www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce 2011-2012 Board of Directors Danny Adams Holiday Inn 12341 Middle Gulf Dr. Sanibel, FL 33957 danny.adams@att.net
Richard Johnson – Past-Chair Bailey’s General Store 2477 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 baileysgeneral@baileys-sanibel.com
Mark Anderson Benchmark General Contractors 16836 McGregor Blvd Fort Myers, FL 33908 manderson@benchmark-gc.com
Michael Miller – Chair-Elect Sanibel, FL 33957
Doug Babcock Tween Waters Inn P.O. Box 249 Captiva, FL 33924 dougbabcock22@gmail.com Mark Blust Timbers Restaurant 703 Tarpon Bay Road Sanibel, FL 33957 mblust@prawnbroker.com
Chris Pendleton Edison & Ford Winter Estates P.O. Box 2368 Fort Myers, FL 33902 cpendleton@efwefla.org
Blanaid Colley Hillgate Communications 2451 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 Blanaid@hillgate.biz
Fran Peters Island Vacations of Sanibel & Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way Suite 108 Sanibel, FL 33957 fran@sanibelislandvacations.com
Dru Anne Doyle Ocean’s Reach Condominiums 2230 Camino del Mar Drive Sanibel, FL 33957 dru@oceansreach.com
Daniel Schuyler Lily & Co. 520 Tarpon Bay Road Sanibel, FL 33957 dschuyler@lilyjewelers.com
Lee Ellen Harder - Secretary BIG ARTS 900 Dunlop Sanibel, FL 33957 lharder@bigarts.org
Jeff Shuff - Treasurer Tween Waters Inn P.O. Box 249 Captiva, FL 33924 jshuff@tween-waters.com
Barb Harrington – Chair RLR Investments, LLC 2340 Periwinkle Way, Suite K Sanibel, FL 33957 barb.harrington@RLRLLC.com
Ric Base President 1159 Causeway Road Sanibel, Florida 33957 ric@sanibel-captiva.org
Chris Heidrick Heidrick & Company P.O. Box 59 Sanibel, FL 33957 chris@sanibelinsurance.com The Islands of
2
Robert Monk Murty & Monk, P.A. 1633 Periwinkle Way Suite A Sanibel, FL 33957 rmonk@murtymonk.com
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Official Publication of The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1159 Causeway Road Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 Phone: 239-472-1080 Fax: 239-395-0783
www.Sanibel-Captiva.Org PRESIDENT Ric Base
EDITOR & DESIGN Bridgit Stone-Budd
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Lorraine Milano
CONTRIBUTORS Ric Base Barb Harrington Bridgit Stone-Budd
CHAMBER STAFF Ric Base, President Steve Ehrhart, Director of Operations Bridgit Stone-Budd, Director of Marketing Tyrone Humbles, Promotions Manager Chamber Photography, Hillgate Communications Visitor Center Staff Candice Thompson, Visitor Center Supervisor Gloria Agel, Bob Bechhold, Mary Kelly, Anne Liese, Don Oglander, Barry Solomon, Lisa Williams & Barbara Lans The Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber NewsMagazine is published quarterly by The Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Circulation: 6000 Online: www.Sanibel-Captiva.Org
For advertising or submissions, please contact Bridgit @ 239-472-8255 or Services@Sanibel-Captiva.Org For subscriptions or address changes, please contact Steve @ 239-472-8759 or Support@Sanibel-Captiva.Org
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
What’s On Ric’s Mind
Has your staff or someone you know provided unbelievable customer service or gone out of their way to help? We know you work with colleagues or have staff members who have gone “above and beyond” what was expected for your customers and deserve to be recognized. No matter their profession – taxi drivers,
housekeeping staff, cashiers, police officers, airline agents, nurses, reservationists, front desk clerks, and countless others – if their service made you feel good about being in our area, the Visitor and Convention Bureau wants to hear about it!
