The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce will mark its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Gala on Thursday, Oct. 29, capping a centennial year for what the organization describes as Montgomery County's oldest chamber.

Founded in 1926, when Bethesda was a small crossroads community, the Chamber represented more than 650 businesses, nonprofits and organizations as of late September, according to a City Lifestyle profile. The gala carries the theme "Our Connection with our Past, Empowers our Future."

The centennial year has already drawn attention from local officials. Montgomery County District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson attended a Chamber anniversary celebration on April 21.

@Andrew_Friedson: "Honored to celebrate the 100th anniversary of @TGBChamber today. For a century, the Chamber has championed local businesses, & helped shape Bethesda into one of the nation's most vibrant communities. So proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone & here's to the next 100 years!"

The Chamber's reach stretches well beyond a single evening. Its monthly "Off the Clock" Networking Happy Hour, held the second Tuesday of each month at rotating member venues, regularly draws 75 to more than 100 business owners, executives and civic leaders. The gatherings are informal, and the Chamber says new members often meet longtime business leaders over appetizers.

The organization also publishes a weekly ChamberWatch newsletter that reaches more than 5,000 email subscribers every Tuesday, according to the Chamber's website.

In a statement, the Chamber said the gala will honor the people and partnerships behind its first century while looking ahead to the next 100 years of serving the Greater Bethesda business community.

Sponsorships and tickets for the Oct. 29 gala are available through the Chamber's website. The office is at 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1204, in downtown Bethesda, and can be reached at (301) 652-4900.

Upcoming Chamber events:

• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — "Off the Clock" Networking Happy Hour (second Tuesday of the month; venue rotates among member businesses)
• Thursday, Oct. 29 — Centennial Gala, "Our Connection with our Past, Empowers our Future"