Chamber News- June 2020
Weekly Messages from Chamber President
Lucinda Arnold, 2019/2020 President of the Board of Directors has been giving weekly messages on the Chamber's Facebook and YouTube Channel . Listen in to see what is happening in the area and at the Chamber.
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Board of Directors Election - 6/3
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are elected by the members of the organization. Annually 5 of the 15 members on the Board retire and an election is held to fill the 5 positions. One ballot was mailed to each member business listing 7 individuals for the 5 openings. Thank you to the following members for running for the Board:

Teresa Leggett Carroll, Edward Jones; Zach Clouser, Clouser Law; Ilene Evans , Dosher Memorial Hospital ; Moffitt, Randy Moffitt, Moffitt Builders; Jessica Tharp Niedomanski , Coastline Insurance ; Pamela Curtis Sexton , Cattail Cottage ; Jeffrey Stites , Southport Magazine .

Return Your Ballot by June 3rd.
Don't Miss Out on Any Member Benefits
Opportunities & Benefits of the Chamber Explained -6/1
Benefit YOU - Your Opportunities Unfolded is a quarterly meeting where members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce meet to discuss the benefits and programs of the Chamber.

Meet with staff and committee chairs so that you can take full advantage of the investment you have made in becoming a member. Non-Members are invited to attend and learn more about the Chamber and the benefits of being a member. Great networking opportunity. Join us on Monday, June 1st at 8:30am via Webex.

Webex Meeting Login Info Here
COVID-19 Related Information
These are the stories of interest this week related to COVID-19

Count On Me NC Training -This program has not expanded to include restaurants, lodging, beauty services, gyms, pool maintenance, and retail. Have your staff take this online training - once completed you will be recognized statewide and get access to a Count On Me NC toolkit that includes social media assets and other materials to help you show guests and staff that you’ve gone above and beyond to protect their well-being.

Unemployment Benefits - Have a employee(s) who has refused to return or quit? Click Here for information provided by Marcell Hatten , Workforce Center Manager, NC DES how to sign into your online account at des.nc.gov and submit information about an employee's refusal to return to work.

Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R.7010) passes U.S. House moves to Senate. Read more here.
  • Stretches the previous 8-week period to 24 weeks
  • The restriction limiting non-payroll expenses eligible for forgiveness is adjusted to 40% up from 25% in the original law. (60% on payroll down from 75%).
  • Any new PPP loans issued will have a 5 year term rather than a 2 year term
  • The deadline to hire back employees in order to receive forgiveness for that portion used for payroll is now December 31, 2020. 

Temporary Outdoor Seating for Restaurants - From NC Senator Bill Rabon 's newsletter " This week the Senate focused on sending a lifeline to the restaurant industry, passing legislation allowing restaurants and other establishments that are already operating in North Carolina to expand their outdoor seating arrangements in order to safely serve more customers as we deal with COVID-19. Under the bill, restaurants and bars may expand their outdoor seating equal to 50 percent of their total occupancy. The measure passed the Senate by a 42-5 margin. The bill, which also passed the House and now goes to Governor Cooper for his signature, would amend the current policy that exists under his executive orders."

Interesting Links:
Annual Meeting Set for
July 9th
It is difficult to plan for the Chamber's Annual Breakfast Meeting in June not knowing what restrictions we will be under due to COVID-19. Therefore, we have decided to hold a virtual Annual Meeting via Facebook Live on Thursday, July 9th at 8:00am. We will retire 5 of the 2019/2020 Board members, recognize the Ambassador of the Year and President's Award, pass the presidential gavel, welcome 5 new Board members, watch the 2020/2021 Board take their oath of office and thank our sponsor AT&T .

We are hoping to announce the Chamber's Annual Awards at a social event later in the year. This would include the Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Customer Service of the Year and Non-Profit of the Year.
Sponsored by:
Southport's Canary Cottage Opens
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Southport Canary Cottage conveniently located near downtown Southport. The Arnold family purchased this and invested in renovating the home into a short term rental cottage.
 
Southport's Canary Cottage is a newly renovated southern cottage located in a small, historic town along the Cape Fear River! Canary Cottage is located 1 mile from Southport, 2 minutes from Deep Point Marina & 20 minutes to the Oak Island beaches.
 
Eugene Lucinda Arnold, Robert Spenton, Leah Arnold, Blake Arnold, Julia Arnold & Eugene Arnold. (They are not socially distant because they are family members)
Virtual or In Person We Are Still Connecting
Business Connections is a powerful tool to grow your business. Business Connections will establish and increase business referrals between members in a fun, supportive, concise and structured setting that will promote growth in our business community. It will develop relationships with other business owners and enhance business opportunities. Join your fellow Chamber members virtually on Webex each Tuesday at 12noon.

Picture Perfect Guide Available
The Picture Perfect Guide for Living & Recreating in the Southport-Oak Island Area and the local map is now available. The 48 page guide is full of information about the area including attractions, real estate, dining, shopping, services and a business directory listing all the members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce. Stop in at the Chamber's Welcome Center - 4433 Long Beach Road and pick up a supply. We are open Monday - Friday from 8:30am-5pm.

Faces of Commerce Locations Released
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce released the locations of the June Faces of Commerce. 

“Faces of Commerce is a non-scripted, natural way to introduce the many different types of products and services offered in our community, with the end goal of helping our residents learn where they can go to Shop, Dine, and Go Local.” said Karen Sphar, Chamber’s Executive Vice President. 

During the COVID-19 Stay at Home Orders, the Chamber’s staff will interview the owner/manager of the business remotely, live streaming on the Chamber’s Facebook page each Thursday beginning at 10:00am. 

