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| Your Chamber News |
April 2010 |
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Greetings!
Congratulations to Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers our April Chick-fil-A Business of the Month!
The Chamber's Relocation Guide is hot off the presses. You can find it on the Chamber website or get a hard copy at the Chamber office! 
Are you receiving all the benefits of your Chamber Membership? Do you know what resources are available to you as a Chamber Member? Let us know how we are doing! In order for us to be more effective, we need to hear from you.
Take Member Survey
Sincerely,
Chris, Christi & Julie
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Welcome! New March Members
Mail Plus & Signs Plus - John Murry
Robbins Consulting, Inc. - Lynn Robbins, CPA
Aerospace Missions Corporation - Ricky Morgan
Dirty Monkey Soap Company - Carrie Guevara
Ligon, Middleton & Lindberg, P.C. - William Ligon
John V. Stewart Insurance - John Stewart
Mary Kay Independent Sales Director - Deborah Thrift
Comcast - Tom Reeder
Thank You! March Renewing Members
Camden County Board of Commissioners - Steve Howard (10 years)
Ellis & Ellis Construction - Cindy Crews (16 years)
Service Master of Camden-Charlton Counties - Randi Kramer (4 years)
SONCEL, Inc. - Marjorie Misner (22 years)
Walgreens - Ron Dinkel (2 years)
Fleet & Family Support Center - Debbie Lucas (22 years)
Mullis, Crews & Konrad, CPAs - Dena Crews (14 years)
Crooked Rivers Cultural Heritage Productions - Paul Kraack (2 years)
Freedom Self Storage - Charlie Smith, Jr. (4 years)
Tri-Lane Rentals - Larry Singletary (5 years)
Ignite Church - Mike Roddy (2 years)
American Red Cross, Blood Services - Dean Smith (5 years)
Cory's Thunder, Inc. - Laurie Ryan (2 years)
Pet Supplies Plus - Scott Altman (2 years)
Southeast Spine & Rehabilitation, LLC - Dr. Nagula (5 years)
Thomas Robertson Associates - Lee Robertson (2 years)
Reads Moving Systems - Bob Fuller (5 years)
The Jumping Place - Cathy Kloess (4 years)
Camden County Republican Committee - Adam Jacobson (6 years)
Ballast Pointe Trading Company, LLC - Doris Maye (2years)
Choo Choo Build-It Mart (VNS Corporation) - Wendi Toth (2 years)
St. Marys Airport Authority - Jim Steele (2 years)
Lilliston Ford - Keane Kirz (3 years)
S & S Pool Services - Gary Straight (5 years)
Prudential Magnolia Realty - Sheila Meadows (22 years)
The Lighthouse 89.3 FM - Paul & Vickie Hafer (8 years)
Kingsland Family Dental Associates - Dr. Linda Poloff (3 years)
Kountry Kickin Boots & Accessories - Juanita Carter (2 years)
Blue Image Pools, Inc. - Perry Friedt (2 years)
The Methodist Home for Children & Youth - Devon Loggins (8 years)
Highlighted are Milestone Members 10+ years as Chamber Members! |
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Thank You March Sponsors
Business After Hours
Metabolic Research Center
Business of the Month
Tools for Business Success
TDS Telecom
Steak Out
Gold
Georgia Pacific
TDS Telecom
Silver
Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford, & Martin, P.C.
