May 4, 2015

OUR SPONSOR THIS WEEK:

SCORE ROUNDTABLE IN BARTOW COMING UP

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FREE to Business Owners and those interested in starting a business, on the second Thursday of each month, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Chamber: The popular SCORE Roundtable for businesses! Join us the 2nd Thursday of every month as we explore various topics of interest to our members. Chamber Business Roundtable is brought to you through the partnership between SCORE, Polk County SBA Center and the Chamber. To register, go to www.bartowchamber.com, or you may click here.

NEXT ROUNDTABLE: The Essentials of Social Media

25th ANNIVERSARY OF JUST SAY NO



JUST SAY NO is tomorrow, May 5, 2015, and we'll be celebrating 25 years of the Community-based public education effort, with a parade and rally. We are asking everyone who can, to please come out and cheer on the fifth graders as they March with their banners down Main Street at 9:30 a.m.

SPECIAL THANKS to the Ernie Cooper and the Just Say No Committee, the Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation and the Bartow Rotary Club for making it possible every year. Also thanks to the City of Bartow and our Just Say No Judges, Gail Murray, Bartow CRA; Mary Jordan and Laura Simpson, Main Street Bartow, Inc.

If you'd like to donate to help fund this program, send your check payable to "JUST SAY NO" to CenterState Bank, ATTN: Anita Stasiak, 1375 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830. Thank you for your consideration to help support this struggle against drugs!

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

BOTTLED WATER & FILTER COOLER SYSTEMS
Water Boy, Inc.

Mr. Scott McLaughlin
1808 Olive St.
Lakeland, FL 33815
(800) 346-6080
website
Join Date:04/01/2015

ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING/ TAX SERVICE
Small Business Accounting

Ms. Sheree Vickers
1135 W. Clinton St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 712-0894
Join Date:04/13/2015

ACCOMMODATIONS
Hampton Inn Bartow

Ms. Jennifer Welch
205 Old Bartow Eagle Lake Rd.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 535-5007
Join Date: 05/01/2015

CHAMBER EVENTS & MEETINGS

Meetings are at the Chamber unless listed otherwise.

MAY
Tuesday, May 5, 9:00 a.m.
    Just Say No, Parade & Rally,
        Downtown Bartow
        Come out and cheer them on!
Friday, May 8, 8:00 a.m.
    Committee of 100
        1239 E. Main Street, Bartow
Wednesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m.
    Spirit of Bartow Awards
        Luncheon
        Bartow Civic Center
        2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow
Thursday, May 14, 7:30 a.m.
    SCORE Roundtable
Thursday, May 14, all day
    SBDC at Chamber
Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m.
    National Bike To Work Day
        Fort Blount Park
Friday, May 15, 5:00 p.m.
    ENGAGE FAB FRIDAY
        at Villages at Laurel Meadows
        100 Laurel Circle, Bartow
Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.
    Reading of Emancipation
        Proclamation for Florida
        on the North Lawn of the
        Polk County History Center

More May Dates here.

COMMITTEE OF 100

The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, May 8, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old Hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. Our speaker is Claire Orologas, Executive Director of the Polk Museum of Art. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at (863) 533-4196.

CLICK FOR A LIST OF MEMBERS

CLASSIFIEDS

$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.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING FOR SALE Furnished: $2500 square feet; $250,000. 690 E. Davidson Street, Bartow, FL 33830. Former law office in excellent condition, only 6 blocks from the Polk County Courthouse. Large foyer and central work area with multiple high-end filing cabinets, surrounded by 6 private offices and library/conference room, with built-in bookshelves, kitchenette, 2 ceramic tile bathrooms, 1 shower stall, cable, and security system. Corner lot with plenty of off-street parking. Excellent location in County Seat for any enterprise dealing with state and local government. Contact Chuck Bentley at (863) 533-7733 or email Chuck.

 

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS





















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

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Casey, President
    Community Southern Bank
Myrtice Young, Immediate Past President
    Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Jennifer Hall, President-elect, Vice President
    SEMCO Construction
Gail Smith, Treasurer
    Community Southern 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
J.C. Martin
    Kelley Buick GMC
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

RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW FOR THE MAGAZINE

Reserve your space now in the Summer Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 20,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!



We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:

NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY
November 30 - December 4, 2015
and
DISCOVER TUSCANY
April 14 - April 23, 2016

We will have a travel presentation on Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 at the Chamber for anyone who may be interested in either or both trips and would like to find out more.

New York Presentation from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Tuscany Presentation from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

RSVP for this informative meeting by May 15 here.

SINKHOLE DE MAYO POSTPONED

Please note: The Madrid Fun Thursday, Sinkhole de Mayo, is postponed until a date to be determined later. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, Happy Cinco de Mayo!

