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November Monthly News from
Your Chamber |
Greetings!
Special thanks to everyone that had a hand in the preparation for the Taste of Camden, our sponsors, the vendors, our volunteers, the entertainers, and all the participants. We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did. Congratulations to our event winners:
Best Booth - Eagle Plumbing; Best Themed Booth - On the Green Salon & Day Spa; Tastiest Entree - Lucky Dawgs; Tastiest Appetizer - The Mill; Tastiest Dessert - Creative Catering & Design.
Next Saturday, November 7th please remember to move your clock back by one hour.
We salute our Veterans for their dedication to our Country. Honor all Veterans on Thursday, November 11th. We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. We all have so much to be thankful for. We live in a fantastic Country and community. Happy Thanksgiving! The Chamber office will be closed for the holiday on November 25th & 26th. Chris, Christi, & Julie  |
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Thank You to Our October New & Renewing Members | |
Thank You to Our October New Members
JRC Roofing - Chris Roland
United 1st Federal Credit Union - Ed Walker
Thank You to Our October Renewing Members
CCHS Work-Based Learning - Rachel Baldwin (15 years)
Camden County High School Theatre - Dean Slusser (13 years)
Landscape Innovation - Josh Bishop (4 years)
Aim Three LLC/Independent Rep. of Discovery Map - E. Tricey Godfrey (2 years)
Alissa's Masterpiece Photography - Alissa Williams (1 year)
Valdosta State University - Catherine Christie (3 years)
Bay Town Homes - Oscar Wells (16 years)
Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation - Lee H. Owen (4 years)
Robert Houghteling, O.D., P.C. @ Sears Optical (3 years)
Altamaha Technical College - Lorette Hoover (2 years)
Lisa Allen's Dance Works - Lisa Allen (13 years)
NAMI of Coastal Georgia - Bryan P. Warren, M.D. (8 years)
AFLAC - Bob & Nancy Dervaes (1 year)
Bennett Suzuki, Inc. - Allen Eldridge (2 years)
Heritage Bank - Kathy McLellan (11 years)
Main Street Broadband - Robin Blackard (1 year)
Sam Pickren Heating & Air Conditioning - Robert Paulk (12 years)
Salvation Army - Nanette Hamilton (16 years)
Coastal Medical Access Program (CMAP) - Edward Bland (5 years)
Larry's Giant Subs - Paul & Donna Hinch (2 years)
Stein & Guy, P.C. - Rhonda Thornton (8 years)
Ashe Law Offices - William R. Ashe (2 years)
Care South Advantage Home Healthcare - Sylvia Dowling (4 years)
Coastal Area District Development Authority - Andrew Standard (3 years)
IDS Alarm Systems - Jay Lassiter (5 years)
Woodbine Citizens Steering Committee - Royce Proctor (8 years)
Woodbine Pharmacy - Sabra Maddox (1 year)
*Highlighted Members 10+ years Membership |
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Thank You to Our October Sponsors | |
October Sponsors
Taste of Camden
Platinum
Dalton Signs
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Que
TC Pro Audio
TDS Telecom
Tribune & Georgian
Vista Outdoor Advertising
Silver
Southeast Georgia Health System
WKBX FM K-Bay 106.3
Bronze
Bennett Chevrolet-Buick
Bennett Suzuki
Brant Creek Apartments
Navy Federal Credit Union
Satilla Business Services
Special Thanks
William Brunson & PSA Staff
Southeastern Bank
Ambassadors & Taste of Camden Committee
Tri-Lane Rental
LOWES Home Improvement
Georgia Power
Business of the Month
Chick-fil-A
Door Prizes
Aflac
American Red Cross
Ameris Bank
Bennett Chevrolet
Brant Creek
Camden County Clinic of Chiropractic
Camden County High School Theater
Care South Advantage
Coastal Bank of Georgia
Coastal Oaks Home Inspections
College of Coastal Georgia
Domino's Pizza
Eagle Plumbing
Farmers & Builders
Folkston Funnel/Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Work Ready
GM3 Photography
Golden Isles Pediatric Dentistry
Harriet's Bluff Wine & Spirits
Humana Military
IHOP
KB Grill
Lisa Allen's Dance Works
Methodist Home for Children & Youth
On the Green Salon & Day Spa
Premier Jewelry - Independent Rep - Pam Unger
Salvation Army
Satilla Business Services
Shoney's
Sonny's
Southeastern Bank
Southeastern Georgia Health Systems
Spencer House
St. Marys OBGYN
TDS Telecom
The Blood Alliance
The Mill
Travel 4 Fun
United Way 211
ViSalus - Independent Rep Greg & Sue Lockhart
KIIC Shopping Spree Grand Prize:
Barlow Orthodontics
Camden Bicycle Center
Camden County Clinic of Chiropractic
Camden County Recreation Center
Camden Oral Surgery
Classic Cleaners
Di's Catering Services
Diver's Den
J. Green Jewelers
Living Waters Christian Book Store
Natural Remedies
Original Works of Melodie Lane Floyd
Satilla Board Sports
Service Master
Sheila's Hallmark
Shoney's
Shooters of America
Steffens/The Mill
Stein & Guy, P.C. - Bert Guy
The Southern Charmer
Tribune & Georgian |
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Ribbon Cuttings | |
Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings during the Month of October
Dollar Tree Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
 | | Dianne Dawdry-Ambassador, Jessy Bissell-Staff Dollar Tree, Carman Daley-Staff Dollar Tree, Tammy Howard- District Manager Dollar Tree, Andre Marsh-Manager Dollar Tree, Chris Daniel-Chamber, Heather Trotter-Ambassador |
More Ribbon Cutting Photos
Lord Eye Center Ground Breaking
David Keating, Christine Daniel,
More Photos |
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Government Community Affairs Supported Business Amendments/Referendum | |
The Government Community Affairs Committee encouraged Chamber members to vote for the following ballot measures that will stimulate job creation, improve safety, and benefit all Georgians.
