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Jason Teeters, Tessa LeSage and I are excited to announce the Chamber’s first Equity Retreat. This will be held on Tuesday, August 31 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at Collaboratory. We will be focused on three topics/ideas:
2) Examining the Chamber’s policies and practices to eliminate anything that may be preventing diverse members/consider incentives
3) Current member resources to increase diversity, at all levels, within orgs/businesses
You do not need to be an Equity Committee member to participate. If one (or all!) of these topics is of interest to you, please email me and I will add you to the attendee list.
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Tonight's Leadership NEXT's event is from 5:00-7:00PM at Collaboratory, the nonprofit formerly known as the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Collaboratory President and CEO Sarah Owen will lead the discussion, sharing about the unique mission of the Collaboratory, its goal of solving all major social problems in Southwest Florida on an 18-year deadline, and how the nonprofit plans to accomplish this complex task.
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We have a celebrity in our midst!! Jay Johnson, Owner, Bubba’s Roadhouse and member of the Chamber Executive Committee, was recently interviewed by CNBC regarding restaurant staffing shortages.
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We are working with over a dozen chamber members on our inaugural SWFL Craft Beer Week. Follow this link to see the full schedule. The intent is to grow this into a week long event that can be hosted by an unlimited number of Chamber members, but for this year we are keeping it to Labor Day weekend. Fort Myers Brewing Company created this video to get us started.
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SWFL Craft Beer Week starts off with an exclusive VIP event, "Beers, Bowling & Bites" at HeadPinz on Thursday, September 2. Attendees can meet the breweries who will be offering samples, take time to connect, and bowl! Each brewery will be offering one core beer and one specialty beer. Food and bowling provided by HeadPinz. $100 per person, only 100 tickets to be sold - advance registration is required. Admission includes a $25 HeadPinz gift card, a mug from Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill to be included in their mug club, and tickets for a free pint at each participating brewery during SWFL Craft Beer Week.
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Thank you to SWFL Business Today for sharing this article on about how the Chamber works for its members (page 5). You will also see articles from two of our APEX Recipients, Teri Hansen and Connie Ramos-Williams.
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Next Wednesday, August 18, we are hosting a dynamic panel of business professionals at our monthly luncheon who will share how their companies have implemented creative and unique ways to help our community.
Brandy Lai from NeoGenomics Laboratories and Denise Spence from Dunbar High School will discuss their collaborative program that provides the high school's biomedical students with an opportunity to get a jump start on their future careers. Joe Ramsay and Rusty Smith from Pit Stop Auto Repair will talk about their partnership with The Salvation Army to help provide auto repair assistance for people in need. Julio Barina from Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co will share the important role that community service has within the company.
The event will be at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower from 11:30AM to 1:15PM. $25 for Chamber Members, $35 for Future Chamber Members. Make your reservation online or call 239.332.2930.
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A reminder - we're at Seed & Bean Market this Thursday, August 12 at 7:30AM, for Business Before Breakfast. The event is free, but we kindly ask you to please register in advance. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards! Seed & Bean Market is located at 1520 Broadway in downtown Fort Myers.
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One of the community’s favorite events, Pace Center For Girls' “Love That Dress!” is just a few weeks away. It is scheduled for August 19-21 at the Embassy Suites in Estero. Proceeds from Love That Dress! provide academic programs and counseling services to girls and young women ages 11 to 18 who are working to overcome risk factors such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster home placement, neglect, grief, incarceration of a family member, mental health and physical, emotional or sexual abuse. To register and learn more about the event and sponsorships, go to LoveThatDressLeeCounty.com
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More good news from the Chamber – we will be holding our Leadership program this fall. Some of you have been waiting since 2019 to participate so we are ready to go.
We will start the program on September 15th with our Team Building Day and run every Wednesday through November 17th. Leadership Class Graduation will be held at the Chamber luncheon on November 18th. We are making a few revisions due to COVID but the content is as strong as ever, and this program is a great way to build new, long-standing relationships in the community.
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Lee Health has recently updated their visitation for their hospitals, the ER and their Convenient Care facilities as well as their elective surgery policy. Keep up to date on their Facebook page.
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We understand that with the rising number of COVID cases in our area, you may wish to adjust what in-person events and activities you participate in, based on what is most comfortable for you and your family. If you have registered for a Chamber event and wish to make a change, please reach out to Debra or Linda.
Stay safe.
-Colleen
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