The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, November 13, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious grouip, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.

Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.

The 6th Annual Champions Cup Business and Industry Awards event is almost upon us! October 15, 2015, 6:00 p.m. at Bartow Civic Center, tickets on sale at the Chamber.
You may go online and nominate a business or organization here.
You may also reserve your table, or tickets by calling Barbara Adamson or Jeff Clark at the Chamber, 863-533-7125.

Event Venues
The Williams Centre
Ms. Geri Williams
1150 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 558-0635
Join date: 09/13/2015

Antiques & Collectibles
Chinoiserie Antiques & Gifts
Ms. Virginia Cagle
110 W. Broadway St.
Fort Meade, FL 33841
(863) 285-8050
Join date: 10/01/2015

Gift Boutique
The Krazy Kricket
Ms. Lee Putman & Ms. Susan Blenk
115 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-3141
www.krazykricket.com
 Join date: 10/06/2015

Churches
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Pastor Jonathan Horsman
390 E. Parker St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 512-3652
Join date: 10/06/2015
 
Apparel
LegaCy Unique Designz
Ms. Jennifer Camp
195 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7422
Join date: 10/08/2015

Looking for a commercially zoned lot, building for rent or to buy for your business? Please check out this site :

You'll get to create an account for free and check out MLS commercial listings for Bartow.
For a downloadable CRA District map, click here, scroll down and look under IMPORTANT LINKS in the right hand column of the Chamber's website.

$25 per run (up to 35 words), call 533-7125 or email Virginia.

COMMERCIAL RENTAL SPACE perfect for small business client consultation and/or satellite office space in Polk County's county seat. Minutes from the courthouse and county administration buildings. The 40-600 square foot move in ready space is located at 1480 N. Broadway Ave., Suite C in Bartow. Rental rates $450-$650 per month. Interested parties should call (863) 559-3180 or (863) 559-0101.

Click here to read the Summer Business Quarterly Magazine!
















Want to find a retail or service business? Click here.

    To say that Jacki Poole has a big job as the City Clerk for the City of Bartow is an understatement. I really didn't know exactly what a City Clerk's responsibilities were so I went to Jacki's office to find out.
     When you walk into Jacki's office the first thing that you notice are the boxes and papers that are everywhere! Mind you, it's not a mess, more like organized chaos.
     The job description for a City Clerk is much too lengthy to write here. It is pages long. To sum it up, the Clerk's Office is the official keeper of the municipal records a-k-a the Historian of the community. The Clerk's Ofice is the custodian of the charter and code ordinances, proclamations, legal advertising, custodian of the official seal of the City, keeper of the Commission Chambers calendar, scheduling, coordinating, preparation and transcribing minutes for 19 active boards;is the supervisor of local and employee elections, manages three cemeteries, administers oaths of office and maintains the meetings calendar. This is just a tip of the iceberg.

Left to right, Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson, Steven Githens , Michell Githens, "Sophie," Becky Smith and Aura Schuler.

Business of the Month for October is . . .
Michell Githens State Farm
595 West Main Street• Bartow, FL
Phone: 863-533-8119
michell@githensinsurance.com
Call Michell today! She says, "Our agency’s mission is to assist customers with the many products and services that State Farm offers to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Find great coverage at a great rate. Get a free quote now!"
Free $10 Gift Card with every life insurance quote during the month of October.

We need more cowbell
      In a day and a half retreat to the rainy beaches of Clearwater our Leadership Bartow XVI class had the opportunity to learn – or be reminded – that two important parts of leadership is coaching and understanding people's generations.
     Led by J. Lenora Bresler, and sponsored by Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation and MOSAIC; Bresler kept up her enthusiastic presentation for about the entire six hours we were sitting before her; but just in case, she brought a cowbell - even Christopher Walken needed more cowbell.
     The coaching question was the one of the first things that came from Bresler, asking us if we coach our people or manage them.
     In one of the more interesting lessons she gave was a rundown of the different generations in the work force. Of course with those from each of these generations working for you, it's a good idea to get to know them because beliefs and habits should be recognized. 
     The four generations she named were Veterans, Baby Boomers, X Generationers, and the Millennials. Shaped from the time when they were between 5 and 15 years old, each is distinctly different - and misunderstandings can happen unintentionally between the different generation types.

