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Advertise in the
Chamber Trends Weekly |
| Place your
banner ad here for
ONLY $50.00 A MONTH.
The Chamber Trends Weekly E-Newsletter
reaches more than 1200 Chamber members weekly. The ad features
your artwork and a link directly to your website.
As a special value to
advertisers, we have also added a sign up link on our website
so future members and the public can receive this
e-newsletter and learn about different Chamber Functions. All
together our distribution is about 1350 a month and growing.
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We Want
You - Volunteers Needed For Chamber Welcome Center
Central
Are you outgoing?
Have knowledge about Cape Coral and surrounding areas? Would
you like to share your knowledge and experiences with visitors
to our Welcome Center? Come volunteer with us!
Chamber of
Commerce Welcome Center Central
61 Hancock Bridge
Pkwy W. Suite
A
Cape
Coral
Days and hours
available are
Tuesdays
1:00 pm - 5:00
pm
Wednesdays
9:00 am - 1:00
pm
1:00 pm - 5:00
pm
Friday
1:00 pm - 5:00
pm
For more
information call Mimi or Donna at
458-4894. |
| Chamber Night
with the Florida Firecats
Kim Constantine, Sales Director
Join
us for a fun-filled networking event at Germain Arena on
Saturday April 12th from 6:30pm to 9:45pm. Be a part of the
Cape Chamber exclusive gathering on top of the Bud Terrace to
view the Florida Firecats. You can't beat Arena Football,
food, and fun for all. (Family members welcome too)
This year the Florida Firecats are honoring the Cape
Coral Chamber Junior Leadership Class. All Junior Leadership
students are free. Come to the Florida Firecats football
season opener where they will play Tennessee Valley.
Please purchase your ticket by contacting Mike Gluski
(239) 390-CATS http://www.floridafirecats.com Cell #
239-745-2287. Tickets can be mailed to you or in will-call.
Tickets are $20.00. This includes a seat, food and
beverage. Game starts at 7:30pm
We recommend you come
early to network. Parking is $5.00 per car (ride together)
We are looking forward to a great event for everyone!
After you purchase your tickets please RSVP with Kim
Constantine at kim@capecoralchamber.com no later
than April 7th
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Get The Most Out Of Your Membership Right From The
Start!
Our new members
are encouraged to attend our next New Membership Orientation
meeting.
This is your
opportunity to meet the Chamber staff, introduce your
business/organization, and familiarize yourself with the many
benefits the Chamber has to offer.
Existing and
prospective members are also encouraged to attend. Bring
business cards and brochures. There is no charge to attend,
but an RSVP is required.
Date: Wednesday,
March 26, 2008
Location: Cape
Coral Association of Realtors
918 SE 46th
Lane
Cape
Coral, FL
33904
Time:
9:00am-10:30am
RSVP: Required
www.capecoralchamber.com
Refreshments will
be provided by
Starbucks |
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Chamber Certificates.Com
Mike "Q"
Quaintance, President
The Chamber of Commerce
of Cape Coral is proud to announce a new program that doesn't
cost Chamber members one penny other then the offer.
This is a new
feature that resides on our website at
www.capecoralchamber.com called CHAMBERCERTIFICATE.COM.
Each month over
12,000 people visit the Chamber website and many could be
directed of those people to your business. Check out some of
the offers our members are advertising right now and then if
your are interested sign up to offer your certificate today!
For questions please call Stephanie Roberson at (239)
699-8442 or Mike Quaintance at (239) 549-6900 ext 106 and we
will get you on the Chamber bus today!
Sincerely,
Mike "Q" Quaintance, President
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2008 News-Press Golf
Tournament to benefit Cape Coral Housing Development
Corp.
Support Affordable
Housing at The News-Press 2008 Golf Tournament.
Proceeds
benefit the Cape Coral Housing Development Corporation.
When: April
19th - 20th, April 26th -
27th
Click Here For
Complete Sponsorship
Information |
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Mariner HS Athletic Booster Golf
Tournament
Through the
efforts of our All-Sport booster club at Mariner High School,
we are putting on our 19th annual golf
scramble. It will
be held at Coral Oaks golf course in Cape Coral on Saturday,
April 26, 2008.
It will be an 8:00 AM. shotgun start.
Last year we had
a full field of golfers from around the area. We have already
received entry forms for this year's event. We put on a class
event that is both fun and satisfying for all participants.
The money raised from this event will go directly to the
individual sports at Mariner High School.
We are selling
advertising for the tees, greens and the scoreboard. Your sponsorship of a
particular tee or green would cost $100.00 and scoreboard
advertising is $150.00.
Your sponsorship of this event would be greatly
appreciated.
