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Greetings!
I'm sure you are all as tired as we are of the rain ruining our weekends! Enough! We are ready to have our sunshine and Chamber of Commerce weather back in beautiful Bay County.
Our community continues to be blessed with a lot of positive news and happenings in the last two weeks: Governor Scott visited Gulf Coast State College to tour the new Advanced Technology Center; plans are underway for community leaders to visit Holloman Air Force Base to educate the troops and families on their big move to Tyndall.
Chamber committees are running wide open on activities. The Board of Directors hesitantly accepted the resignation of Michael Menk, who is moving to Fairhope, AL,. Congratulations, Michael! We will miss you. Leadership Bay Steering Committee is nailing down plans for the '13-'14 class. Click here to apply. Junior Leadership Bay is laying the ground work for yet another successful year, the Chamber Board Nominating Committee will meet in August to select six candidates to serve on the board. With that, the transition and education process with incoming Chairman of the Board Larry Carroll has begun; the joint Chamber, EDA and Workforce Existing Industry visits are underway along with the same joint effort with local manufacturers in a roundtable setting; the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) will soon have its 2014 Legislative Agenda survey available so please watch your email. We need your input. In addition, the GAC is exploring a possible trade mission to Barranquilla, Colombia in conjunction with Economic Development Alliance of Bay County, Enterprise Florida and Port Panama City.
Speaking of Governmental Affairs, Chelsea Hamati, who has taken over the department over the last few months, is leaving us for graduate school. We will miss you, Chelsea, but look forward to hearing all about your success in Washington, D.C. Please welcome Jennifer Vigil to the Chamber team, who will be taking Chelsea's place temporarily, while the search continues for a permanent replacement.
The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) will hold a reception on August 26th in honor of Commander Anglin from NSA whose change of command takes place on August 30th. We will sincerely miss Tony. Commander Chris Serow will be replacing Anglin.
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:
- BYP Social
- August First Friday
- August Business After Hours
- First Responders Appreciation
- Grand Openings
- Vacation Chance Drawing
- Sponsorships Available
- 100th Anniversary T-Shirts
- Money for Members Contest
- 100th Anniversary
- Military Affairs Committee
- Business Referral Network Group Meeting Dates
Much Success,
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff
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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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Join us for First Friday
Friday, August 2nd
Networking & Coffee: 7:15 a.m.
Program: 8 a.m.
FSU-Panama City Holley Academic Center
(4750 Collegiate Drive)
Come join us as we celebrate the 70's!
Thanks to our sponsor: 
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Business After Hours
Thanks to our sponsor:
Join us for networking, entertainment, refreshments, door prizes and more!
Tuesday, August 13th from 5:30-7 p.m.
Kwiker Liquor (9956 Hutchison Blvd., Suite 400)
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We are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual First Responders Appreciation Luncheon will be held on September 20th. The luncheon is a way to say thank you to those who risk their lives to save others. This is an opportunity for the business community to express appreciation for the service First Responders provide. One lucky First Responder will be chosen as the LASIK for Heroes winner sponsored by Eye Center of North Florida and Gulf Coast Medical Center.
Want to offer a discount or special to First Responders? Click here.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Host sponsor:
Lasik for Heroes Sponsor:
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Grand Opening
 Emerald Coast Hospice
421 W. Oak Ave.
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Apple of Our Eye Award Winner
 Renovation
Red Lobster
910 East 23rd Street
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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
A Sponsorship opportunity is available for First Friday in October.
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 $13 (includes tax)! They come only in navy, sizes S-XXL. Call 785.5206 to buy one today, or purchase one at First Friday on August 2nd.
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$ 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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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, Local, and International History from 1968-1971
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce continued to grow from 1968-1971 as Jack Blackwell, Frank Parker, D.R. Hinton Jr., and Deck Hull served as the Chairman for our organization.
Marches, protests, and speeches made up the year 1968. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were two of the most prominent men of this time. Both were assassinated by the end of the year. The first footprints were left on the moon in 1969 when Apollo 11 carried Neil Armstrong to the moon and back. Later, the foundation for the internet was established with U.S. Defense Department's ARPAnet and Woodstock was held in upstate New York. The music festival attracted over 350,000 rock-n-roll fans and is listed as Rolling Stones' top 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock-n-Roll. 1969 also brought the age of Cookie Monster and Big Bird when Sesame Street first aired on television. The television show recently began its 43rd season in 2012.
The 1970's were met with a rock-n-roll milestone when the band, The Beatles, broke up at the beginning of the decade. Also in 1970, Floppy disks were first introduced and The Kent State shootings occurred at Kent State University in Ohio. Four students were killed and nine were wounded when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed college students who were protesting against the Cambodian Campaign. Locally, Panama City's first skyscraper, Hotel Dixie Sherman, was demolished.
With 1971 came several new creative visions. VCR's later became an asset to families after they were first introduced in September, 1971. After 7 years of planning, over 10,000 spectators gathered in front of the Disney World gates in Orlando on October 1, 1971 to witness the grand opening. The rebuilding of the London Bridge was completed in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Previously, the bridge was expanded over the Thames River in London until it was dismantled in 1967.
By: Gina Osborne, Bay County Chamber of Commerce Intern
Dixie Sherman Hotel Before it was Demolished
First Man on the Moon in 1969
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The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1946 and is rich in the history of providing good public relations between our military bases and the business community.
The mission of MAC is to develop understanding, support and goodwill between our men and women in uniform and the local business and civic leaders. The committee stages various events and receptions to welcome visiting military officials and guests to the Bay County area.
If you are interested in joining MAC and supporting our local Military Installations, contact Tamara@baychamberfl.com or 850.215.3791.
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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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Kwiker Liquor
Countertop Visions Inc.
Tractor Supply Company
Restore Pros, LLC
Dr. William Warneck, OD
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
- Blue Heron Fine Gifts
- Treatment Center of Panama City
- MedSouth Clinic
3 Years
- Emerald Coast Interview Consulting
- Lowes Home Center
- Shark's Tooth Golf Club
4 Years
- Alivan's Inc.
- Georgia Tech Research Institute
5 Years
- Catering by Bob
- Oaseas Resorts
6 Years
- Area Glass
8 Years
- Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin & Wander
- Michels & Michels Marketing Group
- Mr. Rooter Plumbing
- Pineapple Willy's
9 Years
- Coastal Community Insurance
- Fred Shutt
- Mullins Pharmacy
10 Years
- Bay County Property Appraiser
- Coconut Creek Family Fun Park
- Keeton Corrections
- Panama City Surgery Center
- Pinnacle at Hammock Place
- Select Specialty Hospital - Panama City
- Staats, White & Grabner
12 Years
- Northrop Grumman Corp.
13 Years
- Nature Walk Golf Club
15 Years
- Diamond Title Agency
17 Years
- Edward Jones Investments
24 Years
- Applied Research Associates, Inc.
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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.
August 14th
Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
12:00 p.m.
August 7th
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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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