Nominate that employee for the EAwards, which honors excellence through extraordinary service and dedication. To get a nomination form, go to: http://www.leevcb.com/content/e-awards
Have you seen our new billboard just off island? Look for it on the right hand side - on the corner of Summerlin & McGregor’s stoplight!
www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
3
Best of Getting to Know Your New Chamber Members NewsMagazine Interview: 1. What will you be doing in 10 years? 2. What do you do now to make money? 3. Who at the Sanibel School has had the biggest influence on you and why? 4. What’s your favorite memory from the Sanibel School and what will you miss the most? 5. What’s your favorite breakfast cereal?
Jocelyn Harder, Sanibel School Grad 1. Living in Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Office work at Ocean’s Reach Condominiums. 3. Mrs. Jones. She always speaks her mind and doesn’t care what other people think of her. 4. Class trip to Washington, D.C. I will miss Spanish class the most. 5. Captain Crunch.
Julia Leal, Sanibel School Grad 1. I’ll be a Fashion Designer, living in L.A. 2. My parents give it to me. 3. Mrs. Jackson. She made me love math. 4. Getting my tooth knocked out on the bus. I will miss my friends. 5. Honey Bunches of Oats.
Connor Stone, Sanibel School Grad 1. Playing professional baseball. 2. I work at Island Pizza. 3. Mrs. Smith. She has taught me a lot of life lessons. 4. My favorite memories are the class trip to Washington, D.C. and Sea Camp. I’ll miss lunchtime with my friends. 5. Lucky Charms. NewsMagazine Interview: 1. What’s your favorite celebrity sighting/encounter? 2. How did you meet your significant other? 3. What’s your favorite smell? 4. What’s your favorite childhood book? 5. Who is your favorite mentor? 6. Obama or McCain? 7. What’s your best skill? 8. How would your grade school teacher describe you, if asked? 9. What’s the last Chamber function you attended? 10. What’s your significant other’s best skill?
NewsMagazine Interview: 1. If we could elect the King of Sanibel, who would you vote for? 2. If you could remove one thing from the island, what would it be? 3. What is your favorite celebrity sighting here on the Island? 4. Briefs or boxers? 5. Other than Sanibel, what is your other favorite place to live? 6. What is your favorite candy bar? 7. What is the last book you’ve read? 8. What is your favorite food? 9. What is the most annoying tourist question/habit? 10. What is the coolest wildlife sighting on the Island?
Marlow Miller, Community Partner
Dave Horton Cartoons & Graphic Design Sanibel Graphics
1. Porter Goss 2. Piliated Woodpecker Holes From My House. 3. Heather Locklear on The Beach 4. Boxers 5. Sarasota 6. Snickers 7. Fortunes Formula by William Poundstone 8. Rib Eye Steak 9. Can You Tell Me A Cheap Place To Stay? 10. My Daughter Bridgit.
1. I met Sean Connery in a restaurant bathroom in L.A. I introduced myself and he told me to “F*** off”. He said it in a really cool accent though. 2. We both worked at a tennis club. I was the racquet stringer and she was the front desk girl. She turned me down for a date 3 times before she finally realized that I wasn’t going to give up.
1. A local from the 1930’s 2. The Bridge 3. Theodore Roosevelt 4. No Comment
The Islands of
4
3. The beach, fresh cut grass, bonfires. Which is unfortunate because I’m terribly allergic to everything outdoors. 4. Green Eggs and Ham. It’s a great story so far. I’m about halfway through it. 5. Charles Schulz. Which is another celebrity encounter I had, but he was a really nice guy and didn’t tell me to “F*** off” by Bridgit Stone-Budd 6. Obamacain. I’m good at avoiding political questions. 7. I’m 44 years old, but I read at a 46 year old level. I can juggle and ride a unicycle at the same time. I have cat-like reflexes and the strength of 10 men. Only one of these things is true. Answer C. 8. He was the kid in the back of the classroom who was always drawing and not paying attention. 9. The Chamber After Hours at Green Earth Landscape. Nice folks. Nobody told me to F*** Off. OK, Im done with that joke. 10. Diane is a dietitian so I eat healthy when I’m home. She has also raised 3 great kids and believe it or not after 20 years of marriage she still laughs at my jokes. Creative, ambitious, rambunctious.
