POULSBO — It’s not very often that awards banquet attire includes bobby socks, blue jeans and a pack of Lucky Strikes rolled up in your sleeve.
But such was the case as the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 50th year Saturday night. Classic cars, a juke box, a motorcycle from “Easy Rider” and even The King himself (in both cardboard and living forms) adorned the Clearwater Casino ballroom for the sock hop-inspired event that brought together generations of chamber members to honor the business organization’s history.
Chamber Executive Director Jim Martin looked around at the multitude of poodle skirts and pompadours and marveled at the event. Martin was hired in February and said he was honored to find out that one of his first duties would be to help plan the celebration of the chamber’s 50th anniversary.
“It didn’t register with me that it was the 50th year at first,” Martin commented. “It really humbles me. I just can’t express my appreciation for everyone who made this possible.”
Besides the current chamber board and local elected officials, the evening was also attended by many who were there for the chamber’s earliest years. Among them were George Snelson, Ruby Watland and Dale Anderson, who were a few of the chamber’s founders. Anderson, who owned Anderson Department Store in downtown Poulsbo for about 40 years and was chamber president in 1965, called the evening “awesome.”
“I actually felt honored, even though I didn’t have a lot to do with it all,” Anderson commented. “I’ll be honest, I never gave it a thought (the chamber) would last as long as it did. I feel pretty proud that it made it.”
Martin said that learning about the chamber’s past 50 years has made him even more aware of the importance of the work going on right now. One of the chamber board’s goals for this year is to get the chamber membership up to 500 by the end of 2004. Right now, that number is up to 447, which is an average of one new member coming on board every day since Martin has held the executive director position.
“At the rate we’re going, I think we’ll have 1,000 by the end of the year,” he said with a laugh.
Wearing a fedora hat and chomping on a cigar, Chamber President Kevin Hogan echoed Martin’s hopefulness for the chamber’s next 50 years and beyond. Though there is much work to do, Hogan said he was enjoying being able to take a break and enjoy the birthday party, especially seeing so many people dressed to match the ‘50s theme.
“The biggest and most important thing is the people who turned up and honored this event by taking part,” Hogan said.
Hogan added that the real credit for the night’s success went to board vice president Pat McFadden, who led the charge in planning the event.
Besides a chance to hula hoop and twist the night away, Saturday’s event was also the chamber’s annual awards banquet. Several community and chamber members were honored by the business organization for outstanding work making Poulsbo a better place. Those honored were:
•Community Builder Awards — Brad Camp, Ann Pyles and Gail Chafe
•Business Beautification Awards — Front Street waterfall, Austin Towers, Clearwater Casino and Convention Center
•Outstanding Achievement by a Service Organization — North Kitsap Rotary
•Person of the Year — Brenda Prowse
The chamber also gave a one-time, special award Saturday night called the Golden Achievement Award to long-time Poulsbo volunteer Bill Austin. Hogan said the board came up with the idea after Austin received nominations in every category for the chamber awards.
Hogan added the board also knew that trying to give Austin a regular plaque was not enough. So they converted one of the sign maker’s old paint cans and brushes into a unique trophy that bore the inscription:
“The year was 1962. JFK was president, the Space Needle was built and Bill Austin painted his way into Poulsbo and forever changed it. A tribute to a man who took Sinatra’s advice and did it his way. Build first. Permits second.”
