Trends Chamber
The Official Publication of The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
SURFSIDE SUNSET MARKET EVERY TUESDAY AT THE SHOPS OF SURFSIDE YEAR ROUND 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM CAPE CORAL FARMERS’ MARKET AT CLUB SQUARE EVERY SATURDAY DOWNTOWN 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
To Promote and Serve Business and Community
December 2016
DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 1 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM FOOD FOR THOUGHT LUNCHEON CAPE CORAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE 360 SANTA BARBARA BLVD N, CAPE CORAL, FL DECEMBER 3 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS CAPE CORAL PARKWAY, CAPE CORAL, FL DECEMBER 6 | 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE AROUND THE CLOCK FITNESS 1140 CEITUS TERR, UNIT 8, CAPE CORAL, FL DECEMBER 8 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM BUSINESS AFTER HOURS BRAND 1 INK 925 SE 15TH AVE, CAPE CORAL, FL DECEMBER 14 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON DUFFY’S OF CAPE CORAL 627 CAPE CORAL PKWY W, CAPE CORAL, FL SURFSIDE SUNSET MARKET THE SHOPS AT SURFSIDE TUESDAYS YEAR ROUND FROM 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM CAPE CORAL FARMERS MARKET CLUB SQUARE EVERY SATURDAY FROM 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS ONLINE VISIT WWW.CAPECORALCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS
Publisher & Editor Stephanie Roberson Technology Director stephanie@capecoralchamber.com
Contributing Editors Donna S. Germain President/CEO donna@capecoralchamber.com Claudia St. Onge Business Manager cso@capecoralchamber.com Annette Siner Special Events Director annette@capecoralchamber.com Shawna Pike Membership Sales Director shawna@capecoralchamber.com Melanie Lempke Membership Services Director melanie@capecoralchamber.com Lori Marlowe Welcome Center Specialist lori@capecoralchamber.com Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral P.O. Box 100747, Cape Coral, FL 33910 2051 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904 Phone (239) 549-6900 Fax (239) 549-9609
Diamond Member Lee Memorial Health System P.O. Box 2218 Fort Myers, FL 33902 Lee County Electric Cooperative 4980 Bayline Dr North Fort Myers, FL 33917 B2 Technology Solutions 1406 SE 46th Lane Cape Coral, FL 33904
Executive Member CenturyLink 2710 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral Gulf Coast Village Retirement Community 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. Cape Coral The News-Press - Fort Myers Office 2442 Dr. MLK Blvd. Ft. Myers Fifth Third Bank 2402 Surfside Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991 2724 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33904 114 Hancock Bridge Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33991 1801 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33909 1600 Cape Coral Pkwy. E, Cape Coral, FL 33904
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2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Brett Bisbe, B2 Technology Solutions, Inc Chair-Elect Trish Lassiter, Lee County Electric Coop. Treasurer Ed Bolter, Lamar Advertising Past Chair Ed Ramos, Ramos Builders, Inc Barb Adams, LeeSar Keith Banasiak, Waste Pro of Florida Beverly Black, Black Business Solutions, LLC Dana Brunett, City of Cape Coral Matthew Connar, Boost Creative Tony Constantino, Kevin M. Burns & Assoc. P.A. Angela Davis, Merrill Lynch Nancy Dunning, Cape Coral Association of Realtors Diane Everhart, Blue Chip Financial Joseph Francioni, The Smart Companies Cynthia Gallagher, The Breeze Newspapers Tom Hansen, Boat House of Cape Coral Tim Hauck, Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services Jay Johnson, Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon Laura Koehn, CapeCoral.com Mike Quaintance, Keiser University Christopher Spiro, Spiro & Associates Michelle Whitlock, Siesta Pebble Pool Interiors Zachary Zeis, Storm Smart
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Annette Carrasquillo, LAI Design Associates, LLC Wayne Kirkwood, Kirkwood Electric, Inc. Thomas Giles, Avalon Engineering Michelle Lewis, B-2 Solutions Heather Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting, Inc. Joseph Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting, Inc. Donna Meola, Priority Payments of South Florida Don Schnell, Regions Bank Thomas Shipp Jr, Attorney Elmer Tabor, Wonderland Realty/Cape Coral Town Center
TRUSTEES Kevin Ahmadi, Gulf Coast Village Brandon Deaver, B-2 Technoloy Solutions Rana Erbrick, City of Cape Coral Julie Ferguson, Cape Coral Caring Center Steve Hook, Oasis Elementary School Bill Jacob, CenturyLink Mike Noone, Goldberg, Racilla, D’Alessandro & Noone, LLC David Owen, BB & T - Oswald, Trippe & Co. Larry Wier, Premier Insurance Corporation
CHAMBER STAFF Donna S. Germain, President Claudia St. Onge, Business Manager & Farmers’ Market Director Stephanie Roberson, Technology Director Annette Siner, Special Events Director Shawna Pike, Membership Sales Director Melanie Lempke, Membership Services Director Lori Marlow, Welcome Center Specialist
CHAMBER TRENDS graduates.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
