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Meeting Notices February 2, 2011, noon Monthly Business Luncheon AJ’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill 120 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Apalachicola Monthly Business Luncheon Location TBA Business After Hours March 10, 2011 Business After Hours 5:30-7:00 pm Hole in the Wall Apalachicola
Chamber Board of Directors PRESIDENT Michael Shuler 653-1757 VICE-PRESIDENT Ginny Griner 653-8853 TREASURER Jerry Hall 653-9510 SECRETARY Kristin Anderson 653-2249 BOARD MEMBERS Kristy Branch Banks 670-1255 Donna Duncan 653-8976 Susan Bassett 323-0092 Mark Friedman 670-1253 Bud Hayes 927-3305 Beverly Hewitt 653-9510 Paul Marxsen 697-2542 Diana Prickett 927-2322 Kevin Ward 899-0669 | Visitor Guide and Map The Apalachicola Bay Chamber is producing the Official Visitors Guide & Map to promote businesses in our area. This is a professionally produced glossy full-color guide, and that includes an area maps, professional photographs, brief histories of the area, things to do, dining, places to stay, shopping places to see and relocation information. Both publications are mailed to everyone requesting visitor and relocation information (approximately 1,500 requests per month), given to walk-in visitors, included in press kits and distributed throughout the county at member businesses accommodations, vacation rental offices, shops and restaurants. The map and guide is also available as a downloadable PDF on our website at www.apalachicolabay.org. We will print 20,000 copies of each. Advertisers will receive copies for their own distribution. If you area interested in advertising, please contact Anita Grove or Cindy Collins at the Chamber office (850) 653-9419 or anita@apalachicolabay.org New Members Butler Insurance Agency Welcome Denise Butler with the Butler Agency Insurance, a division of Coastal Insurance, as our first member of 2011. Denise has been an insurance agent since 2002. Her company offers all types residential and commercial insurance including liability, wind, flood, auto and umbrella policies. Longtime community volunteer and education advocate, Denise has raised two children in Franklin County and served on many boards and committees. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees and Chair of the Franklin County Public Library Board. The Butler Agency is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm or call Denise. She is happy to make appointments on weekend and evenings. The office is located in Eastpoint 43 Island Drive. She can be reached at (850) 670-1200, cell (850) 653-5854 or by email at dbutler@coastalcoverage.com. You can also visit their website at www.coastalcoverage.com Franklin County School Homeless Liaison Sandi Hengle joined the chamber in January. She is the Franklin County Schools Homeless Liaison. The Homeless Liaison is contracted by the Franklin County Schools through Title I, pt. a; Title X, the No Child Left Behind Act through Federal Stimulus Funds. The job consists of identifying and providing services for homeless students from k-12 through 12th grade. Homeless would be deemed as families who are sharing the home of friends/or other family members due to loss of home or economic situations. Unaccompanied Youth and thus depending on their situation may qualify for services such as help obtaining records, food, clothing, school supplies, etc.; a student cannot be turned away from enrolling in school based on lack of records and the Homeless Liaison works with school staff to make sure enrollment is immediate. If any family is affected by fire, an arrest or medical emergency/situation she makes sure the student's education is not affected by their living situation. Sandi’s office is located at the Schools Administrative Offices, 85 School Road, Suite One in Eastpoint. Her numbers are (850) 323-0982. Please contact with any questions/further information or you know of a student in any of the above situations or you would like to know what you can do to help. She also has a Twitter account at www.twitter.com/ Payroll Matters Brad Burns joined the chamber with his business Payroll Matters, a payroll services company. Payroll Matters has 20+ years of experience and can help your business with calculating, filing, depositing and reconciling your federal, state, Social Security, Medicare, FUTA and SUTA payroll taxes. They can prepare and submit all returns and reconciliation reports as required by federal and state agencies. They can also respond to government tax inquiries, and, if necessary, file amended returns on your behalf and provide copies of all forms filed and eliminating any federal or state late filing or payment charges. Payroll Matters delivers accurate payroll information and related services at affordable prices. They also administer “Pay as you Go” workers compensation plans. Brad’s firm works with small or large clients and can adapt their services to your individual needs. Brad can be reached at (850) 509-0829, (850) 297-0155, email bburns@payrollmatters.com or visit their website at www.mypayrollmatters.com Member News Riverfront Therapy Congratulations Kathy Jansen on the