Ted shares a message about all the great Non-Profit members of the Chamber. | |
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Click on event below to register NOW for our Upcoming Chamber Events.
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(Discount only applies to First Friday Coffee, Nothing But Networking, & Business After Hours)
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Upcoming Committee Meetings: Are you seeking opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Come to one or all nine of our chamber committees to see what the buzz is about! | |
Daniel “Gus” Gusoff, Owner of Emerald Coast Harley Davidson: Rebel with a Cause
Gus grew up as a city kid in Detroit, Michigan. When he was a young boy, riding in the back seat of the family car, Gus saw something that changed his life. His face, plastered against the window, he saw a bearded biker pull up beside the car. Gus could feel and hear the motorcycle before he could see it. The biker turned to see Gus and gave him a thumbs up. It was the coolest thing Gus had ever seen.
A father who was a fire chief for 40 years in Detroit, a mother who worked for the Ford Motor Company, and his brothers, one a fireman and the other who works in technology, shows Gus came from a hard-working family. He went to college, played football, and after college got a “real job” in sales and advertising. Read more...
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Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more! | |
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The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has approved a contingent contract to acquire the SS United States that could see the historic ocean liner converted into the world’s largest artificial reef. Part of the deal would also include funding from the county to support the Conservancy’s establishment of an innovative land-based museum that will provide divers, local residents and visitors an opportunity to learn about the legacy of America’s Flagship.
The County's funding source for this project is entirely provided by tourists and the bed tax they pay while visiting here.
The SS United States was launched in 1951 and still holds the transatlantic speed record, achieved on her maiden voyage using only two-thirds of her power. She transported presidents, stars of stage and screen, heads of state, tourists, members of the armed forces, and immigrants until the advent of the jet age forced her retirement in 1969. Notable passengers included four U.S. Presidents (Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and a young Bill Clinton), plus Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Duke Ellington, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne. (To learn more about the ship’s historical importance, visit https://www.ssusc.org/history-the-glory-years.)
Read the full press release at : https://bit.ly/SSUS-DESTNFWB-Oct1-Announcement
Learn more about the history of America's Flagship at https://www.ssusc.org/
View a map of Okaloosa County's artificial reef system in the Gulf of Mexico: https://www.destinfwb.com/.../eco.../artificial-reefs/maps/
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Upcoming Halloween events in the City of Fort Walton Beach
Get your costumes ready because the City of Fort Walton Beach has a couple of fun events scheduled this month.
Fall Carnival: From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, we will be holding our annual Fall Carnival event at the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center and Preston Hood Athletic Complex. Walk along our trick-or-treat trail to collect treats from our vendors. We’ll have bouncy houses and other games to enjoy as well. In the event of rain, we will move the event to Saturday, Oct. 12. For more information, Contact Patricia Sherman at 850-833-9576 or psherman@fwb.org.
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Candy With A Cop: From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, our Fort Walton Beach Police Department will be hosting their annual “Candy With A Cop” event in the lobby of the police station, located at 7 Hollywood Boulevard NE.
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Garnier Beach Garden Club donates Blue Star Marker to city’s Garnier Beach Park
We’d like to thank the Garnier Beach Garden Club for their donation of a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Memorial Marker at Garnier Beach Park. The marker is part of a program begun by National Garden Clubs, Inc. as a way to honor veterans who served their country.
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, members of the Garnier Beach Garden Club, Mayor Dick Rynearson, City Manager Jeff Peters and other city staff met at Garnier Beach Park for a ceremony to unveil the new marker.
“We appreciate the military; we appreciate what they stand for,” said Group President Linda Penry, who noted that Garnier Beach Park was an obvious choice for the club’s donation of a sign.
“We’ve always had an affinity for this area,” said Penry. “The ladies in this neighborhood established the Garnier Beach Garden Club.”
Group members fund the marker projects with an annual plant sale they hold in the spring. The group meets at 10:15 a.m. on the 2nd Saturday of the month from September through May at the Fort Walton Beach Public Library.
We’d also like to extend a special thank you to the cadets from Fort Walton Beach High School Junior ROTC, who presented the colors, Pastor Jeff Keeman of First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach who sang the National Anthem and gave the invocation, and to the active-duty airmen who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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We’ve got Merch at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club!
If you haven't visited the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club lately, you should. Our new Club Manager Jacob Hill has stocked our pro shop with a wide variety of clothing items.
We’ve got shirts, sweatshirts and windbreakers from Footjoy and Nike, much of it branded with our new Golf Club Logo. We’ve also got a nice selection of shoes, belts, golf markers, divot tools and golf balls.
If it’s been a while since you’ve played the course, come pay us a visit, say hello and see what we’ve got!
You can keep up with the latest from the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club at the club’s new Facebook and Instagram pages:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564357177927
@fwbgolf
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The 2024-25 school year is underway and I am pleased to report that we are off to a busy and productive start. With the end of the first nine-week grading period quickly approaching, it is invigorating to see our students deeply engaged in learning, our teachers passionately delivering instruction, and our community providing unwavering support to our schools.
We have recently concluded American Founders’ Month, are currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and have just begun honoring our Principals for National Principal Appreciation Month as of October 1. I encourage everyone to show their support by leaving a comment on our social media posts that highlight the exceptional work of our administrators. Read more...
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Okaloosa County School District and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Announce Angel Tree Partnership
Superintendent Marcus Chambers and Sheriff Eric Aden are delighted to announce the collaboration between the Okaloosa County School District and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for this year's Angel Tree Program. The program aims to assist students from families who require support during the holiday season. Thanks to the assistance of school guidance counselors and school resource officers (SROs), students in need are identified. Last year, more than 300 Okaloosa students received gifts from the two organizations, thanks to the generosity of staff and community members. Read more...
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Turn your business ideas into a tangible venture. This workshop with Jennifer in Fort Walton Beach guides you through evaluating your business idea while also covering future steps, strategies, and resources. Gain free assistance from this Florida SBDC Business Consultant with over 20 years of business management experience. You won't want to miss posing your specific questions. Your spot in this workshop Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. on the UWF Emerald Coast campus will also set you up to start working with a no-cost SBDC consultant on your business launch and growth. Register now! tinyurl.com/sab-1016
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Get the steps marked out for how you're going to achieve funding for your small business growth in the area. Join expert, local small business funding panelists — and learn exactly how you can map out a path to successful U.S. Small Business Administration funding and more! tinyurl.com/roadmap-oct
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