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Mr. Sam Bailey, Local Historian Extraordinaire
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Best of Getting to Know Your New Chamber Members 5. Tampa Bay 6. Don’t Eat Candy…Just Dessert 3 Times A Day. 7. Captiva by Randy Wayne White 8. Veggies and Fruit 9. Tourists aren’t annoying to me. 10. Panther, Coons, Gators, Rabbits, Pelicans, Beach Birds, Loggerhead Turtles. NewsMagazine Interview: 1. Who had the greatest influence on you during your childhood? 2. Describe a typical day in your childhood. 3. Who was your childhood hero? 4. Were you popular in high school? 5. What was your favorite book as a child? 6. How did you meet your current significant other? 7. What one word would you use to describe yourself? 8. What one word would your friends use to describe you? 9. What’s one thing few people know about you? 10. What’s one thing that we don’t have here on the Island that you would like to see?
Dan Budd, Wildseed Construction - Sanibel Island 1. Mr. Rogers 2. Shoveling snow, chipping ice, shivering, wondering why Mom & Dad wouldn’t move us to Florida. 3. Evil Knievel 4. Was getting your head dunked in a toilet a sign of popularity? 5. Encyclopedia Brown 6. @ beach access #6. Connor and Kate wanted to pet Stella. 7. Doesn’t follow instructions 8. Tenacious 9. I was born a woman 10. Waitress service on the beach @ the Island resorts NewsMagazine Interview: 1. Why are you a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce? 2. What’s your favorite frozen dinner? 3. What’s the name of your first pet? What was it? 4. An inny or an outey? 5. Favorite activity here on the Island? 6. What’s your middle name? 7. Last movie you saw in a theatre? How was it? 8. Favorite childhood TV show? 9. What did you want to be when you grew up? 10. When did you first start coming to Sanibel-Captiva?
Bryan Hayes, Owner Sanibel Air Conditioning & Sancuary Island Electric
in our marketing efforts with our other company, Sanibel Air Conditioning, Inc. 2. What? Who makes this stuff up? Okay, here goes…thawed steak. 3. Cindy, a little white terrior. But she ran away and I cried. I was only 5 at the time. Okay…so lay off. 4. Pass. 5. Fishing with my family. 6. I honestly do not have one. I’ve always felt a little cheated. 7. Spiderman III. It was long… 8. Bugs Bunny and Road Runner. 9. A contractor. 10. Like the song says, “It was 1970 something.”
NewsMagazine Interview: 1. What’s your most memorable celebrity sighting/encounter? 2. Which song do you sing the loudest in your car or the shower? 3. Which actor or actress would best portray you in a movie about your life story? What would the movie be called? 4. What’s your favorite cheese? 5. What item in your dresser/closet has been there the longest and where did you last wear it? 6. What’s on your grocery list this week? 7. If you were handed a million dollars today, what’s the first thing you would do? 8. Team Edward or team Jacob?
Jeremy Kane, Hillgate Communications 1. Having tea and crumpets with the Queen. 2. I don’t sing. I hum. Beethoven’s 9th. 3. Patrick Stewart 3b. “Play it again, Sam.” 4. Ripe Stilton 5. My Morning Suit. 1994. 6. Too much. 7. Buy a Hopper. 8. Eh what?
Randy Basik, Royal Shell Companies 1. I had a long sit down talk with Dick Van Dyke and he talked openly about the making of Mary Poppins’. 2. Green Day Good Riddance 3. John Travolta and the movie of my life would be called “I may be wrong but I doubt it.” 4. Just plain old yellow rat cheese. 5. My funeral suit and try not to wear it at all. 6. Chips Ahoy cookies and an insulin chaser. 7. Toss it off the bridge and avoid the hassle of purchasing the boat. 8. Team Edward.