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Relay
For Life Volunteers Needed!
It is that time
of year again and we need your support.
Relay For Life is
such a special community event and we cannot do it without the
help of VOLUNTEERS.
We need VOLUNTEERS
for everything from Set-Up to Luminaria to Clean-up the next
day.
Relay For
Life
April 4th
- 5th
Mariner High
School
701
Chiquita Blvd.
For More
Information Contact Donna Germain, Volunteer Chair
(239)
458-4994
or e-mail donna@capecoralchamber.com |
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Season is here enroll in the Chamber
E-mail Leads and Stuff It
Program
Donna Germain, Communications
Director
Season is
here and more and more people are inquiring about visiting and
relocating to our city. The Chamber E-mail Leads and Stuff it
Program will put your company information in their hands and
put you in contact with them directly.
Each
week, you will be e-mailed a list of prospective new residents
and visitors; they will also have received your marketing
materials in a Visitor and Relocation Packet.
For more
information, please call Donna Germain at 458-4894 or e-mail
her at donna@capecoralchamber.com. The cost is $150.00 for 6 months or
$300.00 for the year.
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Inserts Are Back In The Chamber Trends
Magazine!
Donna
Germain,
Communications
Director |
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Starting with the
March 2008 Issue, Chamber Members will once again be
able to advertise their business through inserts in the
Chamber Trends Magazine.
Up to 5
businesses can participate per issue. All insert
requests, must be made through Donna Germain at 458-4894
or donna@capecoralchamber.com
The investment is
$199.00 per month. The Chamber Trends Magazine reached
more than 2000 Chamber members each month. WE ONLY HAVE TWO
SPOTS LEFT FOR THE MARCH CHAMBER
TRENDS.
The insert
deadline for the March issue is February 15th so
you must act fast. Please deliver all
inserts to the Chamber's Welcome Center Central at
61 Hancock Bridge Parkway Suite A.
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| Chamber Trends E-Newsletter
March 21st - March
27th |
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Does The Media Really
Suck?
Mike "Q"
Quaintance, President
Many of us seem
to climb on the band wagon when it comes to bashing the media,
heck I was there last year after Red, White & Boom while
we were trying to get definitive answers as to why the
fireworks show was so short the media was all over us, but I
felt that until we got those definitive answers we were not
going to throw anyone under the bus.
These are some of
the perceptions that I hear
- The media only
prints or airs the bad news that sells papers and drives
ratings.
- They wouldn't
know a balanced story if hit them in the face.
- They took my
quote out of context.
- They bury the
good news.
AMEN brother, I
have been a part of the mob mentality that says and thinks
these things, but let me put another face on it. When the Chamber has
good news to share or is doing a special event, our media
partners are there for us. They give us paper and
ink, they give us commercials, and yes some support the
Chamber programs financially. They investment time,
talent, and treasure just like most of our Chamber
members.
The other face is
that many of them that work in the media industry I consider
friends and people that care tremendously about Cape Coral,
Lee County and Southwest Florida. I think of the Cindy
Gallagher and Tom Hayden from the News Press who are very
engaged in the Chamber.
I know that Valerie Harring from the Breeze Newspaper
is a wonderfully intelligent and fair friend who the Chamber
and I can count on.
Another dynamic duel on the scenes is Judy Kenney and
Brent Struense from FOX4, Judy serves as a Board Member, on
the Leadership Steering Committee, MAP Committee, Revenue Task
Force, Brent has served on the Education Committee, always at
our Special Events.
Burt Spangler, from WINK is a wonderful partner through
his support of our Leadership programs, special events and
such. Clear
Channel radio has been a huge supporter or our special events
even providing entertainment for Boom.
Each one of these
media partners has a face and behind those faces are friends
who are just like us, they take pride in the work, they take
pride in the organizations that they work for, and they care
about our little corner of Paradise. Remember that the next
time you take a shot at them, they have feelings
too.
Lastly, words of
wisdom that Chris Spiro has drilled into my head when the
reporter calls and by the way I am still learning
- When a reporter
catches you off guard, ask them if you can call them back as
it is an inconvenient time. This gives you time
to research, gather your thoughts and prepare some
reasonable answers to your questions.
- After giving an
interview, ask for the reporters fax number or email address
so that you can sum up the key issues you just shared. This allows reporter
quote you more accurately.
- The mission of
an editorial department is different then the mission of a
marketing department.
- If you can't
tell the truth, shut up. Never lie to a
reporter.
There are other
tips, but you will have to call Spiro to hear them as I have
an aging and selective memory.
Finally, just
like many of you that have disaster plans for your business to
deal with storms, flooding and fire it is not a bad idea to
create a media disaster plan to help you better deal with
public relations issues that befall us from time to
time.