III Palms Plaza
Bronze
Express Scripts
Satilla Business Services
Steak Out Table Sponsors
AFLAC
Amato Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Coastal Bank of Georgia
Coastal Mortgage Services
Coastal Oaks Home Inspections
Debbie Graham - SBDC
Jane Brown State Farm Insurance
Joy Cooper, ERA Kings Bay Realty
Laurel Island Links
Lisa Allen's Dance Studio
PrimeLending
Satilla Business Services
Satilla Community Bank
Southeastern Bank
Business After Hours Door Prizes
Aflac
Chick-fil-A
Cities of Camden County
Coastal Bank of Georgia
Crooked Rivers
H & R Block
Lil' Seabag
Lowes
Metabolic Research Center
Restoration Hands of Aloha
Tangled Threads
TDS Telecom
Walgreens
Special Thanks to Jill Lange for taking pictures and to Doug Cooper for emceeing at our events! | |
Ribbon Cuttings
Aerospace Missions Corporation
Congressman Jack Kingston and Rick Morgan, President Aerospace Missions cut the ribbon |
Rick Morgan, President; Susana Hernandez Morgan, Chief Operating Officer; Travis James Morgan, son & official paper shredder; Ali Abtahi, PH.D. Program Manager & Principal Electro-optics Engineer; Lorena Martinez, Administrative Assistant; COL (ret) Cary Westin, Vice President for Business Development; Frida Vetelino, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist |
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Congratulations to Rick and his staff of Aerospace Missions Corporation. We are thrilled to have you as part of our Camden County business community.
Special thanks to Joy Cooper, one of our volunteers that is always willing to lend a hand, for creating the beautiful bows for our Ribbon Cutting. Thanks, Joy!
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Fun Was Had by All at the Chamber's Annual Steak Out
The Annual Steak Out was once again a terrific event and a night for great food, great company and great fun! If you didn't attend you missed out. The Cooking Team, once again, served up delicious tenderloin with all the fixins' provided by Sonny's Bar-B-Que. Thanks to J.P.'s Spirits & Wines for providing our beverages. Thank you to David Brown and Scott Kicklighter from Georgia Power for providing the grill and ensuring that the rest of the cooking team was prepared and ready to serve...Bert Guy, Alex Blount and Kevin Daniel. Thanks for all your hard work!
Thank you to our sponsors, we could not have successful events without you. Gold - Georgia Pacific & TDS Telecom ~ Silver - Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, P.C. & III Palms Plaza ~ Bronze - Express Scripts & Satilla Business Services. We would also like to express our sincerest thanks to Gary Straight, owner of S&S Pools and the III Palms Plaza for allowing us to hold our event in his building. The room was perfect and your hospitality was very much appreciated. If anyone is in need of a centrally located leased storefront building, contact Gary at S&S Pools!
Also, thank you to everyone who helped turn the store into a classy and comfortable venue. Beautiful artwork hung on one wall as was provided by Susan Otis and Cathy Sherwood. Thank you Howard Sepp, Doug & Joy Cooper, Kevin Dalton, Kevin Kilner, Kevin Daniel, David Brown, Artie Jones, Jr., James Ham, Gary & Jeannie Straight, Otis & Susan Lee, Alex Blount, Pat Lee, Marty Klumpp, Mary Root, Tricey Godfrey, Christi Hall, Julie McCullough & Kevin VanHorn, we couldn't have done it without you. Last but not least, thank you to the Woobine Lions Club and Joel Williams for sharing their Steak Out Game Board and materials.
Drs. David & Lesa Amato, Jeff & Cathy Barker, Tammy & Jim Lomis, John King |
David Brown, Kevin Daniel, Bert Guy, Scott Kicklighter & Alex Blount  |
Thank you to our Table Sponsors:
AFLAC, Amato Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Coastal Bank, Coastal Mortgage Services, Coastal Oaks Home Inspections, Debbie Graham-SBDC, Jane Brown State Farm Insurance, Joy Cooper-ERA Kings Bay Realty, Laurel Island Links, Lisa Allen's Dance Studio, PrimeLending, Satilla Community Bank, Satilla Temps, Southeastern Bank
Our grand prize winners each won $550.
Congratulations to Jennifer Lewis and Kimberly Rossi  |
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Business After Hours
The March Business After Hours sponsored & hosted by Metabolic Research Center was fantastic. If you didn't attend because you thought there would be all diet food, boy did you miss out. The food was great and the networking was outstanding. We welcomed our new members and had many announcements about events taking place.
