December 1, 2020

Greetings! Have you heard about the new Okaloosa County COVID Compliant Business Program? Operated by the Destin, Greater Fort Walton Beach and Niceville Valparaiso chambers of commerce, this program is designed to highlight the extraordinary commitment a business puts forth in providing a safe environment for their guests and customers through enhanced safety protocols and training. Your business can be certified as a COVID Compliant Business free of charge. For more information or to schedule your inspection, email mail@DestinChamber.com.

Business Person of Year & Ann Gibson Community Service Award Nominations Due This Friday We are now accepting nominations for the 2020 Business Person of the Year and Ann Gibson Community Service Award! Nominations are due by Dec. 4. The awards will be presented at the Awards Party on Jan. 28, at Embassy Suites Destin - Miramar Beach.  Recent past Business Person of the Year winners include Mitch Mongell, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center; Bill Lindsley, SimpleHR; Bob Perry, Destin Commons; and Kim Wintner, Alliance Association Management Co. Inc.   Recent Ann Gibson Community Service Award winners include Allen French, Trees on the Coast; Jerry Sullivan, Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican; Dion Moniz, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC; and Jason Belcher, FNBT Bank.

#GivingTuesday Today is #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Find your favorite area non-profit organizations here and click on their websites for instructions on how you can donate.

Do You Need Masks For Your Business? Thank you to the Florida Department of Health of Okaloosa County for providing masks for us to distribute to our members! If you would like to pick up masks for your place of business, please email espies@DestinChamber.com to arrange the quantity and pickup.

Current COVID-19 Data Now Available on DestinChamber.com Visit our website for up-to-date, local COVID-19 metrics.

Have Your Sonder Project Donation Matched in December Support Bikes or Bust & Get Your Raffle Tickets Now Destin Library’s 16th Annual Food for Fines Food Drive Waterway Champion, Consider Giving a CBA Membership as a Gift this Holiday Season Virtual Under the Sea is Live on CAA Facebook Page The Arc of the Emerald Coast Shares FAQ About Donating in 2020 Eileen Arpke Establishes Endowment to Recognize Faculty Excellence Emerald Coast Theatre Company Presents 10 'Dramatic' Holiday Gift Ideas 2021 City of Destin Annual Passes 2020 Christmas Outdoor Decorating City of Destin Council to Continue to Utilize Communications Media Technology for December 7 Council Meeting Hey Siri, is my Website Optimized for Voice Search? New Research Resources Now at the Destin Library The City of Destin Council to Host Livery Vessel Workshop Giving Back to Our Community in this Thanksgiving COMAFSOC Continues Conversations on Race in the Military Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Candidate University Step One Automotive Group Opens Subaru Fort Walton Beach and Gives Back to Local Non-Profits in Support of Green and Sustainable Living Radio Station 'Aims High' With ''Bikes Or Bust'' Northwest Florida State College Slashes Energy Use by Two-Thirds, Earns Chairman’s Sustainability Want to see your business news, blogs and awards listed here? Send your updates to espies@DestinChamber.com.

Military Affairs Council (MAC) Meeting Wednesday, December 2 | 12 - 1 p.m. Destin Chamber Click here for details. Our guest will be Col. Mathew Hanson, Commander of the 96th Medical Group (Eglin AFB Hospital).

Florida SBDC Virtual Office Hours at the Destin Chamber Thursday, December 3 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Virtual Find details here. The Florida SBDC at UWF is hosting virtual consulting hours specifically for business owners in our area. Florida SBDC at UWF Business Consultant Diana Jernigan is available by email for impromptu meetings assisting with business challenges or opportunities.

Bowling for Business Tournament & Lunch Friday, December 4 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hurricane Lanes Registration and prepayment required! How about a mini-bowling tournament, mixed with a little business networking, for your Dec. 4 lunch break? We are challenging members to a Bowling for Business Tournament. We will award prizes to top male, top female, and top team, and a perfect score will win a FREE 1-year Chamber business membership!

Business After Hours Sponsored by BOTE Thursday, December 17 | 5 - 6:30 p.m. BOTE Destin Registration required! Join us for a fun holiday celebration! The event begins at 5 p.m., and culminates with door prizes at 6:30 p.m. Delicious appetizers will be provided by AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar, and one lucky person will win their choice of a hard or inflatable BOTE Paddleboard. What a gift to tuck under your tree on Christmas morning!

Business Before Hours & Annual Membership Meeting Sponsored by Warren Averett Friday, January 8 | 7:30 - 9 a.m. The Henderson Registration and prepayment required! Please join us for our Jan. 8 Business Before Hours Sponsored by Warren Averett, as the gavel is passed to our 2021 Chairman of the Board, and our 2021 Board of Directors is inducted.

Awards Party Presented by Fort Walton Beach Medical Center & Twin Cities Hospital Thursday, January 28 | 5:15 - 8 p.m. Embassy Suites Destin-Miramar Beach Registration and prepayment required! It's time to celebrate the best of the best! Help us honor our most outstanding members, as nominated by our members and decided by our Board of Directors. Award applications are due Friday, Dec. 4.

December 8 - J.Leon Gallery+Studio December 11 - Latitude Hammock Bay January 7 - Austin Music Co January 19 - Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Beach Properties

Coastal Kitchen Catering & Events East Pass Seafood & Oyster House Shields Accounting Services LLC Smallcakes of Destin

Thank you to our renewing members!

Brotula's Seafood House & Steamer Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers Goodwill Industries - Big Bend, Inc. Grimaldi's Pizzeria Jackacudas Seafood/Sushi

Kombi Keg 30A Magna Manufacturing Tommy Bahama's Restaurant, Bar & Store Warren Averett Bill Head

Save $ On Office Supplies Did you know Destin Chamber members save money on office supplies with Office Depot? Click here to print a store purchasing card to use in the Destin location or visit www.mychamberadvantage.com/Chamber_SignUp to sign up online.

DestinChamber.com | (850) 837-6241

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