Lobby Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm Address: 2310 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901 Website: FortMyers.org Phone: 239.332.2930

Event Registration: https://members.fortmyers.org/events Member Directory: https://members.fortmyers.org/search Member Portal Access: https://members.fortmyers.org/Portal/

BIWEEKLY ROUND-UP

So, did you miss me? As a reminder, we will be sharing one newsletter per week during the summer.   We had this discussion in the office recently on what you should do with your vaccine card. Here is a quick article that covers whether you should laminate the card (you should not) and what to do if you lose your card. Your COVID Vaccine Card: 5 Things You Should Know, from Temple Health.

Interesting article on comments you should not make as a leader, “17 Phrases Great Leaders Never Say to Employees: There's just no room in great leadership for this verbal spew” by Scott Mautz. Some of them are obvious but one stuck out for me: “Good Job.” How often do we say this? It might be okay to say, but the phrase means so much more if you include why it was a good job. The specifics make a difference.

One of the unique things about FutureMakers is their Partnership Health Report. They have over 140 partner organizations and take the time to get their feedback on how they feel FutureMakers is doing. There are 819 FutureMakers and 250 of them are active. In my opinion, that makes for a strong organization. Please know there is also room for you if you want to get involved. This is a simple 3 pages of information that showcase some of the work that is happening by our community for our community. I am involved in several facets of the coalition and am happy to answer any questions you might have.   FutureMakers is back to holding their Implicit Bias trainings in person. The next session is on Friday, July 23 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at the Collaboratory. Here is the link to register.

Last minute reminder - there is an FGCU webinar today, Tuesday, July 13, 2:00-3:00PM, #HireAnEagle: Get to Know the FGCU Student. Understand the profile of a new generation of FGCU student and how to attract them to your positions and retain local talent. Log-in details for this virtual event will be emailed to attendees. Register online.

The Chamber’s Foundation will be holding a fundraiser on Thursday, August 12th. We are partnering with JJ Taylor, Palm City Brewing and the Crowne Plaza for our Summertime Backyard BBQ Beer Dinner. The Foundation is a 501c3 that focuses on education, including grants for local teachers, our EXCELerate Mentor program and more. Register online here. The Foundation will be launching the next cohort of Mentors and Mentees under our EXCELerate Program. We will be meeting on Thursday, September 23 from 5:30-7:00PM at The Wine Room in downtown Fort Myers. Potential Mentees will have time to meet the Mentors that have committed to being part of our program. Download a flyer with more information. If you are interested in being a Mentor or a Mentee, please complete and return this application.

We will be holding our annual Chamber board retreat in September and looking for your feedback through a survey. The survey will be emailed and some will be conducted through phone calls. If you have an opinion on where you think we should be going as a Chamber in the next year or two, please call me directly (239.332.2939) – I would love to hear from you. Our MAC (Member Advocacy Committee) is working on legislative priorities and position statements for next year’s Legislative session. We have some topics in the works but if you want to get your voice heard, please email or call me directly. We want to hear from you!

The last newsletter I wrote was right before BFF Kelly came in for a visit. We had a great time, it was so good to see her. We made good use of our local breweries and restaurants and took in a Mussel’s baseball game. Her first meal though was a “Pub Sub” from Publix – too funny – something that people miss when they leave Florida, who knew?  I put a few requests in this week’s newsletter looking for your feedback. I hope you take the time to connect with me – I do want to hear from you.  Take care. -Colleen

EVENT REMINDERS

Tonight! Learn about the development activity on Fort Myers Beach with Leadership NEXT on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 5:00-7:00pm at Bimini Bait Shack. Free for Greater Fort Myers Chamber & Fort Myers Beach Chamber members, $10 for future members. Register online or call 239.332.2930.

Learn about some of the many local non-profit organizations that are members of the Chamber at our Non-Profit Expo luncheon at The Club at Pelican Preserve, Thursday, July 22, 11:30AM-1:15PM. $25 for Chamber members, $35 for future members. Register online or call 239.332.2930.