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: Branding

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

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
Aveco, Inc.
Ms. Rachel Lawrence
730 Creative Dr., Suite 7
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 225-5912
website
Join Date:05/15/2015

SBDC Is Available At
Chamber On June 11
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 June 11, 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.

Meetings are at the Chamber unless listed otherwise.

MAY

Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.
    Reading of Emancipation
        Proclamation for Florida
        on the North Lawn of the
        Polk County History Center

Thursday, May 21, 1:00 p.m.
    Diplomats Birthday Party

Tuesday, May 26, 4:00 p.m.
    Bartow Marketing Partnership

Thursday, May 28, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
   Wine and Craft Beer Tasting at A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, honoring Corporate Partners with the Chamber

Click here to read the Spring Business Quarterly Magazine!

Want to find a retail or service business? Click here.

$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.
 

We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
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.

  Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015

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.

The annual Youth Villa Luncheon will be held on May 20, 2015 at the Bartow Civic Center. Catered by Curly Tails, the cost is $10.00. per person. Rotary and other Civic Clubs have agreed to use the luncheon as their meeting date. Andy Bean, the PGA tour golfer is keynote speaker.  During the luncheon, long-time Villa Golf Tournament player Herb Dixon, who is 95 years old, will be honored. Dixon has played in the Villa every year except the year he was inducted into the African American Golfer Hall of Fame in 2012. Emcee is Sheriff Grady Judd. For more information, please call Karen B. Guffey, (863) 533-3131.

THE AVENGERS IS NEXT MOVIE ON THE LAWN
“The Avengers” (PG-13) is the next feature at Main Street Bartow, Inc.’s “Movies on the Lawn” to be shown on Friday, May 22, at dark, on the northwest corner of Wilson Avenue and Main Street. “The Avengers” is a 2012 film in which Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity. Come prepared for costume contests with prizes, themed props and vehicles, guest appearances, and more!  Check out the event page on Facebook, Main Street Bartow. There is no charge to attend. Those attending are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and insect repellent. SyFy Bartow is hosting the event, and the Travelers of the World Club of Bartow High School is providing concessions. For further information call the Main Street Bartow office at 863-519-0508.

JUNE 19, 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. Later editions of this newsletter will announce meeting place!

Professional Development Academy:
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP EVENT
The Power of a Presentation
Presented by Jenn Bish, Polk State College
Presentations can be a source of anxiety or a tool for empowering the professional. With proper preparation and a few simple tecniques, anyone can deliver a powerful presentation. This workshop provides tips and tools for engaging the audience, effectively communicating information, and leveraging skills for better performance and message delivery.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center/
Polk State Corporate College Auditorium
310 Technology Drive, Bartow, FL
Cost: $39.00 Per Person

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

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. 
 

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!
 

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

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.

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.

MILES GETS HIS DOG
     What will probably be remembered most from Leadership Bartow XVI's day in the Sheriff's office on April 16, 2015, is the dog. It wasn't the visit to the women's prison or seeing the men in the holding cell or even the pictures of class members getting certificates and photos with the sheriff.
It will be the dog.
     While visiting the hangar at the Bartow Municipal Airport the chairs we got to see all sorts of vehicles for patrolling and rescuing for the Sheriff's office as it enforces the law in 556,000 agricultural acres.
     But the highlight was a little brown Jack Russell terrier brought from the Sheriff's office pound. Probably not more than two years old, she didn't appear to act like your typical Jack Russell. She didn't jump on anyone who came by and was somewhat calm when almost everyone bent down at times to pet her and make baby sounds. Perhaps the only thing people didn't like about the dog was her name: Cheeba.
     “I don't know where this dog is going to be in a couple of weeks, but if anyone is interested in her, I can waive the adoption fee,” the speaker told us.
     A few people seemed interested, but Miles Carr vocally volunteered and he got the dog. Not sure if his wife would be pleased, he borrowed Virginia Condello's cellphone and texted his wife: “This dog is coming home with me otherwise she's going to die.”
     All seems to be well and Miles' kids have a new friend. And, at the urging of several class members, Miles renamed the dog, “Grady.”