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| Your Chamber News |
March 2010 |
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Greetings!
Congratulations to Home Towne Suites our March Chick-fil-A Business of the Month!
Do you know the Chamber has a Facebook Page? If you didn't or you have not become a fan, please see us on Facebook.
Do you know the facts and IMPORTANCE of the 2010 Census?
- Census data help to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments for important social services that affect local communities like ours.
- Census data are used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the subsequent redistricting of state and local governments.
- Census data can help fund services for people in poverty, establish facilities for people with disabilities, determine locations for hospitals and senior centers, and forecast transportation needs, such as new roads and public transit options.
- The Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form that is returned by mail.
- Census workers make up to 14 visits for residences where a form was not returned in advance.
Don't delay, when you receive your census questionnaire, fill it out completely and mail it back promptly.
Sincerely,
Chris, Christi & Julie
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Welcome! New February Members
Ed Walker - Individual
J.P. Spirits & Wines - John Bennett
Nicole Cheek - Prudential Magnolia Realty
Military Relaty of Kings Bay - Banks VanPelt III
Morgan Marketing Professionals - Theresa Farrell
Bug-Out Services, Inc. - John Milton
Thank You! February Renewing Members
Advance for Kids - Sarah Johnsen (2 years)
Ameris - Ed Haworth (21 years)
Anytime Fitness - Tommy & Dana Cornett (2 years)
Bennett Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep - Walter Bennett (8 years)
Blair C. Strain, P.C. - (16 years)
CCAR-Camden Community Alliance & Resources, Inc.- Celenda Perry (7 years)
CCHS Work-Base Learning - Rachel Baldwin - (15 years)
Camden Printing - Greg Lockhart (18 years)
Camden Seventh-Day Adventist Church - Dean Read (2 years)
Camden-Kings Bay Navy League - Keith Post (7 years)
Caring Hearts, Inc. - Eva Gonzales (3 years)
Citizens State Bank - Chip Keene (22 years)
Coastal Dental Care, P.C. - Sid Parker, Jr. D.M.D. & Jeff Pennington, D.M.D. (12 years)
Coastal Moving & Storage - Marian Rosell (11 years)
Culligan Water Services - Greg Windover (12 years)
Electric Dreams, Inc./Duffy Boats - Bill Creed (5 years)
First Baptist Church - Cheskca Bradford (9 years)
Fowler, Maxwell, & Company, P.C. - Stan Fowler, CPA (22 years)
Kingsland United Methodist Church - Rev Dave Hanson (8 years)
Lang Insurance Agency-State Farm - Kevin Lang (6 years)
Linda & Neal More - Indiviuals (3 years)
Orange Hall Foundation - Keith Post (4 years)
P&A Engineering - Beverly Reaves (3 years)
Property Managment & Realty, Inc. - Deb Maner (8 years)
Publix Super Markets - Brian Bowman (16 years)
Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc. - Jeff Fishback (10 years)
Sabrina Brown - RE/MAX Signature Properties (2 years)
Shaklee Wellness Consultant - Shaon Viellenave (1 year)
TDS Telecom - Frank Holcomb (17 years)
Vista Outdoor Advertising - Craig Root (22 years)
Wal-Mart Store #836 - Ken Bradley (3 years)
Highlighted are Milestone Members 10+ years as Chamber Members! |
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Thank You February Sponsors
Business After Hours
Golden Isles Pediatric Dentistry
Business of the Month
Tools for Business Success
TDS Telecom
New Member Welcome Coastal Oaks Home Inspections
The Southern Charmer
Citizens State Bank Community Center
Business After Hours Door Prizes
Chick-fil-a
Cities of Camden County
Coastal Bank of Georgia
Crooked Rivers
Golden Isles Pediatric Dentistry
H & R Block
Lil' Seabag
Lowes
Restoration Hands of Aloha
Southeastern Bank
Tangled Threads
TDS Telecom
Walgreens
**Special Thank You to Jill Lange for taking pictures at our events!** |
What has Your Chamber Done for You Lately?
