December 21, 2015

OUR SPONSOR THIS WEEK:

COMMITTEE OF 100

     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.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

25 YEARS
Ronald N. Toward, Attorney

15 YEARS
Good Shepherd Hospice

10 YEARS
A and A Accounting Tax Services and More
Florida Engineering & Design, Inc.

CHAMBER EVENTS

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

JANUARY
Friday, January 8, 8:00 a.m.
COMMITTEE OF 100 WITH DAVID STEELE
Health and Life Center

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 WINNERS!

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:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:
Tindale Oliver
SERVICE/PROFESSIONAL:
Bartow Regional Medical Center
RETAIL BUSINESS:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure
NOT FOR PROFIT/ COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY:
Bartow Rotary Club
MAIN STREET BUSINESS:
Travel Leaders / International Sun Travel
EMERGING BUSINESS:
Broadway Diner

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:
Don Wilson


Click here to see past winners of this prestigious award.

SEE PHOTOS HERE!

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

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

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN BARTOW

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.

FOR RENT: OFFICE SPACE
In Historic Bartow Building.
310 East Main Street, one block from Polk County Courthouse.
2 EXECUTIVE OFFICES
3 STAFF OFFICES
2 shared conference rooms and kitchen. Partially furnished with phone system in place. Reserved indoor parking space. Additional parking on-site.
CALL (863) 224-3503 for more information

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS














WANT YOUR COMPANY
LISTED HERE?
Contact Barbara@bartowchamber.com

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Casey, President
    Retired Banker
Myrtice Young, Immediate Past President
    Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Jennifer Hall, President-elect, Vice President
    SEMCO Construction
Gail Smith, Treasurer
    Sunshine Bank
Emily Spath Clark, Vice President
    Spath Jewelers
Clint Edwards, Vice President
    Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Rob Clancey, Vice President
    Polk State College
Carole McKenzie, Vice President
    Polk County Farm Bureau
Shannon Medley, Vice President
    Florida Industrial and Phosphate
    Research Institute


DIRECTORS
David Carmichael

    Boswell & Dunlap, LLP
Lennon Jordan
    Madrid Engineering Group
Jeremy M. Katzmann, MD
    Watson Clinic
Jeff Kincart
    A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure
Phil Minden
    Bartow Regional Medical Center
Callie Neslund
    Mosaic
Josh Palmer
    Palmer Insurance Agency, Inc.
Freda Ridgway
    Mosaic
Carlos Sandoval
    Bartow Ford Company
David Sandow
    Spherion Staffing
Anita Stasiak
    CenterState Bank
Lea Ann Thomas
   Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Valerie Tillmon
    Citizens Bank & Trust

REACH 22K HOMES WITH YOUR MESSAGE

 Reserve your space now in the Spring Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 22,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

New Article

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

     Did you know that the Bartow Municipal Airport is a former United States Air Force base known as the Bartow Air Base?
     In 1942, local Bartow officials persuaded the United States Army Air Force to develop a military air base at the Bartow Municipal Airport that was built in the 1930's. The war department and the City of Bartow agreed on a lease and the United States Army Corps of Engineers made improvements to the property.
      On November 30,1942, the Bartow Army Airfield opened as a Fighter Replacement Training Station. Trainees received experience in aerial combat maneuvering, air to air and air to ground gunnery and dive bombing techniques. 
     With World War II ending, on October 25,1945, the Third Air Force sent orders to Bartow announcing that the base would be de-activated as of December 31, 1945. The airport was then returned to the City of Bartow with the stipulation that the property continue to be used as an airport.
     In 1950, the United States Government exercised its reversal clause for the facility and took over the airport once again. The Department of Defense then used the Air Base as a pilot training school for the United States Air Force for student pilots. More than 8,000 men graduated from flight training at the Bartow Air Base.
     Notable graduates include astronauts Colonel Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel Edward White II, Colonel Karol J. Bobko, a former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney and 4 Star General Hansford T. Johnson.
     Very impressive! 
     In 1961, the facility once again was transferred back to the City of Bartow. Today we have an airport to be proud of, along with the industrial park housed there. There is also an incredible museum at the airport terminal. If you have not been there, you should really take the time to do so, it will be worth your while. 
     The Bartow Municipal Airport - just another piece of our rich history, right here in Bartow.
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015  

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: JEFFRIES BOOKKEEPING


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

ANNUAL EVENT 2016: TOTALLY AWESOME 80s!

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 CALENDAR!


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.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

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.

FORTRESS FITNESS PROMOTES FAMILY FITNESS

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 9th – Greg, Rick & Krissy
  • February 13th – Darwin Manzueta
  • March 12th – Mariah Andresen-Otten
  • April 9th – John Abad
  • May 14th – 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

TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!



We have an exciting Chamber trip coming up:

DISCOVER TUSCANY
April 7 - April 16, 2016. Check out this great link!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?  Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

SEE US HERE!

SUNSHINE BANK FUN THURSDAY

CHRISTMAS IN THE SUNSHINE!
Sunshine Bank hosted the December Fun Thursday at Mulligans at the Golf Course. Great fun, food and fellowship on December 10th. Thanks, Sunshine Bank!

MORE PHOTOS HERE
Newsletter1 - December 21, 2015