Weekly Update Newsletter  
November 13th, 2013   
Greetings!

     

Goodbyes and Hellos  

 

It is that time again to say good-bye.  Gosh, good-byes are tough.  Yes, our summer and fall interns are leaving.  What a wonderful group of young adults we have had again.  This time we had one student, Camille, for 5 months.  She is a part of our family now!  Many of you have gotten to meet Marion and Jonathan too.   They each have contributed so much.  I know it is wonderful that we receive these students and they do their internship here with our Beach Chamber, but it is impossible to not get attached to them and wish they could stay forever.

 

How do I describe our gratefulness for the amount of work and research they have done for us?  Our Chamber is strong because of their sincere interest in helping us with our mission and goals.  This is a tremendous benefit to our members, and for that I am most thankful.   

They learn and we learn, what a win-win.

 

Their futures are most certain as they move on and continue with their education.  I wish them all the success as they carve out their careers and professions.  Thank you for the difference you have made here on Clearwater Beach.
Au Revoir
Jonathan Slama, Marion Payen and Camille Hebting

      

Rhonda Sanborn and Allegiant Air Flight Attendants 



Over 20 Flight Attendants with Allegiant Air were in town yesterday for a Beach FAM Trip with Rhonda Sanborn of the CVB.  They came to visit Clearwater Beach to see all the exciting things that they have read about in the Sunseeker Magazine.  They LOVE our area and say that everyone onboard reads the Sunseeker cover-to-cover.  Good news for all of you who advertise in their magazine!!
 

  

Sincerely,  

   

Darlene Kole



 
November 16: Courtney Campbell Trail  
Grand Opening
November 19 - Ribbon Cutting Walgreens    
November 21:  Cork N Brew Bistro
November 22-24: Suncoast Jazz Classic

December 3: Holiday Breakfast - Hilton
December 7: Ride & Run
December 12: Mingle Wyndham Garden
December 31: New Year's Eve Fireworks 

   What's On The  
     President's Plate?  
  Crab Cake BLT Sandwich
At Caretta's on the Gulf
Sandpearl Resort


Click here for more 
 President's Plate pictures 

    

It's a great week to choose a destination and begin exploring!



for your future destination
click here
  Member Spotlight


    
Toll-Free: (800) 784-7801
Office: (727) 475-4797 Website


Little Black Dress Event
A Big Way to Give Back

Thursday November 14th
6:00-9:00 pm
2894 W. Bay Drive
Belleair Bluffs

visit their website
For more information
 please call (727) 518-7100
 

You Are Invited  
Courtney Campbell Trail  
Grand Opening

Saturday, November 16th
9:00 AM

Ben T. Davis Beach 
7740 W. Courtney Campbell  
                     Causeway, Tampa                                     
click here
 for RSVP or call (813) 289-5488 

click here for more info  
 
Sunsets At Pier 60 Movies
Sunset @ pier 60 logo

Nov 15th - Adventures in Zambezia
Nov 16th - Be Kind and Rewind/PG-13
Nov 22nd - Annie/PG
Nov 23rd - Beaches/PG-13
Nov 29th - Despicable Me/PG
Nov 30th - Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox/PG-13
Dec 6 -Arthur Christmas/PG
Dec 7 - The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey/PG-13
Dec 13 - A Christmas Story/PG
Dec 14 - The Bourne Legacy/PG-13
Dec 20 - Prancer
Dec 21 - The Guilt Trip/PG-13
Dec 27 - Happy Feet/PG
Dec 28 - Grown Ups 2/PG-13


4-8 pm weather permitting

SPORTS LINKS



 
 


 
Tampa-Bay-Lightning-Logo 
 

 
Become a Rotarian

rotary emblem

Please join the
Clearwater Beach Rotary
Thursday 
November 14th
Time: 12:15 to 1:15    
At Shephard's Beach Resort 
   

To Learn more about the History of Clearwater Beach Rotary


 
Thirsty Thursday!
Wine tasting at the Beachcomber

 November 14th
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Please RSVP to  
or call (727) 442-4144
Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival & the City of Clearwater  
are proud to announce that

 The Pier 60
Sugar Sand Festival
is coming!

 
  
Partnership Opportunities Unveiled 
Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival 
Dates Announced! 
April 4th-13th 2014

Click link to visit our E-Magazine
For More Information 
please contact:  
Brenna Farley 
(727) 688-0180 

Enter our Frenchy's Facebook Photo Contest!

It's the season of giving thanks and we're thankful for the beautiful sunsets that dazzle our back yard everyday on Clearwater Beach. In fact, the USA Today/10 Best reader poll just named Clearwater Beach the "Best Place to Watch a Sunset" in the country! 
 
