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Source: Odessa American, TexasOct.迷你倉 18--More than 2,000 people were expected to attend the third annual Chamber of Commerce Basin BBQ Blowout fundraiser Thursday evening.Odessa Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer and President Mike George said aside from helping to raise money, the event is a good way to get people in the community to get out and mingle with one another."We want people to come and taste test every booth," George said in between handshakes and well-wishes from people attending the event. "That's what separates it from a sit-down dinner."The event was all you can eat and drink with a $30 ticket fee.More than 1,700 pounds of meat was donated from Albertsons to the 19 teams participating in the event."We, as Albertsons employees, serve our community," Meat Manager David Fierro said as he stood at his company's booth Thursday evening. "Whatever you need, we give. That's the best thing to do."Chris and Melinda Corbell attended the event for the first time Thursday and said they were excited for the chance to get out and try some barbecue."We're here just to enjoy the crowd, have a little fun," Melinda said.Linda Terrell came for the second year in a row and brought her husband, Greg, along for his first time at the event.Linda said she worked at Prosperity Bank and came to support her co-workers who had been cooking since Wednesday. Greg, a pharmacist at Albertsons, said he came to do the same."It's been excellent," Greg said after finishing a plate of barbecue."It feels like it grows every year," Linda said. "It's getting to be one of those things where you really get those bragging rights (for best barbecue.)"George 文件倉nd many of the event-goers remarked about how nice the weather is after the cold and rainy days the area had seen in the days before the blowout.He commended the volunteers from New Tech Odessa and Odessa College who came out to the event to help clean up."Odessa is a wonderful community with people that like to help each other," George said as he walked around the event.Representatives from the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce attended the event Thursday to get an idea on how to run a similar event they are planning for April."One of the most important things they taught us today was how to be prepared with the health department," President of the NDCC Paul Maynard said Thursday evening. "They have a very clear process with the health department so that everyone will be healthy in the event."George and Maynard both attribute the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce as the trendsetter for the barbecue events.George said in the first two years representatives from Amarillo came to help the Odessa Chamber run their event and that he was glad to be able to pay it forward."Working with this chamber they were so gracious and we worked to help them through the event," Maynard said. "We think you've got a great community event that will last for years."Maynard said he plans to use much of what he learned at the blowout for the April event in Dallas that will commemorate the NDCC's 60th year.Contact Chris Bartlett at 432-333-7782, email at cbartlett@oaoa.com, or on Twitter at @OAChrisBartlettCopyright: ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at .oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