Your Chamber of Commerce is more than an event planner, marketer and a networking resource. While you are running your business your Chamber staff, Ambassadors, Committee Chairs, Board Members and other volunteers are working for you. This is just a sample of what we have done lately:
- Reorganized Small Business Committee
- Organized and implemented multiple seminars/workshops and training opportunities
- Conducted several Mystery Shopping visits
- "Tools for Business Success" resource on the Chamber's web site currently sponsored by TDS Telecom
- Creation of the Resource Center in the Chamber Office
- Created PICK 3 Campaign
- Facilitated two workshops on the "bidding process" for the school system and state & federal agencies
Government Community Affairs Committee
- Followed legislation on state and federal levels
- Earned "Keep Camden Beautiful" designation
- Initiated Joint Resolution for "Keep Camden Beautiful"
- Initiated Joint Resolution for permanent location for Altamaha Technical College
- Planned & facilitated County's first Annual Atlanta Fly-In
Reorganized Military Community Affairs Committee
- Conducted five successful Washington, DC Fly-Ins and currently planning the sixth
- Honored and gave reccognition to our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen
- Initiated a base tour for our recent political candidates
- Facilitated three meetings between local businesses and Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay
Ambassadors
- Conducted 93 ribbon cuttings
- Held five Annual Steak Outs, planning the sixth (MARCH 26th)
- Held Quarterly Luncheons to network and educate amongst our community
- Held New Member Welcome's quarterly
Renamed Education Committee to Workforce Development Committee
- Received $35,000 Work Ready Grant
- Earned Work Ready Certification
Miscellaneous Items
- Facilitated the initial County meeting for the 2010 Census
- Assisted in planning & emceed 2010 Census Kick-Off Reception
- Graduated 55 Leadership Camden Participants (2006-2009) and soon will add 17 more graduates
- Made 850 referrals to member businesses since July 09
- Answered 8987 business calls since July 09 (that have actually been logged)
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Ribbon Cuttings
Little Blue Lunch Wagon
Barbara Ann Scott-Ambassador, Kevin Van Horn-Ambassador, Marty Klumpp-Ambassador, Beth Gowen-Woodbine, Woodbine Mayor Louise Mitchell, Steven Miller- Owner, Christine Daniel-Chamber President, Doug Cooper-Ambassador, Wendell Thompson-Ambassador & Caryn Folsom-Ambassador |
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Annual Steak Out Tickets are Available
The Chamber's Annual Steak Out is Friday, March 26th held at the III Palms Plaza next to S&S Pools located at 1621 Hwy 40 East, Kingsland. Cocktails - 6:30 pm and Dinner - 7:15 pm. Numbered tickets are $40 and guest tickets are $20. All Board Members & Chamber staff are selling tickets, so hurry because they will go fast.
Special thanks to our sponsors for supporting the Annual Steak Out:
Gold Sponsor - Georgia Pacific
Silver Sponsor - Gilbert, Harrell, Summerford & Martin, P.C.
III Palms Plaza
Anyone interested in sponsoring a table by providing a gift valued at no less than $25 to be used as the center piece and a promotional item for each guest sitting at the table. The tables will be set for 8*. We hope to have 16-18 tables. The table gift will be part of the drawing process. |
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Business After Hours
The February Business After Hours sponsored & hosted by Golden Isles Pediatric Dentistry was outstanding! If you did not attend the event, you missed terrific food provided by Creative Catering & Design, terrific networking and meeting all the new members. Your kids and grand-kids will love Dr. Patti and her staff!
Our Sponsor and Host Dr. Patti
March's Business After Hours is sponsored and hosted by Metabolic Research Center located at 107 Lakeshore Drive, St. Marys (next to the Southeast Georgia Health System) on Thursday, March 18th from 5-7pm. Join us for great food (it isn't going to be diet food!!!), fun and terrific networking.
Remember to bring a lot of business cards and be sure the Mystery Chamber Member has your card. Don't forget the Chamber's Stimulus 50-50 drawing.
For more photos from the Business After Hours go to the Chamber's Photo Gallery. |
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New Member Welcome
The New Member Welcome co-sponsored by Coastal Oaks Home Inspections and The Southern Charmer was terrific. All those in attendance were treated to homemade oatmeal, croissants, muffins and fruit. At 8 am, things were quite lively and everyone was enjoying themselves. If you haven't attended a New Member Welcome, please join us for our next event. They are held quarterly and a great opportunity to learn what what your Chamber has to offer you and how to get the most from your benefits of membership. Thanks again to our Sponsors Coastal Oaks Home Inspections and The Southern Charmer and a special thank you to Citizens State Bank for allowing us to use the Community Center. For more pictures go to our Photo Gallery.
 New Member Welcome
Looking at Sponsor Tables
Just a few of the New Members |
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Leadership! Do You Have What it Takes?