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

 
    The Chamber is proud of the fact that it partners with other organizations such as our civic clubs, Main Street Bartow, Inc., Commuter Services, Workforce Education and CareerSource Polk.
     Just last week I mentioned our SCORE Roundtable events - a partnership between the Chamber, SCORE and the Polk County Small Business Assistance program.
     Now, we're partnering with Main Street Bartow and USF's Small Business Development Center on a retail academy. The Academy is reasonably priced at $120 for the four sessions; however Bartow's Community Redevelopment Agency is offering scholarships to businesses located within its borders. What a deal!
     Tomorrow morning is the Just Say No (JSN) Parade and Rally, and we partner with JSN Chairman Ernie Cooper, the his Committee and the Bartow Rotary Club to help facilitate this great event. The Rotary Club purchased all the wonderful tee shirts you'll see tomorrow when the 5th graders take to the streets and march downtown with their banners. Don't miss the chance to encourage these kids! By the way, this is the 25th year of Just Say No.
     As Ernie always says, "Together We Make Great Things Happen."
 
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TERRIE LOBB CATERING

Terrie Lobb (left) of Terrie Lobb Catering along with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson, proudly display the Chamber's Business of the Month banner in Terrie's restaurant and catering business located at 1239 E. Main Street, Bartow. For more information, contact Terrie at (863) 533-6483.

Business of the Month of May is . . .
Terrie Lobb Catering
At Terrie Lobb Catering, Terrie and the staff pride themselves in delivering a wide variety of menu choices, along with the experience and expertise that make every event memorable. Known throughout Polk County, Terrie Lobb Catering specializes in custom menus designed for cocktail receptions, weddings, corporate events and home parties. Terrie and her staff always provide professional services from box lunches to elegant plated dinners. They can even assist with decor and entertainment. The catering company is unsurpassed in paying attention to detail; and the team of culinary professionals are dedicated to making your event an unforgettable one.

SPIRIT OF BARTOW 2015

     The May joint civic club luncheon, the annual Spirit of Bartow Awards, is set for Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at the Bartow Civic Center, where individuals and/or groups will be honored for their contributions to the Bartow community and whose accomplishments made a positive impact on the area’s quality of life.
     Recognized at the luncheon will also be the Bartow Chamber Diplomats, a special group of volunteers who donate their time to operating the Chamber’s Visitors and Welcome Center. Some Diplomats work in the front office, while others continue to help with the newsletter, special projects and events.
     Public safety professionals of the year for EMT, firefighter and Bartow police officer will be given awards.
    The event, including lunch, is $10. Watson Clinic and the Center for Cancer Care and Research are luncheon sponsors.
     The serving line opens at 11:45 a.m., and the program begins at noon. For more information, please contact Linda Holcomb at the Bartow Chamber, (863) 533-7125.

Carver Young receives the Spirit of Bartow Award from another 2014 winner, Dr. Thomas McMicken.
Carver Young receives a Spirit of Bartow award from another winner of the award in 2014, Dr. Thomas McMicken.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL SEEKING MENTORS
Bartow High School is in need of mentors from the busioness community. Mentors can help students to be able to: brainstorm positive behavior choices; take responsibility for homework, attendance, class participation; speak confidently about home or school issues; engage in activities that build character, job or college preparation skills, service ethic, and citizenship roles; and academic support. Mentors will also receive training by the district personnel.
     Please keep in mind that to become a mentor, you must comply with the school board’s policy of background check requirements by submitting a volunteer application with a $25.00 money order for a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check. Volunteer applications can be found at the School Board website.
     If you are interested in becoming a mentor at Bartow High School, please email the program coordinator, Mrs. Ola Harb, ola.harb@polk-fl.net. --- School address is 1270 S. Broadway St. Bartow, FL 33830. Phone number is (863) 534-7400. Please leave Ola Harb a message if you call.

read more...

ENGAGE FAB FRIDAY COMING UP!

MAY 15, 2015, 5:00 p.m: Fab Friday for our Chamber Young Professionals is coming up! If you are between the ages of 21 and 42 and are interested in networking with other young professionals, please come to the ENGAGE social, Fab Friday. For information about ENGAGE or if you'd like to sign up as a member, check out the Chamber's website, www.bartowchamber.com. FAB FRIDAY will take place at The Villages at Laurel Meadows, 100 Laurel Circle, Bartow, FL 33830.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

30 YEARS
OneBlood
Junior Service League of Bartow


20 YEARS
Systemized Properties, Inc.

15 YEARS
Bruce and Pam Renew

10 YEARS
Bright House Networks Business Solutions

5 YEARS
Lane Construction Corporation

BIKE TO WORK DAY



The Bartow Warriors, the unofficial cycling group of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce will be participating in the Friday, May 15, 2015 Polk County Commuter Services Day, "National Bike To Work Day" event. Here's the scoop:
Polk County Commuter Services Day and National Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 15
Event times: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Partner and vendor setup: 9:30 am
Event Details: • Interactive bicycle course, FREE helmet fittings*, Participation from local businesses, organizations, county offices and elected officials • Learn the rules of the road, transit information, and other activities • Freebies, prize drawings, free lunch and goodie bag donated by local organizations, commuter challenges, and more. Call Christine Diaz at the number below if you'd like to participate.
 For more information, please contact Commuter Services at 1.866.585.RIDE (7433), CustomerService@CommuterServicesFL.com or visit CommuterServicesFL.com
INTERESTING IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS FUN DAY? EMAIL virginia@bartowchamber.com

SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY

Florida SBDC Is Available At
Bartow Chamber On May 14

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on May 14, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.

