Chamber to host annual gathering
By Bill Donovan, Staff Writer

GALLUP—It's a little later than usual, but the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual banquet Saturday at the Best Western Inn and Suites.

Since Saturday is April 1, the theme of the banquet this year is "Come Fool Around" and as part of the "fooling around" the entertainment will include special guest Michael Joiner, who was named the Cable Comedian of the year.

Herb Mosher, director of the chamber, said Joiner, who writes for Jay Leno and others, is well known for providing family-type Christian humor.

The chamber this year has chosen Joann Hsu, owner and manager of King Dragon as the city's business person of the year.

This was an easy selection, Mosher said, given the fact that Hsu and her husband, Michael, have spent most of the past year making plans for a massive expansion of their operation.

The restaurant has already opened Dragon Express at the Zecca Plaza, which is a fast-food version of the main operation on U.S. 491 across from the Rio West Mall. Construction is scheduled to be completed in June for a new restaurant that will also include a nightclub section.

The Citizen Volunteer of the year is local car dealer Terry Profitt.

Mosher said Profitt is being honored for his years of service to the community.

"He's been a long-time supporter for Disabilities Services, Inc. back to the time when it was known as MASH (McKinley Area Services to the Handicapped)," Mosher said. Profitt is also the current president of the Rotary Club, of which he has also served as a member for many years.

The annual banquet is usually in January, but Mosher said that the decision to postpone it to April this year to give people a chance to recuperate from the Christmas holidays.

Besides Joiner, the banquet will also feature the On-Call Jazz Quintet which will provide live music during the evening.

Also being honored during the banquet will be the members of the Gallup High School Girls basketball team, which won the state championship this year. The team's coach, John Lomasney, will also be honored.

Mosher said the banquet is "a celebration and a time when people in the community can come together" and not a fund-raising activity; however, the fund-raising activity will begin at the banquet.

The chamber is conducting its annual raffle with tickets on sale for $50 each. This provides four chances to win per ticket and chances to win a dream vacation of either an Alaskan or Caribbean cruise.

Tickets are $30 for an individual and $50 per couple with a cash bar and door prizes.

For more details, contact the chamber at 722-2228.