Bartow is surely a happening town! In just the first 2 months of 2016, our city has hosted a Totally Awesome 80s Event, Jeepin’ with Judd, a Barn Boogie, a Gumbo Cook-off, SYFY Bartow, and a State Archery Tournament. 

And March will bring the Bloomin’ Arts Festival, Rotary's Wild Game Dinner, and the Mayor’s Sunrise Prayer Breakfast to our great city. Through the cooperation and efforts of our Bartow Chamber, City of Bartow, Bartow's CRA, Main Street Bartow, and various Civic Clubs, Bartow is a city that welcomes many events and groups, and helps bring more people into our town, which may help grow your business.

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

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

MARCH
Wednesday, March 2, noon
AMBASSADORS DELEGATES
Urban Oak Restaurant

Saturday, March 5, 4:00 p.m.
MAYOR'S ART CLUB AUCTION
The Polk County History Center

Saturday, Sunday, March 5, 6
BLOOMIN' ARTS FESTIVAL

Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 a.m.
B2B BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE

Thursday, March 10, 5:15 p.m.
FROST VAN DEN BOOM FUN THURSDAY
395 S. Central Ave., Bartow

Friday, March 11, 8:00 a.m.
COMMITTEE OF 100
Health and Life Center
Hwy. 17 & Main Street

Tuesday, March 15, all day
DAIRY QUEEN BARTOW FREE CONE DAY

Tuesday, March 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 15, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, March 16, 1:30 p.m.
CHAMBER DIPLOMATS BIRTHDAY PARTY
Happy Birthday, Jo!

Thursday, March 17
LEADERSHIP BARTOW PHOSPHATE DAY

Friday, March 18, noon
ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN:
LET's TALK LEADERSHIP with HOWE Q. WALLACE
Florida Industrial Phosphate Research Institute

Saturday, March 19
ROTARY CLUB'S WILD GAME DINNER
Wanda & Leland Young's Barn

Thursday, March 24, 7:00 a.m.
MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST
Bartow Civic Center

Friday, March 25, 11:30
CROSSWALK TO FORT BLOUNT PARK
Service at noon

FOR A LIST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, CLICK HERE AND THEN CHOOSE "EVENTS"!

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:

Medical Services
Central Florida Health Care, Inc.
Ms. Ashley Moats
47 5th Street NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
(863) 291-5110
www.cfhconline.org

ALL PRECINCTS WILL VOTE AT THE BARTOW CIVIC CENTER - 2250 S. FLORAL AVENUE.

 Voters will elect one City Commissioner for Seat No. 3 (North District)

IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES

Regular Election - April 5, 2016 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Run-Off Election (if needed) - to be announced.

Registering to Vote

Absentee Ballots

Can’t make it to the polls? To request an absentee ballot, please contact the Polk County Supervisor of Elections at 863-534-5888 or visit polkelections.com.

When the Mayor’s Sunrise Prayer Breakfast was first conceived, it was agreed it would be a time of early morning prayer to begin the day. Somewhere along the line, the event became a luncheon. This year, for the first time in a long time, the time of prayer is switched back to the traditional early morning event.

Pre-registration is required!
Friday, March 18, 2016, 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
featuring Howe Q. Wallace, PalletOne, Inc.

CLICK HERE AND REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
(Not just for ENGAGE members!)

Engage/Bartow Chamber Young Professionals presents an up-close and personal chat with one of the area’s most accomplished community leaders. Howe Wallace is the CEO of PalletOne, America’s largest new pallet manufacturer.  This session will give participants a chance to reflect on new and creative ways to achieve professional leadership goals based on the best practices from one of the area’s most respected business professionals. After a short presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in a round-table format. Don’t miss this great opportunity for professional growth.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
       Since 2001, Howe Q. Wallace has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of PalletOne, Inc., an industry leader operating 15 pallet facilities in nine states, and Sunbelt Forest Products which has two locations in Florida and one in Alabama. The company employs more than 200 people in Bartow and more than 1,300 across the enterprise. Revenues exceed $300 million. Before PalletOne, Mr. Wallace was Executive Vice President of Human Resources of IFCO Systems, NV. Mr. Wallace began his career in the industry when he joined Ridge Pallets in 1983. 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Boardroom
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
MORNING BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Plenty of coffee and fellowship with your fellow member business owners. Bring lots of business cards and give everyone two - one for them and one for a friend. Hope to see you there! NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY.

Left to Right: Owners Virginia, John and Tasha Harrison; Chamber membership services director, Barbara Adamson.

Business of the Month for February:
MAIN STREET COMICS & MEMORABILIA
415 E. Main Street, Suite C, Bartow, FL 33830, 863-537-7703
SEE ONLINE.
Polk County's newest and best Comic Book Collector's Shop! Located in Bartow, Florida on historic Main Street, on the corner of Main and Florida Ave. Main Street Comics carries everything the comic fan needs . . . and more! The Harrisons invite everyone to come visit the store at 415 E. Main Street, Suite C, in Bartow. For more information, call 863-537-7703.

You are cordially invited to the March Fun Thursday on March 10, 2016, at 5:15 p.m. at Frost Van den Boom, PA, 395 S. Central Avenue. Come wearin' your green as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with our host!

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:

• March 12^th – Mariah Andresen-Otten
• April 9^th – John Abad
• May 14^th – Jude Dauphin

For more information, contact: Virginia Condello at the Chamber, (863) 533-7125 or email virginia@bartowchamber.com

     The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, March 11, 2016, at 8:00 a.m.
     Our guest speaker will be Bart Allen, who will be talking with us about the Stuart Crossings and Silver Company developments.
      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.

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.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: March 5, 6, 2016:

REGISTER FOR THE PRESENTATION for the next Chamber Travel Opportunity on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 5:30-6:30 p.m.. SPOTLIGHT ON SAN FRANCISCO,  set for September 4-8, 2016 will feature Napa Valley and Monterey. Also, you may learn more about the trip by clicking here.

Mark your calendars and attend the Mayor's Art Club Auction on Saturday, March 5, at 4:00 p.m. at the Polk County HIstory Center. Money raised will be used to continue this worthwhile program featuring area middle school students' art compositions. For more information, call Trish Pfeiffer, 863-640-1024.