BLUEGRASS & GOSPEL HERITAGE FESTIVAL



Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Doors2Change and Main Street Bartow, Inc. event featuring Bluegrass and Gospel Music, with a side order of history will be happening downtown on Saturday, June 13, 2015, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The festival will include live music and entertainment, a children’s carousel, folk art and Steampunk vendors, plant and farmer’s market vendors, and a children’s area with games, paintball design competition and Legoland sculpturing competition. The Lego sculpture will become part of the traveling Art In Public Places program. Mark your calendars for this exciting event today! Free, downtown Bartow. For more information, contact the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 863-533-7125.
 
Entertainment:
Sound of Joy
K’Lyn & Her Bluegrass Friends
Mamie’s School of Dance
Psalms 101
Union Academy Bluegrass Band
Strawberry Express Cloggers
Calvary Country Bluegrass Band
Dixie Bluegrass Express
Joey Poley and the Midnight Clogging Express

POLK EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY FOR
POLK EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 6:00 PM - Bartow Civic Center -  2250 Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
The annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards will once again be a collaborative event of the three young professional groups in Polk County. Continuing a new era of collaboration and blurring the east/west dividing line, the awards have been established to annually recognize five young professionals between 21- 42 who have made significant contributions and commitment to the Polk County community. 
Picture
 
To nominate an individual for the Polk Emerging Leader Awards, simple fill out the form below between April 13 and May 31, 2015. The nominee will be notified of the nomination and asked to complete an application to provide more information. The nominee will be emailed the application but it can also be downloaded here. 
 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR



All Chamber members are invited to A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure's WINE & CRAFT BEER TASTING, coming up Thursday, May 28, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at A-C-T's Bartow location, 1875 West Main Street, Bartow. The event will be held to honor the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Community Corporate Partners!

Just Say No Parade & Rally - 25th ANNIVERSARY!
05/05/2015

2015 Women of Central Florida Spring Fashion Show
05/05/2015

Main Street Bartow Farmers Market
05/06/2015

Butterflies 101
05/07/2015

March for Babies Celebration Walk
05/08/2015

Downtown Bartow Antique Fair
05/09/2015

Computer Class - Tablets and eReaders
05/11/2015

Spirit of Bartow Awards Luncheon
05/13/2015

Main Street Bartow Farmers Market
05/13/2015

SCORE Bartow Chamber Roundtable for Businesses
05/14/2015


More Events From May 15, 2015

BIZ KIDS GEARING UP FOR A GREAT SUMMER!



Businesses within the CRA district wishing to participate in Biz Kids from June 16 through July 21, 2015, may register with days of participation here.

PURPOSE: To give young entrepreneurs an insight into what it takes to run a business; and to give Bartow merchants a summer “boost,” to compensate for the slow time of year.

Cost for students: zero
This is brought to the Bartow Community through the partnership between the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Bartow and Bartow Community Redevelopment Agency.

Boost for Merchants: Possible $360 per class day. Businesses may sign up for a few or all classes to teach.

read more...

BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY

BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY TO TEACH
MARKETING & SALES TACTICS TO BUSINESSES

      Polk County business owners are invited to learn new marketing and sales tactics for their small businesses at the Bartow Retail Academy, beginning June 9 at DMAR Business Center, 300 East Summerlin Street, Bartow. The Academy, presented by Main Street Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Small Business Development Center at University of South Florida, will include four seminars for just $120.
      Businesses in the Bartow CRA District qualify for a scholarship and can register by
calling Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508 or Greater Bartow Chamber at
863-533-7125.
      “As we work to enhance the business community in downtown, providing business
focused education is a priority for Main Street Bartow, Inc.,” Laura Mills Simpson,
Executive Director of Main Street Bartow, said. “We are excited to partner with the
CRA, the Bartow Chamber, and SBDC to present the Retail Academy.This series is
tailored to local business owners with a focus on business trends in engaging with
local consumers and successful implementation techniques.”
      Jeff Clark, Executive Director of the Bartow Chamber agrees. “The Chamber’s primary impetus is to promote business and economic development for the benefit of our whole community. This falls within that goal nicely. The classes are for businesses in all of Bartow and surrounding areas; and we’re very excited the City of Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency has partnered with us and Main Street Bartow to provide scholarships for those businesses which fall within its district.”
      The Bartow Retail Academy Series includes the following seminars:
 
Marketing Your Business
June 9, 2015, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Merchandising and Customer Service
June 16, 2015, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Advertising Your Business
June 30, 2015, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ignite Your Online Marketing
uly 7, 2015, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

 
      Registration is open to all small business owners here.
      Businesses located in the Bartow CRA District  are eligible for scholarships and should register by calling Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508 or Greater Bartow Chamber at 863-533-7125.
 
Newsletter1 - May 4, 2015