September 12, 2017
"Taking Care of Business!"

Hurricane Memories

If you've been monitoring Facebook during and after Hurricane Irma, you've probably seen some of the comments people made that would help lighten the mood. Here's a few of our favs:

I used a chainsaw for the first time today. I liked it!

Bucket List: Go through the eye of a hurricane. Check.

Still no electricity and my generator sucks gasoline.

Husband said I would make a terrible pioneer woman.

Ok you hurricane lookers, either go home or come back with a rake.
 

Helped an old French guy (around 75-80 years old) get a limb off his crushed fence, and then we smoked a joint in his garage.

(picture of chainsaw) Giten er done. Both ends of my road are cleared. Who needs help?

Eyewall and 100 mph winds over my mom's place. Hang in there Bartow. Go Yellow Jackets!

3 more trees down and a 300-pound staghorn blown God knows where.

I liked it better when I could see what's going on outside!

Does anyone have a generator we can borrow?

What? You have no power? See this guy in the rain, up a pole, in hooks, away from his family? Simmer down. You will survive. Linemen are working on it.

If you are without power, take advantage of seeing a beautiful starry sky without light pollution! Comment: I need AC pollution.

My truck is a flattened pancake!

When are they going to make an AC app?

I'm okay if the power goes out, as long as the electricity and wifi stay on. Okay, son.

If you want to see what oak tree apocalypse looks like, come visit our street.

Did all the skeeters get blown back to hell where they belong?

I survived Irma-geddon!

Our current state reminds me of Whoville on Christmas morning. That grinch Irma wreaked havoc on our power and majestic oaks but we awoke to the hum of generators, roar of chainsaws and sight of neighbors delivering coffee to each other.

It was a pleasure feeding workers at golf course today and how they continued to say thank you no Thank all of u for being out there in the fire bringing back our quality of life !! Tow Strong !!

People-watching all the crazies blocking the street to get gas.

Anyone have Comcast yet? Comment: I would just be happy now with lights.

House survived but all my trees are gone and there's no power or water or phone but we're all in one piece.

We survived Irma, but the roof didn't.

Wish our area had such dedication! (talking about WBF PSAs during and after Hurricane Irma)

Omg the eye wall is here at my house. Pray for us.

Good grief, it's only a Cat 2 Hurricane!

Cleaning up branches and limbs, 2,000 calories BURNT!!!

It was a wild night but made it through. Only a little damage. God is good.

If anyone is in need of a hot shower, food, ice or water, please let me know. I am more than happy to share my blessing with you. God loves you and so do I. BARTOW STRONG

Im starting to think this hurricane was all arranged by Amazon to get us to buy useless crap in our hours of Boredom! It's a conspiracy!

Y'all, my heart may explode. We are on 65-S headed home & see TONS of blue lights, as we get closer we realized these are people headed to help with Irmas after...

We have water. Let us know if we can help.

Two City of Bartow power trucks in Homeland just now . . . Hooray! We love our linemen!!

We are brave, we are resilient, we are generous, we are proud, we are unstoppable. We are Bartow!


Click here on facebook; or go to the new Chamber website to read about Bartow on the CAPITAL CITY TODAY Newsfeed.

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.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
FOOD TRUCK RALLY AT BAYCARE
BARTOW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Wednesday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

2200 Osprey Blvd, Bartow
     This tasty food truck rally will be rolling your way soon! Enjoy a wide variety of delicious treats, and all the eating you do will help support the Polk County Heart Walk. Ten percent lof all food truck proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association!

read more...

WANT US TO TEXT YOU ABOUT EVENTS?






Free TEXT ME!

Chamber Members:
We are offering a new feature of your membership, absolutely free to you! If you would like to get a text message about upcoming events, call or email Barbara Adamson, Chamber Membership Services Director, today! barbara@bartowchamber.com or 863-533-7125.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

40 YEARS
Edwards Professional Alarms & Video, Inc.

20 YEARS
IBS at Bartow High School

15 YEARS
American Legion Post 3

10 YEARS
Southern Homes of Polk County, Inc.

5 YEARS
James E. Stephens Elementary

CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP

 Reserve your space now in the Fall 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.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND! SEATING IS LIMITED.
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY

 

More . . .

CHAMPIONS CUP

NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS OR ONE THAT YOU KNOW FOR THE 2017 CHAMPIONS CUP AND SPIRIT OF BARTOW AWARDS HERE!
Champions Cup Awards
October 17, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
Bartow Civic Center

 
READ MORE for the list of 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

SEE US HERE!

SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!














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

BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY POSTPONED!

Due to cleanup and recovery from Hurricane Irma, the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce Fun Thursday at Bartow Ford is postponed. We'll let you know as soon as the date is set. Thanks for your patience.

SEPT. BUSINESS: Broadway Diner


Left to right: Chamber Membership Services Director Barbara Adamson and Dino Sakelliadis, Owner.

