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Greetings!
Earlier today, the Bay County Commission honored the Bay County Chamber with a proclamation stating that Thursday, March 21st, is "Bay County Chamber Day". Thank you to the Commissioners for their support as we celebrate our 100th anniversary.
Social Media continues to be one of the biggest growing trends in business. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce wants to promote your social media sites, as part of a free service to our members. Just e-mail your link to Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to Brittany@baychamberfl.com.
Sales are underway for the 2013-2014 Bay County Chamber Map. Target Marketing is handling the project for us. For more information, please contact SRobertson@ChamberMaps.com . This is the only official map endorsed by the Bay County Chamber.
In this issue you will also find information and news on:
- 100th Anniversary
- 100th Birthday Block Party
- Military Affairs Committee Golf Tournament
- April First Friday
- April Business After Hours
- Tourism Appreciation Month
- 9th Annual Career Expo
- Grand Openings
- Sponsorship Opportunities
- Money for Members Contest
- Business Referral Network Group Meetings
Much Success,
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff
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Bay County Chamber of Commerce History:
1932-1935
As we continue our 100 year anniversary festivities, we take a look at our history between 1932 and 1935. I must say that this time period is one of my favorites, since it helped to secure air conditioning for our homes. It was during this time period that the air conditioner as we know it was engineered and started becoming more commonplace.
Also during that time, scientists first split the atom, Franklin D. Roosevelt launched his New Deal and Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. This period also saw prohibition come to an end and, ironically, Alcoholics Anonymous was founded.
It is truly an eye opener to look at history and see what events still have a huge impact on our lives today, sometimes for the good and sometimes not. For example, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, leading to one of the worst times in our world's history.
On the other hand, locally we saw the formation of the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, the incorporation of Springfield and the chartering of Bay National Bank, all of which helped to contribute positively to our community.
Of course there are always the historical items that are a bit more lighthearted during any time period. In 1933, the first sighting of the Loch Ness monster occurred, and in 1934 the cheeseburger was created and the first Monopoly game was sold. While these things may seem insignificant compared to other events, they have all had a large impact on our culture.
Make sure you become a part of the history that is being made today. We will continue to celebrate our heritage all year and the next event is the Chamber's birthday party on March 21 in the form of a block party at 235 West 5th Street. Join us as we make our own history.
Early Photo of Panama City, 1932
Bay High School, 1932
Written by: Tricia Pearce, Life Management Center
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Don't forget to join us for the
100th Birthday Block Party!
There will be food, live entertainment by True Soul, complimentary commemorative t-shirts by InkTrax, birthday cake, and more!
This event is open to anyone. Please bring your friends, family, and customers as we celebrate our 100th birthday!
Special thanks to:
The Bagel Maker, Our Board of Directors, Carr Riggs Ingram, Coca Cola, Catholic Charities,
The Celebration Place, CF Signs,
Doral Bank, Downtown Improvement Board,
Edgewater Beach Resort, Goldring Gulf Distributing Company, Home Depot, InkTrax, Lamar Advertising,
Publix, Regions Bank Volunteers,
TECO, WastePro, WMBB, WOW,
Wyndham Bay Point,
and our 100 Year Committee. |
Get your tickets for a chance to win $1,000 in restaurant giftcards!
Tickets are:
1/$10
3/$25
7/$50
Contact 785.5206 for more information.
The drawing will take place at the
100th Birthday Block Party at 6:45 p.m.
You do NOT have to be present to win.
Thank you to these restaurants
participating in the drawing:
Angelo's Steak Pit, The Bagel Maker, Boatyard, Bonefish, Captain Anderson's,
Ferrucci's Ristorante, G. Foley's, Saltwater Grill,
Schooner's, Shrimpboat, Sonny's Real Pit Bar B Q, Spinnaker Beach Club,
and Tarpon Dock Seafood Market. |
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Military Affairs Committee Golf Tournament
MAC members, don't forget to sign up for the upcoming golf tournament! It will be held on March 22nd at Tyndall Air Force Base's Pelican Point Golf Course. Shotgun start is at 12 noon, and lunch is provided.
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April First Friday
When: Friday, April 5th
Time: Networking and Coffee: 7:15 a.m.; Program: 8 a.m.
Place: FSU-Panama City Holley Center (4750 Collegiate Drive)
Program: Congressman Steve Southerland
As part of our 100th birthday celebration, enjoy a step back in history from 1933-1943.
Sponsored by:
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April Business After Hours
When: Tuesday, April 23rd
Time:5:30-7 p.m.