In March, we hosted our annual Junior Leadership General Membership Lunch with the Class of 2016. Junior Leadership is a 14-year tradition for the Chamber 2016 has been where the future leaders of Cape Coral quite a year for learn about the inner workings of our city the Chamber of and county. Commerce of Cape Coral! April brought out Annual Chamber Golf Tournament as well as our first ever We started the year out with our annual Speed Politics General Membership Chairman’s Gala sponsored by Mullins Meeting presented by our Government Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Affairs Committee. Members had the Service, where we welcomed our new opportunity to networking with the group of board members and trustees as Mayor and City Council as well as their well as our 2016 Chamber Chairman Brett County Commissioners at this lunch. Your Bisbe with B2 Technology Solutions. GAC works hard for you throughout the year attending every City Council meeting In January we kicked off a brand new and reporting back to the membership educational lunch called Food For Thought. through our Chamber Trends Weekly Through our partnership with SCORE, the E-newsletter as well as meeting quarterly FGCU-SBDC and the Cape Coral Technical with all of our city and county elected College, this new series came to life and officials. showcased some very interesting topics for our members such as international In May, the Chamber added its third importing and exporting, marketing, Farmers’ Market to our list of community obtaining government contracts and events with the Cape Harbour Farmers’ many more. Market. We received a great response to this new addition from the community In February, the Chamber’s Education and are looking forward to many more Committee hosted their 3rd Annual Taste years to come with this event. The Market of the Cape in partnership with the Gulf will return in May 2017 and run through Coast Symphony. The event was our most September 2017. successful yet and through the proceeds, we were able to award more than $7,000 In June, we welcomed a Shawna Pike, a in scholarships to local high school new member to our staff and Membership Donna S. Germain President
CHAMBER TRENDS CONTINUED Sales Team. As of today, our membership team has welcomed 145 new members this year. More than 2.6 million referrals were generated from our online directory for an average of 2,162 referrals per member. To date, more than 22,000 people have come into the welcome centers and we have distributed 15,000 chamber guides which include our membership directory. July brought us our largest Freedom 5K to date. Sponsored by Priority Business Solutions, this event brought 800 runners over the Cape Coral Bridge to kick off Cape Coral’s 4th of July festivities. We welcomed our friends from the Special Operations Communicators Association, one of our selected military charities, who traveled from Fort Bragg to participate in what they called the most challenging 5K they have ever participated in. Through donations and proceeds from the 5K, your Chamber was able to donate a combined total of more than $5000 to Invest in America’s Veteran’s (SWFL Military Museum) and the Special Operations Communicators Association to help both of these volunteer run organizations continue their mission of assisting our nation’s Veterans. August brought the start of our Leadership Cape Coral program. This 23-year tradition for the Chamber has turned out some of our best and brightest community leaders and the Class of 2016 was no exception. Keep an eye on this great group, they will be doing some big things for our community in the future. We also held our annual Women’s Leadership Conference at The Westin Cape Coral with more than 150 in attendance. Each year this conference has grown and is becoming one of the premier conferences for women in business. The government Affairs Committee also hosted its Candidates’ Hobnob to a record number of attendees. This annual event sponsored by Gulf Coast Village is a great way to speak one on one with your local, state and federal candidates. In September, the GAC presented its “Are You Smarter Than A Politician” Candidates Forum. We also concluded our first
season of the Cape Harbour Farmers’ Market. October brought us the 24th season of the Cape Coral Farmers’ Market. A staple of the SouthCape area from October through May, this event, presented by the Chamber, brings more than 8,000 shoppers to downtown Cape Coral every Saturday. October also brought our first ever Brewtober Craft Beer Festival. This inaugural event was held at Sunsplash Festival Grounds in an effort to bring community events to the central part of the city. Your Board of Directors held their annual retreat at The Westin and have created a new Strategic Plan for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral to take us into 2020. Be on the lookout as we finalize all of the details and present them to the membership in January. In November, the Leadership Cape Coral Class of 2016 graduated from their 13 week course. This class of 19 new leaders celebrated their accomplishment with several alumni in attendance at Cape Harbour. We also welcomed our Welcome Center Specialist Lori Marlowe. December is here and The CenturyLink Holiday Festival of Lights kicked off our holiday season last Saturday. The annual tree lighting is the Chamber’s largest community event and brought 15,000 residents out to celebrate this more than 25year tradition. Please be sure to mark your calendar for the January 27th Chairman’s Gala and Board Installation at the Cape Coral Yacht Club. On behalf of the Chamber staff, I would like to thank you all for your continued commitment to the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral. To the countless volunteers and sponsors who make these programs and events happen, we truly appreciate you. We cannot do any of this without the support of our members. Here’s to a great 2016 and an even better 2017!