Janet Young, Velorice Bowen, Genia Roddy
Metabolic Staff Members  |
Congratulations to our Sailor of the Month - YN2(SS) Devon Arevalos - USS Alaska (Blue)
The April Business After Hours will be held on Thursday, April 15th and will be sponsored and hosted by Southeastern Bank, St. Marys Branch located at 2512 Osborne Road from 5-7 pm. Don't forget to bring your business cards so the Mystery Chamber Member has your card and bring your loose dollar bills for 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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Travel Tuscany
The Chamber is offering a 10-day trip to Tuscany from November 4 -13, 2010
Highlights include: Rome · Assisi · Basilica of St. Francis · Montecatini Terme · Siena · San Gimignano · Winery Tour · Florence · Tuscan Feast · Pitti Palace
Your adventure begins with an overnight flight to Italy. Rolling landscapes, savory wines, delicious food, and stunning architecture... this can only be Tuscany. On this special journey you will enjoy walking tours in Italy's most charming towns, visit magnificent historic monuments and sample mouth-watering cuisine and wines. For more details review the 10-day itinerary and schedule your flights soon!
This is a chance of a lifetime for a price that can't be beat. Flight, lodging and meals are included. |
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Leadership! Do You Have What it Takes?
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 CHICK-FIL-A SIMULCAST LEADERCAST.
The Camden County Chamber of Commerce leads the way along with Leadership Camden Alumni & Southeast Community Church as sponsors for 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 which fits into any budget. Join us for this fantastic and inexpensive way to further develop your leadership skills and do it close to home. A workbook and lunch will be provided. 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 is Forming a New Leadership Camden Class!
 What is it and Why YOU Should Participate...
The Leadership Camden Program is a 10 session leadership curriculum designed for locally recognized, emerging and potential community leaders. It emphasizes skill-building for effective leadership and includes a community action component.
· Represents non-partisan voice of the county
· Informs & involves diverse citizenry (race, gender, age, socioeconomic, geography,
professions)
· Brings together a network of top talent
· Cultivates future members of local boards & authorities
· Provides awareness of issues shaping the future
· Serves as a forum for issues discussion
· Promotes access to top political, business & civic leaders
· Leverages local initiatives
· Expands the base of local volunteerism
· Creates mentors & coaches for youth leadership
· Orients newcomers to the county
· Directs efforts towards community success
Leadership Camden opens doors to the community for those with the desire and ability to shape its future. Through face-to-face meetings with area leaders and on-site visits to local institutions, participants explore the major issues and unique challenges facing Camden County.
Participation is limited so fill out an application today. It is an experience of a lifetime! Read what past Camden Leadership folks have said about the program... read more... |
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Chamber Member Milestones,
Congratulations & Welcome to Camden County! Alyce Thornhill, Director of Economic Development for the City of St Marys has earned certification as a "Travel Marketing Professional" (TMP) after completing the three-year program of the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Marketing College. Congratulations Alyce on your accomplishments!
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The Camden County Robotics Team competed in its first ever robotics competition at the Peachtree Regional held at the Gwinnett Center on March 4-6. Three months after receiving a NASA grant, and six weeks after picking up boxes of parts at the Atlanta FIRST Robotics kick-off, Camden put a competitive robot on the field. Some early alliance victories in the Gwinnett Center got the Wildcats as high as ranked 10th on day-1, but some mechanical problems on day-2 slowed us down and we did not make the playoffs (elimination rounds).
The Wildcat team, Seth Gilmore, Noah Harvey, Nick Limestall, John Zuzich, Leif Anderson, and Devon Godwin excelled in teamwork, engineering innovation and competitiveness during the competition as they engineered on-the-fly modifications to the frame (saving us when we flipped!), the kicker mechanism (when pneumatics gave us problems), and game strategy (scoring points after flipping one opponent!). It was exciting first competition, and the team came away with plenty of ideas for future events. Their goal going forward is to recruit new student members and adult mentors, build community partnerships, and get ready to compete! Way to go WILDCATS!
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Lucky Dawgs had the honor to participate and be the featured restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March. They featured their yummy fish tacos for two years in a row! Congratulations!
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The Camden County Joint Development Authority works hard to assist General Dynamics Electric Boat in their expansion on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. For more details. |
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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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