The Columbia Council of Neighborhoods, busily preparing for its annual banquet and awards ceremony, recorded a new accomplishment on Thursday, April 23, 2009, when the membership approved applications for three new neighborhood groups at its April meeting. These three new neighborhood groups now bring the total number of member organizations with CCN up to 101 recognized neighborhood groups.

In the fall of 2008, CCN launched Project 100, an initiative to get membership up to 100 neighborhood groups.

"I am thrilled we were able to surpass our goal and complete Project 100 before our annual banquet and awards ceremony is held on Saturday, May 9," said CCN President Tige Watts. "When we launched it, I told the membership that Project 100 would be one of the last major initiatives I would push for the organization during my term as president. To complete it more than two months before my term ends and before our annual banquet provides a great feeling of accomplishment."

On Saturday, May 9, CCN will host its annual banquet and awards ceremony in the Richland Room of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Doors open at 6 pm, and tickets for the event only cost $10 per person. State Representative Chris Hart will deliver the dinner's keynote address and Tre Tailor and the TailorMade Band will be featured musical guests. At that event, CCN will induct five new members into the Columbia Neighborhood Hall of Fame, as well as present its three annual awards - the Award of Special Recognition, CCN's Friend of the Year, and the Neighborhood Volunteer of the Year Award.

The Columbia Neighborhood Hall of Fame was created in 2007, and last year's CCN banquet featured the inaugural induction ceremony. The Class of 2008 was comprised of 16 individuals who served as presidents of CCN and presidents of their own neighborhoods.

"I am really looking forward to this event. This is a great opportunity for all neighborhoods to come together and celebrate our successes, both with CCN and in all the neighborhoods. It's always a great event and no one can beat the cost of admission," Watts said. "My only worry is that we have enough space for everyone who wants to attend, but that's a good worry to have anytime you plan such an event."

When it began, CCN consisted of less than 15 neighborhoods. Today, 101 neighborhoods in the City of Columbia belong to the organization. CCN's mission is to honor, empower, assist, and reach out to neighborhoods, residents, and communities across the City of Columbia and beyond. More information about the banquet and CCN can be found on the group's Web site at www.ColumbiaNeighborhoods. org.