SEPTEMBER Chamber Business of the Month:
Broadway Diner
1380 North Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7647


Broadway Diner has become Bartow’s favorite place to eat. With a menu of upscale comfort food with a Mediterranean flair, Broadway Diner is the locals’ choice. With a passion for consistent quality, presentation and customer service, Dino Sakelliadis and Bill Gergatsoulis use a hands-on approach to make sure their customers have a great dining experience. Don’t take all of Bartow’s word for it, stop in and try it for yourself. See why Broadway Diner is Bartow’s favorite place to eat.
                                                
Open 6am - 2:30 pm seven days a week. Breakfast served anytime!


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

NEW MEMBERS

Government-County
Polk County Clerk of Court
Stacy Butterfield
255 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-4525
Website

Child Care Services
C&J Performing Arts Institute & Learning Center
Shayla Jones
301 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-0341

Recruiter – US Army
 United States Army
Staff Sergeant Richard Williams
936 Eagle Ridge Mall Dr.
Lake Wales, FL  33859
(863) 679-3106

Auto Dealers – New & Used
James Crews Automotive LLC
James Crews
690 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 800-9650

Computer Services
Affordable Computer Geeks
Mark Stone
410 Cypress Gardens Blvd.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 294-4335
www.acgeeks.com

2017 DIVERSITY LUNCHEON


Diversity Luncheon To Feature
Dr. Richard Harris

Bartow’s annual C.C. Corbett Diversity Awards are presented yearly during the Bartow Community Relations Committee’s  (CRC) Diversity Luncheon on the third Wednesday in September, in celebration of Bartow’s Multicultural Awareness Month. The event begins at noon at Bartow Civic Center. Guest speaker is Dr. Richard Harris of Southeastern University.
     Awards are given to a business or organization and an individual who have shown a commitment to diversity in the City of Bartow, or in surrounding communities, through mentoring, outreach initiatives, or other activities that advance the goal of inclusion.
     Tickets for the luncheon are $12 each and may be purchased from the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 510 North Broadway.
     The C.C. Corbett award winners are traditionally announced by the CRC Co-Chairs. “Before the passing of our friend and former Chairman, C.C. Corbett, it was his desire and the desire of the Community Relations Committee to recognize an individual and a business or organization that made it a priority to promote diversity in our community,” Mrs. Gloria Washington, CRC Co-chair, said at the last event. “The City of Bartow and the Community Relations Committee will continue to honor C.C.’s dedication to diversity by awarding the C.C. Corbett Diversity Awards.”
     Two awards are given each year: one to an individual and one to a business or organization honoring them for promoting unity within the Greater Bartow area.  
Past winners include:
2016
Ken Riley and Bartow Police Department
2015
Melony Bell and Church Service Center
2014
J.J. Corbett & TiAnViCa Riding Academy
2013
Joyce Thurman and Mosaic
2012
George Long and Bartow Youth Football
2011
Sharon Casey and Polk County Sheriff’s Office
2010
Fred Murphy and Flanders Precisionnaire
2009
Leo Longworth and Peterson’s Cleaners
2008
Larry Madrid and Fred’s Southern Kitchen
2007
C. C. Corbett (posthumously) and Board of County Commissioners, Clerk of Courts
 
 
An online form to sign up as a Sponsor or to get individual tickets available by clicking on the link below.

DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR OCT.!

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., beginning in September, 2017. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!
SCHEDULE:

Oct. 14 –  Kelly Epley (HIIT Bodyweight Workout)
Nov. 11 – Darwin Manzueta (Fit Camp and Fit Dance)
Dec. 9 – Marcus Flournoy (FloFitness Circuit Training)
Jan. 13 – Greg, Rick & Krissy (UFC Box & Burn)
Feb. 10 – Tammi Green (Empower Fit Dance)
Mar. 10 – Mariah Andressen-Otten (Yoga)
Apr. 14 – Juanita Pullum (Boot Camp)
May 12 – Jude Dauphin (Uptown Fitness)

CHAMBER EVENTS

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

SEPTEMBER

CANCELLED!
Wednesday, September 13, 7:30 a.m.
HEART LED LEADERSHIP
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY

Polk State College
Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center


CANCELLED!
Wednesday, September 13, 1:30 a.m.
DIPLOMATS PARTY


CANCELLED!
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00 p.m.
CARVER RECREATION CENTER NEW GARDEN AREA RIBBON-CUTTING
520 S. Idlewood Ave., Bartow, FL 33830

POSTPONED, date TBA
Thursday, September 14, 5:00 p.m.
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY

2800 US 98 North, Bartow

Friday, September 15, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST

Downtown Bartow

Saturday, September 16, 8:00 a.m.
TOUR DE TOW CYCLING EVENT

Main Street Bartow

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 3:45 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4:00 p.m. BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Wednesday, September 20, 11:30 a.m.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON

Bartow Civic Center

Thursday, Friday, September 21, 22
LEADERSHIP BARTOW XVII 2nd YEAR RETREAT

Harborside Suites, Ruskin, FL


Wednesday, September 27, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
MEET AND GREET WITH ARMY RECRUITER

Chamber Boardroom, Staff Sergeant Richard L. Williams will be available to answer questions on opportunities with the US Army.

