Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce

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In This Issue
New Chamber Members
Chamber News & Events
From the Membership Desk
Member News

"A Decade of Remembrance Honoring 9/11 - Today and Always"

Coming Soon!

9/11

The Chamber's Retired Professionals & Executives Group (RPEG) is hosting a 9/11 Anniversary tribute sponsored by Hospice of Marion County.
WHEN: September 6, 2011
WHERE: Circle Square Cultural Center

 

interfaith

 

heart walk

Join The Chamber's 

Heart Walk Team as we support the American Heart Association in their mission to stop heart disease and save lives. Click here to join!

2011-2012 Chamber Directory

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Welcome! New Chamber Members 

 

AUTOMOTIVE RENTAL & LEASING

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Orlando Hernandez

448 SW 10th Street

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: (352) 237-0002

orlando.b.hernandez@erac.com

www.enterprise.com

 

MEDICAL SERVICES, CONSULTING & SPECIALTIES

Everest A/R Management Group

Patti Moring

5111 NW 13th Street

Suite A

Gainesville, FL 32609

Phone: (352) 379-2742

pmoring@tmcentral.net

www.everestar.com

 

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Elysee Grill

George Elysee

2413 SW 27th Avenue

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: (352) 871-0599

elyseegrill@gmail.com

www.elyseegrill.com

Chamber News & Events

  

 Tuesday, August 30: Ribbon Cutting, 5 PM/Kickoff Celebration at All About You Women's Boutique, 4:30 - 7:30 PM. Come enjoy Mojo Grill, Brusters Ice Cream, Kettle n' Kernel and the unveiling of the Calendar Girls at 5:30 PM. 4901 East Silver Springs Blvd.

 

Thursday, September 1: Ribbon Cutting & Anniversary, Fitness Evolution and Pattrasage, 6:30 PM. 343 NE 1st Ave.

 

Tuesday, September 6: 9/11 A Decade of Remembrance Today & Always, 7 PM at the Circle Square Cultural Center. Click here to learn more.

 

Thursday, September 8: Ribbon Cutting, Ocala Express Network of ABWA, 6 PM. Poolside at the Ocala Hilton.

 

Monday, September 12: The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce is going to Greece! Join us in 2012 as we embark on another excitig trip abroad. Orientation session will be on Sptember 12 at 5:30 PM at The Chamber. Contact Felecia Prather for additional information, 352-629-8051. (Other orientation sessions include: Friday, October 14, 1 PM at On Top of the World's Master the Possiblities center.)

 

 Tuesday, September 20: Power Series Workshop, 11:15 AM at The Chamber. TOPIC: The Power of Email Marketing, presented by Pamela Starr from Constant Contact. Click here to learn more.

 

 The Buy Local Business Expo is selling out quickly! Business to business opportunities abound and general public exposure ensures your business will be visited by thousands! September 24 at the Paddock Mall, 10 AM - 4 PM. Call Felecia Prather for more information at 352-629-8051 or email, felecia@ocalacc.com

 

The Hispanic Business Council will be meeting bi-monthly through the rest of 2011. The HBC will be meeting on the second Thursday of September and November at 8:30 AM. Be sure to check out the Chamber calendar for information on upcoming events.

 

 Register now! The 38th Annual Chamber Golf Classic is Friday, October 28th at Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club. Get your team together for a day of networking & fun! "The golf course is the new boardoom!" Click here for more information. 

 

From the Membership Desk 

 
 
 Let The Chamber be your edge! I think we can agree that today's marketplace is a competitive and evolving one - particularly as organizations are innovating new and impactful ways to stand out among others their field. The race is on to be the one that will win the business of the customer or client! Knowing that consumers have a broad choice in who they choose to do business with, choose to refer, and choose to purchase goods or services from, what ultimately makes the difference in their buying decisions? The difference is: relationships. People do business with people they know, people that remain top of mind, and people that they trust have their best interests in mind. Membership with a local Chamber of Commerce can be a significant point of differentiation and distinction between businesses, pinning organizations with a badge that indicates credibility and a sense of community citizenship. We also know from a recent nationwide study that consumers are 63 percent more likely to purchase goods or services from a Chamber Member versus a Non-Member given the choice. With that being said, is your Proud Member Decal on your front door, website, or automobile? If not, give your Member Care Team a call at 352-629-8051 to get a proud Member decal in your hands and help make The Chamber your EDGE!

 

 

Member News 

 News from the YMCA: Did you know that our community's health is failing? In a 2011 nation- and state-wide county health ranking, Marion County ranked in the bottom third of Florida's 67 counties. At the Y, strengthening communities is their cause. That's why they are using the month of September to teach Marion County residents that chronic disease is preventable through simple behavior modification.

 

Chamber members are invited to learn the importance of healthy living. Use these guest passes for unlimited access to the Y for 21 days, starting September 1. Join the Y for a Kick-Off Event on Monday, September 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be live music, free food and family activities to help you start your healthy lifestyle.

  

YMCA power pass

 

News from Community Bank & Trust of Florida: Emily Humphreys-Beher to serve as President of Marion County Estate Planning Council. Click here to read more. 

 

City Panel is seeking Diversity Award Nominations. Click here to read more.

 

There are several City board openings currently available. Click here to read more.

 

 The Refuge Foundation is now sponsoring scholarships to the citizens of our local community for admission into The Refuge Transitions Outpatient Program. Click here to read more.

 

Prescription Drug Discount Program Launched by Always Best Care Senior Services. Click here to read more.