I apologize for
the headline but I had to get your attention, after all the
Q-tip photo has lost its
sparkle. |
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Bob's Blog
Bob
Knickman, Special Events Director
 We are very
pleased to announce the new title sponsor for Red White &
Boom 2008 is Saturn of Cape Coral.
Bob Goodman owner
of Saturn of Cape Coral said with the opening of Cape Coral's
newest car dealership on Pine Island Road, they wanted to make
a BIG SPLASH, and we are proud they felt Red White & Boom
was the best way to do it.
Thanks to Bob and
his Saturn Team and remember when you're looking to get new
set of wheels, make sure you stop by Saturn of Cape Coral and
kick a few tires and make sure you thank them for supporting
your chamber. By
the way if you are interested in being a part of Boom contact
me ASAP, it is starting to move.
I am so glad this
past year is over with, I am one of those people who think
they can do everything and in the last 365 days I have come to
understand my limitations. It started with developing,
marketing and selling Cape Life TV, we put a lot of time and
effort in that project and were disappointed when we had to
pull the plug; it really bothers me to waste so much
energy.
On top of that we
blew up and rebuilt from scratch the Chamber Cup Golf &
Poker Tournament, recreated Riverside Bank's Celebrate Cape
Coral, once again tackled Red White & BOOM and continued
with the explosive growth of Holiday Festival of Lights.
All along the
way, like the rest of you, were trying to figure out how the
housing bust was going to affect us and finding new ways to
adjust to continue success in our new economic circumstances.
On top of all of this I had my first grandchild and traveled
to Italy for my first trip out of the country. It was a
jam-packed year that I never seemed to be able to catch
up. That is all
over and the lesson learned will help me do a better job for
you in the future.
I appreciate the
hundreds of people who helped me get through last year and am
looking forward to kicking some tail in the future. Already, we have made
changes in the special events division of the chamber to
better serve our members and those who volunteer their time to
work with us. So
get ready, because here we come!
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Public Affairs Coimmittee Report
- March 17th Council Meeting
Mike McCartney, Committee Member
During the
Committee of the Whole meeting a discussion was held regarding
construction of a parallel lock allowing for two-way traffic
through the lock and reducing congestion. Council agreed
construction of the parallel lock had been promised to
residents and will be constructed as soon as
possible.
During the
Regular Meeting of City Council this week the following
actions were taken:
Petitions To
Council - Denied - Petitioner requested to be allowed to keep
royal palm trees that had been planted in the easement within
fifteen feet of overhead power lines. Petitions To
Council
*Ord. 23-08 -
ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT - This Ordinance approves a Planned
Development Project Entitled "Kinsey Veterans-Country Club
Corner Development" for Deviation, Rezoning, Special Exception
and Site Plan Approval.
Ord. 25-08 -
ADOPTED - This Ordinance changes the date that signs must be
in compliance in the Downtown Zoning Districts to January 1,
2009.
Ord. 27-08 -
ADOPTED - This Ordinance amends the Rules and Regulations
governing City of Cape Coral employees by adding a provision
that City Council may impose restrictions on hiring in some or
all City positions by adoption of a resolution.
Res. 7-08 -
APPROVED - This Resolution imposes hiring restrictions on all
City positions until the end of the current fiscal
year.
In other action: A
presentation was made by the Financial Director, Mark Mason,
of the CAFR (Comprehensive Financial Annual Report). The CAFR examines many
different views of the financial condition of the city. It looks back at the
previous budget, examines the current financial conditions and
projects what is in store for the city (financially) in the
future. This is
an extensive and complicated document and provides a wealth on
information. It
is available on line as is a "primer" to help guide the reader
through the CAFR.
This is an important document to study if you are
trying to understand financial conditions within the city.
City Council
approved moving forward with a Citizen Survey.
During the
discussion of the Public Safety Building, the City Council
approved expending the design monies to have Balfour Beatty
design and bid the building and return to Council for approval
to build, based on a an amount not to exceed $ 23 million
dollars.
And, lastly,
during Council reports, approval was given to change the
public notification timeline for land use change cases from 14
days to 21
days. |
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New Chamber Coupon
Centers
Mike Quaintance, President
The Chamber of
Commerce of Cape Coral has a new innovative program for
members utilizing the lobby advertising called "Coupon
Centers", and it has members seeing green! Tens of thousands
of visitors stop in to the visitors centers each year to
obtain visitor and relocation information.
The Chamber has
provided image building lobby opportunities for years, now we
have redemption opportunities available for members who seek
measurable results.
