Deadline extended to RSVP for volunteer banquet

The Bicentennial Volunteer Banquet will be extending its RSVP deadline for ticket holders until this Friday, Sept. 28, the night before the event, which will be held at McMinnville Civic Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The banquet is designed to honor members of local volunteer organizations, including volunteer fire departments, community improvement clubs, the fair board and rescue squad.

To RSVP, ticket holders can call 815-1807, a special number set up to accept the reservations. Callers will be asked to leave their name, organization, and the number of people from their family who plan to attend.

According to County Executive John Pelham, over 800 tickets have been mailed out, but so far only around 330 individuals have called to confirm their attendance. The letter sent out with the tickets listed this Wednesday as the deadline, but Pelham said his office has decided to extend the deadline to give those who still want to attend every chance possible to notify his office.

‘Anybody who is connected to these organizations and wants to attend, we certainly want them to participate,’ Pelham said.

Pelham said his office is trying to determine the number of people who would be attending by asking for the RSVP.

‘We would like to know how many will be there, to plan for food, seating arrangements, and so on,’ Pelham said. ‘And that’s why we set that deadline. But we don’t want people to think, just because they missed that deadline, they can’t come to the banquet. If they have tickets, they can still come to the banquet. That’s why we’re announcing that we’re extending the deadline until the night before the banquet.’

The Warren County Bicentennial Volunteer Banquet promises to be a gala event, with some great food and terrific entertainment from the Tennessee R-H Performing Arts Troupe, a group of talented young performers from across the state who have been specially chosen to be part of this ensemble.

Also on hand to present awards will be national and state leaders including Congressman Lincoln Davis, state Sen. Jerry Cooper and state Reps. Judd Matheny and Charles Curtiss.

During the event, Pelham will preside over a drawing for door prizes from local businesses including Barr’s Furniture, the city of Centertown, Gateway Tire, Pioneer Building Supply, Supreme Building Products, Tractor Supply Co., Underwood True Value Hardware, U.S. Bank, Valley Fertilize & Seed, Wal-Mart and Warren Co. Farmers Co-op. So be sure to attend and turn in your ticket stub to be eligible for the prize drawings.