Interns, Events, Ribbon Cuttings & More

SAVE THE DATE - APRIL 28

An internship is more than a job. In fact, for many, a work-based learning experience, such as an internship or cooperative program, can be career-affirming or career-altering. So how do we ensure that the opportunities we offer will serve as high quality learning experiences for hungry future interns of all ages?

We will discuss all things internships on Wednesday, April 28 at The Crowne Plaza – from development to best practices – to ensure that the opportunities you offer will both challenge and support students as they expand their professional horizons. Our guest speaker is Ashleigh Droz, the Director of the Office of Internships & Cooperative Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University.

$25 for Chamber Members, $35 for Future Chamber Members. Limited seating available to allow for distance seating. Masks are required in public areas of the hotel.

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Monday, March 22, 4:30PM

Southern Oak Wealth Management

12431 Brantley Commons Ct, Ste 101, Fort Myers, FL 33907

Thursday, April 8, 4:30PM

Homewell Care Services

13100 Westlinks Terrace, Fort Myers, FL 33913Thursday,

Thursday, April 22, 5:30PM

Home 2 Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Colonial Blvd

4333 Ford Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916

Thursday, April 29, 5:00PM

Murano at Three Oaks

17167 Three Oaks Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33967

Wednesday, May 12, 4:30PM

The Wine Room Fort Myers

1544 Broadway, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Would you like to schedule a ribbon cutting for your business? Complete this form and return by email.

P.S. We bring the BIG SCISSORS and the ribbon!

VACCINE UPDATES

- New Information -

Homebound seniors can request the vaccine by emailing HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) is offering COVID-19 vaccine to the following groups:

Long-term care facility residents and staff;
Persons 60 years of age and older;
Persons under 60 deemed medically vulnerable by a physician;
Health care personnel with direct patient contact;
K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
Firefighters 50 years of age and older.

You can pre-register for your first dose either online at myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 1-866-200-3468. Once you are pre-registered a representative will call you to schedule your appointment. Be sure that your phone is setup to ring for unknown callers.

CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE WEEK

St. Matthew’s House began in 1987 when a group of Naples parishioners followed a calling to bring food to a homeless population living in a nearby wooded area. The “Task Force for the Homeless” began gathering contributions of both food and clothing, establishing the mission’s food pantry.

Today, St. Matthew’s House continues to run the original Emergency/Transitional Housing and Feeding Ministry along with its Justin’s Place Recovery Program, Collier County jail chaplain service, thrift stores, a breakfast and lunch café that includes a full-service catering company, and retreat/conference center. St. Matthew's House's unique business model of social enterprises allows 100% of donations to be used solely on programs.

St. Matthew's House is currently conducting a shoe drive. If a Chamber member donates a new or used pair of shoes, they will receive a 20% discount card to use in either of St. Matthew's House Lee County stores. Donations can be dropped off at their Fort Myers store (11340 Metro Parkway) or a pick-up can be scheduled by calling 239-774-3315 or sending an email.

SEND US YOUR MOTHER'S DAY PROMOTIONS

Mother's Day is fast approaching and before I dive in to business and ask you about your businesses' plans, I want to wish my mom, Patricia Foote, an early Happy Mother's Day - she's the gorgeous Septuagenarian in the picture who looks younger than I do - God bless good genetics!

Some of you know that we almost lost Mom last March in a horrific car accident. After a hospital stay, a few weeks in rehabilitation, followed by a year of hard work and healing, she's nearly back to her former self. Thank you to Lee Health for taking good care of her at the start and APEX Physical Therapy for all that they are continuing to do to help build her strength.

Now on to business! We want to help our Chamber members promote your Mother's Day offerings. Perhaps you're putting together a package, offering a special seating for a meal, creating a coupon, etc. Please let us know so we can get this out to the community via our website, social media platforms, press releases, and our weekly emails. Send an email with all the details of what you're doing to celebrate the moms of Southwest Florida.

And as I do each week, I'll continue to remind you to update your Member Profile* that feeds information to our Member Directory, and send us or drop off your print materials for the lobby.

*Need your login? Give me a call at 239.332.2930 or send me an email.