Club Newsletter February 23, 2025

Issue 268 | February 23, 2025

” Filling a need is not merely good business; it is a basic attitude towards life. If you see a need, do whatever you can to meet that need."

-George Foreman

This week’s quote I believe expresses the qualities that are embodied in each one of our Southside Business Men’s Club members. As businesspeople, we look at things differently: where many people may see a problem, we see an opportunity.

At the age of sixty-two, a small-town diner owner lost his business because a new highway moved traffic away from his restaurant. Rather than giving up, he decided to sell his secret blend of eleven herbs and spices, along with his modified pressure cookers. This was the beginning of what eventually became Kentucky Fried Chicken. There are thousands of stories about business owners who overcame problems; from Henry Ford and the assemble line, to Jeff Bazo creating an online bookstore that is now the gigantic Amazon business we know today.

In this issue, we highlight Past President Tyrone Townsend, who saw a need to serve under privileged children here in Jacksonville. His vision has grown to become one of the most popular and feel-good events that the club has to offer: the Annual Christmas Kids Shopping Spree.

We are very blessed to belong to a club with so many people that possess such a variety of talents and who genuinely care about the betterment of the Southside of Jacksonville.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting, we are currently working with Maggiano’s to secure a larger room to accommodate our quickly growing membership

Sincerely,

Ken Petsch

2025 President

In 1995 the Club elected its first African American president, Tyrone Townsend. Tyrone is also credited with creating the “Kids Shopping Spree” in the mid 1980’s. Christmas charity work for disadvantaged Southside children has been underway for almost three decades. Scores of children and their families are happier by the actions of this Club during the holiday season. For the first several years K-Mart opened its doors to the Club and the kids. In 2003 the Club initiated a formal relationship with the Target Company’s Mandarin store to assist in fulfilling the Christmas dreams of many of Jacksonville area’s underprivileged children.

Mr. Townsend graduated from Edward Waters College and pursued his realty license at Florida Real Estate Institute. He began his Real Estate career in 1990 and spent twenty-two years with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty. He continues to this day and has been currently employed with Watson Realty for the past thirteen years.

We are proud to call him an honored Past President and member of the SBMC. It is because of Tyrone Townsend that so many children's lives have been impacted and that we are able to continue his legacy each year.

Photos From Shopping Spree 1999

Next Meetings

February 26: Kevin Carrico, City Council Vice President & President Elect

March 12: Mike Balanky, Owner of Chase Properties, Inc.

Click here to pre-register!

Maggiano's at the Town Center will be our new venue for 2025, with our regular luncheons held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month!

***With increasing popularity, our luncheons are currently booking to capacity! If you would like to join the experience, please make sure you are pre-registering no later than the Monday before each luncheon. Once seats are filled, additional attendees are welcome on a first come, first serve basis.

We are in need of four more volunteers for the Thursday, March 13 11am - Closing slots!

The SBMC participates annually, and we receive money that benefits our Charities Programs.

Please help us out by donating your time for this wonderful cause and have a great time in the process! Time slots are as follows:

March 11: 10am - Closing

March 13: 9am - 4pm, and 11am - Closing

SBMC Event Listings - South Side Business Men's Club

For those who have already signed up, we would like to extend our gratitude. Please see below for time-slot information:

TPC TICKET PURCHASES

Don't delay! The deadline to purchase your discounted tickets is February 28!

Need tickets to The Players Championship?

Click here to buy them through us!

From December 5 to February 28, use the promo code 497OPC to get the lowest price available for competition days!

For every ticket purchased with our code, the SBMC will receive $40 to benefit our Annual Holiday Kids Shopping Spree!

Thank you in advance for your help in supporting our Club Charities!

HAPPY NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE NEWLYWEDS

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our member, Beth Cooper (formerly Beth James) and her husband Honorable W. Collins Cooper on their recent nuptials! Best wishes for a long and happy life together!

A little bit about the happy couple, written by Mrs. Cooper:

"I am a native to Florida and grew up in Jacksonville. My daughter, Lily, is a freshman at Flagler College. My son, Caleb, is a tuba player for Eagle Band One at Fleming Island High School. My youngest, Ashton, has cool superpowers and attends the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. I'm excited to now have a bonus daughter, Hannah, who attends Episcopal. I'm a career banker and will receive my Juris Master's degree from Florida State University College of Law in Financial Law and Compliance in May 2025.

My husband is Hon. W. Collins Cooper. He serves as a judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. He is a native to Jacksonville and was a placekicker on the University of Florida's 1996 national championship football team."

FEBRUARY HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO YOU

ANNE URBAN

BRUCE FOURAKER

CJ ALLEN, JR

HANK DUCKWORTH

JEPP WALTER

JIM COX

NICK CASTANEDA

ROBERT PETSCH

LINDA PETSCH

PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!

Brandon K. Cowart, Retirement Resources

Eric Garcia, First Citizens Bank

Diana Miller Lloyd, Lloyd Forensic & Accounting Service Corp

Summer Melton, Hooters

Grace Goddard, Hooters

Priscilla Scott, Seamless Floors

Rob Petsch, Greentech Renewables

Reese Robinson, Greentech Renewables

Louis Denny, Veteran's Commercial Corp.

To have your New Membership featured in our upcoming newsletters, make sure to attend one of our regular luncheons to have your FREE headshot taken by Mark Geil!

Our website has been redesigned! Check it out by clicking the link below!

When logging into your profile for the first time, you will have to use the “Lost Password” link to reset your password.

https://www.sbmcjax.com