ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Marian Mason, executive director of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is excited about “Geared for Growth,” the Chamber’s annual dinner and presentation of awards.

The event is slated for Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Baldwin County Coliseum. “Geared for Growth” is open to the public. Tickets are $35 each, and can be purchased from the Chamber at their current office at 22193 Highway 59 South in Robertsdale or from banks in central Baldwin County. To contact the Chamber directly, call 947-5932.

“This is the Chamber’s premier event of the year,” said Mason of the 33rd annual event. “We can thank our investors (the new term for chamber members) for their participation in the Chamber.”

Mason added that the event will be an opportunity for the Chamber to present its “program of work” for the coming year.

The new year will bring changes to the CBCC. The most dramatic will be when the Chamber moves into a new building along Highway 59 in Robertsdale. Mason says that while she hasn’t received a firm date, and there are a few finishing touches like landscaping to be done to the property, she hopes the Chamber will move in the end of this month or the beginning of next.

The next change will come when the Chamber unveils its new logo at “Geared for Growth.” According to Mason, The Graphic Penguin design firm in Loxley won the bid for the new design. Diane Middleton-Vogel, who formerly worked for Disney, created the design.

The new design does away with the familiar maroon and white colors people have been seeing for the past few years.

“The colors are more blue and green and it’s a much simpler look,” said Mason. “It’s a cleaner, sleeker image.”

The Chamber’s board of directors also approved a new “tag line” for the Chamber.

“It is, ‘connecting business with community,’” said Mason. “We liked that.”

Despite all the changes some things will remain the same — the CBCC will continue to honor business people and volunteers who have made a positive difference in their communities.

“Joseph Shaw, the chair-elect for 2010 will present local mayors who will present the “Geared for Growth awards,” said Mason. Winners are selected by their local communities.

The “Volunteer of the Year” award will be decided by the BCCC’s board of directors, and will be presented by the group’s current chairperson, Peggy Nelson, Mason said.

“The ‘Woman of the Year’ will be presented by Kathy Fleet, last year’s winner,” said Mason. Mason added the the “Man of The Year” award would be presented by Steven Grant, also last year’s winner.

“We have the winners from the past three years select the Volunteer of the Year,” said Mason. This year, the selection committee included previous honorees Patsy Davis, Summerdale mayor David Wilson, Ann Black, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack, Fleet and Grant.

Nelson will give six outgoing board members, Ruthie Campbell, Donna Gates, Greg Gipson, Joe Allen, Wanda Taylor, and Dennis Staska gifts of appreciation.

“She will then pass the gavel to incoming president, Jamie Hardy,” said Mason.

An award will then be given to Nelson, and Hardy will close the program with a special video.

“A lot of people asked me what does a Chamber do,” said Mason. “This video should answer that.”