CHAMPIONS CUP
Champions Cup was created to recognize and honor businesses and organizations that have championed exemplary best practices, and have had a positive influence on the economic well being of the area's business environment. Congratulations to the 2015 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:

The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, November 13, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious grouip, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.

Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.

Antiques & Collectibles
Chinoiserie Antiques & Gifts
Ms. Virginia Cagle
110 W. Broadway St.
Fort Meade, FL 33841
(863) 285-8050
Join date: 10/01/2015

Gift Boutique
The Krazy Kricket
Ms. Lee Putnam & Ms. Susan Blenk
115 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-3141
www.krazykricket.com
 Join date: 10/06/2015
Ribbon-cutting: Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m.

Churches
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Pastor Jonathan Horsman
390 E. Parker St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 512-3652
Join date: 10/06/2015
 
Apparel
LegaCy Unique Designz
Sylvia W, Mildrena D, Jennifer C
195 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7422
Join date: 10/08/2015

Restaurants
Mosaics Community Café
Ms. Elizabeth Combee
315 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-3000
Join date: 10/21/2015
Ribbon-cutting - Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m.
 
Car Wash/Express Tunnel
Super Suds Car Wash of Bartow
Mr. Brian Briggs
1025 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-7628
Join date: 10/21/2015

Looking for a commercially zoned lot, building for rent or to buy for your business? Please check out this site :

You'll get to create an account for free and check out MLS commercial listings for Bartow.
For a downloadable CRA District map, click here, scroll down and look under IMPORTANT LINKS in the right hand column of the Chamber's website.

$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.

Click here to read the Summer Business Quarterly Magazine!
















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

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
  NOMINATING COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS
SEATS AVAILABLE:
Myrtice Young
Freda Ridgway
Gail Smith
Carole McKenzie
Carlos Sandoval
J.C. Martin

PROPOSED CANDIDATES:
Joe Bustos
   Evolve Professional Landscape Mgmt.
Brian Hinton
   Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
Sandy Dobbertean
   Bank of Central Florida
Terrie Lobb
   Terrie Lobb Catering
Benny Robles, Jr.
   Bartow Ford
Russell Hernandez
   Kelley Buick GMC

Additional names of candidates for Directors can be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signatures of at least twenty-five (25) qualified Chamber members. Qualified members are defined as a "main" contact on any business or individual membership in good standing, with only one signature per membership accepted. Such a petition shall be filed with the Nominating Committee within ten (10) days after the notice has been given of the names of those nominated. The determination of the Nominating Committee as to the legality of the petition(s) shall be final.

     What does the word "Orpheum" mean?
     I googled it and here is what I learned, "Orpheum is derived from Orpheus, a Greek mythological poet and musician, whose skills could charm animals, plants and even rocks."
     According to legend, when Orpheus' wife died, his song was enough to charm Hades into giving her back. The gods were mesmerized.
      In 1883, entrepreneurs Benjamin Keith and Edward Albee began a theatre chain for their vaudeville acts. The idea caught on and others created theatre chains including Martin Beck, who started a chain called the Orpheum Circuit. Eventually the Keith-Albee company bought the Orpheum chain.
     Nearly every major city in the United States and around the world has or has had an Orpheum theatre and many are related to the original Orpheum vaudeville circuit.
      I have heard Jenny Heidtman sing and I am sure that the gods are equally mesmerized by her beautiful voice. How lucky are we to have the Bartow native come back to her hometown with the dream of opening an Orpheum theatre right here in Bartow!
      Jenny, a mezzo soprano, has lived in such places as London, Atlanta and New York City. She has performed in over 20 operatic roles with various national and international companies.
      Jenny returned to Bartow in 2012 and in 2014 remembered the property located at 335 East Main Street. It was in disrepair, but perfect. She discovered that the building was once an opera house in the 1800's and a motion picture theatre called the Orpheum in 1913.
      As she shared her vision with others, she was met with encouragement.
     Now her vision will soon become a reality.
     The building has been vacant for 25 years and needs a lot of work to bring it back to life, but it's a task Jenny is tackling with enthusiasm.
     Jenny's vision is that The Orpheum will be a venue for the performing arts.
     Jenny's plans are to offer workshops for youth and adults. She hopes The Orpheum will be a place to screen classic movies. She has a vision to incorporate many local performing artists and talented school students to provide professional and community performances that will showcase varied types of music -  cabaret, jazz, classical, for example.
     There is still much to do, not just on the preparation of the building, but also on the fundraising to continue raising the money it will take to bring a historical part of Bartow.
     I look forward to watching this wonderful vision of Jenny's unfold and can't wait until the grand opening!
Have a good week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015  

Left to right, Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson, Steven Githens , Michell Githens, "Sophie," Becky Smith and Aura Schuler.

