Chamber project leader says he's luckiest man in the city

Dear editor:

I would like to tell you how lucky, and how truly blessed I am to live in a town where everyone comes together for a great cause, regardless of whatever it is.

I have friends that step up to help me anytime I need anything, and most importantly, a community, the businesses and city leadership, that know no bounds when it comes to charity.

I am on the Mountain Home Chamber Board. We have always had the BBG&A, or as we call it now, Mountain Home Chamber "Fun, Food, Golf and Auction." This event has always been the Chamber's biggest money maker.

This event was on the edge of not happening due to the lack of response. I decided not to let another Chamber event get dropped or pushed to the side until next year. I also asked the board to let me take some of the money we made from this event, so that we may have a Chamber night for all of our Chamber members, kind of a thank you for all the years of donating and participating in all of our events.

A date will follow after our next board meeting, so that we may give back to all those Chamber Members who are so greatly appreciated!

Getting back to how lucky I am, I had a great golf committee who came together to get this event rolling. They sacrificed hours and hours to come to my house, sit down and talk about how and what we are going to do. Robby Robinson, Alain Issac, Steph and Dave Berg, Linda Ketterling, John Feenstra, Lori Posey, Deb Swearingen, Paula Riggs, Randy Valley, Lisa Harvel, Shane Zenner, Brenda Franks, and my great wife, Kim Sykes. If I forgot someone, please do not take offense. My mind has been frazzled by this event.

Thank you all so, so much, I couldn't have done this event without you! These people made this event happen, and made it run as smooth as it could.

There are so many other people that also made this event a great one, it would take up two to three pages of the Mountain Home News paper just to list them all and thank them! I know in my heart that those that I didn't list know how grateful and lucky I am just to know them, and most of all, to call them a friend.

To all the businesses and other people that donated items and sponsored holes, THANK YOU! You are also what made this event a great one, and everyone knows without you, the businesses, there is no event! You businesses, even in these economic times, all stepped up and gave without thought or regret, and showed us all what kind of character you all possess.

I am so lucky to have had three past women of the year on my committee help me on this event! Deb Swearingen, Paula Riggs, and Stephanie Berg. When you have that kind of firepower on a board, you know things are going to get done! Deb Swearingen and Paula Riggs, what can I say about these women? They did everything anyone could ever want when it comes to everything that this event could bring!

They got hole sponsors, items for the auction, the food, and most importantly, they came to the golf course and put everything into baskets, and put every single item in its right place. They showed up at 3 p.m. and worked till 9 p.m. getting this event ready.

My wife, Kim, and Moira Beach, also was with Paula and Deb putting the last-minute touches on everything. To my cooks for this event, Jon Feenstra, Ron Swearingen, and Ron Monasterio, You guys did a phenomenal Job, THANK YOU! To the ladies that checked everyone in and checked everyone out at the end of the night, THANK YOU!

It is easy to take credit for an event when everything looks so smooth, and everything goes great. It is the people behind the scenes that make this event possible. They are the ones that are not in the limelight or get all of the "great job," the "well done's," or all the appreciations that make an event possible.

To all of those people THANK YOU!

I am the luckiest man in Mountain Home because of all that helped me put this event on! You all are class acts.

I am proud and honored to have had you with me on this event! THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL!

Rich Sykes