OCTOBER NEW MEMBERS Arbonne International Cathy Bleakly
Findaway Coaching Richard Greer
ML DePasquale Inc Mike Depasquale
The Heights Foundation Kathryn Kelly
Betsy’s About Face Betsy Jameson
Integrity First Financial Group Greg Alkema
Mr. Brews Taphouse Mason Moyle
Walmart Neighborhood Market #5453 Adrienne Pope
Big Ten Tavern Jason Bhimji Cape Coral Lions Club Will Grignon Embracing One Soul at a Time, LLC Adrienne Provent
McDonald’s Elizabeth Nunez Military Support Foundation, Inc. Angie Antilia
RMEC, LLC Dan Scippo Sakura Japanese Steakhouse Teet Davis Sentext Solutions Dena Sawyer
Wash n’ Wag Penny Puls
WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER!
OCTOBER RENEWALS Blind Gallery Member Since: 10/05/2011 Davis Surveying, Inc. Member Since: 11/12/2014
FGCU-Small Business Development Center Member Since: 10/27/1999 Park 720 Vehicle Storage Member Since: 11/20/2002
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
DJC Insurance & Financial SC Custom Homes, LLC Services/New York Life Ins. Member Since: 05/06/2003 Member Since: 11/18/2014 Edison & Ford Winter Trafalgar Middle School Estates Member Since: 09/28/2007 Member Since: 11/24/2015
PASS ON CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW! CALL A MEMBER OF OUR MEMBERSHIP TEAM TODAY (239) 549-6900 SHAWNA PIKE x103 | MELANIE LEMPKE x109
HOST A NETWORKING EVENT IN 2017 Business Card Exchange Networking at Noon
Business After Hours
For the early birds, the Business Card Exchange is designed for those who cannot get away midday or for those looking for the extra early morning networking from 7:30am - 8:30am. This is your time to meet members of the chamber or to get prospect members through your doors. You will find members passionate about networking the first Tuesday of each month at the Business Card Exchange Networking Event.
Join your fellow Chamber members the forth Friday of each month from 12:00pm 1:00pm for Networking at Noon. Enjoy the opportunity to network with other chamber members and potential customers during the lunch hour.
Join your fellow Chamber members for the Business After Hours Networking Event from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Enjoy the opportunity to network with 100+ members. We always have networking activities, great giveaways and sponsorship opportunities to expose your business.
AVAILABLE HOST DATES January 27 February 24 March 24 May 26 June 23 July 28 August 25 September 22 October 27
AVAILABLE HOST DATES January 19 March 16 July 20 August 17 September 21 October 19 December 7
AVAILABLE HOST DATES May 2 June 6 August 1 October 3 November 7 December 5
To host a networking event in 2017 or for questions regarding each of these opportunties, contact Shawna Pike, Membership Sales Director at (239) 549-6900 x103 or shawna@capecoralchamber.com
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Register for Evening Classes Online at CapeCoralTech.edu or register in person at Cape Coral Technical College.