Business of the Month for October is . . .
Michell Githens State Farm
595 West Main Street• Bartow, FL
Phone: 863-533-8119
michell@githensinsurance.com
Call Michell today! She says, "Our agency’s mission is to assist customers with the many products and services that State Farm offers to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Find great coverage at a great rate. Get a free quote now!"
Free $10 Gift Card with every life insurance quote during the month of October.

We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?  Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

FORTRESS FITNESS IS SECOND SATURDAY

     The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a program to promote family fitness began in September at Fort Blount Park.
      “FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast, instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs Please mark your calendars for these second Saturdays:

• November 14^th – Sol Torres (Zumba)
• December 12^th – Olly and Anitra Goddard
• January 9^th – Greg, Rick & Krissy
• February 13^th – Darwin Manzueta
• March 12^th – Marie Wilmot
• April 9^th – John Abad
• May 14^th – Jude Dauphin

     “Whether it’s just you, grandparents and grandkids, or your whole family, you are welcome to join us,” Wilmot said. For more information, contact: Virginia Condello at the Chamber, (863) 533-7125 or email virginia@bartowchamber.com. 
 

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

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 29, 4:00 p.m.
CRICKETTE CLUB PARADE & CARNIVAL

Saturday, October 31
TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT IN BARTOW

NOVEMBER

Tuesday, November 3, 9:30 a.m.
MOSAICS COMMUNITY CAFE RIBBON-CUTTING
315 E. Main St., Bartow

Thursday, November 5, 4:00 p.m.
ALPHAGRAPHICS LAKELAND RIBBON-CUTTING
4130 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, 33813

Friday, November 6, Lunch
A-C-T CHILI COOKOFF
1875 W. Main Street, Bartow

Tuesday, November 10, 9:30 a.m.
THE KRAZY KRICKET RIBBON-CUTTING
115 E. Main Street, Bartow 33830

Wednesday, November 11, 11:30 a.m.
A SALUTE TO OUR HOMETOWN HEROES
Bartow Civic Center
2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow

Tuesday, November 17, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 17, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2016 Polk Senior Games
      The 24^th Annual Polk Senior Games are scheduled for February 27 – March 14, 2016 and offer a two-week series of 99 athletic and recreational Olympic-style events. They attract over 2,500 men and women, 50 and over, with a variety of skills - the serious competitor, the fun at heart, the seasoned athlete, the late bloomer, and the physically challenged. The purpose of the Games is to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health and wellness, an active lifestyle, and volunteerism.
      Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Badminton, Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Basketball 3 on 3, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling, Bridge, Checkers, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Square Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Fly Casting, Golf 18 Hole Singles and Mixed Doubles and Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Lawn Bowling, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Racquetball, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division.

Left to right, Leadership Bartow Class XVI members Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely, Roxanna Tovrea, Sherrie McCullough and Barbara Adamson.

  This year's Rudolph Roundup is a project of Leadership Bartow XVI,  and the class has plans to make this year the best yet!
     Did you know that there are more than 3,200 children in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties that have experienced abuse and/or neglect? We need your help to provide holiday gifts for these children in foster and shelter care, or with relatives or non relatives, many times away from family and friends. Won’t you help the Bartow Chamber fill Santa’s sleigh?
How you can help
     Bring an unwrapped toy(s) to the Chamber at 510 North Broadway Avenue by noon on December 7th. Heartland for Children will pick up the toys from the Chamber office. For a PDF of the most needed items, click here.

SBDC Is Available At
The Chamber On
November 12th
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 November 12, 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.

Basic Computer Class
10/26/2015

Chair Yoga at the Library - FREE!
10/27/2015

73rd Annual Crickette Club Parade & Carnival
10/29/2015

Sweet Wars
10/29/2015

Chair Yoga at the Library - FREE!
10/30/2015

Mosaics Community Cafe Ribbon-cutting
11/03/2015

Bartow Library Book Discussion: The Golem and the Jinni
11/05/2015

Ribbon-cutting for Alphagraphics Lakeland
11/05/2015

Hangar Door Canteen
11/06/2015

FLORAL LAKES ANNUAL BAZAAR
11/06/2015- 11/07/2015

When Pigs Fly South
11/07/2015

When Pigs Fly South Pancake Breakfast
11/07/2015

Ribbon-Cutting for The Krazy Kricket
11/10/2015

Hometown Heroes Luncheon
11/11/2015

Fun Thursday - Bartow Regional Medical Center (Chamber Members Only)
11/12/2015

Bartow's 23rd Annual Craft Fair and Honeybee Festival
11/14/2015

Sterling Great Practices Showcase
11/20/2015

Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market
11/21/2015