birth of her daughter Cornelia Sue on Christmas Eve. Kathy is currently on maternity leave, but the Riverfront Therapy Spa is open for those who wish to use the steam room and massage chair. Massage appointments are available Monday-Saturday with licensed therapists Erin Taratoot. Adam Perry is available Tuesdays & Fridays. Email Kathy at kjhealingarts@gmail.com or call/text (850) 653-6719. Weems Medical Center East Opens The first phase of modernizing Franklin county's health care infrastructure, while improving access to clinical care, is now complete with the opening of Weems Medical Center East, a $ 1.2 million, 5,000 square foot facility in Carrabelle. Weems Medical Center East will provide primary care services, urgent care services and rotating specialty care services. The office hours for the facility are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Office hours are expected to expand in the spring to include evenings and weekends. The facility will accommodate two physicians and at least one other clinical provider such as a Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The 5,000 square foot facility has six exam rooms, one procedure room, and one radiology room with support areas. Other public areas include the waiting room and a separate children’s play area. Additional staff areas include reception with a work area, a manager's office, break room, helipad and medical records. | Directors Column Anita Grove, Executive Director Chambers have been at the forefront of community improvements in this country since the 1700s. Chris Mead, Senior Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce called the office in January to tell me that our chamber is one of the older chambers in the United States. He is writing a history on local chambers of commerce and in his research found reference to our chamber in congressional documents. On January 17, 1843, the Apalachicola Chamber requested lighthouses be built on Cape St George and San Blas. On February 10, 1843, “The Chamber of Commerce for the city of Apalachicola petitioned the Congress for an appropriation to deepen and straighten the Channel in the Bay of Apalachicola where by vessels of greater burden can be brought to the wharf of the city.” For over 150 years the Apalachicola Bay Chamber has played a major role in spear heading and implementing projects for the City of Apalachicola and the surrounding area. From erecting lighthouses and infrastructure projects to helping fight the water wars, and supporting the seafood industry. Since the early 20th century the chamber has written, produced and distributed promotional materials on the area and answered hundreds of thousands of inquiries about visiting the area, moving here and relocating businesses to the area. We researched, wrote and passed the Tourist Development Tax, and funded and staffed the FCTDC for its first years. The chamber was also the driving force behind the one cent sales tax to fund the hospital and expand healthcare in the county. The Apalachicola Bay Chamber was also responsible for the Waterfronts Florida designation, grant given to three Florida communities every two years, expanding the Enterprise Zones, which provides tax incentives for businesses, and the prestigious National Trust for Historic Preservation Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 2008, (as the name implies), naming Apalachicola one of America’s dozen great historic destinations. The chamber has provided strong leadership and support for the community for 168 years. Pat yourselves on the back. You are a member of an active civic-minded business owner’s organization!      Press Contacts -Barbara O'Reilley, Director of Communications, with the Florida Humanities Council was sent photos and information for an article about Apalachicola in the spring issue of their FORUM magazine. -Dana Dickey with Conde Nast Traveler wrote a blog title Florida Now: The Shell Game for their website Conciege.com on Apalachicola http://www.concierge.com/ -Freelance writer David Hewitt wrote an article released on eHow. This was an update of an early article he wrote on the area. -Bill Ecenbarger a writer with the Philadelphia Inquirer was sent information and photos on the area. Alex Crevar was sent information on the area. He was here in January working on an article for Southern Living. -Greg Robertson with Men’s Journal called to fact check an article written by Taylor Bruce who was here in November with Chris Hastings. Events Forgotten Coast Chef Sampler Don’t forget to get your tickets to the 15th Annual Chefs Sampler on February 20th. We are almost sold out. Call (850) 653-9419, or email us at info@apalachicolabay.org. 8th African American History Festival February 19-20 HCOLA presents the 8th annual African American History Festival, a two day event that showcases African American History, Art, and Culture in Apalachicola. Saturday begins with the festival parade at 10 am followed by the official opening ceremonies. There will be live entertainment throughout the day. For more information, visit www.hcola.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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