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HONORING OUR HISTORY. CREATING OUR FUTURE.

MISSION STATEMENTThe DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce and The DeLand/Orange City Alliance will be an advocate for its members by helping the business community identify and respond to challenges, providing opportunities for

networking, education and deliberation, and developing community leaders.

Leadership West Volusia is an educational program co-sponsored by the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce & Orange City Alliance and the Stetson University Department of Continuing Education. It is directed

toward area adults of diverse back-grounds and experiences who have demonstrated leadership potential and service.The goal of Leadership West Volusia is to develop a group of people who will provide ongoing leadership in the community. The program will provide opportunities for potential leaders to meet with today’s leaders to gain a better understanding of issues and challenges facing our community. It will also provide educational opportunities to strengthen the leadership and communi-

cation skills of participants.Leadership West Volusia is not an action or advo-cate group; rather, it is a program designed to help the community meet the challenges of the future by assuring well-trained and knowledgeable leaders.

The benefits for the participants in this program include developing a network of community contacts and building working relationships with community leaders, learning what factors are of significance in key community issues and how, in general, the community works. For more information and to sign-up for the next session contact nick@delandchamber.org or ccloudma@stetson.eduTo the right are just some of the distinguished Leadership alumni.

Chris CloudmanDeLand City

Commission, Seat 4

Peter ThomasChief of Police

City of Orange City

Andy SistrunkCo-founder & Brewer,

Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co., DeLand

Bob TurkEconomic Development Director, City of Sanford

Joni Hunt Director of Government Affairs, Florida Hospital

Rebecca WilkHR Specialist

City of Deltona

Michelle “Missy” ChavesVice President & Business

Relationship ManagerSurety Bank, DeLand

Susie DolanMunicipal Marketing Director

Waste Pro USA, SanfordContinuing Education

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

1ST QTR. 2015THE CHAMBER NEWSLETTER

New ‘Leadership West Volusia’ Class of 2015 is Enrolling NowOver 30 Years of Preparing Tomorrows Leaders Today

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Sam’s Club1101 Rhinehart Rd.Sanford, FL 32771407-302-8355www.samsclub4785.com Contact: Vaughn DalyCategories: Warehouse Club Store, Super Center RetailRecruited by: Robin French

Creative Arts Learning510 S. Lakeview Dr.Lake Helen, FL 32744386-228-0779creativeartsearlylearningacademy.comContact: Ed FuturesCategories: Child Care, PreschoolRecruited by: Robin French

Century 21 Choice Properties2235 S. Woodland Blvd.DeLand, FL 32720386-736-9141century21choiceproperties.comContact: Teresa SaracoCatagories: Real Estate, CommercialRecruited by: Robin French

Swann & Associates1205 S. WoodlandDeLand, FL 32720386-738-3688swannandassociates.com Contact: Todd SwannCategories: Real Estate, Commercial

Accardi Clinical Pharmacy2583 S. Volusia Ave.Orange City, FL 32763386-774-5800www.accardipharmacy.com Contact: Dr. J R AccardiCategories: Pharmacy/Clinical, Compounding Pharmacy, MedicationsRecruited by: Robin French

Echoes in Black3161 N. Old Dixie Hwy.Bunnell, FL 32110386-437-1059www.echoesinblack.com Contact: Dick ArlenCategories: Entertainment, PartiesRecruited by: Robin French

KB Home107 Alexandria CircleDeLand, FL 32724386-873-4391www.kbhome.com Contact: Ron FahyCategories: Real Estate, New HomesRecruited by: Robin French

The Shoppes at Rivertown114 S. Woodland Blvd.DeLand, FL 32720386-738-5533theshoppesatrivertown.com Contact: Tracy McKennaCategories: Antique Shops, Tropical Tea RoomRecruited by: Robin French

Liquid Smoke Vap Lounge1570 N. Woodland Blvd.DeLand, FL 32720386-873-4830www.myliquidsmoke.comContact: Josh McGeeCategories: E-Cig & Vap, Shopping, Specialty RetailRecruited by: Robin French

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERSPresidentMichelle “Missy” Chaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Surety Bank

President ElectDr. Linda Bradley Thacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UCF-Daytona

TreasurerChuck Rudis . . . . . . . . . . .Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group

