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ELECTION DAY
Today is Election Day
Though today is Election Day, more than nine million Floridians and 113,000 Alachua County residents have already cast their ballots during early voting or via mail-in ballot. Another 1.3 million mail-in ballots remain outstanding. By comparison, in 2016, there were 6.6 million total votes cast in Florida, and nearly 80,00 total votes cast in Alachua County.
Hopefully, you have already cast your vote via mail-in ballot or early voting. If you have not, here are a few things to remember:
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You have from now until 7 p.m. to do so at your assigned precinct. If you aren’t sure where your precinct is, click here.You must vote at your assigned precinct.
- Don’t forget to bring a photo ID and signature ID with you. You will not be able to vote without them.
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If you have questions about the amendments, you will find information on each of them in the Chamber’s 2020 Election Guide.
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If you requested a mail-in ballot and you have not returned it yet, you must drive it to the Supervisor of Elections’ office to deposit in the secure box located just outside of the building. The box is under a decorated tent, so you can’t miss it. The Supervisor’s address is 515 N. Main St., Gainesville FL, 32601. Mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. in the secure box.
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If you want to revisit a sample ballot specific to your address before you actually go vote, you will find one here.
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After the polls close and until the election results are final, the Chamber will provide status updates on its Election Center.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Join us for Business Before Hours (Live and in-Person)
November 10, 8:30 - 10am
UF TREEO Center
3900 SW 63rd Blvd, Gainesville
Join us for Business Before Hours Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the UF Treeo Center. Admission is free with your Chamber membership, registration is required.
This is the first “Live” Business Before Hours we have done since March 2020. We will be observing social distancing, take temperatures at the door and require face masks be worn.
Due to social distancing, we may only accept 36 members to participate in this event. Please only register to attend if you are 100% sure you can attend.
Business Before Hours is a structured yet relaxed environment for making effective connections within the Chamber business community.
You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client or simply get a foot in the door for connecting at larger events. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours. We hope to see you there!
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UPCOMING EVENT
2020 Business Award Applications
Wednesday, November 11, 2020: Application Deadline
Tuesday, November 17, 2020: Finalists Announced
Thursday, December 3, 2020: Business Awards
Each year, the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce honors local businesses and organizations for their role in helping our region become a global hub of talent, innovation and opportunity. We love to celebrate our members and recognize all the good they do not only in our region, but around the world!
Applications are now available for the following categories:
BUSINESS AWARD APPLICATION:
- Commitment to the Environment Award
- Community Involvement Award
- Employer of the Year
- Leading Women’s Business
- New Business (2 years or less)
- Technology Company of the Year
- Human Life Sciences Company of the Year
- Small Business of the Year (<2 million revenue annually)
- Large Business of the Year (>2 million revenue annually)
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NONPROFIT APPLICATION:
- Large Nonprofit of the Year (501C3 required) SMALL (annual revenue > $2 million)
- Small Nonprofit of the Year (501C3 required) SMALL (annual revenue < $2 million)
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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION APPLICATION:
- Diversity & Inclusion Award
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The 2020 Business Awards are Presented by VyStar Credit Union. |
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UPCOMING EVENT
Gainesville Chamber Leadership Book Club
Tuesday, November 24, 8 - 8:45 a.m.
Join us for our next Leadership Book Club Virtual Meeting where we will be discussing the book:
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
The leadership book club creates diversity of thought as you’ll read books you might not have picked. It creates accountability as you have a deadline to read or listen to it. The discussion reinforces the takeaways from each book and how members are implementing them in their lives and workplaces.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Leadercast Weekly Session: Rahaf Harfoush
Rahaf Harfoush, Digital Anthropologist and Executive Director, Red Thread Institute
Wednesday, November 11th, 8:00 a.m.
Researching the impacts of emerging technologies in society, Rahaf has helped the world better understand the deep and hidden behavioral shifts within the global communication infrastructure. She is the executive director of the Red Thread Institute of Digital Culture, author of Hustle & Float and a professor at Sciences Po in Paris.
Sessions are available for 36 hours starting at 8:00 AM, are approximately 30 minutes long and feature a recorded session from the Leadercast 2020 Event held earlier this year.
Registration closes for this session on Friday at 11:00 PM.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Join us for Business Before Hours - Virtual Networking Event
Tuesday, November 17, 8:30 a.m.
This is a virtual edition of Business Before Hours is a member event structured the same way as our past in-person events. Attendees will have opportunities to share in small groups who they are, what they do and who would make a good customer or referral for them. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours.
Attendance is limited to 50 pre-registered attendees. Space is Limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Pre-registration is required.
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ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY
2021 Chamber Diplomat Applications Now Being Accepted
Are you interested in becoming more involved with the Greater Gainesville Chamber? The Chamber Diplomat Committee is now accepting applications for new Diplomats. Chamber Diplomats are a group of representatives from member businesses who volunteer as an active extension of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce staff.
