FROM THE PRESIDENT:
JENNIFER HALL, SEMCO Construction 
PUBLIC SAFETY AWARDS
It was my honor last Thursday at our Bartow Ford Fun Thursday to present Public Safety Awards to (6) outstanding men and women who serve our greater Bartow area.
Master Deputy Sheriff Paul Wright, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Department of Law Enforcement, works with PROCAP (Proactive Community Attack on Problems) Crime Suppression Team. His efforts have significantly contributed to the substantial decrease in crime in the Southern Districts of Polk County, which ultimately improves the quality of life for Polk County’s residents and visitors. (NOTE: These photos not in order).
     
Polk County Fire Rescue Paramedic, Mark “Doug” Deckard, recently used his knowledge and skills to properly identify, treat, and make a transport decision that made a very positive impact on the lives of a female patient and her unborn child.
Amanda Hancock, an EMT with Polk County Fire Rescue, spent hours of her off-duty time to provide an educational, interactive, and fun presentation of the fire/rescue apparatus and of the station for personnel from the Lighthouse for the Blind.
Firefighter/Engineer/Paramedic Dan Wintz with Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene of a serious traffic accident, and, while off duty, cared for multiple patients until Emergency Services arrived.
Bartow Fire Department Lieutenant Jimmy Schaill has served in Public Safety over 20 years. On the way back to the station from an emergency call, Jimmy and his crew stopped to help a lady stranded on the highway with a flat tire.
Officer Cody Vaughn, with the Bartow Police Department, has received numerous compliments from citizens he has helped. His positive attitude and desire to make a difference is a shining example of Bartow’s finest.
At a time when the safety and security of communities across the nation, and around the world, is in the news on a daily basis, we find ourselves more reliant on those who keep our communities safe. To these six folks and all of those who serve in our Police, Fire, Sheriff, EMT, and all Public Safety organizations, THANK YOU for literally risking your lives so that our lives may be safe!
Until next week,
Jennifer Hall
Your Chamber President, 2016
COMMITTEE OF 100 IS SEPT. 9
The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, September 9, 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 group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.
Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.
CHAMPIONS CUP
CHAMPIONS CUP
COMING UP: OCTOBER 20, 2016
NOMINATE FOR CHAMPIONS CUP AWARD HERE.
GUEST SPEAKER: Congressman Tom Rooney
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:
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
 Reserve your space now in the Winter Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
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BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TOM EDWARDS
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com
FUN THURSDAY AT BARTOW FORD
What a wonderful time we had at BARTOW FORD'S BUSINESS AFTER HOURS event on Thursday, September 8. Bartow Ford pulled out all the stops and treated us with great food, great music, and a great program to honor our Public Service Heroes! Read Chamber President's, Jennifer Hall's column for more information on the winners of these awards.
 SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE.
LUNCH & LEARN WITH CONG. ROSS
 Sign up now for the ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN FOR SEPTEMBER with Congressman Dennis Ross. Date: September 16, 2016, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, 1855 W. Main Street, Bartow. LUNCH IS ON US! SIGN UP HERE.
GET READY FOR DANCING UNDER THE STARS!
TICKETS ON SALE AT THE CHAMBER NOW! Call Barbara at 533-7125 or email her.
Dancing Under the Stars is set for September 16, 2016 at the Bartow Civic Center. To be featured are a dance and social hour with the sounds of the Big Band Era with The Chris Thomas Band, Dinner and Performance. Be sure to get your sponsorships / tickets early by contacting the Chamber, 533-7125.
About the Chris Thomas Band . . .
The Chris Thomas Band is the most dynamic and versatile band in the entire southeast! Chris Thomas has been described as the best undiscovered talent in the area. He is not only known for his professional vocal talent, but also as an exciting entertainer fashioned in the way of the great performers of years gone by such as Sinatra, Martin, and Davis. Full of soul and power, Chris also performs Motown favorites from artists like Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire and so many more. He performs current hits from artists like Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake. Chris Thomas has the style and swagger of Sinatra, and the performance excitement of James Brown and Bruno Mars. The Chris Thomas Band specializes in the performance of vintage Sinatra, soulful Motown, as well as current popular songs custom arranged for big band by its own band members. The band members are all professionally-trained musicians from colleges and universities around the U.S., as well as the Army and Navy bands.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON TO FEATURE ATTORNEY GARY
Tickets are now on sale at the Chamber, $12. Sponsorships are still available. Call or email the Chamber today: 863-533-7125, virginia@bartowchamber.com .
