www.wakullacountychamber.com

23 High Dr.

P.O. Box 598

Crawfordville, FL 32326

Tel: 850-926-1848

Fax: 850-926-2050

Wakul la Chamber and You: Partners For Success

Wakulla County

Chamber of Commerce

Officers

President

Amy Geiger

President Elect

Tammie Barfield

Vice President

Kevin Vaughn

Interim Treasurer

Jerry Evans

Secretary

Mary Wallace

Past President

John W. Shuff

President’s Message

The Chamber has finalized its list of nominees for our 8th Annual Business Excellence Awards.

Eighty-nine businesses had the honor of being nominated for

consideration to win in the following categories: Start–up Business, Business of the Year, Non–Profit Organization, and Environmental Stewardship of the Year award.

In addition to these categories, we have added a new award for the Member

of the Year. This can be the owner or an employee of any Chamber member business.

I still remember how excited I was when Capital City Bank won Business of the Year, and I proudly displayed our award and sign. It could be your turn

this year!

Please make plans to attend the Business Excellence Awards banquet, spon-sored by CenturyLink and Waste Pro, on May 17 at the Senior Center.

The social hour will start at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.

Our guest speaker is Herb Donaldson, Healing Arts of Wakulla President and artistic director of Palaver Tree Theatre Company. We encourage you to join us in support of the Chamber as we announce and recognize all the 2012 win-

ners of these important and prestigious awards.

Call Petra at the Chamber Office, 926-1848 or email wakullacocham-ber@embargmail.com to reserve your seats.

LOW COUNTRY BOIL

We thoroughly enjoyed the second annual Low Country Boil, and thank all of our sponsors for their generous support, making this a very successful event.

The dance floor was packed all night, so I assume everyone had a wonderful

time. I would also like to congratulate our special events committee on a job well done! Planning for next year is already under way.

ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESS

I would like recognize several individuals who have spent countless hours

working with our county on Wakulla 2020: John Shuff, Past Chamber Presi-dent and Kevin Vaughn, EDC Chair, have been appointed by the Chamber

May 2012

President’s Message

2

to be our voice. We appreciate all the time and effort you both are putting forward on this very important issue.

Chuck Robinson is our new Chair for Commerce and Government and will be updating our membership on issues affecting our business community. We appreciate his passion and dedication to the Chamber.

EDUCATION

Continuing with our pledge to help our members through ongoing education and work-shops, we have teamed up with WorkforcePlus and again bring to you the quarterly Brown Bag Lunch Series, beginning with employee retention in April.

This workshop explored why employees leave, how to improve the hiring process, and

identified good hiring tips.

Conflict Management and Creating Culture of Team Success will be topics coming up in July and October.

In addition, WorkforcePlus will be offering Microsoft Word and Excel classes in June.

All of the above are available to all businesses, free of charge. All you have to do is reg-ister!

Several businesses have also taken advantage of our popular Ed2go online classes. Tak-

ing one of these classes just about pays for your annual membership investment.

For more information, or to suggest additional topics, please contact the Chamber of-fice.

MEMBERSHIP

Despite current times, businesses understand how vital the support of our local Cham-ber is in advocating for a strong business community, and we continue to attract new members.

We do understand, however, that times are tough and if you are a current member and your dues have not been paid, please be sure to contact us to discuss options for pay-ment.

The Chamber’s existence is based solely on dues from our businesses and individual

supporters.

Thank you for your continued involvement and support of your local Chamber.