1. Because Bridgit Stone works there, of course. Just kidding. (No he’s not.) The Chamber has always been a supportive force www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
5
Welcome New Members
MacIntosh Books & Paper 2407 Periwinkle Way Sanibel Island, Florida (239) 472-1447 www.macintoshbooks.com
Island Scene
Brian Johnson (239) 910-3099 www.islandscenesanibel.com
Kristine Heilman, Realtor
Sunset Builders
1019 Periwinkle Way 1817 Serenity Lane Sanibel Island, Florida Sanibel Island, Florida (239) 464-1225 (239) 645-1903 www.sanibelcaptivaproperties.com www.sunsetbuildersandmaintenance.com
Trippons.com
www.trippons.com (970) 376-1462
Sanibel Ballet
Myers, Brettholtz & Co.
975 Rabbit Road Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands at the Sanibel Health Club (239) 939-5775 Sanibel Island, Florida www.mbcopa.com (239) 472-0867
We’re Your SMART Chamber! Smart Phone Users Take a picture of our Microsoft Tag And stay in touch with us at our web site (www.Sanibel-Captiva.org)
Instructions: Get the free smart phone App: “Microsoft Tag Reader” Visit: http://GetTag.mobi Scan the Icon and go directly to our web site! The Islands of
6
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Smart Phone Users Take a picture of our Microsoft Tag And stay in touch with us at our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SanibelCaptivaChamber)
Instructions: Get the free smart phone App: “Microsoft Tag Reader” Visit: http://GetTag.mobi Scan the Icon and go directly to our facebook page!
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2010-2011 Francis P. Bailey’s Visitor Center & Website Statistics Did you know: * Our chamber website gets over a million unique site visits a year! * We get over 180,000 in our Visitor Center a year...that’s up to 1500 a day in season! * Our staff in the Visitor Center answers up to 75 calls a day. * Over 120,000 Visitor Guides are distributed and mailed out annually. * We are open for you 9a to 5p...365 days a year! 2005-2011 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STATISTICS
THOUSANDS of Individuals Visiting the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center THOUSANDS of Incoming Telephone Calls to the Chamber 3 THOUSANDS of visits to our web site (based on Google Analytics) 4 Transition to Google Analytics in 2007 1 2
www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
7
C H A M B E R New Businesses and Ribbon Cuttings!
Sanibel Ballet Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening with proprietor and professional ballerina, Karen Whitaker
Spatini Ribbon Cutting and Grand Re-Opening with proprietor, Amy Sbarra
P A P A R A Z Z I The Islands of
8
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
C H A M B E R Another successful Chamber After Hours at The Bailey’s-Matthews Shell Museum catered by Bailey’s General Store
P A P A R A Z Z I www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
9
We’re branching out for you! Did you know that we’ve increased our islands’ exposure by representing in the SWFL Visitor Center? Exit 161.
The Islands of
10 CS HAANMI BBEER LO F CCOAMPMTEIRVA CE
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Barb’s Blog Blink….time flies when you’re having fun and working hard! After several months of city council meetings and discussions with the appropriate city authorities, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee under the leadership of Robert Monk, has achieved a successful outcome in the redevelopment and/ or renovation ordinance governing business properties. If the physical portion of your Sanibel business needs some renovation, or you’d love to introduce a new amenity on your property; I suggest a visit to the city’s planning department. Your dream may now be possible. If you can move forward with your plan, thank a chamber member! The Chamber wishes to thank Jeremy Kane for his tireless reworking of the language in the ordinance which creates this new opportunity for your business. The board’s next project is to sort through the results of our SWAT analysis. We have a retreat scheduled for the near future to decide where our focus will settle in the upcoming months. By my next blog I should be able to report back on where we’re going and what we hope to accomplish. Our new board of directors has great energy and a very positive attitude. We hope to accomplish other positive changes that will benefit your business in the upcoming year. In the meantime, I wish you a safe and successful summer season!
Barb Harrington - Chairperson Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Schedule of Events 2011-2012
www.Sanibel-Captiva.org
The Islands of
SANIBEL
C A P T I VA 11
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FORT MYERS, FL PERMIT #569
1159 Causeway Road Sanibel Island, FL 33957
SANIBEL
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
C A P T I VA
PAID
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
The Islands of The Islands of
12 CS HAANMI BBEER LO F CCOAMPMTEIRVA CE
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community