March 28, 2016

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

JENNIFER HALL, SEMCO Construction


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY LAUNCH
 
     REGISTER TODAY! LAST OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR THE FIRST CLASS!
     I am now proud to announce, through a great partnership with Polk State College Corporate College, we are launching our Professional Development Academy this month.
      This program provides skills for businesses, organizations, and personal growth and improvement through a variety of educational training opportunities. This year’s program consists of seven sessions and is titled, "Seven Paths to Success."
     Sessions include learning opportunities on Contemporary Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Coaching, Mindful Leadership, Personal Resilience, Finding Work-Life Balance, and Time Management.
      Pre-registration is required for all classes. The cost for the classes is included in your Chamber membership investment! If you attend a minimum of (4) classes, you will earn a Professional Development Academy certificate.
      The first session – Contemporary Leadership - will be led by J. Lenora Bresler on March 30th, at 7:30 a.m. All classes are held at the Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center.
Learn more about the entire Professional Development series and register for the first session HERE.

Jennifer Hall
Your Chamber President, 2016

CHAMBER EVENTS

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

APRIL
Wednesday, April 6, noon
AMBASSADORS AT PERKINS FOR LUNCH

Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 a.m.
Business 2 Business
BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE

Wednesday, April 13, 1:30 p.m.
DIPLOMATS' BIRTHDAY PARTY
Happy Birthday Jo Robertson and Fred Egli!

Thursday, April 14
BARTOW COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE
FOUNDATION FUN THURSDAY

(At the Old Hospital)
Life and Wellness Center

Tuesday, April 19
BOARD/EXEC MEETINGS

Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, April 27, 28, 29
LEADERSHIP BARTOW XVI
TRAVELS TO WASHINGTON DC



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

CHAMPIONS CUP

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:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:
Tindale Oliver
SERVICE/PROFESSIONAL:
Bartow Regional Medical Center
RETAIL BUSINESS:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure
NOT FOR PROFIT/ COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY:
Bartow Rotary Club
MAIN STREET BUSINESS:
Travel Leaders / International Sun Travel
EMERGING BUSINESS:
Broadway Diner

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:
Don Wilson


Click here to see past winners of this prestigious award.

NEW MEMBERS

Engineers/Surveyors/Planners
Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K)
Ms. Kimberly Warren
101 W. Main St., Suite 240
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 682-4081
www.rkk.com

Employment/Staffing Services
AARP Foundation
Ms. Sandra Swanson
1959 E. Edgewood Dr., #101
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-1290

Restaurants
Urban Oak
Mr. Tom Bos
135 E. Main Street
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7205

 

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS















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

New Article

VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTION, APRIL 5th

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
City residents who are not registered to vote, but would like to participate in the April 5th City Elections, have until March 9th to submit their completed voter registration form to the Elections Office in Bartow. To register to vote on-line, Click here. For information to register to vote go to voter registration information. Applications are available at Polk County Supervisor of Elections, Bartow City Hall, post offices and libraries.
 
Registered voters are reminded to update the elections office with any name or address changes prior to Election Day.  To change your voter information on-line, Click here.

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.

MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST


More than 200 attended this year's Mayor's Prayer event. If you missed the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, you missed a good service! Thanks to our sponsors who were, Presenting Sponsors: A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center, PalletOne, Stingray Chevrolet-Bartow, Sun Newspapers; Table Sponsors: Bartow Community Heathcare Foundation, Boswell & Dunlap, Citizens Bank & Trust, Cornerstone Hospice, Ernie and Sheryl Cooper, Madrid Engineering Group, Neighborhood Improvement Corp., St. James AME Church, State Farm Insurance Leo Longworth, State Farm Insurance Michell Githens, Teen Challenge, Tindale Oliver and Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; and Contributors: Delores and J.J. Corbett.

 

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE!

B2B BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE APR. 13!



Wednesday, April 13, 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.

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: KATHY E. PARKER, EA

Left to Right: Destiny Patterson, Duane Parker and Cathy Parker with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH, 2016:

CATHY E. PARKER, EA, BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICE

In the photos, left to right, Destiny Patterson, Duane Parker and Cathy Parker with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson.

At Cathy E. Parker, EA Bookkeeping and Tax Service, helping and educating people about what they need to know regarding taxes is just one of their passions.

TAX SERVICES, ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING, PAYROLL SERVICES - they do it all! Call 863-533-4141 for more information.

COMMITTEE OF 100

     The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, April 8, 2016, 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.

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.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

45 YEARS
Bartow Food Service Club, Inc.
GLT Office Plus Business Center
NAPA Auto Parts


30 YEARS
Nelle Terry

25 YEARS
A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure
First Presbyterian Church


20 YEARS
McBroom's Stamps, Awards & Personal Gifts

15 YEARS
Alutras Elementary School
Super-Lube


5 YEARS
Floral Avenue Elementary
Hearts and Minds Studios

FROST VAN DEN BOOM FUN THURSDAY

If you had the luck of the Irish (or are a Chamber member), you were invited to the Frost Van den Boom Fun Thursday this month - and it was a blast!



 

MORE PHOTOS HERE!

MEMBER MICRONEWS





COMMUNITY RIBBON-CUTTING FOR NEW SCULPTURE

The Chamber participated in a community Ribbon-cutting for the two new sculptures at Fort Blount Park. S
culptures are works from Aisling Millar, and are titled, "Interwoven," and "Three Hand Reel," and are sponsored by the Bartow Rotary Club.

POLK STATE COLLEGE CAREER FAIR

Polk State College would like to personally invite you as a vendor to its annual Career Fair. This event will be held outside in the Student Mall on April 14, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Your company will have the opportunity to advertise any vacancies or internship opportunities to our students and alumni. Tables and chairs will be provided and there are no fees for your participation. If you would like to join us please email pmjones@polk.edu and state how many people will be attending.

Event Location
Polk State College
3425 Winter Lake Rd.
Lakeland, FL 33803

read more...

FORTRESS FITNESS PROMOTES FAMILY FITNESS

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:
  • April 9th – John Abad
  • May 14th – Jude Dauphin

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

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jennifer Hall, President
    SEMCO Construction
Sharon Casey, Immediate Past President
    Retired Banker
Clint Edwards, President-elect, Vice President
    Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST

REACH 22K HOMES WITH YOUR MESSAGE

 Reserve your space now in the Spring Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 22,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

THE RED LETTER HAS ARRIVED! SAY YES TO JSN




It's that time of years again! JUST SAY NO is coming up May 11, 2016. Wouldn't you like to participate? Hard copy RED LETTERS are available here in the Chamber, or print the one attached here, make your donation and send to CenterState Bank, checks payable to JUST SAY NO, Attention, Anita Stasiak. Thanks for your involvement in this wonderful program to get the JUST SAY NO message to all area 5th graders.

SEE US HERE!

Newsletter1 - March 28, 2016