A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON |
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Dear Fellow Chamber Members,
March is my favorite month here in Fort Myers and what’s not to like? Ok, the traffic, but otherwise the weather is some of the best we have all year, businesses are busy with seasonal visitors, there are fairs, festivals and all sorts of events taking place and most are outdoors and then there is baseball!!!
I have become a huge fan of Spring Training over my twenty plus years here in Fort Myers and be it a Boston Red Sox game at JetBlue Stadium or a Minnesota Twins game at Hammond Stadium, what a great way to spend a March afternoon. It’s a little different this year with limited fans, a few less teams to see and sadly no vendors in the stands yelling… “Peanuts, popcorn” or “cold beer here,” but there is still the game itself and not even a global pandemic could stop our National Pastime. If you haven’t realized by now, I have already been to a few Spring Training games this season at both ballparks and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. And a tip of my ballcap and a thank you to the hard-working people at both our local ballparks for allowing us to enjoy these games in a very clean and safe environment. And while things are different this year, I know it will only make me appreciate next Spring Training season a little more when the roar of the crowds return and I’ll be able to catch a bag of peanuts from a vendor with a strong side arm.
By the time this letter is printed Spring Training will be entering the final week, but I hope you have had the opportunity to get out and enjoy a game and the beautiful weather. And there are still plenty of other events coming up to enjoy - including the Chamber's own Beers with Your Peers on Monday, March 29 at Fort Myers Brewing, the Women in Business outdoor event at the Bell Tower on Wednesday, April 7, and Leadership NEXT at The Wine Room downtown on Tuesday, April 13. And, the Second Annual GFMCC Cornhole Tournament on Friday, April 16 that starts at 1:00PM - sounds like a great excuse to leave work early that day. Better yet, enter a team from your workplace and make it a team-building afternoon!
I will also put a special plug in to see our own Colleen DePasquale be a celebrity bartender on Wednesday, March 24 at the Battle of the Burntwoods, a United Way fundraiser being held the same day and time at both Bell Tower Burntwood Tavern and Gulfcoast Burntwood Tavern. You can see and help Colleen and her team who will be at the Bell Tower location that afternoon.
It is a great time of year to get out and enjoy Fort Myers and all that there is to offer. I hope to see you at one of the many great events and thank you for supporting our local businesses and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
Stay Safe,
Jim Larkin
Board Chairperson
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Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that people age 50 or older will be eligible to get the vaccine as of Monday, March 22.
Clarification: This DOES NOT necessarily mean that a vaccine will be immediately available. However, it DOES mean that if you were born in the early part of 1971 or before, you are now eligible to get in queue.
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS TO FEATURE NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES |
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The Women in Business Committee will host ten nonprofits showcasing volunteer opportunities at their April 7 networking event at Bell Tower. Participating nonprofits include: Gulf Coast Humane Society, Hope HealthCare Services, Big Brothers Big Sister of the Sun Coast-Lee, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades & Okeechobee, Junior Achievement of SWFL, The Salvation Army, Alliance for the Arts, Harry Chapin Food Bank, St. Matthew's House, and Special Equestrians.
The event will be hosted by Bell Tower, and appetizers will be provided by Chamber member Burntwood Tavern. $10 for Chamber members, $20 for future members. Admission includes one complimentary beverage.
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CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE WEEK |
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In honor of tax time, we are featuring one of our longtime accounting firms as Member of the Week. |
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Solomon & Hoover Certified Public Accountants, PLLC is a full-service accounting firm that provides a wide range of accounting, tax, and financial services that keep clients compliant with their tax obligations and provides them with actionable information to help guide their businesses with confidence. Partners, Gene Solomon and Michele Hoover created a firm where the customer comes first, and year-round customer service is the standard. Individual and business clients come from all walks of life and a variety of industries, including financial services, construction, real estate, medical, retail, and nonprofit organizations. Solomon & Hoover staff are QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisors who are Intuit-certified to teach advanced training courses for business owners, accountants, bookkeepers, and other CPAs.
Solomon & Hoover is a longtime and active member of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
1342 Colonial Blvd, Ste B-11
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-481-4114, 239-939-5303
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SPECIAL OFFER FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS |
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The story that inspired “You’ve Got Mail”—Chamber member Gulf Coast Symphony presents the musical "She Loves Me"—March 26-28 at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW. From the writers who brought you Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me was nominated for five Tony Awards and is considered by many to be the most charming musical ever written!
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Wednesday, April 7, 4-6PM
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ALL ABOUT INTERNSHIPS
Wednesday, April 28, 11:30AM-1:00PM
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The Chamber reserves the right to reschedule in-person events based on COVID-19 data. |
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