AMENDMENT ONE - Employment Covenants ensures that Georgia employers and employees enjoy the same certainty regarding employment agreements as in other states. This constitutional amendment will allow judges to modify existing employment contracts as needed to reflect their original intent when they are contested in a court of law.
AMENDMENT TWO - Trauma Care Funding establishes a comprehensive, statewide trauma care network through the creation of a $10 vehicle tag fee that will provide funding for critically needed trauma services throughout the state. Today, our state has only 16 designated trauma centers, putting many Georgians at risk of being too far away from the specialized care they need to survive an accident at work, at home, or on the road.
AMENDMENT THREE - DOT Accounting allows the Georgia Department of Transportation to change its accounting practices from a cash basis to a system of accrual, letting GDOT award multi-year construction contracts on the expectation of future revenues.
AMENDMENT FOUR - Performance Contracting authorizes Georgia state government to enter into multi-year performance contracts for energy-efficient retrofits of state buildings that would be paid for by utility bill savings.
REFERENDUM A - State Inventory Tax eliminates the state portion of the ad valorem tax on business inventories, which costs retailers and other businesses millions of dollars a year and discourages companies from locating their warehousing and distribution facilities in Georgia.
If you would like to get involved in the Government Community Affairs Committee join us for the monthly meetings the first Wednesday of each month beginning promtly at 8 am at the Chamber's conference room. Please contact Charlie Smith at charlie@tcfg-fl.com. The committee will begin working on the Georgia and Washington, DC fly-ins. |
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Membership Committee Meeting | | The Membership Committee's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 15th at Noon in the Chamber Conference Room. Bring your lunch and join us for great discussion about membership benefits, member retention, and more! Anyone is welcome to attend and be a part of this very important commitee. If you have further questions or have ideas for a topic of discussion please email Nancy Dervaes, Committee Chair at nancy_dervaes@us.aflac.com. See you there! |
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Military Community Affairs Committee Updates | |
The Military Community Affairs Committee is working hard to recognize and support our Military personnel in Camden County. Here are just a few ways in which the Chamber's MCA and other partners are working together.
- If any member or business would like to have an EDICCIMAD sign, please contact the Chamber or stop by during business hours from 8-5 pm and pick one up. This is a great opportunity to recognize and honor our Military personnel.
- IA Program - You will be receiving more information regarding the Individual Augmentee Program. If you are interested in participating or supporting an IA family, please send the Chamber an email at info@camdenchamber.com. Stay tuned for more details about the program and how you can be of assistance.
Military Community Affairs meetings are the last Thursday of each month at 8:30 am held at the Chamber in the Conference Room. If you are interested in participating on this committee you can contact the co-chairs Allen Eldridge at eldridge1@tds.net or CMC Jimmy Schubert at james.schubert@navy.mil. Look forward to having you join us!
*November & December meeting dates will vary due to the holiday season* |
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Small Business Committee Succeeds in Helping Local Business | |
The Small Business (SB) Committee was informed of impending tax and fee increases to two local ordinances impacting businesses in St. Marys. The two ordinances in question were the False Alarm ordinance and the Alcohol Beverage ordinance. A member of the SB Committee present at the October 11th Council meeting asked the council to allow the Chamber's SB Committee time to contact the businesses who would be impacted the greatest from these fee increases and report back to the Council at the October 25th meeting with their findings. The council agreed to the request and tabled the issues.