Their mission is to cultivate, promote and maintain a positive relationship between the Chamber, our members and the community. Chamber Diplomats meet frequently to discuss the missions of the Chamber and several diplomats will attend every event to connect, refer and help ensure every member of the Chamber is getting the assistance they need. Participation in the Chamber Diplomat Committee is open to anyone who has been a Chamber Member for at least one year and is a Member in good standing.
Applications are due by close of business on Wednesday, November 25th.
To request a Diplomat application, email Steve Cannon, VP Member Development here.
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VOTING UPDATE
Visit our 2020 Election center for Candidate Interviews, Amendment Information, and our 2020 Election Guide
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The 2020 Election is upon us! The Chamber is here to help you navigate not only the high-profile national and state elections, but the equally important local elections and amendments on your ballots.
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POLICY UPDATE
County CARES Money Still Available for Businesses
If your company is in need of financial assistance, take a look at the County CARES program. Money remains available and you may qualify for assistance. Since the County launched the program, the amount available to individual businesses has increased and nonprofit organizations have become eligible to apply for assistance in the Small- and Medium-sized business category. For all related information, including application instructions, the County's most current FAQ and more, click here.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Community Hospice & Palliative Care Promotes Bertie Allender to Manager of Healthcare and Community Relations and Jill Gaylord to Senior Clinical Manager
October 29, 2020 (Gainesville, Fla.) - Community Hospice & Palliative Care of North Central Florida has promoted Bertie Allender and Jill Gaylord.
Bertie Allender, manager of Healthcare and Community Relations, started working within the hospice field in 1991. She worked in-home healthcare, nursing homes, and most recently a regional director in hospice care before coming to Community Hospice & Palliative Care where she has been for the past three years.
Jill Gaylord, Senior Clinical Manager, graduated from Florida Gateway College in 2011. She worked as a registered nurse in many fields from long term care, medical/surgical nursing, and ICU before finding her home, six years ago, with hospice. Jill just celebrated her third anniversary with Community Hospice & Palliative Care.
“Bertie and Jill are dedicated to quality care for our patients and families. I am very proud of their accomplishments and the leadership they bring to their teams” said Billie Adkins, North Central Florida Regional Director.
At Community, we are the people who care and are thankful for the opportunity to provide patients and caregivers with a trusted team that cares to help the people in the community live better.
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MEMBER CONTRIBUTION
Using Your Magic in the Middle of Chaos!
Jennifer Webb, Magic Communications
Laurel was a self-taught artist who left home at 14 with a serious bone disease and a few clothes in a paper bag. The jewelry she created was so spectacular that while still a teenager people would stop her in the street to ask about her work. She had a philosophy: “I refuse to have anything in my life I can’t turn into something magical and beautiful.”
I mention her because as we work on making sense of, in all probability, the most challenging year we’ve ever faced, we have an enormous responsibility to be a beacon for wisdom, strength, hope, compassion and possibilities for others, even in the midst of all this chaos. People need our magic. And even as we brace for the election, using all our creativity to keep our jobs or our companies while avoiding the landmines of the pandemic, our frustrations and fears can give us new insights.
Where you are makes no difference. Whether you’re feeling lucky to have a job right now or you’ve grown your company exponentially over the years, you’re in health care or food service, none of that is relevant. Whoever you are and whatever you do, compassion and empathy are in high demand these days.
“It’s not by strength or speed or swiftness of body that great deeds are done,” “but by wisdom, character and sober judgment, said the Roman statesman Cicero almost two millennia ago. And it applies right now, today.
To continue reading, click here. |
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UPCOMING EVENT
Northside Park now open!
Virtual Celebration Saturday, November 21, 8 p.m.
The City of Gainesville’s Wild Spaces & Public Places Program, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department and the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation are thrilled to announce that the large renovation project at Northside Park is complete and the park is now open to the community. The park is located at 5701 NW 34 Blvd. adjacent to the Senior Recreation Center.
The new playground and multi-generational play area are ready for neighbors of all ages to enjoy! The “Generations Play Zone” includes outdoor games such as bocce ball, pickleball/tennis courts, pétanque, table tennis and checkers and chess. There is also a new terrace off of the Senior Recreation Center, large pavilions with grills, two new racquetball courts, shaded seating and a walking path with outdoor exercise equipment. Along with all the fun new amenities, 40 parking spaces have been added to accommodate those visiting the park and Senior Recreation Center.
Over five years in the making, Northside Park is a vision-come-to-life. The Northside Park improvement project is a shining example of what can be accomplished through unwavering commitment and thoughtful collaboration with our neighbors. To mark this accomplishment, the city of Gainesville hopes you’ll join the virtual celebration on Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. to find out more about what the park has to offer, view the extensive improvements and learn what the new park means for the Gainesville community. A short celebration video about the park will be broadcast on TV 12 and simultaneously be available on the City website, social media platforms and sent through the email listserv.
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