It started with a tribute and ended with a roast but, in the
end, seven-plus good people got their just desserts Saturday
night.
It started with a tribute and ended with a roast but, in the end, seven-plus good people got their just desserts Saturday night.
The annual Chamber of Commerce Showcase Awards dinner honors the volunteer spirit and revels in Morgan Hill’s sheer luck in its residents. The man, woman, volunteer, student, teacher and large and small business of the year each heard a friend regale the packed Hiram Morgan Hill Room at the community cultural center with the details of their lives that set them apart from their volunteer peers.
In return, each honoree had a few moments with the microphone. Most shared the spotlight with other, unnamed volunteers. Two did not even know who nominated them.
Man of the Year Peter Anderson is known to be exceedingly modest. Instead of the normal tribute, David Bischoff, the city’s planning director, decided to “roast” him. Unveiling a large, reasonably embarrassing photo of Anderson standing in rain boots and a short bathrobe, Bischoff launched into a collection of amusing anecdotes gathered from friends, co-workers and fellow volunteers at Rotary, Sister City, the Historical Society and the Chamber.
“I wish he would stop lying about El Toro not being an extinct volcano,” Bischoff said. Anderson, a geologist, has had a long campaign to educate the public that the mountain is, indeed, not a volcano. Opinions, apparently, differ.
But Bischoff also had kind words.
“Dr. Dirt does more in a month for this community than most of us do in a year,” he said.
Anderson said he learned from his father to save 10 percent of his salary for the future and give another 10 percent back to the community, not necessarily in money.
“Your standard of living will come from the 10 percent you give back,” Anderson quoted his father as saying.
Woman of the Year Daryl Manning was praised by several friends from her Leadership Morgan Hill class. They called themselves “the Yo-Yos” after the best selling book-about-friends, “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.”
Manning has toiled endlessly for Independence Day, Inc. (IDI), the Morgan Hill Community Foundation and arts programs around town. She is generally credited for discovering the fact that Morgan Hill residents enjoy dressing up – really dressing up – for fundraisers, and will offer up wads of cash to do so.
She particularly thanked her husband, Steve Wood, “for supporting my (volunteer) habit.” Not one to pass up an opportunity, Manning reminded the audience to buy tickets for the Directors’ Ball, a MHCF fundraising Hollywood-themed bash on Feb. 28.
Morgan Hill School Superintendent Carolyn McKennan introduced student of the year Wesley LaPorte and Educator of the Year Thomasine Stewart. The Chamber and Times’ stories had investigated and reported on their lives and the effects LaPorte and Stewart have on their peers, but McKennan had dug up even more, leaving the crowd in awe.
Stewart wiped away tears when she took her place at the podium.
“I’m dumbstruck at this honor,” Stewart said. “Society thinks that teaching is thankless. But it’s really the most awesome experience.”
LaPorte, a senior at Live Oak who plans on a career in medicine, had kind words for the organizers of the earlier champagne reception and for Morgan Hill.
“I appreciate that bottle of sparkling apple cider,” he said. Later, more seriously, “It is a privilege to be raised in the Morgan Hill community.”
Roger Knopf introduced South Valley National Bank’s Myles Taketa – large business – who shared the glory with his second in command, Jeff Perkins, and quite a few employees scattered around the room. Knopf said the bank was started 21 years ago by 18 local citizens who wanted to serve their community.
Jesse and Betsy Nazzal of Betsy’s Restaurant – small business of the year – introduced by Chamber President Teri Nelson, shared the limelight for their generosity to the less fortunate.
As Chamber Volunteer of the Year, Alex Kennett started his speech of gratitude with an old joke.
“Behind every successful man is a surprised woman,” Kennett said. His claim to fame includes – but does not end with – IDI, Open Space Authority, several political committees and a lengthy litany of chamber events, committees and programs.