Yours in service,

President

3

Networking Luncheon at Spring Creek Restaurant

A record 58 members and guests packed the house for our monthly networking luncheon

at Spring Creek Restaurant, Wednesday, April

25th. To make it easier on the busy wait staff,

today’s menu, including salad, fried or grilled

shrimp, tomato pie with grilled shrimp, or

chicken breast, with fries or cheese grits, was

laid out with each place setting so guests could

mark their choice. It takes a while to accommo-

date this many people so Mary switched her

agenda around a bit, beginning with the an-

nouncement and introduction of FSM Associ-

ates. Frank Messersmith, a lobbyist, joined the

Chamber in March, and works in Government Affairs, representing clients like the Sheriffs

in the State, just to name one group. April’s new members announced were:

Wakulla Pawn and Curio Shop

MEA Fitness, Inc. - DBA Anytime Fitness, was represented by Rainbow International’s

rep Cyndy Murphy. Anytime Fitness changed hands recently, and a ribbon cutting will be

held May 18; special offers will be available for

students, and teachers, and the facility can be vis-

ited during Open House May 18th and 19th.

Ron Piasecki, a long- time resident of Wakulla

County, now retired, joined up as an Individual

member.

Sue Damon with Damon Marketing shared that

she joined the Chamber to meet new people. She

is self- employed, works in marketing, and

represents associations in the Southeast US, the

Caribbean, Mexico and more.

Freebeau Swindle, our newest member, representing Crownmoldingman.com., is what

you would call a Handyman, and has been doing a lot of work in Shell Point and St. Marks

recently. If you need some remodeling done, your wooden fence or doors repaired, or

want to spruce up a room with crown molding, give him a call.

At this point, smells from the kitchen started filling the dining room, and it was heavenly.

Sharol Brown introduced her guest and administrative assistant Deana Wilson. Courtney

Peacock introduced her co-workers Kelii Kirkland, and Bree Lovel, wife of our host Clay,

and guest Donna Savary, owner of Savary Virtual Online School.

continued

4

The jackpot of $58 was won by Cyndy Murphy who donated the money back to the

Chamber to add to our table and chairs fund. Thank you Cyndy! Many thanks to our

members for bringing 19 raffle items: Rainbow International, Marianne and Lionel

Dazevedo, Susan Schatzman, The Wakulla News, Cook Insurance, Wakulla County Farm

Bureau, Crownmoulding.com, Ed Gardner, O.D., Keith Key Heating & Air, and TOSPT

(Tallahassee Orthopedics Sports Physical Therapy).

Our host, Clay Lovel announced that Spring Creek

Restaurant now has a mobile food kitchen in Craw-

fordville, open Tuesday through Friday. It is locat-

ed between Burger King and 3Y Outdoor Equip-

ment.

Upcoming events: Cyndy Murphy announced that

she will be holding a continuing education class for

Insurance Professionals in Tallahassee May 10th. To

find out more email Cyndy

(cyndy.murphy@mail.rainbowintl.com).

Susan Schatzman shared two events held by Habitat for Humanity of Wakulla County;

the applicants meeting to qualify for a no interest home, built by Habitat, May 15th at

6:30pm at Ameris Bank. This is the 11th home built for families in Wakulla. A motorcycle

run fundraiser will be held June 2nd, and starts at Capital City Harley Davidson, moving

into Wakulla County with stops at Posey’s Dockside, Ouzts Too, St. Marks River Cantina

and Skybox. Michael Weltman reminded of his speaking engagement April 27th, Work-

shop on FHA - 255 / Reverse Mortgage Program at Wakulla Senior Center – 6:30pm and

7:15pm - 2 sessions.

Petra Shuff announced the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards Banquet May

17th, and invited everyone to attend the presentation ceremony in honor of our local busi-

ness community.

Remember, our networking luncheons are always held on the 4th Wednesday each month,

from noon until 1:15pm. In May, Kast Net will be catering our lunch at the Wakulla Exten-

sion Office. Hope to see you there!

We want to extend a special thanks to Spring Creek Restaurant for their hospitality, and

opening the restaurant to host our luncheon!

Upcoming Networking Luncheon

The May Networking Luncheon will be held at the Wakulla Extension Office

Wednesday, May 23rd, and will be catered by Kast Net Catering.

