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Greetings!
The end of June went out with a bang! Kudos to the City of Lynn Haven and Nations Real Estate for the recruitment of General Dynamics IT. It is certainly exciting to once again know that there will be activity brought back to the Hugh Nelson Industrial Park with 1,400 jobs being created. There are still many people in Bay County that worked long and hard to bring SallieMae to our community and funding for this facility to be built. We are sure that it makes them proud to know that it still stands as a major economic development tool. Let us not forget people like Stan Timmins, who fought long and hard as a volunteer chairman of the then Committee of 100 to see the nearly two year project through to the end.
Then on July 1st, the fire works went off early with the announcement from our dear friend Representative Jimmy Patronis who has decided not to seek the District 1 Senate seat in 2014. We salute Jimmy for giving of his time for eight years to serve and for all he has done for each of us personally and professionally, not to mention the positive effect he has had on our community and the entire State of Florida. Jimmy, you've done your part, now go enjoy your beautiful family. P.S. you can't quit now though, we have one more year to go.
Don't forget to join us this Friday for First Friday at FSU-Panama City. Details on that event are below. You will see our staff wearing our new 100th Anniversary navy t-shirts. We will have them for sale in the rotunda for $13. Ask any of our staff members on how you can purchase one.
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:
- July First Friday
- BYP Social
- Grand Openings
- Vacation Chance Drawing
- Sponsorships Available
- 100th Anniversary T-Shirts
- 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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Reminder: First Friday is on the second Friday, July 12th.
Coffee and Networking: 7:15 a.m.
Program: 8 a.m.
FSU-Panama City
(3750 Collegiate Drive)
Program: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
Thanks to our sponsor: 
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Save the Date for the Next BYP Social
Tuesday, July 30th
5:30-7 p.m.
G. Foley's
(3212 West 23rd Street)
RSVP by July 29th to Elizabeth at 215.3761. There is no cost for members and $5 for future members.
Thanks to our sponsor: 
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Grand Openings
 Freedom Boat Club
111 W. Beach Dr.
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Want to win a Vacation? 
Chance drawing 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 are now available.
The drawing will take place at the August 2nd First Friday.
Who doesn't need a vacation?
Please call 785-5206 for more information and to make your $10 per ticket donation.
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Sponsorships Available
Sponsorship opportunities are available for First Friday in October and Business After Hours in August. You can also start signing up to sponsor events for 2014. Contact Jill@baychamberfl.com for more information.
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100th Anniversary T-Shirts for Sale
100th anniversary t-shirts are now on sale for $13 (includes tax)! They come only in navy, sizes S-XXL. Call 785.5206 to buy one today, or purchase one at First Friday on July 12th.
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$ Money for Members $
Don't forget to send us your leads! You can win some cash and have fun competing with other Chamber members.
You will receive $25 cash or credit on your Chamber account for each lead that joins.
Click here for more details on how you can participate!
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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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2013-2014 Leadership Bay Steering Committee
Leadership Bay would not be possible without of all the volunteers that lend their time to help improve and sustain the program. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce this year's steering committee.
Chairman, Tammala Spencer
Pete Bailey, Gulf Power Company
Nick Beninate, Harrison Sale McCloy
Michael Calidonna, Edward Jones Investments
DeAnne Carlson, Summit Bank
Joe Chavarria
Tricia Culpepper-Petty, Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort
Irene Field, Girl Scout Council of FL Panhandle
Mario Gisbert, City of Panama City Beach
Jenny Howell, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Frances Martin, Gulf Coast Medical Center
Megan Meints, Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering
Samantha Miller, Trustmark Bank
Shannon Sheibe, FSU Panama City
Trevor Walls, Gulf Coast State College
Kevin Wattenbarger, Sperry Van Ness/Southland Commercial Real Estate
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Bay County Chamber of Commerce History:
1964-1967
The 60's is an era that exhibited great change. The assassination of an American president, civil rights, music, the Vietnam war are just a few examples of the reasons for that change. All of these had a great impact on the way people began to think and see their world. More people started expressing their feelings through music, clothes, protests and riots and even legislation.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in voting, schools, and the work environment. Meanwhile, in pop culture, The Beatles rock and roll music swept the European and American music scene, while Muhammed Ali won the heavyweight championship of 1964 and became the most recognized figure in sports. Speaking of figures, this is also the year that GI Joe first made his appearance and became a pop culture phenomenon.
President Lyndon Johnson was in office in 1965 and served to forward the Progressive movement. U.S troops were sent to Vietnam in response to the August, 1964 Gulf of Tonkin attack. In the United States, the Watts Riots in LA broke out for six days, resulting in 1,000 injuries, nearly 4,000 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage.
Through this chaos, pop culture continued to grow and change the American perspective. The science fiction TV show, Star Trek, aired in 1966. Though the ratings were not that high upon its debut, in later years this show evolved into twelve motion pictures, including original cast members in the first six, and a huge pop culture following of 'Trekkies'. For the first time, the animated cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas was shown on CBS. Children still watch the movie today, just like infants and toddlers still wear Pampers disposable diapers, which first hit store shelves in 1964.
The year 1967, had two major firsts: the first successful heart transplant was performed on Lewis Washkansy at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town; and the first Super Bowl took place between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers in Los Angeles -- the Packers won with a score of 35-10. Back in our area, Parker and Mexico Beach were incorporated into Bay County and the Port of Panama City opened.
By: Justine Powell, Bay County Chamber, intern
 Woman poses near the 4 Winds Restaurant at the Panama City Marina
in 1966
How the Grinch Stole Christmas first appeared on television in 1966
First Super Bowl took place in 1967 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers
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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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IPA Prosthetics & Orthotics
The Sleep Center
MD Billing Solutions
Ameritech Enterprises, Inc.
Scott Ingraham Realty
Church's Chicken
Mercedes Benz of Dothan
A Taste of Panama City Food
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
- Answer Marketing Inc.
- Workout Anytime PCB
- Waste Pro
5 Years
- Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc.
- Trinity Lutheran Church
6 Years
- Appleman & Trucks, PA
8 Years
- Laguna Beach Christian Retreat
9 Years - Lynn Haven United Methodist Church 10 Years - Dr. Guy P. York - Innovative Professional Solutions, Inc.
- Key Electrical Supply, Inc.
- Retina Specialty Institute
- Shaddai Shriners 11 Years - Gulf Coast Charity Celebration 12 Years - Skinner Tax Consulting Inc. 13 Years - BB&T 14 Years - Bay Credit Union 15 Years - SEE Florida Magazines 17 Years - HealthSouth
- Panama City Mall
- Rubber & Specialties, Inc. 21 Years - B & S Liquors. Inc.
23 Years
- Broward Hall Insurance Agency
26 Years
- Bayou George Grocery Store
- First Baptist Church
27 Years
- Paul Brent Gallery
28 Years
- Comcast
32 Years
- Gulf Coast Management
50 Years
- Capt. Anderson's Sightseeing
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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.
July 10th
Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
12:00 p.m.
July 17th
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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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