Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce August Bay Business Report

August 2012 Vol 21, Number 8
Meeting Notices Monthly Business Luncheon August 1, 2012, 12:00 AJ Neighborhood Bar & Grill 120 Martin Luther King Avenue Apalachicola Monthly Business Luncheon September 5, 2012, 12:00 Business After Hours September 13, 2012 5:30-7:00 pm Cadence Bank Apalachicola   Visitor Statistics June 2001  1,238 June 2002  1,025 June 2003  1,185 June 2004  1,196 June 2005  1,245 June 2006  1,791 June 2007  2,521 June 2008  2,278 June 2009  2,537 June 2010  2,082 June 2011  2,856 June 2012  2,433 Website Stats June 2012 Visits 29,114    Unique Visitors22,560 Pageviews  110,394    Average Page Views 3.79 Time on Site (mins) 3:28 Bounce Rate 38.87% New Visits 70.40% Chamber Board of Directors PRESIDENT  Donna Duncan 653-8976 VICE-PRESIDENT Bud Hayes 927-3305 TREASURER Jerry Hall 653-9510 SECRETARY Kristin Anderson 653-2249 BOARD MEMBERS Brenda Ash 653-8805 Kristy Branch Banks 670-1255 Mark Friedman 670-1253 Ginny Griner 653-8853 Bonnie Gomes 670-8450 Beverly Hewitt 653-9510 Mike Koun 653-2191 Michael Shuler 653-1757 Ouida Tartt 653-4687 Jean Ulrich 653-2900 Kevin Ward 899-0669	New Members Apalachicola Ah La Carte Welcome Lisa Hooker to the chamber with her business Apalachicola Ah La Carte located on 4th Street, right behind the Gibson Inn. Al La Carte rents golf carts so folks can discover Apalachicola on a daily or weekly basis, and for weddings and events like the Tour of Homes. Lisa also has a studio apartment for rent on a nightly or weekly basis on 4th Street above the Al La Carte office called La Carte Studio.  It is a comfortable, clean studio apartment with a fully equipped kitchen in the heart of downtown Apalachicola, behind the Gibson Inn. Reservations accepted and recommended (850) 524-0505 gcirrus@yahoo.com orwww.apalachicolaahlacarte.com Forgotten Coast Used and Out Of Print Books Welcome Susan Wolfe with Forgotten Coast Used and Out Of Print Books, a lovely little book shop in Apalachicola specializing in used and out of print books focusing on the south and Florida. Gail Dierolf is the manager they are open Monday-Saturday 10:00 -5:00.  They have books like Alexander Key’s Island Light, a fun read for anyone living here, plus local and regional author like Robb White, Bailey White, Dawn Radford or Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Elizabeth Beatty. Forgotten Coast Books also has an online component featuring fiction and non-fiction titles relating to Florida and Gulf Coast history, environment, and personalities. Books selected for the collection capture a distinctive sense of time and place in Florida's many regions, and celebrate the stories of their development and of their citizens. The shop is located at 15 Avenue F just north of the Chamber office on Commerce Street in Apalachicola.  Their  phone is (850) 570-4204 or contact Susan via emailswolfe@forgottencoastbooks.com .  Be sure to check out theirwebsite. Island Fit Stand Up Paddleboard Fitness Samantha Fortunas joined the chamber with her business Island Fit Stand Up Paddleboard Fitness.  Samantha offers Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) lessons, and SUP rentals.  She is a Paddle Fit Certified instructor in fitness classes on the Stand Up Paddleboard and specializes in stretching, yoga, fitness and fun.  She has group and private classes.  Samantha was born and raised in Tallahassee and her grandfather was born in a house just down the street from the Chamber!  Contact Samantha at (850) 980-4204at islandfitsup@gmail.com or visit her website at www.islandfitsup.com Blue Heaven Welcome Laurie Hughes with her beach home rental Blue Heaven located on the east end of St. George Island.  Blue Heaven has four bedrooms, sleeps 8-10 people, plus a sleeping porch, 3.5 baths.  Completely remodeled inside in 2004, its post and beam construction offers a very spacious, open floor plan for family gatherings, and broad decks surround both levels of the house providing panoramic views. For larger gatherings, the Whaley House is right next door and owned by the same family, offering space for twenty-four guests. Plus, there is parking for several cars and even a boat trailer. Other amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, a music library, XM/AM/FM radio, satellite and cable. To view all the house has to offer go to http://www.vrbo.com/329750 TouchPoint Branding/ Graphic Solutions Group Bob Landiss joined the chamber with his promotional product company TouchPoint Branding/ Graphic Solutions Group.  TouchPoint Branding has all the latest types of decorated apparel, silk screened or embroidered, and promotional products to help businesses build their brand.  From t-shirts, caps, polo shirts, and jackets to cups, tote bags, pens and much more.  Bob has been in the printing business for thirty-five years. He and his wife Kara have lived on St George Island since 2001. Kara is a real estate agent with Prudential. Bob can be reached by calling (850) 927-3530, cell (850) 653-5437 or by email at blandiss@tptbranding.com or visit his website http://www.gsgpromo.com KaydAtYourService.com  Welcome Kayd Selden with her business,KaydAtYourService.com.  Kayd can help with many of your personal and business needs such as a temporary shopkeeper, house and or pet sitter, plant care, errand runner, or hire her as a home/business organizer, to do spring cleaning, help with special events, or as an admin temp.  For a complete list of services go to http://www.KaydAtYourService.com.  Kayd has lived here for eleven years working the last five years at the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. You can contact her at (850) 370-6041 or kayd@kaydatyourservice.com. La Robe Boutique Bonnie, Donnie and Tellie Carter opened a new shop in Apalachicola, La Robe Boutique, a fashionable women’s dress and accessory shop located in the Sponge Exchange building on Avenue E.  La Robe opened July 28th.  The Carters own I Do Bridal and Formal in Mobile, Alabama.  Natalie Clotfelter will be the manager.  