“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Holiday Hours

Monday, Nov 25: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday, Nov 26, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov 27, 9:00am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, Nov 28, Office Closed
Friday, Nov 29, Office Closed
Is Your Company Participating in Any Holiday Charitable Initiatives?

Email information about your activities to the Chamber. We will include them in our weekly emails throughout December to inform the membership. Let's unite to help our community!
CHAMBER HOLIDAY PARTY - DECEMBER 3
Come "home for the holidays" at the Chamber's annual holiday party, Tuesday, December 3 from 5:30 to 8:30PM.

This year promises to be better than ever with our host, Crowne Plaza, setting the scene for a holiday celebration with Santa, a live jazz ensemble, 1936 Ford Christmas tree pick-up truck, and lots of delicious food and libations. Enjoy very heavy appetizers, carving stations, pasta station, mashed potato & sweet potato bar, make your own s'mores and more! One complimentary adult beverage included in ticket price, then cash bar. Awards for best holiday-themed outfit! The Crowne Plaza is located at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

This event is only a few days after Thanksgiving so make your reservation today!
$50 for Chamber members, $75 for future members.
LEADERSHIP NEXT: KITCHEN SOCIAL
Kitchen Social , a lively new interactive cooking school in Fort Myers, will host Leadership NEXT on Tuesday, December 10 from 5 to 7 p.m . Participants will hear from Kitchen Social owner, Charlie Ragle, an entrepreneur who has owned a television production and consulting company, a greenhouse machinery business and a trolley tour company, among others.

Ragle founded Kitchen Social in December 2018 to give Southwest Florida residents a comfortable venue suitable for date night, girls or guys' nights out and team building exercises. Kitchen Social's tagline is "Make Food & Make Friends: Experiences to Remember".

Thank you to this month's event sponsor, Nu Image Cleaners.

Attendees of Leadership NEXT represent a variety of businesses and industries throughout Southwest Florida. Monthly sessions take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month and offer opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills, establish working relationships with colleagues and engage in valuable programs and discussions to further enhance their careers. Leadership NEXT’s annual sponsor is the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association .

Leadership NEXT is free for Chamber Members and $10 for Future Members.

CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER IN RUNNING FOR EAGLE RARE LIFE AWARD
The Eagle Rare Life Award, presented by Garden & Gun, celebrates those who lead a rare life, demonstrating courage, leadership, survival, devotion, character and heroism. The winning organization will receive $50,000 to support their mission. 

DANIEL ANDREWS & CHRIS WITTMAN of CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER are FINALISTS!

Winning woul d help fund programs and projects across the state, encouraging awareness about the fragility of Florida’s ecosystem and setting permanent change in motion.

If you are so inclined, PLEASE VOTE FOR CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER!
You can vote daily now through December 6.

Everyone who lives in or visits the state of Florida owes Daniel Andrews and Chris Wittman a debt of gratitude. As charter captains and fishing guides, the two observed firsthand the widespread water quality issues in their local fisheries, as well as major problems with the state’s water management practices. Knowing they couldn’t stand idly by, the duo quit their jobs and founded Captains for Clean Water (CFCW), a homegrown nonprofit advocating for clean water and healthy estuaries across the state of Florida. Andrews, Wittman, and their team have since devoted their lives to solving these complicated large-scale issues, becoming involved in every aspect of the solution at every level. They work tirelessly with residents, visitors, politicians, and businesses to advance education, raise awareness, and ensure that science-based solutions to water quality issues are implemented by state policymakers. CFCW played an instrumental role in the passing of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in 2018, and as a direct result of the organization’s efforts, Florida’s water crisis has de-escalated significantly over the last three years.