MEMBER MICRONEWS

      As we prepare for Bartow's 14th Juneteenth Community Celebration to be held June 19 & 20, 2015, we have planned two (2) Juneteenth Awareness Walks (May 30, 2015 and June 13, 2015). The purpose of the walks is to create an awareness of the significance of Juneteenth and stimulate momentum for the upcoming celebration. It is also an opportunity to get the youth involved in the community.
     We are encouraging all citizens, churches and civic groups to join us in our kick-off activity for the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.
     The Juneteenth Awareness Walk is approximately 3.5 miles long and will begin on the east side of Bartow. Walkers will assemble in the parking lot at the corner of Golfview Avenue and Gibbons Street at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Walkers will be briefed and asked to text, share (Facebook), Instagram, Tweet, etc. to someone about what they are doing.
     We have made arrangements with several local businesses along the route to serve as hydration stations. However, we need your help! Supplies are needed for the hydration stations such as beverages (water, soft drinks and/or Gatorade types of drinks) as well as vans and cars to help us in transporting the walkers, We are asking churches, groups and organization, and individuals to help make the event a success.
     We are also recruiting Volunteers with diverse skills and talents to assist where ever needed in order to ensure the success of this event. Any person, church, or organization that desires to be a part of this awareness walk in any capacity please feel free to call me at (863) 440-1469 or Levonia Wynn, Community Liaison at West Bartow Front Porch (863) 533-1773.
      Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.
Keith L. Worth, Juneteenth Awareness Walk Coordinator


MAIN STREET BARTOW, INC. SEEKING FEEDBACK
     As an effort by the Main Street Bartow, Inc. Economic Development Committee, the organization has launched a survey seeking feedback on the historic commercial corridor.
      “As we work to attract and retain business into the downtown corridor, we are looking to residents, visitors, and the daily commuting employee, for insight and feedback,” stated Laura Simpson, Main Street Bartow’s Executive Director.  Simpson added, “some of the feedback will be used to market Bartow and some of the feedback will give us direction on what industries to seek.”
      The electronic survey is available at www.mainstreetbartowfl.com/communitysurvey.  Residents wishing to complete the survey, and don’t have electronic access to do so, may visit the Main Street Bartow, Inc. office for a paper copy.
      “The Committee is eager to receive the replies and get to work on the areas that we can positively impact,” stated Clint Edwards, Committee Chairman. Edwards added, “the survey will remain open for completion until noon on June 17th, and the committee will review at our next meeting.” 
      For further information, call Main Street Bartow, Inc. at 863-519-0508, or email lsimpson@mainstreetbartowfl.com.

 
BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL SEEKING MENTORS
Bartow High School is in need of mentors from the busioness community. Mentors can help students to be able to: brainstorm positive behavior choices; take responsibility for homework, attendance, class participation; speak confidently about home or school issues; engage in activities that build character, job or college preparation skills, service ethic, and citizenship roles; and academic support. Mentors will also receive training by the district personnel. If you are interested in becoming a mentor at Bartow High School, please email the program coordinator, Mrs. Ola Harb, ola.harb@polk-fl.net. --- School address is 1270 S. Broadway St. Bartow, FL 33830. Phone number is (863) 534-7400. Please leave Ola Harb a message if you call.

WEDNESDAY FARMERS MARKET
     Main Street Bartow's new Wednesday Farmers Market at Fort Blount Park, at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Avenue in downtown Bartow. The market will be held each Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The vendor fee for a 12’ x 12’ space is $20.00 per Wednesday paid monthly in advance, or $25 on an occasional basis. For further information or a Farmers Market Vendor Form, contact Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508, or email lsimpson@mainstreetbartowfl.com. Are you interested in investing in the Main Street Bartow Mission? It's easy to join Main Street Bartow, click here. Be sure to tell them you heard it from the Chamber!

YOU CAN RENEW YOUR DL IN BARTOW!    
     The Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles introduces Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW), which is available at DMAR Business Centers USA, LLC. DMAR, located at 300 E. Summerlin Street, Bartow, 33830, will play host to FLOW the third Wednesday of each month for the next four months, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For a list of what documentation you may need, visit www.gathergoget.com or call (850) 617-3995. FLOW 2015 scheduled dates for Bartow are: June 17, July 15. For information call (352) 284-0039.


BUSINESS CLASSES SET FOR POLK STATE COLLEGE!
Microsoft Word 2013 $159 per student per level
Level 1: June 17th        8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Learn the basic features of Word 2013; enter and edit text, browse documents; format text; use tables; adjust page layout; insert headers and footers; work with graphics; proof and print documents

Level 2: June 24th      8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Use styles and outlines; format table; create SmartArt diagrams; draw shapes; format text graphically; create sections and format text in columns; manage document revisions; perform mail merge

All classes held on Wednesdays at:
ATC-1125
   Advanced Technology Center
Polk State College, Bartow Campus