CHAMBER NEWS & VIEWS
Shop locally!
Are you ready for the holidays? If you’re like most of us, the answer is “no.” But I’d like to suggest something that could help.
This Saturday is Small Business Saturday. Small businesses are the backbone of local economies. One study found that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 of it stays in our local economy – compared to $43 for large businesses. Want to find out who those businesses are that you need to support? Stop by the chamber and pick up a membership directory to check out our local small business members. Can’t make it into the chamber? Log onto our website, and you’ll get our member directory right at your fingertips.
Following our small business shopping, we head right on over to our December to Remember at the chamber.
We start out with The Exchange Extra on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Come meet our networking superstars at the chamber from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. We always have a special guest speaker the first Wednesday of the month. This month that speaker will be … a surprise. Members and non-members alike can participate. Just bring a brown bag lunch and plenty of business cards, and you will be….surprised. Along with the rest of us!
Our last Golf Cart Poker Run of the year is Friday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. To all our fun-loving participants, give the chamber a call with your RSVP – it helps us out a bunch. If you’re a member and would like to become one of the stops along the way, give us a call as well at 813-634-5111.
Our monthly morning coffee is Tuesday, Dec. 10, right before work from 8 to 9 a.m. Held at the chamber, it’s sponsored this month by our Ambassadors. If you’ve ever wondered what the ambassadors do to help the chamber … and their own businesses, too … then you need to come in to meet them. They’ll give you the scoop on the ‘Ambassador Life.’
The third Thursday of the month is our Monthly Luncheon. Members and non-members can come out and meet our sponsor, Ocean-Aire Conditioning. This is this business’s very first chamber lunch so let’s give our support. Also, I’ve seen some of the raffle gifts … and I will be buying raffle tickets myself. Sorry, Dee — I want that wreath. RSVP as soon as you can. I’ve got to order that delicious lunch.
The fourth Thursday of the month is usually our night for Business After Hours. However, in December, that Thursday is the day after Christmas. We’re guessing you’re busy that day with family, friends, shopping — or all of the above. So please un-save the date. We’ll see you next month.
You’re reading this either the day before Thanksgiving or on turkey day itself. Either way, Happy Thanksgiving from the staff, board and volunteers at the chamber. Keep in mind the chamber will be closed Nov. 28 and 29 so our staff and volunteers can spend Thanksgiving with their families. And soon we’ll be talking about our January to Remember. Okay. I’ll work on a better title.
Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. Call her at 813-634-5111, or email lynne@sccchamber.com.