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36TH ANNUAL BRYANT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WINTER BANQUET |
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Wednesday, 04 February 2009 |
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There was a change in leadership, singing, awards presentations, good food and a silent auction, but it was the widow of an American hero who inspired a full house Tuesday night at the 36th annual Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce Winter Banquet.
The event was held inside the new Pulaski Technical College South campus off Interstate 30 at the county line. Hundreds of people, including Saline County leaders, filled the parking lot and campus with anticipation and left with watered eyes after listening to the guest speaker.
Deena Burnett Bailey of Little Rock spoke of her life during and after the fateful morning when her husband, Tom Burnett, and other passengers aboard United Flight 93 saved thousands of lives.
United Flight 93 was hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Bailey said after her husband and others made cell phone calls, they found out the World Trade Center was attacked that same morning, and eventually planned an attack on the terrorists. The plane would later crash in a small Pennsylvan-ia town.
“His last words were ‘We are going to do something,’” Bailey said. “The results of a small group of people, we believed saved thousands of lives and the White House is still standing.”
Bailey said her husband, if alive, would say he wasn’t a hero, but rather doing the right thing. She said that before 9/11, a sports star or Hollywood actor was often viewed as a hero, but today a hero is someone who sets an example for others to follow.
“His last words, ‘Do something,’ has been my motivation,” Bailey said. “You have to find your motivation. A small group of people can do more than an individual. You changed your community by banding together.”
Bailey also told the crowd about letters she received from people remembering her husband, many of whom were strangers he met on airplanes or neighbors long ago. She said he never knew that he impacted their lives in a positive manner, but realized herself, that we all affect those around us.
“Tom did not know the impact he had on their lives, but you and I come into contact with so many people everyday,” Bailey said. “It is so easy to chose to do the right thing and stay positive. It is your choice — how do you want to be remembered? You can be a hero every day through your actions, your work and everything you do.”
Those in attendance gave Bailey a standing ovation. State Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, called her the “voice for victims of 9/11.”
Bailey, who has since remarried a Little Rock businessman, has written several books concerning the events of 9/11; was appointed to serve on the State Board of Election Commissioners in May 2008; a board member of the Twentieth Century Club; coordinator of the Ministry of Mothers for the Little Rock Diocese; board member for the organization Girl Ambition; and speaker for the Young America’s Foundation.
The event opened with a large silent auction, but the silence was broken when the Bryant Hurricane Creek Elementary Patriot Choir sang the national anthem. They were joined by the Bryant Junior ROTC for the presentation of the flag.
After dinner was served by Pulaski Technical College culinary school students, the outgoing chamber president, Jack Carney, who also is vice president of First Security Bank in Bryant, spoke about the successful year in Bryant. He also thanked the family of recently deceased chamber member Frank Large for his contributions to Saline County.
Carney turned the reigns over to incoming chamber President David Hannah, who is also the marketing representative for First Electric Cooperative in Benton. Hannah said he plans to continue the success and efforts of the 2008 chamber board members.
Carla Harris of First Security Bank and Beth Beam of Best Buy were announced as the chamber’s ambassadors of the year award winners. Rae Ann Fields, executive director of the Bryant chamber said the award was based on a points system and that the two had tied. Points are given for attendance at ribbon cuttings, ground breaking ceremonies, Highlight Bryant networking lunches and for referring businesses that join the chamber.
Harris also served as co-chairperson for the Christmas in Bryant Committee and oversaw the first Every Lighted Christmas parade. Beam also served on that committee and many others, Fields said. Harris will also join the 2009 chamber board of directors.
“These two were, quite literally, at every event and on every committee that they possibly could be involved in during the past year,” Fields said. “They represented Bryant with a smile and a welcoming attitude. Both are a rare find and we were lucky to have two such people in 2008.”
Kim Leech of Pulaski Mortgage Co. and Mike Rushing of Summit Bank in Bryant were named co-recipients of the chamber member of the year award. Carney, who picked the pair, said the two were awarded for co-chairing the Young Professionals Network and working cooperatively with the chamber to establish a quarterly Business After Hours hosted by the Benton and Bryant chambers’ Young Professionals Networks for all businesses.
Fields said Leech pioneered the YPN in 2006 and Rushing joined her in 2007. Together, she said Leech and Rushing revamped the program for the group of young business leaders to include Lunch and Learns, intimate sit-downs with successful business people in the area to learn their secrets to success. They formulated a plan to alternate the Lunch and Learns with social outings and bring education, networking and socializing to the 21- to 45-year-olds.
Leech previously served on the chamber board from 2005 to 2007 and served several years on the Fall Fest Committee as the Kidsland chairperson, Fields said. She is also the past president of the Kiwanis Club.
Fields said Rushing has served on the chamber board since 2006 and previously chaired the Golf Tournament Committee for several years. He is also the board president for the Boys & Girls Club of Bryant.
Everett Buick Pontiac GMC was the major sponsor for the banquet. Numerous area business and residents also contributed to the event and received special thanks from the chamber.
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