New Article - Page: NL Dec 2007
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Upcoming Events
11/25/07 St. John 9:15a.m. CT
11/29/07 – 12/01/07 Faith Christian School
12/01/07 Reindeer Run – Port St. Joe
12/01/07 Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Pepper’s Mexican Grill and Cantina 6a.m. – 10a.m.
12/01/07 Expressions From The Heart Florist and Gift Shop Christmas Open House 9a.m. – 2p.m.
12/01/07 Lighted Boat Parade (St. Joseph Bay
12/01/07 Fireworks (over St. Joseph Bay
12/01/07 Book Signing – Dwan Hightower – Palm Tree Books
12/06/07 BaySolutions Seminar – Time Management for Business Professionals
12/07/07 Aline's Coiffures & Merle Norman Cosmetics Open House 9a.m.-5p.m.
12/08/07 Breakfast with Santa – First United Methodist Church 9a.m.
12/08/07 Christmas on the Coast – Christmas Tree Lighting 6p.m. (next to City Hall), Lighted Street Parade approx. 6:45p.m. (Reid Avenue)
12/15/07 Jingle Bell
12/15/07 Christmas Lights at Lake Alice
12/20/07 Business Before Hours – Bluewater Realty of Gulf County
What’s Inside…
Christmas on the Coast
Port St. Joe Salt Air Market
New Members
Music by the Bay
Christmas Lights at
Breakfast with Santa
Chamber Happenings
Reindeer Run Registration
Lighted Street Parade Registration
Five web site tips for improved credibility
Local Business Achievement
U.S.D.A. Check Presentation
A.C.S. Relay for Life
United Way of
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Merry Christmas, World Peace, and
WOW…it’s Christmas already! Where did the year go? It can’t be just me, but 2007 seemed to have flown by faster than any I can remember. Usually, beginning about this time each year we reflect on the highlights and in some cases the low points of the year that has just passed…like they say in baseball, “it’s one for the books.” In 2007, some of us lost a friend or family member; they will not soon be forgotten. Also in 2007 we saw our long time Mayor retire to a well deserved break. Happy Retirement Mayor Pate! But in 2007, we also chose a new Mayor, that I know has the best interest of our community at heart… “give ’em Hell, Mel!”
At the chamber, we too had a challenging year. We did everything within our collective power to promote the business community of
So, to all, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Oh, and by the way, my Christmas wish is for world peace, lower taxes, increased services, good health, county wide voting, and a nominal pay raise.
Until next year,
Most Sincerely,
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2007 Chamber Study – Important Information for Our Members and our Not Yet Members!
I am forgoing writing an article for this newsletter as I feel these study results are valuable to our members. We need your help in getting other businesses, individuals, organizations and groups to join our ranks. Together – we can do more!
“We discovered that informing someone about a company’s chamber membership opens the door to substantial increases positive perceptions of that business,” said Alex Trouteaud, Ph.D., senior strategist for The Schapiro Group. “There clearly is a feeling by our A new national study reveals that membership in a local chamber of commerce can significantly boost a business’s image among consumers, as well as among other businesses. In a scientific survey of 2000 U.S. adults, The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found positive perceptions of chamber members in a number of areas, including overall favorability, consumer awareness and reputation, and likelihood of future patronage.
The study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), IBM, Administaff, Small Business Network, Inc., and Market Street Services, showed that when respondents were told that a particular small business was a member of its local chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member.
“We discovered that informing someone about a company’s chamber membership opens the door to substantial increases positive perceptions of that business,” said Alex Trouteaud, Ph.D., senior strategist for The Schapiro Group. “There clearly is a feeling by our respondents that chamber membership is synonymous with quality and desirability.”
To tap into this reservoir of goodwill, a small business should not only join the local chamber of commerce and participate, but also make sure consumers and other businesses are aware of that chamber affiliation.