239.574.4440
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RIBBON CUTTINGS Belk, Inc 2342 Surfside Blvd, Cape Coral FL 33991 (239) 282-5692 | www.belk.com
Cape Coral Pet Vet 428 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral FL 33909 (239) 772-2009 | www.capecoralpetvet.com
Allgood Errands, LLC Cape Coral FL 33909 (239) 209-8078 | www.allgooderrands.com
Advanced Appearance Florida 615 Cape Coral Pkwy, Suite 207, Cape Coral 33904 (239) 540-0719 | www.myadvancedappearance.com
Reef Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 3015 SW Pine Island Rd, Suite 113, Cape Coral FL 33991 (239) 283-3500 | www.reefdentistry.com
The Cole Team Re/Max Realty Group 1537 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral 33904 (239) 542-3332 | www.flproperty.com
NETWORKING EVENTS
Thank you to our November Busness After Hours host, FOS Furniture for another wonderful networking event and for the recognition of the Cape Coral Police Department, Cape Coral Fire Department and Lee County Sheriff ’s Department
LEADERSHIP CAPE CORAL GRADUATION
CLASS OF 2016
JR LEADERSHIP CAPE CORAL Jr LEADERSHIP KICK-OFF Mike “Q” Quaintance, MBA, CCE Jr Leadership 2017 Chairman
On Wednesday, November 16, 2016, the Jr. Leadership Cape Coral program kicked off at the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral’s Welcome Center with 30 high school juniors from local high schools. They hopped onto a Goodwill bus sponsored by Keiser University to the Fort Myers Beach Coast Guard station. Students interacted with speakers from the station commander to new recruits who talked about what they do in the service of our country. Thanks to Day Chair Captain Pete Louzao, the students learned about the Coast Guard’s twelve different missions. Additionally, students participated in a team-building exercise where they competed against each other in a pump-out simulation of a sinking vessel. They did this without vocal instruction from the Coast Guard; they only had the written instructions, which were included in the pump-out kit. Next, there was a competition where students were tasked with throwing a buoy line 70-feet into a metal drum.
members, Brandon Deaver, Zack Zeis, and Bill Johnson worked with the students on other team building exercises. Our next Jr. Leadership day is Philanthropy Day, December 1, 2016, led by Jackie Lawson and Michael Chatman with the Cape Coral Community Foundation. The students will tour four community service agencies like the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Special Populations, Lifeline Family Center, and Street Chicks in Recovery. Here, students, after working and learning about the agencies, will have an opportunity to determine which agency or agencies will receive a $3,000 grant from the Cape Coral Community Foundation. The bus for this day will be sponsored by Jones, Haber & Rolling’s, PA and Prime Communications; lunch will be sponsored by Lifeline Family Center; and snacks will be provided by the Cape Coral Caring Center and Street Chicks in Recovery. The Chamber could not provide free programs like these to students without help from volunteers and sponsors like LCEC, the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the News Press, Keiser University, Waste Pro, Haber & Rolling’s PA, Prime Communications AT&T, Lifeline Family Center, and Siesta Pebble Pools. We truly appreciate the investment of time, treasure, and talent by the village to help raise a child!
