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Greetings!
The July First Friday will be held the second week in July, Friday 12th, due to the 4th of July holiday. We hope you all enjoyed our rockin' 1950's themed First Friday. Special thanks to everyone who participated, especially the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and their new leader, Lance Allison. Don't forget to join us in July as we celebrate the 1960's.
Vice President of Foundation, Elizabeth Smith, represented the Bay County Chamber at the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals Staff Conference. The conference featured speakers and sessions focused on industry-related topics including community leadership programs, effective networking, new referral systems, chamber best practices, and methods for change. Elizabeth brought back great ideas to help improve your membership here at the Chamber.
Last week, the Governmental Affairs Committee held a round table with Senator Don Gaetz. Thank you to Senator Gaetz for taking time out of his busy schedule to discuss issues facing the Panhandle.
Thank you for investing in your community and supporting our efforts to make Bay County a great place to live, work and play!
You'll find more information in this issue on:
- Business After Hours
- Business Insight Alliance Tour
- Employment Discrimination Lawsuits: Best Practices
- Grand Openings
- Money for Members Contest
- Leadership Bay Applications
- 100th Anniversary
- Business Referral Network Group Meeting Dates
Much Success,
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff
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Please plan to join the Business Insight Alliance as we visit InkTrax located at 238 W. 5th Street (across for the Chamber) as we learn their success story and tour the facility.
The meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 12th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Space is limited, so please reply to reserve you spot. For more information or to RSVP contact Elizabeth at 215-3761 or Elizabeth@baychamberfl.com.
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June Business After Hours
Join us for networking, refreshments, live entertainment, door prizes and more!
Tuesday, June 18th
5:30-7 p.m.
Legendary Marine (3829 Thomas Drive)
Thank you to our sponsor:
Please park on the gravel lot on the South side of Legendary Marine in front of Pirates Cove.
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Employment Discrimination Lawsuits: Best Practices
Date: Friday, June 21st
Time: Registration 7:45 a.m.; Session 8 a.m. - Noon
Place: Chamber Boardroom (235 West 5th Street)
This half day seminar will give you valuable information on how to avoid discrimination lawsuits and what to do if you are involved in a lawsuit.
Topics for the day include:
* Best Practices to Resolve a Discrimination Lawsuit
Presented by Robert Jackson, Harrison Sale McCloy
* You Have Been Sued. Now What?
Presented by Robert Fleming, Harrison Sale McCloy
* Best Ways to Resolve a Dispute
Presented by Wayne Knight, Florida Commission on Human Relationship
* One Hour Panel for Discussion with Jackson, Fleming and Knight
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Mark Your Calendars for the Next Bay Young Professionals Luncheon!
Featuring: Jamin Finlaw, President & CEO of Destination Experience, Inc.
(A Divison of BookIt.com)
Entrepreneurs see the world differently than most people. Where most see
problems, they see opportunities. Join BYP as we embark on our second
edition in our speaker series on entrepreneurship.
Wednesday, June 26th
Lunch and Networking: 11:45 a.m.
Program: Noon
Boatyard Restaurant
(5323 N. Lagoon Drive)
RSVP by June 24th. There is no cost for BYP Members, $20 for future BYP Members. Cancellations after June 24th will be invoiced. For more information on how you can join BYP or to RSVP, contact
Thanks to our sponsor: 
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Ribbon Cuttings
 Girls Incorporated of Bay County Butterfly Garden
1100 Fountain Ave.
Kraze Nutrition
3117 Hwy 77
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Want to win a Vacation?
We are selling "chance to win" tickets for a Bookit.com destination vacation of your choice or a staycation in Panama City Beach each valued at $1,250.00 from Bookit.com.
The drawing will take place at the August 2nd First Friday.
Who doesn't need a vacation?
Please call 785-5206 to purchase your tickets or for more information.
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$ 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! |
Applications for the 2013-2014 Class
The Leadership Bay Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Tammala Spencer is accepting applications for the Leadership Bay 2013-14 class.
The mission of the program is to cultivate a broadened network of well-informed leaders whose strengthened commitment to community involvement will affect positive change in Bay County.
Leadership Bay was founded in 1983 and is a community leadership development program of the Bay County Chamber in conjunction with Gulf Coast State College. Based on the premise that people are our most important resource, the purpose of the program is to offer potential leaders a curriculum in community leadership training.