OCTOBER

Wednesday, October 4, noon
AMBASSADORS / DELEGATES LUNCHEON

Friday, October 6, 1:00 p.m.
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE

Bartow Golf Course

Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
UNITY DAY FESTIVAL

MOSAIC PARK & BANDSHELL

Wednesday, October 11, 7:30 a.m.
DE-STRESS THE MESS
Professional Development Academy

Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center

Thursday, October 12
LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL DAY


Tuesday, Oct. 17, 3:45 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4:00 p.m. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tuesday, October 17, 6:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONS CUP AWARDS DINNER

Bartow Civic Center

Thursday, October 19, 4:00 p.m.
US ARMY RECRUITING CENTER RIBBON-CUTTING

936 Eagle Ridge Mall Dr.
Lake Wales, FL 33859

SEE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON YOUR CHAMBER WEBSITE

CHAMPIONS CUP, SPIRIT OF BARTOW


Champions Cup

We are the Home of the Champions.

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce its 8th Annual Champions Cup Business & Industry Awards.

The purpose of this program is to recognize and honor businesses/organizations that have championed exemplary best practices, and have had a positive influence on the economic well-being of the Bartow area business community.

Keynote Speaker: Glenn Waters

Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for

BayCare Health System

Glenn Waters is the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for BayCare Health System, a leading, not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. BayCare’s inpatient and outpatient services include: acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, fitness and urgent care centers.

As EVP/COO, Waters is responsible for the operations, strategic planning and clinical integration of BayCare’s hospitals, ambulatory care and behavioral health services, and the administrative management of BayCare Medical Group, the region’s leading multi-specialty physician group with over 500 providers practicing in more than 160 locations in 45 specialties throughout the Tampa Bay area.

 

SIGN UP TO ATTEND OR SPONSOR HERE.


NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE CHAMBER BUSINESS IN ONE EASY STEP.


All nominations are confidential to the selection committee only.

Awards will be presented on October 17, 2017 at the Bartow Chamber’s Champions Cup Business and Industry Awards at the Bartow Civic Center.

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 8th Annual Champions Cup Business & Industry Awards, and Bartow’s Spirit of Bartow Award.

Starting this year, any Chamber Member can nominate any fellow Chamber Member for the following categories.

 

 

 

Service/Professional Business of the Year

(includes non-retail professional businesses such as banks, insurance companies, medical professionals, accountants, attorneys, construction companies, etc.)

Retail Business of the Year

(includes any business that sells merchandise directly to the public such as gift shops, auto dealers, restaurants, etc.)

Emerging Business of the Year

(any start-up company in business less than three years – cannot be a buyout of an existing company)

Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year

(any non-profit business/organization)

Community Service Business of the Year

(includes all non-retail businesses that have contributed through donations of time or financial resources to improve the area’s quality of life)

Spirit of Bartow Award

 

All awards will be judged by a blue-ribbon committee of Chamber members based upon the following criteria:
 

Business & Industry Awards

The mission of the Champions Cup Business & Industry Awards is to recognize businesses/organizations that have championed exemplary best practices in the areas of customer service, sustainability, employee retention and opportunity, reputation and positive influence on the economic well-being of the Bartow area business community.

 

Spirit of Bartow Awards

Nominees for this award should be individuals or groups that have significantly contributed to the Bartow community and their individual accomplishments/contributions made a positive impact on the area’s quality of life.


NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE CHAMBER BUSINESS IN ONE EASY STEP.

TOUR DE TOW COMING UP!


TOUR DE TOW
HALF METRIC, FAMILY, METRIC CENTURY
Saturday, September 16, 2017, 8:00 a.m.

 

Scenic road tour featuring a family fun ride, 35 mile and 65 mile road tour. Ride along and experience our home town cycling hospitality here in Beautiful Bartow.  Registration is at 7am with an 8am ride start.

 

Main Street Bartow, Inc. and Bartow Cycling Events is dedicated to promoting the quality of life in Bartow using various cycling events which currently include the Bloomin' Bike Ride in March and the Tour de Tow in September.

 

Our objective is to promote Bartow as a community that fosters and encourages a healthy living lifestyle through cycling.

 

Congrats to our Artistic Motion winner, Connie Sweet, from last year who is this years featured cyclist on the shirts and all media materials.  

 

T-SHIRTS run large. Order 1 size down unless you like them to run big on you.

 

Lets don't forget our Power Pedalers.

We will be giving away new bikes again to kids who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford one in an effort to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and a love

of cycling. So far we have provided 128 bikes to kids in need.

 

RIDE SUPPORT! Yes, every route has a SAG vehicle following to be there in case you need us. It will have drinks, snacks, tubes and a pump. Everyone will receive a ride map that will have a number on it for emergencies or problems.

 

Food? Absolutely! I love trying to get you guys the best food from some of our favorite restaurants here in Bartow. You will have plenty to eat to help you recover from your ride.

 

Parking is in the Oaks Parking lot just south of the staging area. GPS address is 220 S. Central Avenue, Bartow, Florida 33830

GreenBlue2 - September 12, 2017