Vice PresidentsSusie Dolan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waste Pro of Central FloridaHarper Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H&R UnlimitedJosh Poertner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Express PrintingAmanda Vallone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roseborough Travel

Immediate Past PresidentEd Noseworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florida Hospital Fish Memorial

DIRECTORSJan Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Main Street Community BankRobert Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FloMetRobert Slezak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RLC EnterprisesShawn Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frontier Communications Catherine Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Knox VillageJoe Hearn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Encore Catering Kim Booker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Booker Attorney CPA Deb Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Randy Mueller AllstateKatie Mentor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WSBB RadioTaver Cornett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeLand, FLWayne Gordin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gordin & Gordin Greg Carroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stetson University Trudie Cole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TD Bank

EX-OFFICIOWayne Carter . . . . . . . . Exec. Director, MainStreet DeLand Assn.Karen Puglisi . . . . . . . . . . . . President, MainStreet DeLand Assn.

STAFFNick Conte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive DirectorRobin French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Membership & Marketing DirectorSally Updike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Project ManagerFaith Osborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bookkeeper/Office Manager

Are You Getting The Week Ahead

Emails? IF NOT, be sure to email

robin@delandchamber.org with your correct email ad-

dress or any changes to your physical mailing address!

You don’t want to miss any exciting news or important

event updates!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

THE CHAMBER NEWSLETTER (USPS 334-450) is published quarterly by The DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce, 336 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720. Periodical postage paid at DeLand, FL.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CHAMBER NEWSLETTER, 336 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720.

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CONFIDENTIALENROLLMENT APPLICATION

Application Deadline: February 16, 2015

Continuing Education

CONFIDENTIAL APPLICATION Application Receipt Deadline: February 13, 2015

PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY

NAME: First Middle Last

HOME ADDRESS: Street Apartment Number

City State Zip PHONE NUMBERS:

Mobile Business E-MAIL:

NAME AS DESIRED ON NAME BADGE:

NUMBER OF YEARS IN WEST VOLUSIA AREA: DATE OF BIRTH: / /

SEX: Male __ Female __ SPOUSE'S NAME:

SPONSOR (Organization's Name):

SPONSOR (Representative's Name):

SPONSOR'S ADDRESS:

This application must be received by the Department of Boundless Learning, Stetson University, by February 13, 2015. The application may be mailed (if received by the application deadline) or delivered in person to the Boundless Learning Office in Flagler Hall (Room 101) on the southwest corner of N. Woodland Blvd. and W. Minnesota Ave. in DeLand. The mailing address is: Department of Boundless Learning, Stetson University, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8393, DeLand, FL 32723. Questions? Call (386) 822-7500.

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RENEWALS

Thank You!Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yrs.Anne S. Stevenson CPA PA . . . . . . . . . 2Bert Fish Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Betty W. Kelly CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Bob’s Landclearing Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Brickhouse Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Bright House Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Calkins Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41City of DeLand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Coggin DeLand Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . 4ConSol International LLC . . . . . . . . . . 10DeLand Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . 49DeLand Inn (formerly Clarion) . . . . . . . . 4DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club, Inc. . . . 4Dreggors, Rigsby & Teal . . . . . . . . . . . 16Duraline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Family Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Financial Advocates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Florida Orthopaedic Associates . . . . . . 41Florida Technical College, Inc. . . . . . . . 16Hugh Ash Manor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Impower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Ginger McCormick CPA LLC . . . . . . . . . 1Gordin & Gordin Real Estate LLC . . . . . 2Health & Wellness Chiropractic Center, Dr. Jennifer Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Impower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Mainstreet Community Bank of Central Florida, Orange City Location . . . . 6Mainstreet Community Bank of Central Florida, 2 DeLand Locations . . . . 12Medicarequote4u . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2MT Propeller USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Image Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Landis, Graham & French . . . . . . . . . . 41Launch Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . 22Pinnacle Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Republican Club of West Volusia . . . . 15Riveria Marina & Resort . . . . . . . . . . . 12Robert Apgar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Sandhill Golf Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Signal 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Sportsanity (Game Day Suppliers, LLC) . 2

Career Source, UCF to offer “mobile incubator services” in West Volusia

The UCF Incubator Program and CareerSource Flagler Volusia will partner to begin a mobile incubator at the CareerSource center in Orange City to target business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in the region. The program will begin in January and run for six months and will be reevaluated to determine the merits of expanding it further. That could at some point result in the launch of a full-fledged business incubator on the west side.

