Chamber Banquet to Feature Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason
(If you are unable to attend the banquet, it will be broadcast live on WIZS 1450 AM and live streamed on wizs.com.)
The lead story gives details of the upcoming Chamber banquet and a visit from WRAL-TV’s Scott Mason, The Tar Heel Traveler. The banquet story is re-published with permission below, or click the link above which includes the entire news letter.
The 79th Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet will be held on Tuesday, January 31 at the VGCC Civic Center.
This year’s event will include a delicious dinner and music, keynote address and various recognitions including: Vance County Schools’ teacher, assistant principal, and principal of the year, Vance County Schools’ “Shining Moment in Education” award, 2016 Ambassador of the Year Award and the prestigious Vance County Citizen of the Year Award for 2016.
Keynote speaker for 2017 is WRAL’s Scott Mason, the Tar Heel Traveler. Mason is a broadcast journalist with 30 years of television experience. He has won dozens of awards for documentaries, writing, and feature reporting, including three National Edward R. Murrow awards and 20 regional Emmys. In both 2004 and 2005, the Electronic News Association of the Carolinas named Mason the North Carolina Television Reporter of the Year. Mason’s success caught the attention of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, and in April, 1997, he became the station’s Documentary Producer. He researched, wrote, and produced nine documentaries before adding his talents to the nightly news team as a reporter specializing in features. Today, Mason is known as the Tar Heel Traveler. His Monday-Thursday feature series on WRAL takes viewers along the back roads of North Carolina where he meets memorable characters, finds out-of-the-way places, and unearths fascinating historical footnotes. The series has become so popular it has led to Tar Heel Traveler half-hour specials, which Mason produces each quarter. In addition, he has also published two books about his television adventures: Tar Heel Traveler: Journeys Across North Carolina (Globe Pequot Press) and Tar Heel Traveler Eats: Food Journeys Across North Carolina (Globe Pequot Press). Mason graduated in 1984 from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he majored in Journalism and Communications. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte and lives in Raleigh with his wife Nina, daughters Lane and Genie, and son Scout. This project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Presenting Sponsor for this special annual event is Duke Energy. Gold sponsors are Maria Parham Medical Center and CenturyLink, Silver Sponsors are BB&T, Envirolink, MARS Petcare, Wake Electric Membership Corporation and Walmart DC #6091. Bronze sponsors are Express Employment Professionals and J.M. White Funeral Service.
Seating for dinner will be promptly at 6:30 and live music will accompany the meal. Several sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting the Chamber. Tickets are available for $35 each or a table of 10 for $320. Contact the Chamber at 252-438-8414 for more information or for tickets.