WHAT:  The 27th Annual Meeting of the Membership is the Chamber’s premier annual event. This event is one of Hampton Roads’ largest gathering of business leaders and elected officials, with nearly 700 expected. The Chamber will recognize outgoing and incoming volunteer leadership and present its 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award.

The USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia has invited guests from Virginia's Wounded Warriors® program to attend the luncheon. The USO will have static displays for exclusive preview. Attendees will see firsthand how the USO helps lift the spirits of our deployed troops around the world.  Guests will experience Mobile USOs, Mobile Entertainment Gaming Systems and the living quarters of a soldier at a Forward Operating Base.  

WHO:  Retired Air Force fighter pilot Brian Shul will serve as Keynote Speaker.  Shul flew 212 air support missions in Viet Nam before being shot down.  Severely burned in the crash, he was given little chance of survival.  After a year in hospitals and 15 reconstructive surgeries, Brian surprised his doctors and returned to flying.  Brian's remarkable comeback story and message of living fearlessly has inspired audiences nationwide.  Following the program, Shul will conduct a signing of his book Sled Driver, Flying the World’s Fastest Jet.

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 11:45am-2:00pm

 WHERE: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach

TO ATTEND:  Go to Events.HamptonRoadsChamber.com                           

Thank you to our sponsors: Wells Fargo (Presenting); Virginia Beach Convention Center & Distinctive Gourmet (Host); Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Clark Nexsen (Speaker); Cox Communications (Media); and BB&T, NeedToConnect (Silver).

About the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (www.HamptonRoadsChamber.com)

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, member-based business organization. The Chamber is a vigorous advocate for the economic success of its nearly 2,000 member businesses, which employ more than 280,000 men and women in southeastern Virginia.  The Chamber promotes Hampton Roads’ healthy business climate through economic development, public policy initiatives, services and benefits to members.  The Chamber is dedicated to creating economic opportunity and enhancing the quality of life in Hampton Roads.

 Please contact Lisa Jones at 757-664-2531 or ljones@hrccva.com if you would like to attend and cover this event.

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