The SB Committee conducted a brief survey of the Chamber Membership and also went door to door to non-members impacted from the proposed fee increases. The survey included two questions:
- The City is proposing making changes to the current Alcohol Beverages Ordinance. They want to increase the fee schedule in 6 different categories of the current 16 in effect, including: New Application Fee from $150 to $250, Renewal Application Fee from $0.00 to $50.00, Application Appeal Fee, meaning if your application is denied, you would have to pay for any attorney fees if you appeal and the city wins the appeal, and they want to access an Excise Tax on distilled, malt, and per liter tax on wine, which could be up to 3 % tax on every alcoholic drink or item sold. They are proposing 2%. The Camden Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee is always striving and looking into different ways to bring new business into Camden County, not drive them away. We are continually looking into new ways to increase long term economic growth. We feel that the proposed increases do not create a welcoming attitude for new and future business owners. Do you agree with the city's proposed changes?
Based on the survey results 61 people responded and 80% (49) agreed that we do not need to raise the fees. People agree that raising the fees is not "new business friendly". The Chamber and other ED partners are trying to bring new businesses to St. Marys not drive them away and this increase sends the wrong message.
- City of St. Marys has an alarm ordinance that allows business owners to have from six and up to 12 false alarms before a $50.00 fine will be charged to the offender. Currently the false alarm ordinance has not been enforced. The city council is proposing increasing the fine to $100 following three and up to 6 false alarms. In an e-mail from the City of St. Marys Police Chief, Tim Hatch, to the City Manager, Bill Shanahan and cc'd to several other city employees, Police Chief Hatch, gives the following statistics. 1) The Police department responded to 1,438 false alarms in a 12 month period dating from 7/1/2009 to 7/31/2010. This is an average of 120 false alarm calls per month. Furthermore the city has spent a minimum of $4,315 just to answers these calls. As we agree the additional cost to the city of answering these calls is high, the city council has stated that the false alarm ordinance has not been enforced over the years. It is the opinion that there is no reason to increase the fines of an ordinance the city currently does not enforce. It is the Chamber's position that the false alarm warning be revised to 3 warnings, but on the fourth false alarm enforce the current fine of $50.00. Once the few multiple offenders are fined, hopefully they will see it is cost effective to fix their false alarm problems. Raising the fine fee will not fix the false alarm problem, enforcing the current ordinance will.
Based on the survey results 60 responded and 73% (44) agreed on the position of the Chamber that the City Police Department needs to begin enforcing the current ordinance. Don't increase a fee on an ordinance that has not been enforced. The Chamber does agree that excessive false alarms need to be addressed.
Business owners expressed how these proposed changes would impact their businesses, their bottom line, and asked Council to please not approve any additional fee increases recommended at this time.
The Council voted 5-1 not to increase the Alcohol Beverage fees and unanimously to revisit the proposed changes to the alarm ordinance.
The Small Business Committee will meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:15 pm at the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. The next meeting is scheduled for November 10th at 6:15 pm. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact the Chamber at info@camdenchamber.com. The Co-chairs for the Committee are Dr. Jon Shiels and Alex Blount. The more business people on this committee the more information we can provide to our membership. |
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Workforce Development Committee & Community Partners Submit Trident Coast Regional Work Ready Grant | |
The Chamber's Workforce Development Committee lead the way in developing and submitting the Georgia Work Ready Proposal on behalf of the Trident Coast including Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, and McIntosh Counties. The project addressed three fundamental gaps in our regional workforce education program. They include:
- Skills development and life-long learning gaps which limit our potential to establish a competitive regional workforce for the defense-related industry and the supporting defense related businesses including; high-technology, alternative energy, and engineering. This need is critical because it is reported that approximately 30% of the defense contractor workforce will be retiring or separating from their current positions in the next three to five years.
- Career pathways and translation of existing skills to aide in the transition of a skilled and underemployed workforce; including the migration of separating military personnel in to alternate industry in the high-technology, alternative energy, and engineering fields.
- Creation of a larger footprint for post-secondary programs to develop a workforce that will support existing and prospective defense industries in the Trident Coast Region with an emphasis on technical programs.
A multi-county, multi-agency partnership of community organizations, educational institutions, community, industry, economic, and workforce development partners have cooperated on the development of the proposal to create the "Trident Coast Work Ready Region". The group fully expects that the creation of this Work Ready Region will assist us in achieving a seamless program of lifelong learning opportunities for the regional defense, high-technology, alternative energy, and engineering workforce.
Our mission is to develop a trained and skilled workforce from all age groups in the defense-related industry and industries that support associated business through high-technology, alternative energy, and/or engineering systems through multi-agency partnerships among school systems, technical colleges, higher education institutions, industry leaders and community organizations to include career pathways, skills training, and multi-tiered educational programs, as well as job readiness assessments and remediation.