As always if you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Mike Quaintance, 2017 Jr. Leadership Chairman at The second part of the day included a trip back to the Chamber’s mquaintance@keiseruniversity.edu. Welcome Center where Waste-Pro cooked up hot dogs and hamburgers provided by Siesta Pebble Pools. After lunch, Leadership Alumni
HEALTHY TRENDS DNA Is Not Your Destiny, Dinner Is Salvatore Lacagnina, D.O. Vice President of Health & Wellness, Lee Memorial Health System
“DNA is not your destiny, dinner is!” I have to thank Dr. Dean Ornish for this statement which is to mean that genetics, our DNA, does not determine our destiny as much as our meals do. Dr. Amy Chappell, Neurologist from Naples, Florida, used Dr. Ornish’s statement in a presentation she made recently on Diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The reason for using the statement was to explain that although a person might inherit bad genes, he/ she might not get the intended disease depending on the lifestyle he/she lives, especially in regard to what foods are eaten on a regular basis. Dr. Chappell talked about Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 Diabetes” and she explained that excess sugar in the body negatively affects all organs including the brain. She talked about the ApoE gene which is a gene that, when inherited, increase a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s. Yet, studies have shown that lifestyles either result in these bad genes being turned on or off depending on the quality of the lifestyle. In countries where inheritance of the ApoE gene is high and where the lifestyle is healthy, the incidence of the actual disease is low. This is the explanation of the statement: DNA is not your destiny; and, when we think about the second part of the statement, dinner is, this can also be easily explained. The production of food in 2016 has resulted in some of the most common sources of toxins which affect the function of our DNA. When we examine all processed foods (foods that come in a box or a bag) and even most
animal products (red meat, chicken, pork, lunch meats and dairy), we find an overabundance of chemicals, hormones, bacteria and other non-food additives, none of which are nutritionally beneficial. As an example, I recently read the list of ingredients on a bag of Fruit Loops for Schools which included “Red 40, Turmeric extract color, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Annatto extract color, and BHT for freshness.” In the past I have read about these colorings and additives and there is research which links them to behavioral problems, allergies and other health problems in children. When the body has to deal with or metabolize chemicals that are not intended to be nutritional, often times it does not know how to handle these foreign chemicals; thereby, creating allergies, auto immune diseases and other chronic health problems. The result of this metabolic confusion might be the turning on of bad genes resulting in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other similarly devastating illnesses. In the last 100 years, we have seen the emergence of over 100 auto-immune diseases such as Celiac, thyroiditis and different types of arthritis. Why have these illnesses developed? We must look for the cause and not simply attempt to treat the symptoms. Getting back to the presentation done by Dr. Chappell, it was interesting to hear her suggestions on how to possibly prevent Alzheimer’s dementia. These were similar to the suggestions I gave to the audience before Dr. Chappell’s presentation. We both were speakers at a Diabetes conference in Naples. I was asked to speak about the generalities of Type 2 Diabetes (aka. Adult onset Diabetes). I spoke about the pathology of Diabetes and how it occurs, although I focused mainly on how we can prevent, treat and reverse it. The main point of my presentation was the benefit of lifestyle in managing another disease thought to be inherited (Diabetes). In reality, this is a disease caused more by lifestyle than DNA. In both Dr. Chappell’s presentation and mine, the overarching message was the same: lifestyle will either create disease or health, depending on how you
HEALTHY TRENDS CONTINUED
live. And, the foundation for healthy living is on the dinner have in years. The clinical results and the anecdotal reports are inspiring. table! Thousands of clinical studies have been done looking at food and its association to disease and health. The results of these studies are clear: the more processed foods a person eats, the more at risk they are for most of the chronic illnesses and many of the common cancers people suffer from on a daily basis. When we choose to eat organic, non-processed, whole natural foods, we get less disease, live a better quality and a longer life. Dr. Chappell spoke about, as did I, the CHIP program that we both champion in our respective practices. This is the “Complete Health Improvement Program” which is a nine-week program teaching the participants how to shop for, cook and eat delicious, health promoting foods. We both have seen people reverse many of their common health problems and enjoy more energy and good health than they
In summary, as Dr. David Katz, from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, says: health is delivered by our forks, feet and fingers. When we use a fork to feed ourselves healthy food, when we use our feet to get regular exercise and when we don’t use our fingers to smoke, we stay healthy and enjoy life. We can be much more in control of our health than people believe. What you put on the dinner plate at every meal will determine your future health more than your DNA. So put the rainbow on your plate. Fill the plate with fresh, whole, natural, unprocessed foods and enjoy a wonderful meal and a healthy life! Stay well my friends and please send comments and questions to Dr.Sal@LeeHealth. org
REAL ESTATE TRENDS GIVING THANKS
Once again, basic economic theory is being demonstrated. More of the lower priced homes and condos usually sell before the higher priced units. As lower priced inventory We are at that time of year sells, the median prices move up. It is very significant that where most of us sincerely give these current increases are here at a time when our market thanks for our blessings. From is typically hibernating until after the holidays a housing perspective, buyers should be thankful that they were able to buy in a rising Because of the weak recovery from our national recession, market; sellers should be thankful that they were able to there is a pent up demand for housing. Rents have jumped get their property sold; builders should be thankful that to the point where many “renters” are finding out that it rising prices now make it profitable to build again; and, is more economical to become “buyers”. We are seeing a agents should be thankful that they were able to facilitate number of folks tired of paying $950-1150/month to rent a small place when they can buy a larger place with a successful transactions. minimal down payment via FHA or VA and have a monthly The question becomes, “Where do we go from here?” payment under $900! Before answering, let us see where we have been and where we are now. We should get some insight by looking As our economy accelerates, people should be earning at the Cape Coral numbers for the three month period more money. If past experience repeats, as workers have more money they often will buy as soon as they are able. ending 11/23/16: Folks who have been struggling with families in small apartments or small houses will buy once they realize they can afford their own homes. Berge Aslanian (CDPE) Realtor, Island Harbor Realty
The number of single family homes for sale continues to rise; inventory is up 13.8% during our most recent three month period. Median prices have been hovering just above the $300,000 threshold. The number of sold homes remains low with median prices just over $200,000. Condo inventory for sale increased a bit with firm median prices. The number of condos sold increased just over 37% from September through November and prices of sold condos rose 15.5% over the same three month period.
