The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its Casino Royale banquet on Saturday, its third annual banquet held in a casino setting.
It’s the first year the citizen/business of the year won’t be announced at the casino-themed banquet. The chamber plans to hand out the awards later this year.
“We’ve always done the awards,” said Dena Guttridge, the chamber’s executive director. “But the casino night has just gotten too big to do both.”
“We are hoping to create an entirely new event created around the awards,” she said.
The banquet will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. downstairs at Fiesta Mexicana.
The casino night, which this year has a James Bond theme, has been wildly successful, Guttridge said.
“We usually average between 150 and 200 people,” Guttridge said. “Nearly everyone dresses up.”
Previous themes have been “Tombstone” and “Speak Easy.”
Guttridge said that handing out the awards during the casino night became distracting.
“The fun and games kind of took over,” she said.
Those who participate in the “gambling” earn tickets to put in for drawings for donated items.
The event is also good for networking.
“We are all about creating relationships and networking at this event,” Guttridge said.
Proceeds from the event go to support chamber programs, including Leadership Montezuma.
Tickets cost $35 each, but Guttridge said there are $5-off coupons on the chamber’s Facebook page.
With tickets, you get $50 in gaming chips and dinner. There’s also a cash bar.
Games played at the casino night will be: black jack, Texas Holdem’ and Bingo.
“We have never done Bingo before,” Guttridge said.
In addition, the event will feature local celebrity dealers and cocktail waitresses.
“This is really a chance to see and be seen,” Guttridge said. “I love this event. It is so much fun.”
Those “gamblers” will be competing for a wide range of donated prizes, such as lodging, Navajo pots, barbecue sets and lots of martini glasses.
Area businesses donated nearly $3,000 in prizes.
For more information: 565-3414.