If you would like your business to be featured on Faces of Commerce contact Karen at (910) 457-6964 or Email .
Have You Posted The Promised?
Let us know if you have posted the Southport-Oak Island Promise in your business. We will include you on the Southport-Oak Island Promise business listing webpage .

T-Shirt to Support NC 4th of July Festival 2020
The NC 4th of July Festival is seeking retail shops who would like to pre-order a special edition t-shirt with a festive 4th of July design (TBA) to sell in their shop. The Festival Committee will wholesale the shirts to the shops and promote those shops selling the shirts. No shirts will be sold at the Chamber or direct to the consumer. This is a fundraiser for the Festival, which has year-round expenses but little to no revenues in 2020. The Festival Committee will add $5 per shirt to the cost of the shirt and suggest a retail price of $18 -$20.

The Festival Committee is planning virtual activities to promote our nation's independence. Details are coming soon.

N.C. 4th of July Logo
Coffee with the Girls - 6/16
Coffee with the Girls is a monthly opportunity for the women of the Chamber to meet and enjoy the support of other women in business. Great conversations with women of all ages and careers.

Join us for the next Coffee with the Girls to be held virtually on Tuesday, June 16th at 8:00am on Webex. Speaker: Felicia Sexton, LegalSheild Ladies of Justice.

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Please help us welcome the following businesses to membership in the Chamber:

Coastal Integrative Health
Sarah Stephenson
728 Village RD, SW, Shallotte, NC 28470
1175 Turlington Avenue, Suite 103, Leland, NC 28451
(910) 755-5400
At Coastal Integrative Health our focus is how pain should not be a part of your life style. We provide a number of services at both our Shallotte and Leland offices: Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, Golf Performance, Laser Therapy, Spinal Decompression, Custom Orthotics, and Nutritional Counseling
 
Family Chiropractic Plus
J.Joy McClenny
1635 N. Howe Street, Suite J & K, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 454-4041-phone, (910) 454-4044-fax
Our office takes a holistic approach to health offering Chiropractic and Nautropathic services. Chiropractic care will improve the health and wellness in all areas of a person's life. The Naturopathic services we offer are an alternative or adjunctive to traditional medicine; one that will help a person achieve and maintain optimal health without requiring invasive treatments.
 
Inn at River Oaks, The
Rebecca Kelley
512 N. Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 457-1100-phone, (910) 443-0371-fax
We are an updated 1950’smotel in the heart of downtown Southport. Enjoy the convenience of walking to all that Southport has to offer.
 
Las Olas Skin & Body, LLC
Ashley Krahn
5001 O’ Quinn Blvd, Unit E, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 523-0804
Choose from a variety of services offered and enjoy a serene view of the South Harbor Marina. Listen to the sailboats sing in a comfortable, eccentric location that was created with a specific vision in mind, and attention to detail. Named after the words "Las Olas," meaning "The Waves" in Spanish. Let the waves wash over you and leave feeling refreshed, renewed and relaxed. Las Olas Skin and Body was created to cater to each client’s specific needs, in order to achieve maximum results and meet

Oak Island Sporting Goods
Josh Nall
6324 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island, NC 28465
(910) 880-3736
Fishing Tackle & Equipment --bait, tackle and apparel store. We know local fishing.
100+ Giving Club
Thank you to all the members who have renewed! This year we asked you to consider a voluntary donation of $15.00 in addition to your membership investment to cover the ever-increasing building maintenance costs at your Chamber. We are humbled to give some extra recognition to the members who are in the 100+ Club:
A Clean House, Inc.
ADM
Allen Kinney Electrical
BBB
Debbie and Kent Wood
Design For Living, LLC
Dick Ishler
Donald Roe
Emily Humphreys
Ilene Evans
Island Contracting, Inc .
Land Air Sea
Oak Island Jungle Golf
Rock's Locks
Tatum Seafood
Woodside Trailer RV Park
Group Workers Compensation Insurance
In need of Worker's Compensation Insurance? Check out the Chamber's Group Plan through NC Retail Merchants Association and First Benefit Insurance Mutual.
 
You are eligible because you are a member of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

Members provide news, information and articles about their business which is shared electronically with fellow members and the general public through a Direct Email Campaign and on the Chamber's Facebook Page. The deadline for submission is the 12th of every month . No display ads accepted. Include a jpeg photo with your copy in Word. Submissions by email only. E-Mail Subject must be Member News.
Calendar of Chamber Events
6/1        Benefit YOU – Your Opportunities Unfolded – 8:30am @ Chamber or Webex Conference Call
6/2        Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
6/4        Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK at Southport Ace Hardware 
 
6/9        Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
6/11       Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK with Coastal Painting & Improvements
 
6/16      Coffee with the Girls- 8am via Webex Conference Call
6/16      Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
6/18      Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK at River Hotel of Southport
 
6/23      Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
6/25      Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK at Wilmington Granite
 
6/30      Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
7/2        Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK with NC 4th of July Festival Officials
7/2-4    NC 4 th of July Festival Virtual Events on FACEBOOK
 
7/7        Business Connections – 12:oopm – 1:00pm via Webex Conference Call
7/9        Chamber Annual Meeting – 8:00am via FACEBOOK Live
 
On the Horizon:
10/1 – 10/3         US Open King Mackerel Tournament
10/19-25               Southport-Oak Island Restaurant Week
11/13                     Oak Island Lighthouse Run Registration/Packet Pickup 5pm-8pm
11/14                      Oak Island Lighthouse Run 6am -11am @ Middleton Park Extension Oak Island
TBD                       Youth Business Fair
12/5                       Christmas by the Sea Parade
TBA                      Southport-Oak Island Golf Classic – @ Oak Island Golf Club
4433 Long Beach Road, SE
Southport, North Carolina 28461
910.457-6964
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