Ms. Connie Bernal, the program director in Volusia County, said that six months of ongoing services in West Volusia should provide insight into whether the program could be a success.

Last year’s Volusia County-commissioned study, conducted by consultant Jim Greenwood, found a high degree of interest in West Volusia for a business incubator.

Robin King, president and CEO of CareerSource Flagler Volusia, said that her group—the regional workforce development agency for Volusia and Flagler counties—is inter-ested in becoming an “active partner” with the incubator program.

MEMBER NEWS

Know How to Log in to Your Chamber Account?

On the Chamber Home page( DeLandChamber.org )

see the small, red section entitled,MEMBERS - Login Information.

Follow the link for instructions.

New Website Only $990.

Professional, intuitive, and fully “responsive” for phones and

tablets. Built with WordPress® so you can easily edit it.

See “Specials” at A7.net for what all this package includes.

Limited time. Regularly $1999.

A7.net386.453.1464

RENEWALS (Continued)

St. Peters Catholic Church . . . . . . . . . 46Stetson Flower Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Stetson University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Suntrust Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Surety Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49TD Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Team Volusia Eco.Devel. Corp . . . . . . . 2The Page Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . 49Trohpy Factory Plus Framing . . . . . . . 10University of Central Florida Daytona . 18Volusia Monument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Volusia/ Flagler YMCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29West Volusia Association of Realtors . 41West Volusia Wealth Management . . . . 7Williams Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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THE DELAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PAST & PRESENT CHAMBER PRESIDENTS1910-1924 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel D. Jordan1925-1932 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Godfrey Dreka1933-1934 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. H. Smith1935-1937 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank H. Hammer1938-1939 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theodore C. Brook1939, 1942, 1944 . . . . . . . . . . W. W. Wolff1942-1944, 1947-1948 . . . . . J. Phil Wahle1944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V. M. Fountain, Jr.1944-1946 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James P. Trible1947 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morton McDonald, Sr.1948-1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George E. Frierson1951-1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John G. Gravlee1952-1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John T. Cannon, Jr.1953-1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eugene A. Bevis1954-1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen W. Martin1955-1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Rasmussen1956-1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clyde C. Bennett1958-1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. H. Scovell1959-1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph Sefton1960-1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L. A. Skillman1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Frank Roesel1962 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edward J. Furlong1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Michaelos1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred P. Kent1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. John E. Johns1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter G. Davis1967 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert W. Hester1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. C. VanLandingham1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David K. Gunby, III1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert S. Heebner1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard O. Heard1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Collier1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William R. Cambron1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Ross1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Leigh1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Chertok1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendell Jarrard, Jr.1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Stanley

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Ferrara1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James H. Ford1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clyde Stanley Pierce1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Baumgartner1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Lind1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. David W. Nylen1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey L. Timko1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taver Cornett1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Hayman1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter LaRosa1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Holt1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobby Baugh1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy Jackson1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Gagnon1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Tison1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Doug Lee1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherry McCorvey1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doreen Courtheyn1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Blais1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Brooks1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clarence “Bo” Davenport2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marie Bevis2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Cornett2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Wood2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Beer2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Mentzer2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew B. Thomas2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexanader “Sandy” Halperin2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Pistana2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Watts2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Grose2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daryl Tol2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Zimmerman2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Ritchey2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Woods2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Noseworthy2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle “Missy” Chavez

H O N O R I N G O U R H I S T O R Y

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Frontier Communications Corporation announces a 5% increase in 2015 dividends

FOR THE

THE 3RD ANNUALWEST VOLUSIA

STATE OF THE REGION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 201511:30 am - 1:00 pm

Hosted by John Knox Village in Orange City, FL

Seating is limited! Register online at DeLandChamber.org or contact Faith Osborne at the DeLand Area Chamber for details (386-734-4331).

SAVE THE DATE!

Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a 5% increase in the planned quarterly cash dividend rate, commencing with the dividend for the first quarter of 2015.

“Today’s announcement reflects the Board’s confidence in Frontier’s business and financial strength and our solid execution performance in integrating the Connecticut ac-quisition,” said Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Frontier’s approximately 17,000 employees are based en-tirely in the United States including a large operation in DeLand, Florida.