We hope to receive word that the Trident Coast Region receives this $350,000 grant in December. To be included or participate on the Workforce Development Committee, please contact Rachel Baldwin, Committee Chair at rbaldwin@camden.k12.ga.us. The committee meets the last Monday of each month at 1:30 pm at the Camden County Annex Building behind the Camden County Library on Gross Road, Kingsland. |
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Taste of Camden a Huge Success | |
The Chamber's Taste of Camden was again a great success for our business community. Over 700 participants walked the venue that showcased 76 businesses, restaurants and non-profits. If you did not attend, you missed a great opportunity to see what our business community has to offer the citizens of Camden County.
The event would not be possible without the help and support of our sponsors, volunteers, businesses and the participants. This year the focus was on Camden's Marketplace Destination and featured the following businesses:
TDS Telecom, Spencer House Bread & Breakfast, Eagle Plumbing, Camden County Clinic of Chiropractic, St. Marys OB/GYN, Service Master, Dalton Signs, Barlow Orthodontics, AFLAC, Culligan Water Services, Di's Catering, Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Que, IHOP, Coastal Oaks Home Inspections, NAMI of Coastal Georgia, United Way, Well Adjusted Chiropractic, Okefonokee Adventures, Okefonokee Chamber of Commerce, Tribune & Georgian, College of Coastal Georgia, Humana Military Health Care Services, On the Green Salon & Day Spa, Satilla Business Services, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Dominoes Pizza, Lucky Dawgs, Camden County Chamber of Commerce, Work Ready, Lisa Allen Dance Works, Navy Federal Credit Union, Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Amelia Medical Care, American Red Cross, Coastal Bank of Georgia, Care South Home Advantage Home Health, Purchasing Health Alliance, Brant Creek Apartments, Premier Jewelry & Thirty-One Gifts, Hospice of Golden Isles, Bennett Suzuki, Ameris Bank, Golden Isles Pediatric Dentistry, Coastal Mortgage Company, Bennett Chevrolet-Buick, Farmers & Builders, The Blood Alliance, Brenau University, Camden County High School Theatre, Southeastern Bank, Travel 4 Fun, Southeast Georgia Health System, Magnolia Manor, Divers Den, GM3 Photography, KB Grill, Whitehouse Seafood, The Mill, Harriett's Bluff Wine & Spirits, Shoney's, Alissa Masterpiece Photography, ViSalus Protein Shakes, The Pampered Chef, Curves, Scentsy Wickless Candles & Glassworks, Creative Catering & Design, Salvation Army, Cumberland Home & Hearth, WKBX FM K-Bay 106.3, TC Pro Audio, Southeast Georgia WOW Mobile & Vista Outdoor Advertising.
Special thanks to William Brunson and the PSA staff, Tri-Lane Rentals, Georgia Power, Southeastern Bank, City of St. Marys Public Works, Ambassadors, Taste of Camden Committee, Rachel Baldwin, Steve Fortier and CCHS Students, LOWES Home Improvement and all our businesses who provided door prizes.
Congratulations to our "Best Booths" and "Tastiest" Award Winners. Best Overall Booth - Eagle Plumbing; Best Themed Booth - On the Green Salon & Day Spa; Tastiest Entree - Lucky Dawgs; Tastiest Appetizer - The Mill; Tastiest Dessert - Creative Catering & Design.
If you are interested in participating on the Taste of Camden Committee for 2011, please contact the Chamber at info@camdenchamber.com.
Photo Gallery |
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Chamber Member Milestones | |
Congratulations to Trish Jared for successfully completing the Georgia Downtown Association's Professional certificate level one review, and as a result has received the designation of Georgia Downtown Development Professional. |
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Leadership Camden Participants Experience the Camden County Judicial System! | |
The Leadership Camden Class of 2011 had the privilege experiencing the Judicial and Law Enforcement System of Camden County from reviewing the different aspects of the Court System from the points of view of the defense and prosecuting attorneys and the judges. Information was shared by city and county law enforcement agencies with a drug dog demonstration, tour of the county jail, a demonstration of the arrest, booking and trial processes, and valuable information on methamphetamines and the hazards not only to those using, but innocent bystanders.
Kristi Joyce, Leadership class member experienced first hand what it feels like to be placed in handcuffs and how intimidating the court process can be.
The Leadership Camden Class will tour Cumberland Island (CI) and learn and see why CI is in desperate need of a transportation plan for those wanting to have the ability to experience what the Island has to offer.
More Photos |
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Advertise Here and Be Noticed | |
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Feature Your Business Each Month and be noticed by over 1300 people! Call the Chamber for details.
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