5

After Hours Networking at

Wakulla Diving Center

New business models in Wakulla County are always interesting, and

even better to visit. Our April Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce mixer featured a

growing Recreational Center that currently

specializes in underwater activities, or diving simply said.

Over 40 people attended Wakula Diving Center on

2784 Coastal Highway in Medart last Thursday. They enjoyed great conversation, a view of the

toys of the future, and spiced with

smoked amberjack, shrimp, smoked turkey and ceviche (made with grouper and snapper) along with a variety of fruits and veggies.

Wakulla Diving Center is currently made up of 4 activities, offered for viewing at the social in a tour. Everyone thinks Wakulla Diving is just a store that sells diving equipment, but that is just the front room. The store is divided into two

sections, recreational on the right as you come in the front door and technical on the left. Have you ever seen so many masks in one place? One wall is stacked with many space-age Rebreathers!

In the back room on the right is the repair facility where Travis Kersting fixes almost everything diving. One the other

side of the room, training is conducted from basic scuba through rebreather and cave.

Both activities are carried into the back through the steel fire doors into a dive locker on the left and a state of the art blending and DOT approved hydrostatic test station. Wakulla Diving blends

any breathing gas and stores 80000 cubic feet of it in a tank farm. Their mid building drive-thru fill station is a unique safety feature.

Research & Development is the fourth leg of the Center, with a focus on design, prototype produc-tion and repair of the next generation of diving technology. This activity alone may dwarf the rest

of the Center's activities in the years to come.

Wakulla Chamber members were treated to lively discussions regarding the future of diving in Wakulla County, thanks to Dr. Bill Huth, Jack Rudloe, Sue Damon, Rev. Spicer, and Gregg Stanton. Mr. Stanton announced the National Speleological Society-Cave Div-

ing Section plans to hold their annual meetings (300+ attendance) in 2013 at Wakulla High School.

6

First Bank—Senior Products Division

First BANK –Florida- Senior Products Division opens in Wakulla County

First BANK –Senior Products Division –

Florida ; With Headquarters located in

Wakulla County FL. And run by Michael J.

Weltman MBA, SRES, CSA- Our Division

is all about SENIORS and their retirement

and housing ,and how to save and pay

for it. FirstBANK is the largest privately held

bank in Tennessee, created in 1988 by James

W. Ayers and Steve White when the two

merged Farmers State Bank (est. 1906) and

First National Bank of Lexington and changed

the name to FirstBANK. With Mortgage Headquarters in Birmingham AL., and Banking

Operations primarily in TN., FirstBANK has over 500 employees, 46 banking locations and

$2 billion in total assets. First BANK is now offering Senior Products in 41 States and

Weltman was tasked to run Florida for his Division. FirstBANK hired 14 Wells Fargo and

Metlife Senior Products Division Managers- in 4 states- to create the division last year,

when they saw the opportunity to grow in this area , by hiring industry experts, from

larger National banks who where moving away from Senior Products. FirstBANK saw the

opportunity and seized it.

Senior Products Division comprises primarily, the FHA – 255 Program ( HECM – Home

Equity Conversion Mortgage ) often called a Reverse Mortgage. Currently there are

3 Programs in the Federal Insured and Backed FHA/ HUD – Reverse Mortgage 1) the

Traditional Refinance, 2) The Purchase Loan , for Home Buying, created in 2008, And 3)

the NEW HECM SAVER Loan , created by President Obama in 2010. All have options for

Fixed and LIBOR rates, All have no mortgage payments. With many programs and

products under development, for retirees, the HECM Program will be used by

Most Retiring Americans in the future to plan and pay for retirement and hous-

ing needs.