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE COMING UP OCT. 14
BARTOW FORD PRESENTS THE
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE:
Coming up in October is a very fun event, The Annual Chamber Golf Scramble, October 14, 2016, with a shotgun start of 1:00 p.m. Sign up your team today!
SPONSORS TO DATE:
GOLD SPONSORS: A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, Evolve Professional Landscape Management, Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
SILVER SPONSORS: Mosaic, Polk State College Foundation
BRONZE SPONSORS: Bank of Central Florida, BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center, KC Bouchillon PA, CenterState Bank, City of Bartow, PalletOne Inc., Polk County Sun & Democrat, Polk Power, Spherion Staffing, State Farm Insurance Michell Githens, Stingray Chevrolet, Sunbelt Forest Products
PRIZE SPONSOR: ASHLAND
ON COURSE FOOD SPONSORS: CenterState Bank, Mosaic
CONTRIBUTORS: Beef O' Brady's, Cruise Planners, Spherion Staffing, Tim Jones Barbershop, The Villages at Laurel Meadows
HOLE COURTESY TENT: The Villages at Laurel Meadows
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
35 YEARS
Florida Transport Services, Inc.
20 YEARS
The UPS Store
15 YEARS
Village at Lake Highland
5 YEARS
Bartow Deacons & Stewards Alliance, Inc.
Carla Meeks, Realtor, WebPro Realty
B2B BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE SEPT. 14
Wednesday, September 14, 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.
LAKELAND PIANO OPENING SECOND LOCATION
MEMBER MICRONEWS
 BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST ACE MENTOR CHAPTER
ACE Mentor Program is pleased to announce the fourth year for our Polk County Chapter, to be hosted at Bartow High School. ACE stands for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering.
Our ACE Mentor chapter currently has need for Mentors to volunteer at least 16 hours of their time, beginning October and running through February, to work with students as they plan, design, and construct a project. Our weekly chapter meetings will be held at Bartow High School. Two field trips to construction sites are also planned. The 16-week program will culminate with a banquet, where the students’ projects will be showcased.
Through the support of our financial sponsors, our ACE Mentor chapter will also award scholarships to students for them to pursue a career in Architecture, Construction, or Engineering. Learn more about ACE Mentor at www.acementor.org.
If you are interested in supporting this ACE Mentor program, by being a Mentor or Sponsor, please contact Brian Brogen, Southeastern Construction ( brianb@southeasternconst.com) or Jennifer Hall, SEMCO Construction ( jhall@semco.cc).
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
Wednesday, September 14, 7:30 a.m.
Business to Business BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Wednesday, September 14, 4:00 p.m.
PIANO ALLEY RIBBON-CUTTING
421 Eagle Ridge Dr., #506, Lake Wales 33859
Friday, September 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH DENNIS ROSS
FIPR Conference Room
Friday, September 16, 6:00 p.m.
DANCING UNDER THE STARS
Bartow Civic Center - Tickets at the Chamber.
Saturday, September 17, 8:00 a.m.
TOUR DE TOW Cycling Event
Central Avenue, Downtown
Tuesday, September 20, 3:45 p.m.
BOARD / EXEC MEETING
Wednesday, September 21, 11:45 a.m.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
FOR A LIST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, CLICK HERE AND THEN CHOOSE "EVENTS"!
ENGAGE SERVES' INAUGURAL CLASS
The Chamber's ENGAGE SERVES began August 23 with an inaugural class of 15. The new Board Training Class is sponsored by A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, Mosaic, Baylis & Company, and United Way of Central Florida. Left to right are
Callie Neslund, Michael Harris, Scott Weaver, Jonathan Bowman, Noemi Alfaro, Nicholas Cardarelli, Andrea Clontz, Melissa Hay, David Walter, Tamara Pickles, Sarah Massey, Erica Drop, Miles Carr, Rebecca Duvall, Justin Crymes, Tanya Tucker, and Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely.
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.
SM(ART) BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
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