Chamber ConnectionNovember 2009www.largochamber.org

ChamberTrustee Circle ChamberTrustee Circle

Largo Medical CenterProgress Energy

Bright House Networks

McGill PlumbingThe Palms of Largo

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Diagnostic ClinicUSAmeriBank

KnologyHealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

Midori Salon & Spa Art Attack

Heron House Indian RocksHampton Inn & Suites

Spencer International Advisors, Inc.Moss Feaster Funeral Homes

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Chairman Centratel Services

2009 Chamber

Cup Champs!

Congratulations to

the winning team:AXA Advisors Dean Rosko & Associates

(Continued on Pages 6 & 7)

To prevent anti-business, anti-growth extremists from dictating the future of Florida, the Chamber has joined other leading business organiza-tions in a fight against Amendment 4, the “Vote on Everything” initiative that has made it to the 2010 ballot. Amendment 4, if approved next November, would require that all local comprehensive land use plan changes meet voter approval eliminating a well-established, open, accessible and democratic planning process. With the “Vote on Everything” amendment, citizens - not the representatives they elected - are forced to regularly decide thousands of intricate land-use planning issues. (Continued on Page 2 - Special President’s Report)

Coffee An‛Networking - Nov. 5 at 8:00 am at Beef O‛Brady‛s West BayChamber Business Luncheon - Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Regal Palms, 2nd Floor - BRING CANNED GOODS!

Business After Hours - Thursday, Nov. 19 at Sam Seltzer‛s Steakhouse

No on

Amendment 4

November 2009Page 2Chamber Connection

Chamber Connection

Teri Flynn, Finance Manager Janet Kerry, Office ReceptionistCindy Paquin, Communications & Events Dir.Sheryl Rodgers, Membership Director

President’s Report

Tom Morrissette

Chairman’s Report

The Official Newsletter of theLargo/Mid-Pinellas Chamberof Commerce

Phone: 727-584-2321www.largochamber.org

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Laurie Bunce, ChairmanCentratel Services

Gene Evans, Chairman-ElectColonial Bank

Derri DavissonImmediate Past Chairman Realtor

Ricky Satcher, TreasurerLargo Medical Center

Jim England, Vice ChairmanEngland Brothers Construction

George Glover, Vice ChairmanBay Star Hotel Group

David Puckett, Vice ChairmanAllstate Insurance

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDenine Barham, Old Harbor Bank Peri Craven, Moss FeasterElaine Ebaugh, Health SouthDebra Jones, Regions BankRobin Katchuk, The Palms of LargoSteve Markiewicz Luis Ordaz, Progress EnergyDr. James Rivenbark, Diagnostic ClinicDoug Rohloff, Art Attack

STAFFTom Morrissette, President

Greetings! Are you aware of all of the networking oppor-tunities that are available to you through your Chamber of Commerce? Each month there is an early morning, lunch-time and evening networking event available to you. Just about everyone can accommodate at least one of those events in their schedule. The early morning event is our Coffee An’Networking event held on the first Thursday of each month at Beef O’Brady’s on West Bay Drive. The lunch-

time event is our monthly luncheon (locations vary) typically held on the second Tues-day of each month. Our Business After Hours is your chance to network after work and they are held at various member locations each month. You can always find these event times and locations listed on both the front and back of your monthly newsletter. In these economic times networking is more important than ever, and the upcoming holiday season will provide many chances for you to lay the groundwork for next year’s business opportunities. I hope to see you at an event soon. And remember ... always do business with a Chamber member!

• The DISORDER will further disenfranchise Florida’s already-fatigued electorate. Lines at voting booths will grow as Floridians attempt the virtual impossibility of voting on hundreds of separate and often confusing ballot questions. • The COST will be astronomical. Every city and county in Florida will be burdened with the time and cost of holding additional elections and local taxpayers will have to pay the bills. • The RESULT will be a system that is far worse, not better. That’s why respected environmental leaders refuse to support the amendment. If you don’t believe that Amendment 4 will have a major impact on our lives, look at how a very similar anti-growth measure is strangling the community of St. Pete Beach. Since approved by voters in 2006, the city is dealing with more than $500,000 in legal fees alone. To learn more about the serious impact of Amendment 4, visit our website at www.largochamber.org and click on the Floridians for Smarter Growth link. During the year ahead, we will be looking to you - our valued members - to help us spread the word “No on 4!” Best wishes for a prosperous month and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

(Continued from front page) Much is at Stake for All Businesses & Families in Florida! • The DISRUPTION to local communities and the daily lives of Floridians will be extraordinary. It will not be unusual for the voters to have to decide on 200 to 300 comprehensive plan changes every year.