Affordability is increased with low mortgage interest rates. As the national and local employment rates increase and families begin to thrive again, we should see some really strong increases in homes sold. We all know unemployed people who are no longer counted as unemployed because their benefits expired and we all know many under-employed people. Once these people can start affording mortgages and mortgage rates remain below 6% we should see strong sales. Currently mortgage rates are well below 4%. Local builders are busily anticipating this surge. Just
REAL ESTATE TRENDS CONTINUED drive around and notice all the new homes popping up are now; can you figure out where our housing market is here and there. Here’s a bit of trivia for you. In Cape Coral going? the cost for impact fees and permitting for a new home is about $16,000. By building so many new homes here in Always remember, successful real estate IS a team sport. the Cape, experienced builders are betting on a successful Happy Property Buying and Selling! economy. Berge Aslanian (CDPE) is a Realtor in Cape Coral with The signs are there, prices are going up steadily, interest Island Harbor Realty. For questions about residential real rates are still low and construction technology has made estate, please call (239) 989-3463 or email realtorberge@ homes more efficient. What are you waiting for? Don’t att.net or visit www.RECapeCoral.com. be that person who five years from now says, “I shoulda bought back in ’16 or ’17 when it was really affordable”. Now that you know where we have been and where we
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The Best of Ireland March 21, 2017
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For more information or to sign up please contact 0HODQLH /HPSNH at (239) 549-6900 ext.1 . SPACE IS LIMITED. SIGN UP EARLY TO SECURE YOUR SEAT! Ireland is a country that has never lost a shared sense of community. Even in towns and cities, the pace of life is gentler here; people stop to chat in the streets, they are happy to give directions to tourists, they are glad you have come and they are sorry to see you go. Ireland has much to offer everyone. From storybook castles to magnificent gardens, wide open spaces to the bustle of international cities, breathtaking natural scenery to man made megalithic structures, Ireland opens her arms and welcomes you to explore her ancient sites, traverse her green fields and discover her treasures. The scenery is gorgeous, the weather is mild (though changeable), there is a rich cultural heritage to discover, and a wealth of music and stories to share. But the real joy of Ireland lies in the friendliness of the people, the warmth of their welcome, and the ease with which they make you feel at home.
RESERVATION FORM Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Ireland, March 21, 2017
Gender Return to:
Name ___________________________________
Date of birth________
M
F
Date of birth________
M
F
Passenger 1 (Name as it appears on your passport)
Name ___________________________________ Passenger 2 (Name as it appears on your passport)
Address______________________________ State______
Zip__________
Mobile___________________
The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce 2051 Cape Coral PKWY E. Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 549-6900 ext. 1
City________________________
Home phone____________________ Email______________________________________________
Payment information: Please make checks payable to C I Destinations. Enclosed please find a deposit in the amount of __________($450 per person) to secure reservations for ___# of people. Reservations are on a first come first serve basis. Sign up early to secure your space Please reserve me a single room at a $450 supplement (limited availability). I have read and accept the terms and conditions as outlined below. Your deposit to C I Destinations constitutes a contract between the parties and acceptance of the foregoing terms and conditions.