The positive impact of perceived chamber membership is felt by big businesses, too. For example, when consumers believed that a restaurant chain was a member of the local chamber of commerce, they were 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the future. And if a consumer believed that one of the major automobile manufacturers was a member of its local chamber, that consumer was 9 percent more likely to consider purchasing his or her next car from that automaker.
“This study reinforces research done in 2005 about the perceived capacity of chambers to lead businesses and lead communities,” said Mick Fleming, president of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). “These new national findings point to even more direct benefits for companies willing to be stakeholders in their local chamber.”
The study results had good news for chambers themselves, where 82 percent of respondents indicated that a local chamber of commerce “creates jobs and promotes economic development.”
“The message from this national study is as simple as it is ground-breaking,” said Jim Blasingame, small business expert and president of Small Business Network, Inc. “Join your local chamber, be an active participant in your chamber’s programs and be sure to let your customers and prospects know you’re a proud chamber supporter when they come in your business and when they see your marketing material.”
J. Mac Holladay, CEO of Market Street Services, an economic development consulting firm based in Atlanta that helped create the study, said, “It is refreshing to learn what we have suspected for years -- that chamber membership and community involvement are good investments.”
The study, released only three months ago, was sponsored by IBM, Administaff, Jim Blasingame and AskJim.biz in cooperation with American Chamber of Commerce Executives. The study was conducted by The Schapiro Group and coordinated by Market Street Services.
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Port St. Joe Salt Air Market
Soon after Thanksgiving’s leftover turkey has been devoured will we turn our attention to Christmas. Visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and that partridge in a pear tree will begin to consume our thoughts. It’s a magical time of year and Christmas on the Coast is especially magical! With our pristine beaches, we have the beauty and splendor of a white Christmas without the snow shoveling.
This year, Christmas on the Coast brings an added element - an introduction to the new farmers’ market. On December 8, check out what the spring holds for The Port St. Joe Salt-Air Market.
Not a flea market, farmers’ markets renew downtowns and neighborhoods, bring together diverse people, create an active public space, provide economic opportunity, shape growth and minimize sprawl, and promote public health. For these reasons, Port St. Joe Waterfronts Partnership has diligently worked to create such a market in downtown Port St. Joe.
A Project for Public Spaces survey of over 800 indoor and open-air market customers from around the country revealed that they also visited nearby shops on market day 60% of the time. Of those, 60% said that they ONLY visited those additional stores on market days. Shopping in downtown is already wonderful but local businesses, based on the statistics, would see an increase in shoppers with a farmers’ market nearby. That’s surely a good thing.
According to the local Health Department,
Transporting produce across the state or beyond uses fuel – almost always petroleum-based fuels. On average, produce travels from “farm to fork” 1,500 miles. All the while, irreplaceable natural resources are being consumed and greenhouse gas emissions increase. Most food packaging is designed to help food travel those long distances. Buying local keeps that heavy packaging out of the landfills and uses less fuel.
Lastly, there is a HUGE social aspect to markets. The old ties between the farmer and the consumer are restored. Many believe the greatest benefit of a farmers’ market to be its ability to “bring people together”.
The Port St. Joe Salt-Air Market, with its Christmas on the Coast debut is an event not to be missed. To participate as a vendor or to volunteer, please call (850) 229-7197. The Port St. Joe Salt-Air Market is a project of Port St. Joe Waterfronts Partnership and would not be possible without the generous assistance of: Roy Lee Carter, Dr. Jennifer Taylor – Florida A&M Statewide Small Farms Program, the Port St. Joe Redevelopment Agency, Gulf County Health Department, and countless volunteers.
Tracy Melvin, Program Manager, Port St. Joe Waterfronts Partnership
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Activities begin with a Preview Sale Thursday, November 29th, from
By now, you may have heard that the
More information is available by calling Sandie Kennedy at 227-2191.
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Thank you to our sponsors for a wonderfully successful Music by the Bay season!
