Jim Birdsall looks back at his wife and family as Chamber Director Don Dana surprises him with his selection as the Chamber's Citizen of the Year.

The tables were filled; the food was good and the entertainment outstanding. The annual chamber affair was held at Brookside Gardens on Saturday night. In keeping with the theme “Game Show Mania,” each table was named after a television game show and each guest was provided with a mixer BINGO card. With the card you needed to find someone who spoke a second language, visited all 50 states, had never been in an airplane and 21 more choices. The idea was to get people talking to each other. The program kept a lively pace.

The crowd was treated to a performance by the Berthoud High School Bridge-Between Show Choir. Singing and dancing their way into the hearts of the chamber members, the choir received two standing ovations from the audience.

Chamber director Don Dana kept the pace moving and the program entertaining. Even Mayor Patterson, who said he had been instructed not to be serious, followed the instructions to a hilt.

An important part of an event like this is to honor members for their work and accomplishments. Several awards have been added this year and it was a nice touch. Barb Mitteis was surprised with a Chamber Super Star Award for her chamber work. The “Doc” Fickel award for giving to the community was presented to Melissa O’Leary for her tireless work on the Christmas in Berthoud Project. The project raises money to bring Christmas food and gifts to Berthoud families who would otherwise face a bleak holiday season.

The longest-running honor bestowed by the chamber is the Citizen of the Year. The chamber always tries to keep the selection a secret until the moment of announcement. They succeeded so well this year that the honoree nearly didn’t show up. It took some quick thinking to find some reason for him to be there without giving away the story. Jim Birdsall was asked to give a presentation on getting a grant for the roundabout enhancement. In the midst of his presentation, Don Dana interrupted him and started reading a “This is your life” type biography. Birdsall was taken by surprise when Dana announced his selection as Citizen of the Year. Birdsall said he was “absolutely snowed” and that he was “honored and humbled.” There was no doubt Birdsall was surprised as he was, uncharacteristically, nearly speechless.

After regaining his composure, Birdsall described how he and his wife had decided to settle in Berthoud and how much the town meant to him.

Following was the chamber equivalent of the changing of the guard. Outgoing president Stephanie Hartzel handed over the gavel to Debbie Davis who then introduced the 2010 Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The new Chamber Board:

President: Debbie Davis, Guaranty Bank

Bill Markham, M&M Farms

Eric Phillips, Reflections for Youth

Larry Leach, Main Street Car Care

Kitty Peterson, Kitty Peterson & Associates

Ginger Fedak, Happy Tails Dog Ranch/Sun Pony Horse Ranch

Brad Pickert, Pickert Dairy Farm

Barbara Mitteis, Ultimate Skin Care

Verna Covey, Home State Bank

With the business done, the games began. In keeping with the theme, a game show set, complete with push buttons and score readout, was ready for play. Three teams at a time attempted to answer the questions, the winner advancing to the finals. The final two teams vying for the championship were the Thompson School District Board of Education versus the Weedin Agency and Recorder Online. The Board of Education finished in second place.

After the games there was music for dancing and time to visit. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the evening.