Signature______________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Please _ _ _ cut _ _along _ _dotted _ _ _line_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Passport Information: A valid passport is required for this tour and is the responsibility of each passenger. Passports should be valid for up to six (6) months beyond the travel dates. All names must be submitted to C I Destinations exactly as they appear on the passenger passport. Rate: $3099 per person double occupancy. Single Supplement $450. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Included in the tour price: Roundtrip and airfare from Fort Meyers. CID is not responsible for airport transportation in the case of strikes, delays or natural disasters. Fuel surcharges and airport departure taxes are included but can increase at the time of billing and any difference will be added to your statement *Early Booking Discount: $VN 0HODQLH /HPSNH 0HODQLH#&DSH&RUDO&KDPEHU FRP RU [ Refunds: Cancel up to 90 days prior to departure $200 per person non-refundable fee: Cancel 89 - 50 days prior to departure 50% of the total trip price is refunded: Cancel 49 days or less prior to departure 100% charge of the total trip price. We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself. Please contact our office for more details. Written cancellation is required and is effective when received by C I Destinations during normal business hours. C I Destinations (CID) a California LLC acts only as an agent for tour participants in arranging room accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, admissions and restaurants. CID reserves the right in its sole discretion to make changes to the itinerary and is not responsible to any person for expenses, loss of time, money or other happening resulting from a change of tour scheduling made for tour members. CID does not have any vested interest in any services, facilities and vehicles in relation to this trip and can not guarantee or be held accountable for any actions or omissions of any agents, employees, etc. CID will make no refund in the event of delay, strike, overbooking, cancelations, bankruptcy, natural disaster, or for any part of the tour not utilized by the customer. These conditions are imposed by all suppliers and any other firms utilized in the tour. Currency, taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges are subject to change. CID reserves the right to decline/accept or retain any person as a member of a tour/cruise at its discretion. CID and/or its tour managers retain the right to require any participant to withdraw from a tour/cruise at any time if determined to be in the best interest of health, safety and general welfare of the tour/cruise group or of the individual participant. I/ We agree any disputes concerning this contract or any material concerning this trip must be resolved exclusively pursuant to binding arbitration governed by CA law & subject to the jurisdiction of Fresno County. The cost of your trip has been calculated on currency exchange rate based on date of pricing and is subject to change if the USD weakens. CST 2111772-40.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS GOVERNMENT AFFECTS YOU Annette Carrasquillo 2016 Chairperson Government Affairs Committee
Changes…. The citizens, business community, our City, County and Nation as a whole have seen the change that has happened over the last few years. Once again, change has occurred on the political realm of our community and Nation. As I look at what has occurred, what we all have seen and felt, I can only hope that as a Nation we can ALL come together… embrace the change, forget and forgive the past and move forward!
working to form the business plan for 2017. With the hard work of the committee volunteers and participation of our members and business leaders, we believe that we can be a strong voice for the business community and the citizens of our community. We are committed to being the Voice for the business community in all aspects of government relations, representing business and advancing public policy. The Government Affairs Committee understands the need for the business community and citizens to have their opinions heard and to get representation. We hope that you will take the opportunity to let us know your opinion so that we can represent your voice to our local and state elected officials.
Over the last year, once again, I have had the privilege to lead the Government Affairs Committee as their Chairperson. The members of this committee are dedicated to our City and want only to see the City move forward. We all have a vision of Cape Coral… of a strong I have heard so many talk about those who only want to act on their community where our family and children can work, play and call home. party line and on their principles, and not necessarily on what is best It has been my honor to work with this group of devoted and committed for the country as a whole. We as a City, State and Nation are in need of volunteers! To the GAC… I want to say “Thank You”! those LEADERS that can stand by their principles, compromise on the As we come to the end of 2016, I wish you all a Joyous Holiday Season issues and make decisions that will benefit us all…. That CHANGE will and all the Best in the New Year! be the ultimate and the most beneficial to us all!! As we come to the end of 2016, the Government Affairs Committee is
Remember: Government Affect You!
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Chamber’s E-mail Leads & Stuff It Program Expose Your Business To New Cape Coral Residents And Visitors and Contact Them Directly!!! The Chamber E-mail Leads and Stuff It Program will put your company information in the hands of new residents and visitors first! 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 Melanie Lempke at 549-6900 x102 (or) melanie@capecoralchamber.com $150.00 for 6 months (or) $300.00 for the year
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2051 Cape Coral Parkway E Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 549-6900 www.capecoralchamber.com