Nov. 1, 2016

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

JENNIFER HALL, SEMCO Construction

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
You can feel changes in the air! And just as you can feel the changes of Fall, at the Chamber it’s also time for changes!

The Chamber Board’s Nominating Committee met to consider new candidates for the 2017 Chamber Board of Directors. Shannon Medley, Lea Ann Thomas and Sharon Casey are the Board members who rotate off the Board.

I am very happy to announce that Clint Edwards, who has served on the Executive Committee as Vice President of Economic Development/Community Development, has accepted the nomination for next year’s President. A complete list of the nominations are as follows:

Seats Available (retiring members)
  9. Shannon Medley
11. Lea Ann Thomas
 21. Sharon Casey

Nominating Committee Recommendations           
  9. Richard Dreyer of Tindale Oliver
11. Chandra Frederick of BOCC
21. Orathi Northern, Ph.D. of Polk State College

The above slate was presented by the Nominating Committee to the Board as their recommendations for the Board election in December.

Additional names of candidates for Directors can be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signatures of at least twenty-five (25) qualified Chamber members. Qualified members are defined as a “main” contact on any business or individual membership in good standing, with only one signature per membership accepted. Such a petition shall be filed with the Nominating Committee within ten (10) days after the notice has been given of the names of those nominated. The determination of the Nominating Committee as to the legality of the petition(s) shall be final.

Bartow is very fortunate to have outstanding leadership within the business community. I am very pleased with this year’s nominees to your Board of Directors. My year as President is rapidly coming to a close. It is very gratifying to see new, dynamic individuals wanting to serve on the Chamber Board.

 Until next week,
Jennifer Hall

Your Chamber President, 2016

HELLO BARTOW! MEMBERS PARTICIPATE FOR FREE











ROI ALERT TO ALL MEMBERS!

We've established a new perk to your membership. Now, as a member of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, you may include a promotional item for your business in the HELLO BARTOW! welcome baskets for new residents. PARTICIPATION IS FREE OF CHARGE! If you are interested, contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Director, (863) 533-7125, or reply to this email.

CHAMPIONS CUP

Congratulations to the 2016 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
Bartow Ford
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:
Pyramid Fasteners
SERVICE/PROFESSIONAL:
Travel Leaders / International Sun Travel
RETAIL BUSINESS:
The Krazy Kricket
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Bartow Ford
NOT FOR PROFIT/ COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY:
Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
MAIN STREET BUSINESS:
Sweet Magnolias
EMERGING BUSINESS:
The Krazy Kricket

SPIRIT OF BARTOW AWARD:
Jennifer Hall
Karen Guffey

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam


Click here to see past winners of this prestigious award.
Read more about this prestigious event at the link below:
 http://www.bartowchamber.com/index.php/greater-bartow-chamber/bartow-chamber-chamber-events/bartow-chamber-champions-cup

PHOTOS HERE!

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

30 YEARS
Spath Jewelers

25 YEARS
First Baptist Church

20 YEARS
Glenn Broom Insurance Agency, Inc.

5 YEARS
Tammy Albritton
National Write Your Congressman

COMMITTEE OF 100 IS DEC. 9

     The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, December 9,  2016, 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 group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.

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

NEW MEMBERS

Hair Salons
The Hair Parlour Styling Studio, LLC
Ms. Tiffany Sackett
130 S. Wilson Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 661-3515

2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jennifer Hall, President
    SEMCO Construction
Sharon Casey, Immediate Past President
    Retired Banker
Clint Edwards, President-elect, Vice President
    Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST

SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!

















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

CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP

 Reserve your space now in the Winter Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!



Want this cool cup? It can be yours, simply by joining ENGAGE Young Professionals. Here's the link to learn about ENGAGE and to join. Become the Community Leader you were meant to be, sign up today!

SEE US HERE!

GIVEWELL COMMMUNITY FOUNDATION GIVE CARD

NOVEMBER BUSINESS: GIVEWELL FOUNDATION



Left to right: Lori Martini (Chief Philanthropic Officer), Christy Vreeland (Executive Assistant), Terry W. Simmers (President, CEO), Barbara Adamson (Bartow Chamber), Dave Walter (Communications Specialist), Amy Royal (Chief Financial Officer), Rhonda Todd (Community Engagement Specialist)

November Business of the Month
________________________________________

GiveWELL Community Foundation
Lakeland Office: 1501 South Florida Ave., Lakeland 33803
(863) 683-3131
WH Office: 20 3rd Street SW, Suite 307, Winter Haven 33880
(863) 683-3131

info@GiveCF.org


GiveWell Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties by connecting donors to the needs of the community. We offer individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits an efficient place to invest dollars that grow to do tremendous good.


WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com

KNOW A LOCAL VETERAN?

Help us honor them! Here's the form to sign them up for the Veteran's Day Luncheon honoring our local Veterans, Nov. 11, 2016, 11:00 a.m. Sponsorships also available. Sponsor this worthwhile event to purchase lunches for our local hometown heroes and a guest. Veterans and Sponsor forms available at the Chamber; or register to sponsor or attend this event here!

A-C-T CHILI COOKOFF IS NOV. 4TH!



Don't miss some of the best chili this side of the Rio Grande! A-C-T's 7th Annual Chili Cookoff is November 4, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Chili Entries FREE! $10 AYCE Chili Lunch. Mark your calendars and we'll see you then! Sponsored by A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, 1875 W. Main Street, Bartow. 100 percent of collected funds go directly to: UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. #ACTChili FOR MORE INFO, call Sherry, 533-2000.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

CAROLYN SIMPSON IS BARTOW'S CITIZENS BANK & TRUST ADVISOR

Citizens Bank & Trust is pleased to announce that Carolyn G. Simpson has been named to the bank’s Bartow Advisory Board effective immediately.
 
Simpson is an experienced City of Bartow resident as well as a successful businesswoman in the community. She’s owned and operated CGS Marketing Services since 1999, a marketing and PR firm servicing clients in multiple industries. Simpson is the former Vice President of Communications & Film, Motion Picture and Television Liaison for the Central Florida Development Council, as well as the Vice President of Marketing for former Citrus & Chemical Bank.
 
With many accolades and achievements, Simpson was also the first female to serve as president of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce in 1982.
 
“Carolyn brings a litany of experience to our Bartow Advisory Board, both in local experience and financial expertise,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President Greg Littleton. “We’re honored to have her a part of our team and we know she’ll be an incredible asset for us moving forward.”
 
Simpson has developed community roots through her service on the Bartow Chamber of Commerce during a 13-year run, her affiliation with the Polk Arts Alliance and involvement with the annual SUN ‘n FUN Expo.
 
Citizens Bank and Trust, founded in 1920 in Frostproof, Florida, is a full service financial institution providing personal and commercial banking deposit and loan products, along with Trust & Investment services. Branches are located in Auburndale, Bartow, Dundee, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven. For more information on Citizens Bank and Trust visit www.citizens-bank.com.

 
ROTARY TOAST OF THE ARTS COMING UP!
Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, at Bartow Civic Center beginning at 6:00 p.m., the Rotary Club's Annual TOAST OF THE ARTS is coming up. Tickets this year are $60 or a special offer of becoming a table sponsor by purchasing 7 tickets for $420 and receive 1 ticket free. You will also be recognized as a table sponsor in all advertisements. The ticket will includes dinner, wine, entertainment, visits with guest artists. This year, the Rotary Club is introducing craft beer in dinner pairings. For more information, please contact Ernie Cooper at 512-0951.

GIRLS INC. FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE
On Saturday, November 12, Girls, Inc. will present its fifth Father-Daughter Dance from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Lakeland Center. All proceeds will be used to provide scholarships for girls to attend the Girls, Inc. after school and summer programs. Sponsorships and more information are available by calling Girls, Inc. at 863-682-3002, ext. 222.

read more...

CHAMBER EVENTS

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


NOVEMBER

Wednesday, November 2, 9:30 a.m.
RK&K NEW LOCATION RIBBON-CUTTING
Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP

402 S. Kentucky Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33801

FRIDAY, November 4, Noon
A-C-T's CHILI COOKOFF
1875 W. Main Street, Bartow

Wednesday, November 9, 9:30 a.m.
LENNY'S GRILL & SUBS Ribbon-cutting
485 E. Van Fleet Dr., Bartow

Wednesday, November 9
HAPPY BIRTHDAY A-C-T, 30th YEAR!

Thursday, November 10
LEADERSHIP XVII EDUCATION DAY

Thursday, November 10, 5:00 p.m.
BARTOW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FUN THURSDAY

Friday, November 11, 11:00 a.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES
Bartow Civic Center

Saturday, November 12
HONEY BEE FESTIVAL & FALL CRAFT FAIR

Monday, November 14, 9:30 a.m.
THE HAIR PARLOUR STYLING STUDIO RIBBON-CUTTING
130 S. Wilson Ave., Bartow

FOR A LIST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, CLICK HERE AND THEN CHOOSE "EVENTS"!

DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR NOVEMBER!

This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!

B2B BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE NOV. 9



Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Boardroom
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
MORNING BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE

Plenty of coffee and fellowship with your fellow member business owners. Bring lots of business cards and give everyone two - one for them and one for a friend. Hope to see you there! NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY.

AMERICAN LEGION CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY

Thanks, American Legion Post 3 Bartow, for caring about our community!

Larry MacBlane, (left) Commander American Legion Post 3 Bartow presents check for $8000 to Gerald Tucker representing American Cancer Society
 
 
Larry MacBlane, left, Commander American Legion Post 3 Bartow presents check for $1000 to Sherrie MacBlane Post 3 Auxiliary President on behalf of the Rohr Home in Bartow for Christmas Gifts
 
 
 
Pam Renew accepts a check for $2000 for the Womens Care Center from Larry MacBlane, Commander American Legion Post 3 Bartow
 
 
 
Cassie Joe Waters, left, and Jacob Willis, right, accept check for $1000 to the FFA from Larry MacBlane, Commander of American Legion Post 3 Bartow.
 
 
 
Kris Pirice, left, and Ronnie Hunter, right, accept a check in the amount of $2000 for the Wounded Warriors from Larry MacBlane, Commander, American Legion Post 3 Bartow
 
 
 
Gail Smith, left, and Freda Ridgeway, right, accept a check in the amount of $1000 for the Veterans Day & Hometown Heroes Luncheon from Larry MacBlane, Commander, American Legion Post 3, Bartow.
 
 
 
Wally Edwards accepts a check for the Florida Sheriffs Girls Villa Classic in the amount of $2500 from Larry MacBlane, Commander, American Legion Post 3 Bartow
 
 
American Legion Post 3 Bartow, also presented a check to Holly Wilson in the amount of $500 for the National Care Center. In addition, a check to Bartow Police Department for $8000, was presented at an earlier date.
Newsletter1 - Nov. 1, 2016