Show your thankfulness by submitting your best sunset photo of Clearwater Beach in our #ClearwaterBestSunset photo contest.

Get everyone you know to vote for your photo by November 26th!  The photo with the most votes wins a $100 Frenchy's gift card and will also be featured as the cover photo on the Frenchy's Rockaway Grill Facebook page.  
 Frenchy's logo


 

The Beach Chamber is proud to have formed an Elite partnership with Clearwater Gas System.   
They Sponsor all of our events.  
Thank you Clearwater Gas System!
 
Visit Clearwater Gas website
for details on environmentally-friendly natural gas energy for appliances, water heating,
cooking, and pool/spa heating.   
 
 

St. Pete/Clearwater Area Sets New Bed

Tax Record

 

$31 Million Total for FY 2013 Is Highest in Pinellas County History

 St. Pete/Clearwater, FL (November 5, 2013)  
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area set a new bed tax record for FY 2013, collecting more than $31 million over the twelve month period ending September 30, according to the Pinellas County Tax Collector's office.

The bed tax grew from the $28.7 million the County collected in FY 2012 and is used for tourism marketing, beach restoration, bonds on area sports stadiums and other tourism-related initiatives. Over the past three years, annual growth has been 7.7% in 2011, 12.3% last year and now 8%.

  

  For more info: click here 
 
 


Please Welcome 
 Our Newest Member!
 



Chown Consulting Services (CCS)

                
Craig Chown  email
to visit their website click here
or call 850.210.6284

From Donna's Corner of the Beach....

 

 I spent last Friday afternoon working with Philippe Beau editing our interns' major papers. These projects are required of all the students and one section of each must be written in English. Philippe or I spent 30 minutes with each, polishing their English grammar, usage, etc.

 

  And as usual, I learned more from them than they from me. One paper demonstrated the improvements in our local real estate market. Another discussed the bed tax of Pinellas County and its uses. A third compared the major tourism venues of Florida. But all of them commented on how friendly and helpful everyone here has been. They LOVE what we have to offer!

 

  The students have thoroughly enjoyed their time here on Clearwater Beach and have done excellent research in return. I was gratified to hear how much they derived from their time and experiences here. They have now become lifelong ambassadors for Clearwater Beach!

 

   Many thanks to all our members who have served as employers and mentors to these students. Thanks also to the Magnuson and Travelodge for providing affordable housing for them. Thanks also to the Jolley Trolley and Florida Free Rides for enabling them to get around.

 

We'll have even more students in 2014. Contact Philippe or Darlene if you want to be a part of this exciting program! And now I'm off to edit the new season's Visitors' Guide....

   

With sand between my toes,

Donna

  

 
Social Media Links

facebook-logo

CHAMBER INFORMATION

  

Tourism Video    

 

Contact Us:

Darlene Kole, President/CEO

Liz LaJoy, Office Manager

Ann Locke, Special Events  

Karla Sens, Administrative Assistant 

Camille Hebting, Intern  

Marion Payen, Intern

Jonathan Slama, Intern

    

Office Volunteers: 

 John Cagle 


Maria
Maria 
    Beach Chamber Mascot

2013  
Executive Officers

Eric Waltz - Chairman of the Board

Louie Stavropoulos - Vice Chairman

Carol Mears - Secretary

Jason Gibertoni - Treasurer

Paul Andrews - Past Chairman

Frank Dame - Chamber Liaison

Darlene Kole - President/CEO

SURF STYLE VISITOR CENTER
 

 

Our Visitor Center at

Surf Style Mega Store  

 

Donna Dennis, Manager

Kathy Murray, Concierge 

 

Donna also does "House Calls"
to businesses that have groups of people
wanting to learn more about our beautiful piece of paradise.
She puts together welcome bags filled with
all kinds of useful information for our visitors.

      

Visitor Center Volunteers:  

Nancy Gardinier 

Ed Patch  

Christie Hanna

Amanda Hanna
Pat Kangas
David Deas

 

Tell Your Guests:  

Our Visitor Centers Sell
Jolley Trolley logo   

JOLLEY TROLLEY
All Day Passes
and All Day

PARKING PASSES! 

 

 

   

 

The Beach Chamber sells discounted  

 Busch Gardens tickets  

(half day tickets too)



Donate/Be a Partner/Be a Sponsor Today!

 

Call Liz at the Beach Chamber  

447-7600 for more details.