Laurie Bunce

November 2009

Page 3Chamber Connection Welcome New Members Welcome New Members!

Cheddar’s Casual Cafe2655 Roosevelt Blvd.Clearwater, FL 33760Andy Dennis 536-7770

Focus Graphix1025 West Bay DriveLargo, FL 33770Valerie Wahl 216-6757

Government Contracting & Marketing Services3634 Doral St.Palm Harbor, FL 34085Peter Grotsky 204-8798

Indigo Joe’s PlazaJen Carter (813) 960-8154

John Dunphy/Colliers Arnold(Real Estate)311 Park Place Blvd. Suite 600Clearwater, FL 33759John Dunphy 442-7184

Just Add Power Cardware Co.P.O. Box 1064Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785Edwin Qualls 517-4053

KTC Integrated Systems3174 8th Ave. SWLargo, FL 33770Kyle Cole 492-5821

Mandalay Solutions Inc. 675 182nd Ave. ERedington Shores, FL 33708Fritz Kloepfel 374-7060

Mass Mutual/Eric Coyner4830 W. Kennedy Blvd.Tampa, FL 33609Eric Coyner 424-3205

Mavericks High1197 East Bay DriveLargo, FL 33770Rick Wolfe 474-8836

My Bingo1756 N. Missouri Ave.Largo, FL 33770Mark Fish 724-4272

Nature’s Food Patch1225 Cleveland St.Clearwater, FL 33755Cheryl Rosselle 443-6703

Sunshine Motocross9675 Bardmoor Blvd.Seminole, FL 33777Casey Thomas 481-8162

The People’s Medicine1890 West Bay DriveLargo, FL 33770James Lugo 455-7362

The Solutionz Group630 Brooker Creek Blvd. #310Oldsmar, FL 34677Chicki Fitzgerald (813) 925-0789

RenewalsThe Palms of Largo Spencer Intn’l Advisors APG ElectricAXA Advisors Bayshore Health ServicesBelleair TowersBusiness & Family InsurorsCiminelli Real Estate Colonial BankColumns at Allen’s CreekCross Components

Orbit Professional Packing13732 W. Rena DriveLargo, FL 33771Bill Williams 507-7447

Rumba Island Bar & GrillCorner of Gulf to Bay and KeeneJennifer Simon 446-7027

Sam Seltzer’s Steakhouse18409 US 19 N.Clearwater, FL 33764Harry Davis 519-7267

Silver Streak One LLC, 10623 117th Drive North, celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting attended by Vyda Van Emburgh of CPS Promotional Products, Dan Beaver of Padgett Business Services, David Puckett of Allstate Insur-ance, Laurie Bunce of Centratel Services, Sandra Loitiere, Bittney Mikus and Shantel Linden of Silver Streak One, Jenee Mendillo of Bayshore Health Services and Angela Duncan of Old Harbor Bank. “Elvis” promotes Silver Streak One.

Mavericks High School, 1197 East Bay Drive, celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting.

Curtis PoolsEnhanced PerformanceFrancis Wilson Playhouse Freedom Square HealthSouth Rehabilitation Lake Seminole SquareMassage EnvyNew Life SolutionsPinellas Co. Teachers Assoc.Profit GatePrudential CRESSt. Paul’s Methodist ChurchSt. Petersburg CollegeShettle Eye CenterSmith & NephewSteve’s Windows & DoorsTampa Bay Rays BaseballToga PoolsVacation VillageVerizon PlusVillage InnWest Shore Urology Assoc.Peter Wittwer, NAYellow Book

Renewals