PRESIDENT'S CORNER: RETREAT
Just had our Chamber Retreat for 2017, where our new board members got orientated on the Chamber's program of work, and the entire board got a yearly report.
More than two years ago, the Chamber went through some major changes with the help of an outside consultant. The entire organization was revamped and tightened up, becoming the lean, mean (well, maybe not mean) well-organized organization that it is today.
Over the past year, the Chamber executive director, Jeff Clark, with the help of his staff, Virginia Condello and Barbara Adamson, explored ways to cut operating expenses by slicing nearly 17.5k yearly from the budget just from re-negotiating contracts for office equipment; and working smarter by making use of social media.
Events were realigned or phased out; however, those events that are beneficial to the community remained. New partnerships were forged, new programs were newly branded and improved.
And, most importantly, Chamber members reap benefits with added value to their memberships.
We're proud of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce, one of the oldest Chambers in the state of Florida. When it was established as the Bartow Board of Trade in 1887, I wonder if any of the founders knew it would still be around 130 years later?
Until next week,
CLINT EDWARDS
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, Cross Wired Electric, Peace River Center, Good Shepherd Hospice, and partake in delicious food from Terrie Lobb Catering. See you there!
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
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. |
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
ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN ON FITNESS!
ENGAGE SERIES: KNOW YOURSELF, PERSONAL BRANDING: FITNESS with Mrs. Jane Waters-Thomas
Personal wellness and stress management and how that can benefit you personally, is the next ENGAGE LUNCH AND LEARN featuring Ms. Jane Waters-Thomas. How can you be your best, if you don't take care of yourself? This series is not just for ENGAGE members, and includes FREE LUNCH. Sign up today!
DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR MAY!
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!
NEW SERIES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
ALL NEW PROGRAM, NEW CLASSES FOR 2017. More . . .
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.
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.
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
April 20
POLK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE DAY
Leadership Bartow XVII
April 20, 5:00 p.m.
BARTOW COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION FUN THURSDAY
Life and Wellness Center featuring Heartland For Children, Peace River Center, Terrie Lobb Catering, Good Shepherd Hospice, Cross Wired Electric
April 21, noon
ENGAGE KNOWING YOURSELF SERIES: FITNESS
FIPR Board Room
April 21, 3:00 p.m.
EAST END VISION: CRA/KEYSTONE HOME GROUNDBREAKING
Corner of 4th Street and Laurel Avenue
April 21, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST
Downtown Bartow
April 28, 29
BARTOW/LAKE WALES RELAY FOR LIFE
"A World Without Cancer"
Bartow Memorial Stadium
NEW MEMBERS
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.
Retail Stores
Queens Fashions and Gifts
Ms. Jennifer Camp
320 E. Summerlin Street
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 245-7163
MEMBER MICRONEWS
WIN PRIZES BY LOGGING IN!
Commit. Bike, walk, carpool, ride the bus, telework – anything but driving solo!
Track and Win. Log all your trips!
http://commuterservicesfl.com/information/trip-tracker/ tag your photos www.facebook.com/CommuterServicesflorida and stories on social media. Individuals that track trips will be entered in prize drawings donated by partnering organizations. Grand Prize Drawing for April and May Participants! *Gift Cards - Apple iPad min - Bus Passes - Digital Camera
Registration is Fast, Free and Easy!
Call or visit us online today - We are here to help!
www.CommuterServicesFL.com Phone: 1.866.585.RIDE (7433)
CLICK BELOW TO READ ABOUT THE UPCOMING
FLORIDA SHERIFF'S YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC AND MORE! read more...
FLORIDA GROWN HOMETOWN BBQ
JOIN ADAM PUTNAM FOR A
FLORIDA GROWN HOMETOWN BBQ
DOWNTOWN BARTOW
Do you like BBQ? Don’t miss our Florida Grown Hometown BBQ on May 10th in Downtown Bartow.
We’ll be firing up the grill around 11AM and cooking until 1PM, right in front of the Old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow. The BBQ is on us, but we need to know how many we are cooking for! Please RSVP here.
Date and Time
Location
Old Polk County Courthouse
100 East Main Street
Bartow, FL 33830
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