PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Polk County Day
 Polk County Day: What's It All About?
A great deal of legislation passes each year (during the legislative session in Tallahassee) that has a direct impact on county and other local government's ability to pay for, and provide quality services to their citizen taxpayers. In a highly charged political environment, it is necessary for both public and private entities to provide legislators with information about how issues (proposed or filed legislation) will impact the constituents in their districts – the folks back home! Since many entities have lobbyists who do just that, and since there are competing interests among entities, it is imperative to make an impression on legislators – to put a human face on the issues and raise the level of awareness to a point where positive action occurs. In other words, we try to get their vote – either FOR or AGAINST initiatives based on the impact we expect, locally.
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.
FROST VAN DEN BOOM PA FUN THURSDAY!
Get ready for the March Fun Thursday at FROST VAN DEN BOOM PA, Trial Lawyers, 395 S. Central Avenue, Bartow, 33830, on Thursday, March 16, 2017, 5:00 p.m. This is always a fabulous event with door prizes, surprises, and a great spread! See you then.
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH HAS SMILED UPON YOU!
NEW SERIES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
ALL NEW PROGRAM, NEW CLASSES FOR 2017. More . . .
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
 Reserve your space now in the Summer 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. |
SUN 'n FUN Int'l Fly-In Expo April 4-9, 2017 TICKETS!
MARCH BUSINESS: J. MARIE STIDHAM, DMD, PA
Left to right: Dr. J. Marie Stidham and Chamber Membership Services Director Barbara Adamson
March Business of the Month
________________________________________
J. Marie Stidham, DMD, PA
620 East Davidson Street, Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-4331 www.jmariestidham.com
For more than 20 years Dr. J. Marie Stidham has dedicated her practice to providing the latest state-of-the-art dental techniques and procedures. Just as important is her commitment to a highly-trained, friendly and caring staff that always puts her patients first. That's important to Dr. Stidham, not only as a medical professional, but also as a Bartow native. With Dr. Stidham, you can be confident with experienced professionals, amazing technology, and genuine compassion and care.
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
ENGAGE LUNCH AND LEARN
 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. These sessions will give participants a chance to reflect on new and creative ways to achieve professional leadership goals based on the best practices from 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.
The next ENGAGE LUNCH AND LEARN is set for Friday, March 17, 2017, at noon at Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. Guest speakers are Frances Shanks and Matt Hinton, who serve on the Corporate Human Resources team for PalletOne, Inc.
Along with providing HR Support to 19 plants in the Midwest and Eastern U.S., Matt and Frances co-facilitate training workshops for community groups and the company.
"PalletOne strives to live a culture where integrity, transparency, and courageous communication guide employee interaction," Hinton said. He and Shanks said they are excited to share an executive overview of one of their workshops: “Understanding Myers-Briggs Type Theory.”
In this 45 minute presentation class members will be introduced to tools for effective & connective communication.
Location: Florida Industrial & Phosphate Research Institute, 1855 W. Main Street, Bartow, FL 33830. REGISTER TODAY!
DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR APRIL!
 This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!
MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST
MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST. Why so early?
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.
Tickets are $12 per person
Reserved table of 8 Sponsorship are also available.
FOR TICKETS, SPONSORSHIPS.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
50 YEARS
R.W. Summers Railroad Contractor, Inc.
35 YEARS
Billy B. Brown, Jr., DDS
Florida Truck & Trailer Company
30 YEARS
Annett Bus Lines
Phillip E. Abbott, DDS
25 YEARS
Camping World of Bartow
Clark/Nikdel/Powell, Inc.
LaVerne McCall
20 YEARS
Graphite Maintenance, Inc.
15 YEARS
Bartow Dixie Baseball, Inc.
10 YEARS
Tommie Jenkins
5 YEARS
Bohde Grove Service
Labor Solutions, Inc.
Patel, Greene & Associates, PLLC
Jean O'Doski
Senator Denise Grimsley
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
MARCH
Tuesday, Wednesday, March 14, 15
POLK COUNTY DAY, TALLAHASSEE
Leadership Bartow XVII Travels to Tallahassee
Thursday, March 16, 5:00 p.m.
FROST VAN DEN BOOM FUN THURSDAY
395 S. Central Avenue, Bartow
Friday, March 17, 11:30 a.m.
ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN: Knowing Yourself
featuring Matt Hinton and Frances Shanks & FREE LUNCH!
Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute
1855 W. Main Street, Bartow
Friday, March 17, 5:30-ish
ST. PATRICK's UNPARADE & FRIDAY FEST
Parade begins at Nye Jordan Park, ends at Friday Fest
Saturday, March 18, 8:00 a.m.
BLARNEY TRIATHLON
Bartow Civic Center
Saturday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.
WILD GAME DINNER, ROTARY CLUB
Leland Young's Barn
Friday, March 24, 2:30 p.m.
LAKELAND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING DIGITAL BILLBOARD RIBBON-CUTTING
Wow! A ribbon-cutting for a billboard located at Dairy Queen Bartow, 1795 N. Broadway Ave. Don't miss it - you never know who might show up at this one!
Wednesday, March 29, 7:00 a.m.
MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST
Bartow Civic Center, Tickets, $12
Thursday, March 30, 6:00 p.m.
GEORGE W. HARRIS, JR. YOUTH CRISIS AND RUNAWAY SHELTER's
TASTE OF BARTOW
Allen Ranch Barn, Fort Meade
NEW MEMBERS
Pest Control
Massey Services, Inc.
Mr. Wili Davi
3705 US Hwy 98 S., Suite 4
Lakeland, FL 33812
(863) 665-4137
Visit Website here.
Attorneys
Saunders Law Group, P.A.
Mr. Thomas C. Saunders
480 S. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-6200
Visit Website here.
Engineers- Surveyors-Planners
Sloan Engineering Group, Inc.
Mr. Alan L. Rayl, PE, PSM
150 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 800-3046
Community Action & Human Services
Lighthouse Ministries, Inc.
Mr. Steve Turbeville
215 E. Magnolia Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 687-4076
Visit Website here.
MEMBER MICRONEWS
 TASTE OF BARTOW EVENT
TO BENEFIT SHELTER
SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!
Join the Youth and Family Alternative organization for a fun-filled night of music, dancing, drawings, and delicious local food and drink - all for a great cause!
Proceeds to benefit the George W. Harris Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter
Your $25 ticket includes unlimited samples of scrumptious fare from our talented local chefs plus beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Come and enjoy the soulful sounds of gifted local musician Justin Grimes while you participate in a table drawing filled with fabulous prizes. Dance the night away in the beautiful barn at the Allen Cattle Ranch. Come as you are - there’s no dress code and all are welcome!
at the ALLEN BARN, 6410 Garfield Rd.
Fort Meade, 33841
on Thursday, March 30, 2017, 5:00-9:00 p.m.
For tickets call: 863-397-7488
CLICK BELOW TO READ ABOUT THE UPCOMING
FLORIDA SHERIFF'S YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC AND MORE! |
