The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, January 8, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. Guest speaker is David Steele, Department of Citrus.
      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.

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

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

DECEMBER

Tuesday, December 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 15, 4:00 pm.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS


JANUARY

Friday, January 8, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
BARTOW CHAMBER JOB FAIR
Bartow Civic Center

Thursday, January 14, 5:15 p.m.
SACKETT RANCH FUN THURSDAY
Highland City

Friday, January 15, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST DOWNTOWN

Tuesday, January 19, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 19, 4:00 pm.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Saturday, January 23, 6:00 p.m.
BARTOW CHAMBER ANNUAL EVENT
TOTALLY AWESOME 80S
Bartow Civic Center

CHAMPIONS CUP
Champions Cup was created to recognize and honor businesses and organizations that have championed exemplary best practices, and have had a positive influence on the economic well being of the area's business environment. Congratulations to the 2015 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:

Apparel
LegaCy Unique Designz
Sylvia W, Mildrena D, Jennifer C
195 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7422
Join date: 10/08/2015

Restaurants
Mosaics Community Café
Ms. Elizabeth Combee
315 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-3000
Join date: 10/21/2015
 
Car Wash/Express Tunnel
Super Suds Car Wash of Bartow
Mr. Brian Briggs
1025 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-7628
Join date: 10/21/2015

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.

     Last week I wrote about the Polk County Extension Services, which naturally led me to want to know more about the Polk County Youth Fair that is held on the Extension property each year. We are so incredibly lucky to host an event of that caliber right here in Bartow. I wondered how the Polk County Youth Fair began so I did a little digging to find out.
     On October 7, 1944, G.W. "Buck" Mann, Jr. had an informal meeting with a representative of the Commissioner of Agriculture about a vision of building an agricultural pavilion in Bartow. Nathan Mayo was the Commissioner of Agriculture at that time. The following month on November 18, the Livestock Committee of the Bartow Area Chamber of Commerce, headed by W.H. Stuart, Chairman, met with Mayo in Winter Haven.
     Mayo proposed that the committee help make this vision a state, county and city project. The City of Bartow jumped on the plan and responded immediately by donating the pavilion site and a cash donation to the building fund.
     The project was met with enthusiasm and generous contributions from individual citizens, cattlemen, merchants and citrus growers. On December 5, 1944, Joe Taylor, Secretary of the Bartow Chamber, helped arrange a meeting with the livestock committee, consisting of W.L. Wilson, Director of State Markets and M.B. Hawkins, a construction engineer. The building site was approved and plans were made to move forward with the project.
      A building and planning committee was formed and included Mann, Chairman; Sam Clark; C.E. (Tiny) Williams; Paul Hayman; L.G. Carlton and Stuart. Alex Hatton, a former Bartow native, was hired as the architect. But, before drawing up any plans, a group of 29 eager and enthusiastic men traveled to Valdosta, Georgia, to see a new pavilion that had just been completed; in order to get some ideas.
     November 1947, Stuart traveled to Tallahassee, where the contract for the barn and arena were awarded to the Bartow firm of Gardenhire Brothers.
     And WOW! The Polk County Youth Fair is awesome thanks to the vision of these men. There are horse shows, hog shows, rabbit shows, dog shows, livestock, beautiful chickens, horticulture, plant sales, commercial heifer sales and so much more!
     On January 16, 2016, A Taste of Agriculture Country Dinner Live Auction and Barn Dance is being held. All proceeds will benefit the Polk County Youth Fair. For tickets or more information email jejack@ufledu/pcyf.net or call 863-519-1046.
     The Youth Fair will be held from January 23 through January 29, 2016. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015  

Left to Right: Barbara Adamson, Bartow Chamber membership director; Donna Jeffries (owner) and Michelle Littlejohn of Jeffries Bookkeeping.

Business of the Month for December:
Jeffries Bookkeeping and Income Tax Services, Inc.
180 S. Broadway Avenue, Bartow
Phone: 863-533-1416

Call today! "Our services range from the smallest of deeds to full charge bookkeeping and accounting. Our goal is to make your job less stressful and to provide you accurate and reliable help. We structure our services around your needs." - Donna Jeffries

PRESENTING SPONSOR: SEMCO CONSTRUCTION
Let’s go back to the days of metal bands and big hair. Grab some leg warmers, muscle shirts and head bands to wear. Bring on the hairspray, the press-on nails and the blue eyeshadow, and join us for a Totally Awesome 80’s celebration night: a party dedicated to the decade of decadence and over-the-top everything! Remember Dynasty and Dallas? You can even show up in a little red Corvette. Don’t forget your dancing shoes if you feel like getting footloose! If it’s the Bartow Chamber Annual Meeting, you know you’re going to have fun - and you just might win a great prize. Be there, or be square!
Saturday, January 23, 2016 - Bartow Civic Center, 6:00 p.m.
TO REGISTER TO ATTEND OR TO BE A SPONSOR, CLICK HERE.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND
GEORGE GAUSE MEMORIAL PARADE
     The Bartow Deacons and Stewards Alliance, Inc. invites you to participate in the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Gause Memorial Parade, which will take place on Monday, January 18, 2016 at noon. Theme for the parade is "Remember, Celebrate, Act."
     Organizers are looking for bands, walkers, decorated floats and vehicles including bicycles.
     Line up begins at the corner of Main Street and Floral Avenue in downtown Bartow at 10:00 a.m. The parade ends at Carver Recreation Center, where participants will receive light refreshments.
     There is no entry fee for this parade. For more information, or to confirm your parade participation, please call Carver Young at 863-533-1207. Leave a message if no answer.

Left to right, Leadership Bartow Class XVI members Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely, Roxanna Tovrea, Sherrie McCullough and Barbara Adamson.

  This year's Rudolph Roundup is a project of Leadership Bartow XVI,  and the class has plans to make this year the best yet!
     Did you know that there are more than 3,200 children in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties that have experienced abuse and/or neglect? We need your help to provide holiday gifts for these children in foster and shelter care, or with relatives or non relatives, many times away from family and friends. Won’t you help the Bartow Chamber fill Santa’s sleigh?
How you can help
     Bring an unwrapped toy(s) to the Chamber at 510 North Broadway Avenue by noon on December 7th. Heartland for Children will pick up the toys from the Chamber office. For a PDF of the most needed items, click here.

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:

• 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. 
 

FREE CAREER EVENT - ARE YOU LOOKING FOR QUALITY EMPLOYEES? Your search could end here. The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce is holding a job fair, giving quality job seekers access to more than 30 employers throughout the Polk County area. Want to participate as an employer? Contact Barbara Adamson, 863-533-7125 or email: barbara@bartowchamber.com for more information. Presenting Sponsor: Spherion Staffing Services
BARTOW CHAMBER JOB FAIR
Friday, January 8, 2016, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Bartow Civic Center, 2250 South Floral Ave.

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