Boardwalk Realty of
Fairpoint Communications
Farnsley Financial Consultants
Hannon Insurance Agency
The Thirsty Goat
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New Members
The L’s Place
Rodney C. Lowery
1976 Hwy. 98
Port
Phone: 850-227-1218
Phone: 850-830-0853C
Fax: 850-227-1218
HomeAway Port St. Joe Vacation Rentals
Aimee Faulkner, Search Engine Marketer
3801 S. Capital of
Phone: 512-493-0382
Fax: 512-684-1101
www.homeaway.com/port-st-joe/s/7583/fa/find.squery
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Do your employees know what to do when a CHILD is LOST in your workplace? Code Adam provides the answer!
Why is “Code Adam” important to your store, employees, patrons, and community?
It may be one of a parent’s worst nightmares - suddenly your child is missing. It may happen at an amusement park, a clothing store, a department store, or a supermarket. This is exactly what happened to Revé and John Walsh on
We will never know whether or not Adam would have survived on that July morning in 1981 if a program like Code Adam had been in place, but this program has the potential to save many children like Adam. Since its development and implementation, Code Adam has successfully thwarted abductions in progress. You may help reduce this number by encouraging your businesses, libraries, public buildings, and others in your community to adopt the Code Adam program.
Since the beginning of the Code Adam program in 1994 it has been a powerful search tool for lost and possibly abducted children in tens of thousands of establishments across the nation, and it is one of the country’s largest child-safety programs. A Code Adam decal is posted at a building’s entrance alerting the public of the location’s participation in the program.
There are six steps employees are trained to follow when a Code Adam is activated
- If a visitor reports a child is missing, a detailed description of the child and what he or she is wearing is obtained.
- The employee goes to the nearest in-house telephone and pages Code Adam, describing the child’s physical features and clothing. As designated employees monitor front entrances, other employees begin looking for the child.
- If the child is not found within 10 minutes, law enforcement is called.
- If the child is found and appears to have been lost and unharmed, the child is reunited with the searching family member.
- If the child is found accompanied by someone other than a parent or legal guardian, reasonable efforts to delay their departure will be used without putting the child, staff, or visitors at risk. Law enforcement will be notified and given details about the person accompanying the child.
- The Code Adam page will be canceled after the child is found or law enforcement arrives.
There is no cost to participate in this program. The
- A training video to show your employees
- A break room poster explaining the program steps
- Two decals to put on entrances announcing your participation in Code Adam
For more information about the Code Adam program, write to:
Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building
Or calling toll-free at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678)
Or E-mailing at codeadam@ncmec.org
www.missingkids.com
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Reindeer 5K Run & Fitness Walk
Saturday
You are invited to the Annual Reindeer 5K Run. Bring your children and friends.
Let’s promote fitness and have fun, too! Walkers welcome!
Run course:
T-shirts: T-shirts to the first 100 registered runners/walkers by race day.
Registration: Registration will begin at
Awards: $50.00 cash award to the 1st Overall Male and Female runners.
Additional awards will be 3 deep in 5 year age groups.
Information: Contact the
Special Rates for Runners at MainStay Suites and The Port Inn, call 229-MAIN or 229-7678
ENTRY FORM
Name:________________________________________________Age:________Sex:_______
Address_____________________________________________Phone:___________________
______________________________________________
T-Shirt: (circle one) Sm Med Lg X-Lg E-mail:_______________________________
Waiver: I assume all risks associated with running this event, including but not limited to, falls, contact with other participants, the effects of weather, including high heat and/or humidity, traffic, and the condition of the road, all such risks known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and in condition of your accepting my entry, I release all representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in the Reindeer 5K Run
Signature:_________________________________________________Date:_______________
Make checks payable to: Reindeer Run, Gulf County Chamber of Commerce
155 Capt. Fred’s Place,
850-227-1223
Sandra@GulfChamber.org
PARADE ENTRY FORM
Yes, we will be able to participate in the Annual Christmas Parade to be held on
The parade will begin at
proceeding north on
ENTRY DEADLINE IS:
Name of Organization:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone #:_______________________________________________________________Fax #:__________________________________________________
Email address:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