For more information, see www.frontier.com.

MEMBER NEWS

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Why Join The DeLand Area Chamber?MEMBERSHIP is your best annual investment

to grow and strengthen your business!

BENEFITS OF JOININGYou Have CredibilityPeople prefer doing business with Chamber Members because the Chamber of Commerce as an organization is committed to the tradition of fair and honest business practices.

You Have Tools & Resources to Advertise and Showcase your Business or Service for FREE• FREE website listing and link to your website• FREE New Member recognition in

the Chamber newsletter• FREE Assistance with Ribbon Cuttings,

Openings & Anniversaries• FREE Membership Directory Listings (3)• FREE promotion through the Chamber’s Member

Services & Resource Information Center

You have other tools & resources available to advertise & showcase your business or service• The Chamber Newsletter• Website Advertising• Enhanced Website Listings• Email Navigator Weekly Updates• E-Inserts• Sponsor “Business After Hours”• Access to Chamber Mailing List• Access to local Clubs and Organizations List• Sponsorship Opportunities for Chamber Events

You have other benefits as a Chamber Member to help build and strengthen your business• Weekly Networking Events• Regional Networking Events with

the Chamber Alliance• Business Retention Visits• Leadership West Volusia

You have the Chamber advocating for the business community through:• Government Affairs & Issues• Political Forums

Chamber Committees include:• Ambassadors• Events• Government Affairs• Education Committee• Bicycle & Trails• Arts & Culture• West Volusia Economic Development• Business Retention• Females About Business

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2015ANNUAL

INSTALLATION BANQUET

8 9

10

11

Order Earlyfor

Valentine’s Day!

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The F irst Annual

A Fun, Fast Way to Connect with Other Professionals!5 minutes spent with each "Date" will give you the opportunity

to find your "Perfect Business Match!"

“Romancing Business”“Romancing Business”

Tuesday, February 10 5:30-7:30 pmat MAC’S on MAIN

Corner of New York & Woodland Ave., DeLand

FREE for Chamber Members$10 for Non-Members

Register Online! Add’l. $5 if at the door.

Register atDeLandChamber.orgEmail Robin@DeLandChamber.org

or Call 386-490-4527

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE& ORANGE CITY

ALLIANCE

DeLand AREA1890 2015

125TH ANNIVERSARY

Don’t Miss Th is Fun “Date!”

This Could Be Where You Meet

“The ONE!”

HOME

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3rd AnnualGolf Tournament

communicationswith Present ing Sponsors: &

Contact Robin@DeLandChamber.org for sponsorship opportunities, or Call Faith at the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce at 386-734-4331 to register your team.

“Fun” Raiser!

A Fun-FilledEvening of

Glow-in -the-Dark Golf,Awards,a Silent Auction,

Great Food by Encore Catering,Music by

Dance With Me DJ and Much More!

Check out Registration

Form forDetails onCosts and

SponsorshipOpportunities!

A Fun-FilledEvening of

Glow-in -the-Dark Golf,Awards,a Silent Auction,

Great Food by Encore Catering,Music by

Dance With Me DJ and Much More!

Fri. March 6, 2015at Sandhill Golf Course

Registration at 5 pm, Tee off at 6 pm.

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REGISTRATION FORMSingle Players: $50 eachNames:

Foursome: $175Team Captain Name:

Company:

Email:

Player 2 Name:

Player 3 Name:

Player 4 Name:

Non-Players: $15 each Names:

TOTAL: People: Total Enclosed:

Registration also available at DeLandChamber.org with credit card.

Player tickets include: 9 holes of Golf with Cart, Hors d’Oeuvre Buffet, Flashlight, Putting Contest, Complimentary Gift Bag, Cash Bar, Raffle, Silent Auction and Post-Tournament Award Ceremony.

Please make check payable to DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce. Mail check with Registration Form on or before March 1, 2015 to: DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce 336 N. Woodland Blvd. DeLand, FL 32720For further information regarding tickets, please contact Faith atthe DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce (386)734-4331.

Friday March 6, 2015

These exciting SPONSORSHIP

OPPORTUNITIESare still available!

Cart Sponsor*$1,000 ~ 2 available

See your company name travel the course in lights!Includes 4 player tickets.