The store hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm, Saturday 10:00 am- 5:00 pm. They can be reached at (251) 379-1865. Member News Gulf/Franklin Center Loretta Costin is the new director of the Gulf /Franklin Center of the Gulf Coast State College.  Loretta is from Tallahassee and worked in the upper level management with Workforce Florida, the state’s workforce development agency. She is glad to be in the area and we are excited she will be heading up the center. Loretta can be reached at (850) 227-9670 ext 5503. Prudential Shimmering Sands  Prudential Shimmering Sands moved to their new home on 123 East Gulf Beach Drive. Their 3,500 square foot office has thirteen offices, a large and small conference room, a reception area and a kitchen. They are planning a ribbon cutting for some time in August.  AJ Smith AJ Smith was endorsed by the Florida Chamber and the Florida Retail Association. Congratulations AJ. Franklin County Republican Party  The Franklin County Republican Party will host a party headquarters grand opening event on Saturday, August 11th between 11:00am-1:00pm at its new party headquarters at 260 US Highway 98, in Eastpoint (next to Taylor’s Building Supply).  Refreshments will be served and candidate campaign materials will be available.  The public is invited to attend.  The office will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10:00am – 6:00pm until the general election.   Panhandle Players The Panhandle Players Annual Membership Meeting and Elections will be held Tuesday, August 14 at the Raney Carriage House in Apalachicola at 6:00PM. The meeting will last approximately one hour, after which we will hold auditions for our first production of the season - "Coming Back to Jersey" by Carl L. Williams. Megan Lamb is directing this very funny adult comedy based on the riddles of mid-life crises and budding love. Jewish and/or Jersey accents are encouraged. There are roles for four actors ages 40-50s (two males and two females) and two actors in their 20s (one male and one female.) The production dates are November 9-11 at the Dixie Theatre. There is a possibility of dinner theatre the week end after at Crooked River Grille. Airport Funfest 2012 The Tallahassee Airport is busy planning Airport Funfest 2012, to benefit the United Way of the Big Bend.  The event will be held on October 6th between 10 -3pm.  There will be bands, kids’ activities, aerial demonstrations, military and general aviation static displays, aircraft rides, live music, regional food and beverage and the U.S. Army Golden Knights.  For information go to www.flytallahassee.com.	Directors Column Social Media Workshop and SBDC Hours Are you using social media to advance your business?  Nielsen ratings estimate that social media sites and blogs reach 80% of all active US internet users, and 65% of adult internet users say they use a social-networking site, and 45-54 year-oldsare the fastest growing segment in social media users.  Don’t know where to start?  Christine Urbane with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be here August 15th to do a hands-on workshop on social media. She will go over the basics: •    How to create a Facebook page using the new Timeline •    How to gain "fans," "friends," and "likes" for your page •    How to create, post, and share events •    How to create photo albums for your events •    How to share links She will also be taking appointments for one to one counseling for ½ hour sessions throughout the afternoon for business owners who just want to discuss their business ideas, challenges, marketing, etc.  Register by clicking on the event at http://clients.floridasbdc.org/events.aspx    (scroll way down the list) or call the chamber office at (850) 653-9419. Press  -Lesley Abravanel Frommer’s was sent information for an article she was working on for Frommer’s called Five Things You Don't Know About Florida. -Christine Sarkis, Senior Editor SmarterTravel was sent information and photographs on the area for an article onwww.smartertravel.com.  The article came out on July 29.  Jamie Moore also wrote an article that included Apalachicola called 10 Fantastic Fishing Villages. The Calendar is Out!  Hot off the presses the Franklin Needs 2013 Calendar Girls calendar has hit the stands.  Eleven of Franklin County’s greatest women pose a la natural in locations around Franklin County’s including the SGI Lighthouse, sailing on the Apalachicola River,  The sales proceeds go to help provide mammograms for women in Franklin County.  The calendars are available at the chamber office and many locations around the county. Full Moon Climb August 2, 2012 , there will be a Full moon climb from 8-9:30  pm.  To view both the sunset and the rise of the full moon, the cost is $10  for Lighthouse Association members and $15 for everyone else.  This  admission price includes light hors d'oeuvres and a sparkling cider toast to the  Full Moon  After the moon has risen, other climbers are invited to go to  the top for a spectatular view; Lighthouse Association members $5, everyone else  $10.  Reservations are recommended if you wish to see both the sunset and  moonrise, and can be made by calling850-927-7744 (toll free:  888-927-7744) or by coming by the St. George Island Visitor Center. Got Ideas? Suggestions? How can the Apalachicola Bay Chamber better serve you? Is there something that we can do better to help your business?  Is there something you would like to see us add or change on the website, at the visitor’s center or in the visitors’ guide?  Ideas are always welcome.  Feel free to call or email us with your ideas atinfo@apalachicolabay.org. Volunteers Needed  The Apalachicola Bay Chamber Visitor Center seeks volunteers to help at the visitors center and with special projects.  Duties include giving our visitor information, answering questions about places to stay, restaurants and things to do.  If you would like to help, we’d love to have you.  It can be a fun and rewarding.  Contact us for details (850) 653-9419 or email us at info@apalachicolabay.org

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