This month, your Chamber will join with others as we prepare to fight for the issues that matter the most to your business.   We’ll carry this fight to both Tallahassee and to Washington.   We’ve seen issues such as unemployment, card check, and health care continue to dominate the national dialogue, and we welcome your input on these and other issues facing the business community.   With your feedback we will be best armed to speak with our elected officials and carry the message forward.   This will also aid us in setting part of your Chamber’s Goals and Business Agenda for 2010.

One issue we call to your attention is Amendment 4, which we will strongly oppose as this measure would virtually ‘shut down’ any possibility of future growth.   In short, you could not have any type of zoning change without first having public approval.   In other words, everything would be put to a vote of the general population.   This and other issues will be discussed even further at the upcoming Future of Florida Forum and local chamber annual conference in Orlando, October 12-14.   If you’d like more information on this, or the link to registering, please give me a call.
 

I want to thank you for your continued support.   Now, more than ever, we need to remain connected and continue to promote a strong business climate

Dick

Dick Rice
Executive Director
 

The Collier County Clerk of Courts is offering several free seminars, in the months of October, November and December, hosted by the Community Outreach office. Established two years ago by Dwight E. Brock, Clerk of the Circuit court, Community Outreach is responsible for increasing the public awareness and un-derstanding of the Clerk’s role, programs, services and the information resources available to them when conducting business with the Clerk’s Office. Seminar topics include using CollierClerk.com, the foreclosure process, and filing a small claim.

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The 2009 Regional Tourism Summit "Growing Tourism in South Central Florida" is being held September 16, 2009, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at the Lake Placid Camp and Conference Center. 

Presented by Florida's Freshwater Frontier, Inc., this is a professional development tourism summit for the leaders, owners, managers, directors, and staff of accommodations, retail operations, restaurants, attractions & events, Chambers of Commerce, 'Main Street' programs, local governments, Tourist Development Councils, Economic Development Councils, and others interested in the tourism industry.

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Eastern Collier Chamber of Commerce President, Dr. Joseph Heinzman, Jr., with support by the Chamber's Board of Directors, has begun the task of defining the organization's overall vision and goals.  In essence, the Chamber's vision is to facilitate the creation of an environment that enables current members to prosper and grow, entice new members to join, prosper, and grow, and to market both local, national and international membership.

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The Collier Collier Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) will be a guest speaker at the September 2, 2009 Eastern Collier County Chamber of Commerce meeting, to explain the LRTP (Long Range Transportation Plan) process and expectations, how the travel demand model works, the current project schedule, communication network and project contact information.

Please come out to provide your input on how you would like to see your community develop over the next twenty-five year horizon.

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On Tuesday, August 25th, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a 2-hour seminar on how to protect your business from unforeseen circumstances that constitute fraud.

With today’s economic challenges, it is more important than ever to keep that extra level of awareness on what is happening in your company. Learn how to protect your business and recognize those tell-tell signs that something might not be right. 

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This month's Breakfast Meeting will feature Carmen Rey-Gomez from Hodges University. She works with the Hispanic Affairs at the University.

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