Uncle Sam, courtesy of BJ Party Supply, stood at attention during the 2014 Chamber Installation and Awards Dinner held in front of El Encanto in Monterey Park on July 30.

200 guests were seated at round tables under white tents in front of the building for the evening event.

Armen Sebastian welcomed the guests to the Chamber Installation Dinner. It will be a wonderful evening. He also led the Pledge Salute.

Angelene Storey sang the National Anthem.

Damien Orozco welcomed everyone to this special event. He introduced Anna Chu and Mary Wong, the Platinum Sponsors. They are on the Board of Project NEO. They welcomed the guests to this special dinner catered by John Nelson of John’s Kabob.

John’s Kabob is a new Chambermember. They are located at 440 S. Atlantic Blvd. in Monterey Park. Their menu features delicious kabobs and well as other Greek specialties. John’s Kabob’s phone number is 626-284-0000.

Monterey Park’s famous Mike Eng was the Master of Ceremonies. He welcomed all to this wonderful event. He asked people to meet and greet their seatmates. He was thrilled to be here in Monterey Park where he was on the City Council. He said the Night Market was successful with a large crowd. He congratulated the Chamber. He was glad to be in Monterey Park. He was thankful for Mary Wong of Exact Tax and Project NEO for being a major sponsor of this event. She has been an incredible influence in Monterey Park.

Anna Chu and Mary Wong thanked all of the volunteers for their assistance. Project NEO is a free after school tutoring and mentoring program. They believe today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders. Their $216,000 program saved at risk youths last year. They just received a $5,000 anonymous donation and they thanked the donor.

Mike Eng introduced the VIPs that included Mayor Anthony Wong, Councilmembers Peter Chan and Teresa Real Sebastian, City Clerk Vince Chang, City Treasurer Joseph Leon, Police Chief Jim Smith, Fire Chief Scott Haberle, American Legion Post Commander Gabriel Suarez, all of the past and present Commissioners and Matthew Housepian from Congressmember Judy Chu’s office.

Sally Zhu and Ramon Barreto from BJ Party Supplies provided the tents, tables, chairs and more for the party. They have been in business for 40 years. They asked God to bless Monterey Park.

Damien Orozco gave a brief history of the early El Encanto. He spoke about the pictures of the building on the cover of the program. He discovered the name of the young lady looking down in one of the pictures was Marie Marcus who lived in El Encanto in the 1940s. He introduced the family members to the audience.

Susan Byard and her sister, Karen Call with their mother Marie Marcus and Karen’s husband, Gary Call. The family lived with Cliff and Irene Ostler in El Encanto in the 1940s. They purchased the property and kept the USO opened without government funding. Each side house had six beds for servicemen to use. This USO was a peaceful setting and no drinking was allowed.

Susan Byard and Karen Call recalled their childhood memories of living in El Encanto with their parents, Marie and Jimmy Marcus and grandparents, Cliff and Irene Ostler. Their parents were married in El Encanto. The family lived in the main house as well as the two side houses. They remembered that their parents and grandparents all volunteered in the city. Their grandfather and father helped to design the Barnes Park Pool.  Their grandmother, Irene was a famous cook in the city. It was a great time for their family in Monterey Park. They love the city. The family thanked the Chamber for inviting them to El Encanto. It is part of our city’s heritage.

Matthew Housepian from Congressmember Judy Chu’s office presented proclamations to the outgoing Board for the Directors: John Man, Ed Chen, Elizabeth Yang, Damien Orozco, Vincent Chang, Richard Gorman, Gloria Guerrero, Daniel Kim, Rafael Salazar, William Wheeler, Mary Wong, Thomas Wong and Lily Zhang, volunteer Jessica Ramos and ambassador Richard Lam.

Henry Lo presented proclamations from Assemblymember Ed Chau, Senator Ed Hernandez and Supervisor Gloria Molina to the outgoing Board for the Directors: John Man, Ed Chen, Elizabeth Yang, Damien Orozco, Vincent Chang, Richard Gorman, Gloria Guerrero, Daniel Kim, Rafael Salazar, William Wheeler, Mary Wong, Thomas Wong and Lily Zhang.

The Chamber presented the Director of the Year Award to Damien Orozco; the Ambassador of the Year Award to Richard Lam; the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jessica Ramos and the Excellence in Service Award to Richard Gorman.

Mike Eng thanked the volunteers for their assistance.

Mayor Anthony Wong thanked everyone for attending this special event. He thanked Mike Eng. He thanked Susan Byard and Karen Call for their history of El Encanto. He swore in the 2014 Boardmembers: Damien Orozco, Rafael Salazar, Jack Ng, Dora Leung, Anna Chu, Armen Sebastian, Cindy Lee Ota, Gloria Guerrero, Mary Wong, Randall Avila, Richard Lam, Dominic Lombardo, Laura Ramirez and Richard Gorman.

Dave Barron thanked all of the sponsors that included: Project NEO, Prime Staffing, BJ Party Supply, Legal Shield, Lamp Optimist Club, Republic Services, Kim Phuoc, Boston Private Bank, FSIC Investments and Team Without Limits.

Chamber President Damien Orozco thanked all the volunteers for this special event. Volunteering is very important. He thanked his mentors for helping him achieve success in his life: David Morin, Omar Rodriguez, Eddie Tofoya, Helena Simmons, Denise Robles, Mary Wong, Bruce Bertram, William Wheeler, Richard Gorman and Larry Sullivan.

Deana Sewell thanked all of the sponsors and volunteers for tonight.

Mike Eng thanked everyone for this evening.

BJ Party Supplies donated Uncle Sam to the City.

For more information about the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce please call them at 626-570-9429 or Email: deana@mpkchamber.org.

The El Encanto, that houses the Chamber, is located at 700 El Mercado Avenue in Monterey Park. The building is opened to the public during business hours.