Our first
opportunity is at the Welcome
Center at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. We will offer nine
opportunities at the coupon center targeting visitors and nine
opportunities on the coupon center targeting new
residents.
These unique
opportunities will provide those member sponsors with an
advertisement and well as tear-away coupons for $399 for the
year. The $399 covers the cost of the advertisement as well as
the production of the coupons.
REMEMBER WE ONLY HAVE
18 TOTAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT THE CAPE CORAL BRIDGE
LOCATION, SO HURRY!
To participate, you
will need to contact Kim Constantine at 549-6900 ext. 110,
email: kim@capecoralchamber.com or Carla Moseley
at 549-6900 ext. 103, email: Carla@capecoralchamber.com
This concept was
created by Bob Welsh of Arthur Printing. Bob we appreciate your
assistance in providing better opportunities for our
members.
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Excellence In Education
Awards
Claudia St.
Onge, Business Manager
The Chamber of Commerce of Cape
Coral's Education Committee is gearing up for The News-Press
16th Annual Excellence In Education Awards to be
held on April 28th at the Broadway Palm Dinner
Theatre.
This is a wonderful
event where we honor students from Elementary to High School
and our Educators. Be A Part Of The 2008 "Eddy's"! Your
Support Helps To Recognize "The Student Of The Year" And "The
Educator Of The Year" From Each Of Our Local Schools. Your
Generous Sponsorship Will Help Us Continue To Complete Our
Mission "Promoting Education To Develop Our Future
Leaders"
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Ribbon Cuttings and
More
3/26
New
Membership Orientation-RSVP Only at www.capecoralchamber.com
Cape
Coral Association of
Realtors
918 SE 46th
Lane
Cape
Coral, FL
33904
(239)
542-6209
9:00am-10:30am
RIBBON
CUTTINGS
3/27
Chili's
Scott
Alexander
1760 NE Pine
Island Rd.
Cape
Coral, FL
33909
(239)
242-8724
10:30am
Get the
most out of your membership right from the
start!
Our new members
are encouraged to attend our next New Membership Orientation
meeting.
This is your
opportunity to meet the Chamber staff, introduce your
business/organization, and familiarize yourself with the many
benefits the Chamber has to offer.
Existing and
prospective members are also encouraged to attend. Bring
business cards and brochures. There is no charge to attend,
but an rsvp is required.
Date:
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Location:
Cape Coral Association of Realtors
918 SE 46th
Lane
Cape
Coral, FL
33904
Time:
9:00am-10:30am
RSVP: Required
www.capecoralchamber.com
Refreshments will
be provided by Caribbean Breeze Restaurant.
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Chamber Member Web Link
(Hyperlink) Policy Goes Into Affect April 30,
2008
Stephanie Roberson,
Technology Director
The Chamber of
Commerce of Cape Coral has provided to each member since the
Chamber's first website, a complimentary web links (hyperlink)
with each of the membership listings. These web links allow
visitors to the Chamber website and its members to hop from
the Chamber website and the member information to the member's
websites. Many of
the surrounding community Chamber's of Commerce charge an
annual fee for this same service.
Initially, we
requested that members who had a web link on the Chamber sight
include the Chamber logo on their site with a hyperlink back
to the Chamber.
That worked moderately well but the Chamber did not
have the resources to make sure our members were
complying.
Now that search
engines are using the number of hyperlinks as a tool for
search engine placement, we find it necessary to ask each
member who has their website information in their individual
business listing on the Chamber website to place a hyperlink
somewhere in their website directing traffic back to the
Chamber at www.capecoralchamber.com. The Chamber Board of
Directors took this action by a unanimous Board vote on
June
26, 2007 at their regular
monthly meeting.
If for some reason you are not able to comply with this
request you may lose the privilege of having the Chamber link
going to your website.
As the Chamber
has invested in new software and created a full time position
for Internet Management we have the resources to determine who
will be in compliance.
Time is running out. The compliance date to have a
reciprocal hyperlink is April 30th. If you are not
in compliance by this date, you will loose this privilege and
be given the option to either comply, or purchase a link for
an annual fee of $100.
What this
accomplishes is more web activity for the Chamber website due
to better placement on the website as well as increase
activity and placement for you with the search engines. We know that the
better job we do managing and developing the website the
greater the rewards for all members. We appreciate your
support and attention to this matter.
If you'd like to
learn more about the Chamber website, obtain your passwords
for the member's only section on the Chamber website, or
inquire about anything regarding the website, please contact
Stephanie Roberson, Technology Director at (239)
699-8442 (or) stephanie@capecoralchamber.com.
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Fraud Alert - Economic Stimulus
Scams
From the Office
of Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott < | | |
