April 4, 2017
"Taking Care of Business!"

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Healthy Bartow

Bartow Is A Healthy City
I am very proud that the Bartow Chamber of Commerce implemented FORTRESS FITNESS two years ago, at the urging of Marie Wilmot, a Chamber activist, and this continuing program encourages fitness through various types of exercise at Fort Blount Park, the second Saturday of each month.

Bartow was recently chosend as a Community Champion for Health. One of the programs cited for the award is the City of Bartow's sidewalk improvement project that encourages walking activities. The City's Parks and Recreation Departments events and exercise programs are also listed for implementing policies shown to increase physical activity.

On April 4, the Florida Department of Health presented the award at the Polk County Commission meeting to Bartow, Polk County, Mulberry, Lakeland and Winter Haven. Accepting on behalf of Bartow were Marie Wilmot and Virginia Condello. Dr. Joy Jackson, Florida Department of Health, said that she hopes to all all 17 municipalities receive the award next year!


 

APRIL FUN THURSDAY: BCHF


The next Bartow Chamber Fun Thursday is set for April 20 at Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation where you will meet associates such as Heartland for Children, Peace River Center, Good Shepherd Hospice, and partake in delicious food from Terrie Lobb Catering. See you there!

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.

NEW SERIES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II

MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
ALL NEW PROGRAM, NEW CLASSES FOR 2017.

More . . .

CHAMPIONS CUP

Congratulations to the 2016 Champions Cup Winners
 

More . . . plus photos!

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!

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Clint Edwards, President
Emily Spath Clark, Incoming President
   Spath Jewelers

Jennifer Hall, Immediate Past President
    SEMCO Construction

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 Summer 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.

SEE US HERE!

SUN 'n FUN Int'l Fly-In Expo April 4-9, 2017 TICKETS!

APRIL BUSINESS: ELITE DETAIL AND TINT


Left to right: Ryan Oberski, David Marczan, Mike Pellegrini and Chamber Membership Services Director Barbara Adamson

April Business of the Month
________________________________________
Elite Detail and Tint
195 North 3rd Avenue, Bartow, FL
(863) 683-3131 • Cell (863) 604-8269
www.elitedetailntint.com


Our experienced Detailing and Tinting department will keep your vehicle or business in top condition. We use the latest detailing technology to provide high-quality service and quick turnaround. Our Detail Department personnel are highly skilled and have years of experience. Most of all: they love cars and care about yours.

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

MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST PHOTOS

MORE PHOTOS HERE.

Thanks for all who attended the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. If you attended, you know what a dynamic speaker we had: Brett Trapp. Thanks to Brett and everyone who helped make this a wonderful event!

MORE PHOTOS HERE.

DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR APRIL!

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!

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

60 YEARS
Mayme Clark

30 YEARS
Applied Aquatic Management, Inc.

20 YEARS
McGill & Associates

10 YEARS
Central Florida Internal Medicine & Associates

5 YEARS
Garner & Associates Auctioneers, Inc.

CHAMBER EVENTS


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

April 5, noon
AMBASSADORS / DELEGATES LUNCHEON
BROADWAY DINER

April 12, 7:30 a.m.
Professional Development Academy
HANDLING TOXIC PEOPLE
Polk State College, Clear Springs Campus Advanced Technology Center

April 14, Good Friday
CHAMBER CLOSED

April 15, 10:00 a.m.
KIWANIS EASTER EGG HUNT
Mosaic Park

April 18, 2:00 p.m.
CHAMBER BOARD RETREAT
BCHF BOARD ROOM

April 20
POLK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE DAY
Leadership Bartow XVII

April 20, 5:00 p.m.
BARTOW COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION FUN THURSDAY
Health and Wellness Center featuring Heartland For Children, Peace River Center, Terrie Lobb Catering, Good Shepherd Hospice

April 21, noon
ENGAGE KNOWING YOURSELF SERIES: FITNESS
FIPR Board Room

April 28, 29
BARTOW/LAKE WALES RELAY FOR LIFE
"A World Without Cancer"
Bartow Memorial Stadium

NEW MEMBERS

Engineers- Surveyors-Planners
Sloan Engineering Group, Inc.
Mr. Alan L. Rayl, PE, PSM
150 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 800-3046

Community Action & Human Services
Lighthouse Ministries, Inc.
Mr. Steve Turbeville
215 E. Magnolia Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 687-4076
Visit Website here.

Travel Agencies
Good Life USA
Mr. Charles Gaines
4334 Stephanie Way
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 633-9700
Visit Website here.

Financial Planning
CPS Investment Advisors
Rick Bernard
205 E. Orange Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 688-1725
Visit Website here.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

BUSINESS AND TECH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED
TO MENTOR STUDENT HACK-A THONJ APRIL 21-23

     Hack-a-thon for Polk County youth ages 13-18. Students will engage business and tech professionals as they develop web and mobile applications to solve local problems during a 3-day event.  #POLKHACKS, a FREE event, is scheduled for April 21-23 at Polk State College’s Lakeland Campus.
     Mentors will divide up among 8 youth teams to assist in creating a proof of concept for apps addressing local issues. At the end of the weekend, each team presents their concept and prizes are awarded to the top finishers. Registration for the evet is at www.polkhacks.com.
     Youth #POLKHACKS participants need only be residents of Polk county and between the ages of 13-18. “We are getting the word out through schools and social media,” says Daniels. The event is free for all 100 youth and mentor participants.
     The student committee also secured the support of the Polk Education Foundation and Polk Vision as well as forming a steering committee of local tech, education, civic and business leaders.  Daniels said the effort that went into getting all of the support has furthered the goal of raising awareness for the need for tech events for kids. “At first, we had to explain that a hack-a-thon was not illegal and a genuinely productive event that is not uncommon among tech community. Once we got past that part, everyone was pretty supportive. We are fortunate that so many community leaders see the need and are willing to help.”

CLICK BELOW TO READ ABOUT THE UPCOMING
FLORIDA SHERIFF'S YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC AND MORE!

read more...

FROST, VAN DEN BOOM FUN THURSDAY

Thanks for all who attended the March Fun Thursday at FROST VAN DEN BOOM LAW OFFICES. Here are some photos from the event.


MORE PHOTOS HERE.

SONNY'S BBQ RENOVATIONS!

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Sonny's Bartow location. Thanks for having us over - the food and the restaurant were AWESOME!


MORE PHOTOS HERE
GreenBlue - April 4, 2017