The first New Members Luncheon of the year was held January 5.  We had four new members and several of our board members attending.  At the New Members Luncheons, the  executive director shows a presentation describing what the Chamber can do for its members. Lunch was provided by NEFCOM and prepared by Woody's BBQ. 

Duval Ford

Eric Raulerson Construction, Inc.

First Coast Woman's Services

Fresenius Medical Care-Macclenny

Spinner's Pizza

Welcome Homecare

The first quarter Lunch & Learn was held Tuesday, February 16 at the Emergency Operations Center.  Bob Myers with the Small Business Development Center, University of North Florida, was the speaker.  Mr. Myers gave a short symposis of the SBDC Survival Toolkit and what small businesses need to do to stay in business during these slow economic times.  Beginning the second quarter of this year, the SBDC will have a person from their office at the Chamber office on a quarterly basis to meet with individual business owners or those planning to start a small business, to assist them in getting started or sharing ways to stay in business.  These meetings will be confidential and by appointment.

Episcopal Children’s Services (ECS) is the largest not-for-profit child focused organization serving children from birth to age 5 in Northeast Florida. Last year ECS provided services to over 27,000 children in Duval, Clay, Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Union, St. Johnsand Putnam counties. ECS programs include Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, School Readiness, Head Start, Parent Education and Male Involvement. ECS has also been a partner in the Jacksonville Early Learning Partnership in Duval County since it began in October 2005. Most recently, in a partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, Florida Institute of Education and Child Guidance, ECS is providing comprehensive early literacy and mental health services for children and families in 35 Centers located in Health Zone I, Duval County as part of the Jacksonville Journey initiative. Our School Readiness program, subsidized child care, primarily funded by AWI through the Early Learning Coalition of CNBB serves 2000 children on average every month within the four county areas of Clay, Nassau, Baker and Bradford Counties. This program allows families living below 200% of the federal poverty level to afford the child care needed to work. Additionally, School Readiness gives children of financially challenged families the opportunity to begin school prepared to succeed. In Baker County this year over 400 children are being served in School Readiness programs. More than half of these children come from families that qualify solely based on low family income. Additionally, Episcopal Children’s Services serves about 300 Baker County four year olds through the states Voluntary Prekindergarten program. This program is open to any four year old whose parents are residents of Florida at no cost to the family. Additionally, child care providers in Baker County can participate in trainings and take advantage of technical assistance and enrichment, all at no or very low cost. Our active, daily presence in the Coalition counties through our Family Services Specialists ensures that Episcopal is always aware of the changing needs and available resources in Baker County.

 

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) was recently awarded a three-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The hospital’s accredited programs include case management, community integration, crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Additionally, NEFSH was recognized for exemplary conformance to standards for our quality improvement processes. Exemplary conformance is awarded to less than one percent of all surveys conducted nationally.

NEFSH is now one of three state hospitals nationally who holds this prestigious accreditation status.