By all accounts, the 2012 Brownfield Chamber of Commerce Banquet was a once again an outstanding success, being acclaimed by some of the participants as the best yet.

The formal black tablecloths with floral centerpieces and touches of green accents with veiled lights transformed the BHS commons into an elegant backdrop for the awards to be given at the end of the event.

Once again, the BHS Silver Spoons under the direction of Kris Oakes, performed admirably. There was no standing in a cafeteria buffet line this year. Guests were seated and served by the students in true upscale restaurant style. The food prepared by the Silver Spoons was restaurant quality also. There was no bussing your own table either. The students kept a watchful eye on drink refills and cleared the tables as patrons finished their meals.

The entertainment showcased the talent of our local students who participated in the fall production of “Awaken.” The young men and women gave their all to the enjoyment of the crowd.

There was no time to settle into an after-dinner slump, guest speaker Ron Lowe had everybody moving and laughing to learning, as they clapped, became seesaws and elephant ears, and “smelled the roses.” Behind the fun was a lesson everyone could take back to his business or personal world: building people up is more productive than criticizing them.

As happens each year, the highlight of the night was the announcement of the Business of the Year and the Citizen of the year winners. Rod Warren, last year’s recipient, announced Don Robertson Electric as the Business of the Year for 2012; Bob Reynolds, also last year’s recipient, named Cathy Pope as Citizen of the Year. The announcements brought smiles and standing ovations for the winners.

A sincere thank you goes to Lorena Valencia, Chamber Director, and members of the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce for bringing a very classy event to Brownfield this year. They proved that this year’s motto was more than just words. They showed by example that Brownfield is truly a “great place to grow.”