FOLEY, Ala. — The more than 800 members of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will gather Friday evening to honor its executives and celebrate the year’s accomplishments at the chamber’s Gala in Foley.

More than just a Gala, the event is the annual meeting for the chamber where the group thanks its outgoing board members and chairman, as well as welcome the new members.

Sarah Kuzman of Meyer Real Estate is the outgoing chairman and will be succeeded by Jerry Jackson of Banktrust.

“This is a challenging year ahead, no doubt,” Jackson said. “We have a running start. I look forward to a wonderful year.”

To become chairman, the candidate must serve on the board for several years, then be elected by executives to the position for a term of one year.

“The Gala is a way to thank everyone,” LaDonna Hinesley of the chamber said. “We thank those rotating both in and out on the board.”

The Gala celebration will feature a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Included in the auction are gift baskets, artwork and a few special items including a trip to the Napa Valley in California, the opportunity to drive a race car and to fly a fighter jet. Most of the items were donated, but bigger ticket items will require a minimum bid. Proceeds from the auction go toward the local school system.

“We really look forward to the Gala,” Hinesley said. “It’s a good opportunity for membership to come out and enjoy a nice banquet and take a look at the highlights of the past year. We’ll celebrate new businesses brought in and major accomplishments. Our biggest (accomplishment) was we did a big fundraising campaign and raised a lot of money for chamber programs, which will help us serve the chamber members. ”

Five new members were welcomed to the Board of Directors for 2009. New board members include; Leon Hill, First National Bank of Baldwin County, who is a past chairman of this board; Angie Johnston, Ebert Agency, who is also Diplomat Chairman; Herb Malone, Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau; Wayne Musgrove, Cottages on the Green; Richard Peterson, Superintendent Gas, Water and Wastewater at Riviera Utilities and Randy Kurtts, Town of Elberta representative.

Officers for 2009 include Jerry Jackson of BankTrust — Chairman of the Board; Anthony Kaiser of Meyer Real Estate – Vice – Chairman; Britton Bonner, Armbrecht Jackson Attorneys at Law – Treasurer. Sarah Kuzma of Meyer Real Estate will remain as immediate past chairman of the board.

Outgoing board members are:  John Blanchard, Gulf Chrysler; Tommy Rachel, Taking Off Hot Air Balloon; Mike Dugger, Riviera Utilities; Clark Stewart, Radio Baldwin WHEP; Ed Bushaw, Faulkner State Community College, Town of Elberta representative Kathy Kane and Town of Summerdale representative Gerald Hughes.

The Gala program begins at 7:30 p.m. after the auction and will also feature guest speaker Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael of the United States Marine Corps.