VCARD Presentation - "Sustainable Citizen Engagement: A New Paradigm for a Changing World"

Mark your calendar for this special VCARD seminar! Friday, January 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Clubhouse at LPGA International, 1000 Champions Drive, Daytona Beach (lunch included).

The program will feature Patrick Slevin - a nationally recognized consultant and motivational speaker - explaining what many organizations are doing to successfully promote community and goverment support for their quality developments.

Mr. Slevin will highlight new "citizen engagement" practices that are being used by development professionals to protect their proposed new projects from NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) and other community opposition. He will share his innovative strategies that educate stakeholders, mitigate inflammatory rhetoric, and minimize local controversy.

This unique program will benefit elected officials and local government representatives; professionals in land development and construction; corporate executives; and business representatives...all whose interests are determined by the community that grants them the license to operate.

Mr. Slevin, a former mayor of Safety Harbor, Florida, is current CEO/Principal of Tallahassee-based Slevin Group, will explain national trends in Social Responsible Investing, Shareholder Activism and the Three Bottom-Lines...as well as his professional experiences in addressing vocal minorities, NIMBYism and Florida Hometown Democracy at the grassroots level.

Cost for this program is $22, including lunch. Advance reservations can be made to VCARD Director Dave Castagnacci (dave@daytonachamber.com) and payment should be addressed to VCARD, P.O. Box 2475, Daytona Beach, FL 32115. We look forward to seeing you there!

Baseball's Iron Man is coming to town!

Cal Ripken, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at The Chamber's Annual Meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.

The 89th Annual Meeting of The Chamber will begin with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and follow with dinner at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront.

Tickets are $100 for members, $125 for non-members. Corporate tables of 10 are available for $1,000. Call today to reserve your seat! (386) 255-0981, ext. 229.

Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group Third Thursday Networking Social, Family Style!

The DB YPG is having its Third Thursday social tomorrow night, December 18, with a twist - it's a family event!

The Holiday Bonfire will kick off at 5:00 p.m. at Cracker Creek in Port Orange (off Taylor Road; see Cracker Creek's website for directions.)

This year's holiday extravaganza - sponsored by The Daytona Beach News-Journal - will feature a bonfire, hay rides, photos with a princess, tours of the Snow White Cottage, drinks, food, prizes and a great chance for networking. Everyone has been asking for it and now we are delivering, so bring the kids, tell a neighbor, and bring a friend! This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY event!

As always there will be drinks and appetizers provided (most likely SMORES for the bonfire!) The event is FREE – we only ask that you bring an unwrapped gift or gift card in place of the usual fee. Plus, spin The News-Journal Prize Wheel for every donated gift! Gifts will be donated to the Family Renew Center.

PLEASE RSVP to Ashley Kelly at ashley@benedictadvertising.com. We hope to see you there!

Professional Title Agency - Grand Opening

Chamber Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Professional Title Agency, Inc., new location at 747 Office Suites, 747 Ridgewood Avenue, Suite 204, Daytona Beach. For more information about Professional Title Agency, view their website.

BDP Annual Lunch Recap

On Thursday, November 13, the Business Development Partnership held its Annual Lunch at Indigo Lakes Banquet Center in Daytona Beach.

The event recapped the year, which included reorganization and the addition of two sub-committees, the Economic Services Alliance and the International Trade Alliance. Each of these organizations serves Volusia and Flagler county businesses in the hopes of growing our local economy and promoting businesses and economic development.

The program included a presentation from keynote speaker Susan Story, President & CEO of Gulf Power Company, which services north Florida. Story has been actively involved in education and the business community, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Florida Chamber, Enterprise Florida, Florida’s Great Northwest Economic Development Council, and several other organizations throughout her career.

Story’s presentation focused on the importance of education and training opportunities for the workforce. She highlighted key findings in a study by the Conference Board, including three necessary work skills of employees, good communication skills, professional work ethic, and teamwork.

A big thank you goes out to Indigo Lakes for hosting our approximately 75 attendees, and to our sponsors of the Annual Lunch, BE & K Building Group, and the University of Central Florida.

Chamber events this week - November 17 - 21

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Chamber's Business After Hours will be held tonight at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by Encore Catering.

Attendees will receive a sneak peek of the new Children's Museum! The cost to attend is $10 for members, $35 for non-members, and two drink tickets and food is included with admission. Bring plenty of business of cards for the Speed Networking program!

Share your food...bring non-perishable food for Second Harvest Food Bank drive.


Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group will hold its monthly "third Thursday" networking social at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, 100 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach, from 6 - 8 p.m.

The cost to attend is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and two drink tickets and appetizers are included with admission.

Now accepting applications for Leadership Daytona Class 29!

What is Leadership Daytona?

The purpose of Leadership Daytona Beach is to invest in our community. The future of the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area depends upon well-informed and involved leadership. This course is a 3-month "community orientation" program that educates up and coming leaders of our area's benefits and challenges.

Leadership Daytona is one of nearly 700 similiar programs nationwide devoted to shaping high profile community leaders ready to tackle tough community situations. Initiated in 1981 by the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber and the Junior League, Leadership Daytona Beach is one of the longest running Leadership programs in the State.

The goals of the program:

• Inform participants about the community in general. A number of state and local officials will address members at each of the 13 class sessions.
• Concentrate on personal leadership activities including Simulated Society (SIMSOC), and Learning the Ropes.
• Provide a teamwork experience with our Community Class project. This will be our thirteenth project as class members "leave their mark" on the community.

Classes of varying formats, including field trips, are held each Wednesday morning (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) from March 4 to May 27. The program concludes with a graduation dinner on May 28.

Are you or someone you know interested in Leadership Daytona?

Please contact Jim Cameron at 386/255-0981, ext. 226 for further information and for an application. The Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber will be accepting applications for Class 29 until January 15, 2009.

We ask that you carefully consider your answers when completing the application. Our motto is "teaching volunteers in the community to become leaders in the community."

All applications are sent to a Selection Committee and NOT EVERYONE is chosen. Past volunteer experience is extremely important! We're looking for your involvement with any group that benefits the overall community. Social clubs, neighborhood associations, or organizations where you are required to pay dues because of your profession, probably won't be considered highly. We’re looking for something where you volunteer(ed) your time for the benefit of others.

If you are new to the community, please list your volunteer activities at your previous address. Past volunteer work is carefully considered by the selection committee.