprivileged and special needs students; and for her help initiating the Children's Advocacy Center in Gonzales, which was later renamed in her honor as Norma's House in 2001. She has been referred to as the “Good Will Fairy” and is described as having never met a stranger.

After Ehrig's nomination, members in attendance banded together to contribute $15,600 to Norma's House in a spontaneous show of community support.

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