End could be in sight for Visit Florida
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida’s tourism-marketing agency is closer to having its doors closed this fall as a Senate budget proposal Tuesday matched the House’s stance to eliminate Visit Florida. Click below to read more!

TONIGHT!!! Complimentary food and beverages from local restaurants, live entertainment and door prizes! This joint Beach & Regional Chamber mixer is hosted by ProForma N&M Communications and we hope to see you there!

RSVP to (727)447-7600 or Amanda@beachchamber.com
We are building again! Join businesses from around the Greater Clearwater Area in building a home with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco. We are seeking businesses that wish to contribute as little at $500 to helping build our community.

To find out more, contact Alison Riley at ARiley@habitatpinellas.org
Heads Up!
We are in the process of reprinting our maps of Clearwater! In that process, Target Marketing staff is reaching out to our members on behalf of the Chamber for advertising! These maps are going like hotcakes to members' offices, those looking to visit, relocate to our area, and all those who walk in to our visitor centers! Visit www.chambermaps.com to see their work! Email Scott Robertson if you'd like to advertise srobertson@chambermaps.com
Member News
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties Expands Staff to Serve More Families
Candi Hagler, Chief Program Officer – Pasco County
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties welcomes Candi Hagler back to the organization. She rejoins the affiliate with her 15+ years of Habitat for Humanity experience, including 5 with Habitat Pinellas.
Nancy Ridenour, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
Nancy Ridenour, CPA, joins the affiliate after 25+ years of leading PDR CPA where her engagement in the nonprofit sector helped advance the efforts of many nonprofits.
Patty Sutton, Vice President of Development - Pasco County
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties welcomes Patty Sutton to the organization. She brings over 17 years of non-profit work to our community and is an internationally certified fundraising executive (CFRE).
Play at Eddie C. Moore!
Get a team together from work or your friends and join the summer league!

Join Donovan Smith, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on May 13th in support of Autism Speaks!
Florida House votes to make texting while driving primary offense
Texting behind the wheel currently is secondary offense, but bill would allow law enforcement to cite drivers solely for texting.

Law enforcement officers would be able to pull over drivers for texting behind the wheel of a moving vehicle under legislation that cleared the Florida House on Tuesday.

With bonds sold, Virgin Trains set to break ground in May for Orlando line
Virgin Trains USA is instructing contractors to break ground in a matter of weeks for its planned higher-speed passenger train railroad stretching from South Florida to Orlando.

The company, which runs private passenger trains linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, closed its bond sale last Friday to raise $1.75 billion to help pay for construction of the 170-mile line, which will double-track and upgrade the existing railroad from West Palm Beach to Cocoa, and build all new tracks from there to the Orlando International Airport.

Upcoming Public Meetings
Click on links below for meeting agenda and location details.
Government Affairs Committee Meeting
Tuesday June 18 - 7:45 am

Presentation: BayCare Health System.

BayCare offers a wide range of programs and services to meet the health care needs of individuals and communities throughout Florida. Our goal is to offer exceptional service at every level and in many forms. Whether you require emergency surgery, prenatal counseling, or outpatient imaging, you can always turn to BayCare as your single trusted source for comprehensive care. We are proud to be known throughout the Tampa Bay area for 15 not-for-profit hospitals, in addition to more than 300 facilities that offer a wide variety of additional medical services and more.


Transportation Committee Meeting
Tuesday June 18 - 9:00 am


Location:
"The Ring" Workspaces
600 Cleveland Street Suite 300 Clearwater, FL 33755

Questions?

Call: 727.461.0011 ext. 222
SPRING BREAK TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
In the US, an estimated 210,000 cancer patients travel more than 40 miles to their treatment each year. Find out how you can assist in reducing the financial burden to these patients
Details HERE
Warm wishes,
Kristina Alspaw
Vice President of Tourism

600 Cleveland St. Suite 204
Clearwater, Florida 33755
O – 727 461-0011 ext. 233
Division Partners
Kind Regards,
Jeni Borrow
Vice President of Membership
727.461.0011 ext 226
jborrow@clearwaterflorida.org


To submit content to future Membership Newsletters, please email to Jeni