Mulligan Sponsor *$500 ~ 2 available

Your company logo showcased on the Mulligan Cards and

at the point of purchase.Includes 2 player tickets.

19th Hole Sponsor*$250 ~ 2 available

Includes a specialty drink named after your company.

Hole Sponsors*$50/each ~ 18 available

*Please contact Robin French regarding sponsorships

(386) 490-4527

communications

Sponsorship Packages

Sponsorship Packages

Registration: 5 pmTee off at 6 pm

at Sandhill Golf Course800 E. Euclid Ave., DeLand

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As we move into 2015 from the past years, “The Chamber Culture” is very

different. In the past, we had a Welcome Center. We would wait for people to come in off the street and receive recommendations for good food, contracting, etc.

Now, it’s about:• Being out in the community, coming to you,

• Branding the businesses in the community,

• Technology, to get the word out with what is going on in the community for outreach,

• Job creation and resources for hiring new employees (Example: Career Source),

• Supporting businesses on government affairs like business retention surveys, new laws that can affect our businesses or community (e.g. SunRail), opportunities to meet the candidates so we can make sound decisions when voting,

• Helping new and existing businesses grow with tools they might not be aware we have access to like Accelerate West Volusia,

• Connecting businesses large and small to work together so we can all grow; networking.

• Ensuring that we continue to play a role in helping build a better business culture for a healthy business community, and

• Providing better outreach to small businesses that know us, as well as those we’ve lost touch with us in

the past decade but that need our advocacy more than ever—such as the working agricultural community.

Our Chamber is stronger as a direct result of our partnerships with organizations like:

Team Volusia, The Hispanic Chamber, MainStreet DeLand, The Florida Chamber of Commerce, The Volusia Country Chamber of Commerce, The CEO Business Alliance, SBDC, Volusia Manufacturing Association, our colleges and universities, all the cities in West Volusia, and the Central Florida Partnership.

This year, we are introducing “Breakfast with the Board.” Every

month, members of our Board of Directors will be asked to meet at locations throughout West Volusia and business members in the area will be invited to come out, to share coffee, to break bread, and to solve problems that affect business today.

Our goal is to provide value to each and every one of our members, with new technology and more outreach. However, it takes all businesses, from large to small, to be engaged by opening emails, sharing tweets, liking us on Facebook, coming to events and supporting community initiatives.

Remember, it takes a village to raise a child, or even better, it takes ALL sectors of a community for our businesses to be successful.

Michelle “Missy” Chavez

2 0 1 5 P R E S I D E N T ’ S P R O C L A M A T I O N

CHANGE

Michelle “Missy” Chavez, 2015 President

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CALENDAR ~ 1st Quarter 2015EVENTS1st Annual Speed DatingNetworking February 10 at 5:30 pm MAC’S ON MAIN 100 E. New York Ave., DeLand

Frontier Communications 3rd Annual “Howl at the Moon” Golf Tournament March 6. Registration at 5 pm, Tee off at 6 pm Sandhill Golf Course 800 E. Euclid Ave., DeLand

West Volusia Means Business Luncheon March 25 at 11:30 am John Knox Village, Orange City

COMMITTEESAmbassadors Every 4th Wednesday at 11:30 am Boston Coffee House 109 E. New York Ave., DeLand

Business to Business Showcase (Check website for updates)

CycleBlast Bicycle & Trails Committee Every 4th Tuesday at 4:30 pm Chamber offices 336 N. Woodland Ave., DeLand

Dueling Chefs & Wine Festival Starting in April, Every 3rd Thursday at 3:00 pm Sandhill Golf Course 800 E. Euclid Ave., DeLand

Education Every 3rd Wednesday at 4:00 pm Chamber conference room 336 N. Woodland Ave., DeLand

FAB Gala (Check website for updates)

Government Affairs (Check website for updates)

Howl at the Moon Every 3rd Tuesday at 4:00 pm Sandhill Golf Course 800 E. Euclid Ave., DeLand

JAMFest, Museum Day MACDeLand Committee Every 3rd Wednesday at 11:45 am Museum of Arts DeLand 600 N. Woodland Ave., DeLand

Keep DeLand Beautiful (Check website for updates)

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGE PAIDMID-FLORIDA, FL

PERMIT NO. 20590

336 N.Woodland Blvd.DeLand, FL 32720