FirstBANK currently has offices in Florida; in Sebring, in Tampa and in St. Petersburg, as

well as the Headquarters here in Wakulla , with new offices opening this year in Ocala,

Orlando, Gainesville, and Jacksonville., with all staff and loan officers reporting to

Michael J Weltman, as he grows the Division and FirstBANK’s presence here. Upcoming

Seminars on Reverse Mortgages and how to use them to plan and pay for retirement ,

housing and housing repairs are held throughout the state, including the upcoming

Seminar here in Wakulla , April 27th, at the Wakulla Senior Center at 6:30pm and

7:15pm.

Ribbon Cuttings

continued

7

Harvest Thrift Store

Harvest Thrift Store is a ministry of Harvest Fel-

lowship Church. It was a desire of our church to

make ourselves more available to the community

by turning itself inside out. The Harvest Thrift

Store is the first of many "marketplace ministries"

that we will be operating in order to meet the

needs of our residents. The store has been opened

since October 2011 and is located in the North

Pointe strip mall at 1596 Crawfordville Hwy.,

Building 2, Suite A. The store resells clothes, vari-

ous knick-knacks and some furniture that the community so graciously donates. Most all

of our clothes, shoes, purses and ties are only $1.00. Knick-knacks are various prices. All

donations are tax deductible. The store hours are Monday through Saturday 10am to

6pm. Secondly, Harvest Fellowship Church administrates the "Gaballi" food program

where customers can save 30 to 70% on groceries. Those interested can go online to

www.gaballi.com and use "harvestfellowship" as the reference ID or just come by the

store. Thirdly, we have the "Harvest Hawaiian Ice Shack" which has the best flavored

snow cones, hamburgers, fries and other food items available at very reasonable prices

for events and parties. The Shack can also be a good fund raiser for your organization as

well. Please visit us at Harvest Fellowship Church on Sundays for 10:30am. For more

information about all of these ministries visit our website at www.harvestfi.org.

Weltman has been in Mortgages, Real Estate, Insurance, and Financial Planning and

Consulting for 11 years here in Wakulla FL , and active in the community and local civic

organizations, like the Wakulla Volunteer Fire Department, Wakulla Realtors Council,

Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, and recently Lions Club and Wakulla 2020 ,

His wife Michelle and he , live on the Wakulla River with their rescue dogs and enjoy all

the wonders and recreation that Wakulla has to offer.

Weltman can be reached at 850.556.6694 and 877.608.9088 , and online at

www.myret i rementmortgage.com, mwel tman@f i rs tbankon l ine .com,and

ALGAFLreverse@yahoo.com , 877.638.4829 by Fax , If you know a Senior/ Retiree, who

has challenges paying for housing and retirement, give Weltman and FirstBANK a call , so

they can assist.

Upcoming ribbon cuttings:

Join us for our upcoming ribbon cuttings at Lisa’s Timeless Treasures, 44 Rose St. in

Sopchoppy Friday, May 11th at 11 am, and the ribbon cutting and Open House for

Anytime Fitness, 10 Preston Circle, Crawfordville, Friday, May 18th at 2pm.

8

Welcome New Chamber Members!

MEA Fitness, LLC—D.B.A. Anytime Fitness - Specializing in 24-hour exercise

10 Preston Circle, Suite G, Crawfordville

(850) 926-2010 - Welcome Michelle Roberts

Wakulla Pawn and Curio Shop - Specializing in Loans and unique gifts

9 Rainbow Drive, Crawfordville

(850) 745-8132 - Welcome Phil Fleming

Ron Piasecki - Individual member

137 Royster Drive, Crawfordville

(850) 926-5049 - Welcome Ron Piasecki

Damon Marketing - Specializing in Marketing and Advertising

138 Walker Creek Drive, Crawfordville

(850) 926-3318 - Welcome Sue Damon

Save the Date!

Please save the date and join us for the Business Excellence Banquet and Award Presentation,

held Thursday, May 17th at the Senior Citizens Center.

Crownmoldingman.com - Specializing in remodeling, door, wooden fence, and home

repair

2972 Medinah Court, Tallahassee, FL

(850) 251-1149 - Welcome Freebeau Swindle