 

Want to personally expose your business to an audience of 5,000 potential customers?  Then come out to the SE Livestock Pavilion on Saturday November 5 and compete for Marion County's best chili!  Registration and sponsorships have begun for the 30th annual Marion County Chili Cook Off.  Where else would you have the opportunity to meet, mingle, and spice up so many new customers while having a great time? Register your team before September 7th* to get a great discount on your booth!  Visit MarionCountyChiliCookOff.org
*Registration deadlines have been extended as the cook off date has changed from last year.

  Jfalls
August/September Events 

Monday, August 29:  Unemployed? Underemployed? Dr. Jo Clifford, Certified Motivational Career Coach is facilitating a session of weekly workshops for those looking for help in the following areas: targeted resume, cover letter, company research, networking ideas and resource information. Click here to learn more.

 

Wednesday, August 31: Ocala City Council & Marion County Board of County Commissioners and representatives of Ocala 489, LLC to formalize Commerce Park Agreement (Magna Project).  A signing ceremony to formalize the agreement is on Wednesday, August 31 at 4 PM at The Chamber of Commerce, 310 SE 3rd Street, Ocala.

 

Wednesday, August 31: Talent Marketplace Career Fair. 8 AM - 1 PM at the College of Central Florida's Klein Conference Center (3001 SW College Road, Ocala, 34474).

 

Thursday, September 1: United Way of Marion County will be kicking off their community fund raising efforts from 7:30 AM -9 AM at the Regal Hollywood 16 movie theater, 2801 SW 27th Ave. Free to the public. Please RSVP by August 29 to 732-9696. 

 

 Tuesday, September 6: Marion County Fair Tax Presentation at Howard Johnson Inn, 3951 NW Bonnie Heath Blvd, Ocala. 7 PM - 9 PM. Other presentations include September 13 (7 - 9 PM, at the Holiday Inn Express, 5360 E Silver Springs Blvd), September 20 (7 - 9 PM, at Gruff's Tap & Grill, 12084 S Williams, St., Dunnellon) and September 27 (6 - 8 PM at the Belleview Public Library).

 

Friday, September 9 - Sunday, September 11: Highland Memorial Park will host the annual Field of Flags Remembrance event. There is no charge to attend. Visitors are welcome to come to Highland Memorial Park (1515 NE Third Street) from 8 AM - 9 AM daily to experience nearly 3,000 American flags, one for each victim of the 9/11 attacks. On Sunday, from 6 - 9 PM a candlelight remembrance will take place while a multi-screen video tribute displays the story of events of and surrounding 9/11. Call 369-1020 for additional information.

 

Saturday, September 10:  Ocala/Marion County 9/11 Remembrance Program. Marion County Veterans Park, 2601 SE Ft. King St., Ocala. For more information call 629-CITY.

 

 Sunday, Sepember 11: VFW Retirement Home, Fort McCoy, presents the 10th Anniversary 9/11 Tribute to First Responders. Event is free and open to the public. 13005 NE 135th Street, Ft. McCoy. Visit www.vfwretirementhome.flvfw.org for more information.

 

Sunday, September 11: Remembering 9/11. 3 PM at the Appleton Museum of Art. $15 includes a performance, museum admission and guided tours. In a somber but uplifting gesture, come remember and memorialize the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. Join celebrated pianist Michael Wittenburg as we move from tragedy in reprisal of MacDowell's "Sonata Tragica" to the uplifting spirit in some of America's greatest patriotic music.

 

 Saturday, September 17: United Way of Marion County's Community-Wide Garage Sale. 8 AM - 12 PM in the parking lot of the Cascades Professional Offices (1515 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala). Yard sale appliations can be downloaded at www.uwmc.org

 

Friday, September 23: Childhood Development Services present, Building Strong Families Golf Tournament Suporting Homeless Young Mothers and Their Children. Ocala Municipal Golf Course, 8 AM shotgun start.  

 

 Saturday, September 24: FREE WOMEN'S RETREAT! "Beyond Your Wildest Imagination" Mark Your Calendars to attend this exciting Women's Retreat at Christ's Church of Marion County with special guest speaker Sharon Thomas of "Established Footsteps" Ministry in Newport News, VA. Praise and Worship team comprised of ladies from various churches within Marion County. The day will also include door prizes, continental breakfast - light lunch - afternoon snack. Did we mention this is a FREE event open to all women? To register call the church office at (352)861-6182 or email at info@ccomc.org.  Christ's Church of Marion County 6768 SW 80th Street Ocala www.ccomc.org

 

 Saturday, September 24: CF Charity Golf Tournament to benefit United Way. Pine Oaks of Ocala, 2201 NW 21st Street, Ocala. 8:30 AM, cost is $50 per player. Entry fee includes golf, cart, lunch and prizes. Hole sponsorships are available for $75. Forms are available at www.uwmc.org. For more information call Tim Thayer at 854-2322.

 

 Sunday, September 25: "Bowl-to-Build" Bowl-a-Thon to benefit Habitat for Humanity. 1:30 - 4:30 PM at AMF Galaxy West Lanes, 1818 SW 17th Street. $50 per team/$10 per person. Form a team, sponsor a lane or donate prizes! To register please contact Susan or Tori at 352-4663 by September 15.

 

September 29: 50th Anniversary Visioning Session at the Paddock Mall, 8 AM - 12 PM. Community leaders are invited to participate in a brainstorming exercise about our community and the United Way for the next 50 years. Call the United Way for more information, 732-9696.

 

 Click here for a full list of events. 

Want to add an event or news item to the e-Connect? Email brittany@ocalacc.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YMCA