 
2014 Fireworks 
proudly presented by:

Frenchy's Restaurants

 Frenchy's logo

Fireworks powered by:


     
also sponsored by:

    

  Hilton logo


  


 

Holiday Breakfast hosted by

Hilton Logo NEW

sponsored by

 
 

 






For more information call us 727-447-7600 or e-mail

You are invited to  
 Walgreens Ribbon Cutting

 Tuesday November 19th

5:00pm

401 Poinsettia Ave

Clearwater Beach 

 

Join us for the Grand Opening of the new  

23,000-square-foot Walgreens.    

You will meet the entire team.

  Mayor George Cretekos, Vice Mayor Paul Gibson and Councilwoman Doreen Dipolito will be part of the ceremonies.  

 

 


It's mingle time... please come and
mingle with our members


Mingle at Cork N Brew Bistro
Thursday November 21st
524 Mandalay Ave.
5:00 - 7:00 pm


 

click here to RSVP


 

Attention! Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce Members


Bob Griffin is preparing a story for the Clearwater Beach Neighborhood Newsletter for his December 15th issue. The feature story in this issue will be the History of the Capitol Theater...Then and now.

 

He is collecting residents' memories of the early days of the theater. The older the better.

 

If you are a long time resident of the Clearwater area, and you remember going to the Capitol Theatre, he wants to hear from you...by email. What do you remember about your first visit...or your most memorable visit?

   

Click here
to send your comments  

 

By Thanksgiving.

Keep them under 100 words.

 

Thank you for helping to make the Neighborhood Newsletter a real Neighborhood Newsletter.

 

 


Paint Your Own Clearwater's Dolphin Miniature at Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Clearwater Regional Chamber are teaming up with area artists to offer you an exciting art experience. With some coaching from a pro, you will decorate a 7 inch tall resin dolphin, which you can then take home. All supplies will be provided: dolphin, paint and 
 paint brushes. 

You also get a free day at Dolphin Tale Adventure
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013
11:00AM-12:00PM and 1:00PM-2:00PM

Book now, maximum class size is 20 people
$39.95 includes all supplies and entrance to
Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure

Register online 
or in person at
300 Cleveland St., Clearwater

Follow the Dolphin Trail and connect with us
 on social media
 

Festival of Trees
November 22-24, 2013

Dear Members,

Your Clearwater Beach Chamber is participating in UPARC Foundation's Festival of Trees.

Help us decorate the tree by donating any beachy themed ornaments by November 15th.

This year's event will be held at the Long Center located on Belcher Road in Clearwater.  

For more information visit this website 

Chapel By The Sea
Presents


Florida Suncoast Chorus

November 24th

4:00 p.m.
Chapel By The Sea
54 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach

Chapel By The Sea kicks off the Christmas season on Sunday, in the sanctuary which they will have just decorated for Christmas. The Florida Suncoast Chorus will present a Christmas concert. 

There is no charge for this concert, but an offering will be taken, all of which will go to the chorus. Light refreshments will be served in Chapel Hall after the performance as they begin their favorite season of the year.

For more information click here


                                 


Enjoy your Thanksgiving at
 Reflections Restaurant!!


Lunch 1:00PM to 4:30PM

Dinner 5:00PM to 9:00PM  

 

for more information visit website
click here  for Thanksgiving menu



     

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 
 THIS THANKSGIVING 

This Thanksgiving, SHOR American Seafood Grill is offering three enticing meals to satisfy everyone. Treat yourself to a little bit of everything at our Thanksgiving buffet brunch, which includes bottomless Bloody Mary or Mimosa cocktails and a wide array of seasonal dishes.
 

Planning on entertaining at home instead? We're offering a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner "To Go" for those who wish to entertain at home minus the culinary chores. 
 
Follow the link below to learn more
                                        
click here


Paul Andrews, Trisha Rodriguez, Darlene Kole & Louie Stravropoulos

Members of the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce took a tour of Clearwater Police headquarters today as part of their participation in the International Program Vera Institute of Justice Police Station Visitors Week. That's an international competition during which different community organizations are invited to visit the station and see firsthand how the department is run. They then fill out a questionnaire that grades how the department does in various areas.

Follow the link below to learn more 
Click here 

 



Clearwater Marine Aquarium announces that it will now be open on weekends  
(Saturday and Sunday) 9:00 am-6:00 pm.  
CMA previously announced a permanent close-down for filming of Dolphin Tale 2,  
but will now give guests an unique opportunity to see the animals and  
to be on the movie set



PLEASE CLICK ON
SEEWINTER.COM
FOR DETAILS
249 Windward Passage / Clearwater 
SeeWinter.com / 727.441.1790





*Discounts not valid on holidays*

  Chamber logo