Leadership Bay sessions begin in October with a mandatory overnight kick-off retreat on October 4th - 5th at Tyndall Air Force Base. The selected class will participate in full day sessions held every other Wednesday beginning in October and graduating in May. Participants are responsible for producing a project of benefit to the Chamber and / or the community outside of the regular curriculum hours.
The deadline for applications is Friday, August 2nd at 4 p.m. Click here to apply. If you have any questions you may contact Elizabeth at the Chamber at (850) 215-3761.
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Bay County Chamber of Commerce History:
1956-1959
As the 50's drew to an end, extraordinary changes continued to take place in the world and within Bay County. Rock n' roll shook up the music scene, an American 'princess of the cinema' married a European prince, new toys fascinated our children, outer space moved from the movies into real life and the Bay County Chamber moved forward as well.
Tom Bingham was Chairman of the Chamber in 1956 when the Chamber began its First Friday membership club and meetings. In that same year, Elvis appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show (from the waist up), movie actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco, the TV remote control was invented and Velcro was introduced.
Gulf Coast Junior College was founded the following year and T.W. Smith, Sr. was the Chamber Chairman in 1957. Russia launched its Sputnik satellite and Dr. Seuss' book The Cat in the Hat became a favorite of children at bedtime.
In 1958, the newest toys for kids were hula hoops and LEGO's. NASA was founded, beginning the space race between Russia and the United States. The Hope Diamond, at that time the world's largest diamond, was donated to the Smithsonian museum and the Peace Symbol was created. Under Chairman John Sherman, Sr., the Chamber changed its name from the Panama City Chamber to Panama City-Bay County Chamber of Commerce.
Ending out the decade of the '50's, not far from the southern tip of Florida, Cuba was embroiled in a revolutionary coupe that resulted in Fidel Castro becoming dictator of that country and many Cubans fleeing to freedom in Florida and the United States. On Broadway, the musical production of Sound of Music opened to rave reviews. Also in 1959, Chamber Chairman Lauren E. Merriam, Jr. moved the Chamber to its newly constructed building at 235 West 5th Street, beside the downtown Post Office in Panama City, where it currently resides today.
Written by: Jane Adams, Chamber Informational Specialist
 Early photo of Gulf Coast Junior College, which is now
Gulf Coast State College
1950's Chamber ribbon cutting
Chamber Chairman, Lauren Merriam, Jr.
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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
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Coastal Emergency Restoration
Leitz Music Company
Leitz Music Company FWB
Bay County Traffic School
Employee Benefit Solutions
Maritech Machine
Stuffy's Cafe
Spot On
Aaron Rich Marketing
Chez Amavida
ReliantSouth Construction Group
Millie James
Global Fiber & Data Solutions
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
- Bob Evans Restaurant
- Rum Runners
- David Scott Jewelry
- Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf
- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
6 Years
- Panama City POPS Orchestra
- Viamedia
8 Years
- Dr. L. Arthur Strickland
- Grand Cayman Motel
9 Years
- Omni Home Care
10 Years - Honda Yamaha Sea Doo of Panama 13 Years - Baysolutions - Smitty's Barbecue & Salad Bar 15 Years - PCB Convention & Visitors Bureau 17 Years - Heritage Bible Church
- Monica L. Cothran, P.A. 19 Years - Eagle- SWS 20 Years - Super 8 Motel 21 Years - Rodney K. Wolfe 22 Years - Holiday Inn Select
- Lewis Metals, Inc.
- Segers, Sowell, Stewart, Johnson & Brill 24 Years - American Business Center, Inc.
- Sand Dollar Inn
27 Years
- M & W Auto Sales Inc.
28 Years
- Gulf World Marine Park
- NW Florida Beaches Int. Airport
- Panama City Downtown Improvement Board
30 Years
- Florida Pest Control
32 Years
- Karr, Ellis & Company
- Moonspinner Condo Assoc
34 Years
- Bush Air Conditioning
- Southern Transport Service
39 Years
- Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Cemeteries
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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
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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.
June 12th
Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
12:00 p.m.
June 19th
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Include Your Business in our Relocation Packet Program |
Each year the Bay County Chamber of Commerce provides relocation guides to individuals and businesses looking for information on relocating to our area. In addition to the relocation guide, we have created a way for our members to market to these individuals who may soon need their products and services.
For more information on how you can get involved, contact Brittany at brittany@baychamberfl.com or call 215-3755. |
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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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Get Discounts on Products and Services While Supporting Other Members!
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"Member to Member Discounts" are posted on the Bay County Chamber of Commerce's website. You can access the link by clicking here. To pick up your Membership Discount card, call the Chamber at 785.5206.
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