Place: Gulf Coast Dermatology
(12111 Panama City Beach Parkway)
Sponsored by:  |
May is Tourism Appreciation Month
Mark your calendars Tourism Appreciation Month events sponsored by Bookit.com and Simon Properties/Pier Park
Get your co-workers together and start practicing for the Annual Jungleball Volleyball Tournament at Bookit.com Beach at Pier Park to be held on May 9th. The 17th Annual Spring Classic will be held on May 17th at the Hombre. Contact jill@baychamberfl.com for more information. |
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9th Annual Career Expo
The Workforce Center and the Bay County Chamber of Commerce invite you to participate in the 9th Annual Career Expo. It is an excellent opportunity to meet with jobseekers who have high level skills and are looking for specialized employment. Since the expo is geared toward professional jobseekers, we are asking for employers who have positions that pay at least $12.00 per hour or $25,000 per year to attend. Booth fee is $50, payable to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board.
The Expo will be held on Thursday, May 16th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Panama City Mall. Interested in participating? Click here for more information. |
Grand Openings
Gangwisch, Grandy and Melzer Family Dentistry
22726 Panama City Beach Parkway
NeuroMedical Institute
1931 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Emerald Coast Business Women's Death by Chocolate
Holley Center FSU- PC |
Sponsorship Opportunities for 2013
Business After Hours
This is a great evening networking opportunity for new, current and prospective members to come to your location to network, enjoy refreshments and share what your business has to offer. Months available are July and August.
Contact Jill at 215-3757 or Jill@baychamberfl.com for more information.
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$ Money for Members $
We are pleased to announce a contest for our members. You can win some cash and have fun competing with other Chamber members!
You will receive $25 cash or credit on your Chamber account.
Click here for more details on how you can participate! |
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CHAMBER |
Click here to view upcoming Chamber events. |
| COMMUNITY |
Click here to view more upcoming community events. |
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PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE CHAMBER WEBSITE
for rates and more information.
Did you know as a Chamber member you can post your job openings for free online? Also, if you have an upcoming event, you can also post that for free. Take advantage of the great items our website has to offer!
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Welcome
New Members | |
Panama City Northside Rotary
Engineering & Professional
Chill Yogurt Cafe
Tommy's Glass and Mirror
Nonie Kinner
Thank you to Clear Channel Radio for our new member radio spots!
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Thank You Renewing Members
Member Anniversaries
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1 Year
- ACE Home & Garden Center
- Bill Byrd KIA
- Firefly
- Red Elephant Pizza & Grill
- Sea Screamer
- The Krystal Company
- Carmike Cinemas Inc.
- Crush Nutrition LLC
3 Years
- FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies
- Home Depot
- O'Sullivan Creel - CPA's & Consultants
- The Krewe of St. Andrews
4 Years
- Smile Specialist Orthodontics
5 Years
- Bookit.com
- Peter Brown Construction
6 Years
- Davita PC Dialysis/Coastal Kidney Center
- Roussos Air Conditioning
7 Years - Comfort Systems USA Southeast
- Mexico Beach Community Development
8 Years - First Baptist Church of Lynn Haven
10 Years - State Farm / Jim Dickerson 13 Years - Panama City Urological Center - Southern Orthopedic Specialists, P.A. 14 Years - Cahall's Deli - NHC Homecare
- Ponderosa Builders of North Florida, Inc. 15 Years - Ecological Resource Consultants
- McKenzie Insurance
- Rotary Club of Panama City 19 Years - City of Lynn Haven 40 Years - Clear Channel Radio 45 Years - Bay County Land & Abstract 62 Years - Peoples First Insurance Services |
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Need New Customers? | |
Business Referral Network (BRN) provides an opportunity for groups of business professionals to come together to network, share business leads and referrals with other group members.
BRN is available to any member in good standing with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.
They must attend the scheduled bi-monthly meetings and one referral or lead is requested at each meeting. Members are encouraged to bring one guest (guest may be non-member).
A member may only join one Business Referral Network group. The Business Referral Group also makes sure no single business will be in direct competition with another member of the group. (For example, only one person in banking can be in each group.)
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Business Referral Network Groups Meeting Dates | |
Four different Business Referral Network (BRN) groups meet bi-monthly for lunch meetings to network and share business leads/referrals with other group members.
Only one member of each group may belong to a particular business/trade, i.e. only one person in banking, to discourage direct competition.
Group A
El Jalisco
12:00 p.m.
El Jalisco
12:00 p.m.
Ferrucci Ristorante
12:00 p.m.
March 27th
Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
12:00 p.m.
March 20th
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Support Bay County and its Businesses! | |
Place copies of the "Bay Biz" and "Guide to Discovering Bay County" in your business lobby/office to support and promote our area to your clients and customers.
Call 785-5206 to get your supply of these publications that lets visitors, newcomers and potential businesses know Bay County is a great place to live, work and play. |
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