(KNZA)--A large crowd was on hand for the annual dinner of the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau Saturday evening at the Fisher Center.

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of several awards.

Honored as " Business of the Year" was State Farm Insurance.

Current Chamber and Visitors Bureau President Kate Miller was honored as  "Volunteer of the Year."

Jodi Twombly was the recipient of the " Civil Servant of the Year" award.

Miller said a lot was accomplished last year, with one of the main highlights being the Solar Eclipse event which drew an estimated 13,000 visitors to the community.  She said several of those visitors have returned to the community since that time.

As the Chamber looks ahead, Miller says the organization plans to bring back the ambassador program.

The Chamber will also be hiring a new director and adding a part-time assistant director. Current Director Deida Leander will be leaving at the end of February  to focus on her young family.

Miller recognized outgoing Board members Mike Grier, Jere Bruning, Eric Thompson, Jessica Rush and Jake Wisdom, whose terms have expired.

She also introduced six new members who will be joining the Board. They include Andy Runer, Ashley Olson, Bonnie Marable, Debbie Philips, Jeff Shelton and Nancy Tuma.  

The keynote speaker was Baron Stringfellow, of Horton, who travels the world teaching businesses about fraud through the art of magic.