Bartow Ford's Bennie Robles, Jr. and Sandy Mendez of Sweet Magnolia Cafe and Gift Shop.

Sweet Magnolias Cafe & Gift Shop was the October host for Fun Thursday on October 8. Located on Central Avenue, Sweet Magnolias Cafe & Gift Shop opened last month just in time to celebrate Fall in Bartow. Come grab breakfast or lunch . . . do some shopping for unique gifts. Sweet Magnolias Cafe & Gift Shop's address is 125 S. Central Avenue. Call owner, Sandy Mendez, for more information: (863) 537-6083. And, thanks, Sandy, for hosting the October Bartow Chamber Fun Thursday - good job!

EMBRACING THE CRAZY:
LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED FROM TRYING
THE DUMB STUFF
Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute
Community Room
Friday, October 16, 2015, 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
1855 West Main St., Bartow, Florida

Pre-registration is required!
Register Online at www.bartowchamber.com or click here.
Free, Including Lunch!

Guest Speaker:
David Steele
Florida Department of Citrus
Public Relations Director

We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

FORTRESS FITNESS IS SECOND SATURDAY

     The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a program to promote family fitness began in September at Fort Blount Park.
      “FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast, instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs Please mark your calendars for these second Saturdays:

• November 14^th – Sol Torres (Zumba)
• December 12^th – Olly and Anitra Goddard
• January 9^th – Greg, Rick & Krissy
• February 13^th – Darwin Manzueta
• March 12^th – Marie Wilmot
• April 9^th – John Abad
• May 14^th – Jude Dauphin

     “Whether it’s just you, grandparents and grandkids, or your whole family, you are welcome to join us,” Wilmot said. For more information, contact: Virginia Condello at the Chamber, (863) 533-7125 or email virginia@bartowchamber.com. 
 

(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)

OCTOBER

Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

Thursday, October 15, all day
FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Representative Available to All Chamber Business Members. Call to schedule an appointment: (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.

Thursday, October 15, 6:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONS CUP EVENT

Friday, October 16, noon
LUNCH & LEARN: DAVID STEELE
“Embrace the Crazy: Leadership Lessons Learned From Trying the Dumb Stuff”
FPIR, 1855 W. Main St.

Tuesday, October 20, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 20, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, October 21, 1:00 p.m.
DIPLOMATS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Ortelle, Carolyn, Tommie, Marietta, Sherry and Sally!

Thursday, October 22, 6:00 p.m.
BOOK DISCUSSION, "Letters Across the Divide"
Bartow Public Library

Thursday, October 29, 4:00 p.m.
CRICKETTE CLUB PARADE & CARNIVAL

Saturday, October 31
TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT IN BARTOW

NOVEMBER

Thursday, November 5, 4:00 p.m.
ALPHAGRAPHICS LAKELAND RIBBON-CUTTING
4130 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, 33813
 

FINISH THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER!
   Making Strides Against Breast Cancerof Polk County announces its 5K fundraising walk on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at Mosaic Park, 2250 S. Floral Avenue in Bartow. The walk begins at 9:00 a.m. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Sign up today to help finish the fight here. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345.


FLORAL LAKES ANNUAL BAZAAR
     Mark your calendar for the annual Floral Lakes Bazaar coming Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th at the community located at 2055 South Floral Avenue in Bartow. There's a huge array of items offered this year including Christmas crafts, jewelry, electronics, furniture, clothing books, bake sale items, white elephant items, and plants. A 50/50 drawing will be held. Lunch will be served.
     On Friday, the Bazaar begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. The Bazaar begins at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 1:00 p.m. For more information, call the office on Tuesdays or Thursdays at (863) 533-7866; or call the social director at (863) 333-2030.

SBDC Is Available At
The Chamber On
October 15th
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on October 15, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.