Leadership! Everyone has leadership qualities, it just depends on how you use them. Learn from the best of the best and do it in the comfort of our very own community! Mark your calendars for Friday, May 7th from 8 am - 4 pm and join us for the LIVE SIMULCAST of the CHICK-FIL-A LEADERCAST.
The Camden County Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Camden Alumni and the Southeast Community Church are sponsoring the live simulcast. Those appearing include: John Maxwell, Jim Collins, Tony Dungy, Ed Bastian, Jim Goodnight, Connie Podesta, Steve Uzzell, Ben Carson, Chip Heath, and Mark Sandborn.
This educational and motivational event would cost $195 to attend in Atlanta, but we are offering the program to you for $65. So join us, build some new relationships, learn some leadership skills and traits and participate in an unforgettable experience.
Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber for $65 and can fit into any budget. Join us for this fantastic and inexpensive way to further develop your leadership skills and do it close to home. Lunch will be included. Call the Chamber at 912-729-5840 or email us at info@camdenchamber.com to reserve your seat and purchase your ticket. All forms of payment are accepted - Cash, Check, VISA or MasterCard.
Seating is limited, so don't delay!
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Chamber Member Milestones,
Congratulations & Welcome to Camden County!
Singing Students of Dina Barone's Vocal Studio took 1st & 3rd place in their divisions at the North Florida Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Annual Vocal Competition held at Jacksonville University on Saturday, February 6th.
Matthew Humphrey took third place in the High School Classical division and Brittany Bingham took first place in the Lower College Music Theatre division. Both Matthew and Brittany were recognized with certificates at the closing honors recital and Brittany will go on to participate in the South East Regional competition which will be held at Stetson University in Deland Florida on March 26th.
College Music Majors from Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, Florida State and high school students from the North Florida region participated in the competition. Congratulations to Brittany and Matthew! For more information about the studio & competition visit www.dinabaronestudio.weebly.com.
Brittany Bingham, Dina Barone & Matthey Humphrey |
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CCHS Platinum Card
Buyers in the youth market spend and purchase $260 billion annually. Imagine the benefits to your business if you could capture a market among the nearly 600 Camden County High School seniors graduating each year?
Through the Keep It In Camden (KIIC) campaign sponsored by the Small Business Committee of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, you can become a "Platinum Card" sponsor. The Platinum Card awards academic achievement, while promoting your business and benefiting the local economy.
Students must pass all five components of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHGST), complete a minimum of 28 of 32 academic and elective credits following a program of study in order to earn the right to walk at graduation. Passing each component of the GHGST requires meeting a minimum score criteria in each area. Following No Child Left Behind mandates for schools attaining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status requires a first time Math score of 516 or higher and a score of 500 or higher in the language, writing, science and social studies components. Students have multiple attempts to take and pass each component of the test prior to graduation; however, schools are measured on how many juniors are successful on their first attempt.
We are asking local merchants to help promote and encourage passing the test on the first attempt by providing incentives to the students. For example:
- Percent discount off of a purchase
- Free drink, dessert, etc. with a purchase
- Free item with purchase of specific $ amount or more
- Free rental, tokens, tickets, etc. for an activity
- Specify $ amount off of a service (haircut, dry cleaners, etc.)
- Buy one get one free item
- Priority service for event or product
Benefits to you include:
- Expanding your youth market
- Daily televised advertising for your business to 3,000 high school students and staff during announcements at the high school
- Recognition as a community program sponsor
Participating is as easy as completing an application form. Once a sponsor you will be provided with instructions on how the program works and how to identify seniors eligible for this honor. Marketing materials to promote you as a sponsoring business will also be distributed. Eligible students will be provided Platinum Cards and a directory of sponsoring businesses.
Please consider participating in this outstanding opportunity and honor our youth for their hard work and dedication to their education and future. Please complete the attached application and return to the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. You do not have to be a Chamber member to become a sponsoring business. Please feel free to contact me at cdaniel@camdenchamber.com or call 729-5840 if you have further questions. |
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Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you utilizing the Chamber website, newsletters and weekly updates to your fullest advantage?
The Chamber can offer you ways to promote and expose your business to other Chamber members and readers. Website advertising, sponsoring the weekly updates and/or the Newsletter for a month are just a few ways. All you have to do is contact us at 912-729-5840 or email us at info@camdenchamber.com to see how each of these marketing venues can be used to your advantage and benefit. | |
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