News from Our State Embassy

Highlights from the Week of July 10th

Intern Seminar Series #4 with Congressman Maxwell Frost

Thursday, July 13th

We are thrilled to celebrate a successful Intern Seminar Series this week featuring Representative Maxwell Frost! We proudly filled every chair on our main level, and there were many new interns here for the first time. As the first member of Gen Z to be elected to Congress, Rep. Frost’s insights and experiences in navigating the political landscape of both Florida and Washington D.C. were eagerly anticipated by our interns. Throughout the seminar, he shared valuable advice, emphasizing the importance of staying true to your passions and always striving to do your best. A huge thank you also to Trustee and Education Committee Chair, Andrew Blasi, for representing Florida House's leadership during the program, and to FIU in DC’s Carlos Becerra (also a Trustee!) for highlighting the value of building connections in D.C. on behalf of our University partners.

Intern Escape Room Adventure

Thursday, July 13th

In a thrilling team-building adventure, Ethan, Clayton, Maddie, Stephanie, and Fiona took on The Escape Game's hardest challenge room. Their collective problem-solving skills were put to the test as they delved into intricate puzzles and navigated through hidden tunnels and passageways. With just one minute remaining on the clock, they emerged victorious, successfully escaping the room! The interns raved about their unforgettable experience, highlighting the joy of collaboration and teamwork throughout the exhilarating hour. They also shared that it brought them closer together as they conquered challenges and celebrated their collective achievement. Way to Go Intern Team!

Book Club with Bob Kealing

Tuesday, July 11th

Our latest edition of the Florida House Book Club was hosted at the Writer's Block Bookstore in Winter Park! We had the pleasure of hosting Bob Kealing, the esteemed author of Good Day Sunshine State: How the Beatles Rocked Florida. The book resonated deeply with our Trustees and other Book Club members, who were excited to delve into the fascinating world of Beatlemania in Florida. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the Trustees in attendance, including Susan Brennan, President of the CFC, and Sue Molm. We also extend a special thanks to our speaking hosts for the evening, Mary Bebout and Chairman of the Board Susanne Clemons.

Join us for our next installment of the Book Club at Sundog Books in Seaside on September 7th, where we will discuss The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea with Pulitzer Prize winning author Jack Davis. We hope to see you all there!

Learn more about the Florida House Book Club HERE.

State Society of Florida

Monday, July 10th

The State Society of Florida returned this week for their regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting. This get-together was focused on plans for the rest of the year, as well as upcoming events here at Florida House to engage even more Floridians here in our nation’s capitol. See you next time!

The Summer Innovation Series Continues!

Tuesday, July 11th

This week, we had the privilege of hosting Ora Tanner alongside the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and the Cade Museum for the Innovation Series. Click HERE to watch the recorded video on our YouTube video.

Join us next week as we host the incredible Captain Robert Betts from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division. We will delve into how the military is using AI to revolutionize training, combat, cybersecurity, and more. Captain Betts is not only a remarkable decorated service member and an engaging speaker, so you won't want to miss out on this exciting conversation.

Make sure to mark your calendars and join us Tuesday at 2pm ET via Zoom. This event is free and open to all, so spread the word and invite your friends and colleagues to join us for this enlightening discussion.

Click HERE to register and get more information on the Innovation Series!

67 Counties + Threads Update

Friday, July 14th

We’re having a blast making our way around the Sunshine State in our newest 67 Counties videos! This week, the videos for Hernando and Okaloosa Counties premiered on our our social media platforms. The videos continue to create great engagement from new followers, and we have already gained over 250 new friends on Threads thanks to the exciting, educational, and engaging content.

Click HERE to see the newest 67 Counties videos our website, and follow us on Instagram and Threads (@floridahousedc) and Facebook (Florida House) to see the newest county video every week in our Reels.

Wish We Were There: Highlights from Florida this Week

A Tiny Addition to Our Internship Legacy

Greetings from Kennedy Wilhite Novakovic's one-year-old daughter, who is proudly wearing her favorite D.C. shirt at the park in Lakeland. Kennedy worked as a Florida House intern with us in 2018. It warms our hearts to see the next generation of Florida House champions already making their mark and shining bright. We love staying connected with all of our former interns and their new families, and we wish Kennedy and her daughter all the best!

Liz Meets with the Miami Chapter via Zoom

Thursday, July 13th

Excitement is brewing as the Miami chapter gears up for their highly anticipated event "Moon Over Miami" scheduled to take place on November 30th. The planning committee has been hard at work, making significant progress in finalizing the timetable for sending out invitations. In addition, underwriting and fundraising strategies have been discussed and developed, ensuring a successful and memorable evening. They eagerly look forward to welcoming everyone back to The Cleat, a stunning venue nestled within the picturesque Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

Interesting Florida House Visitors This Week

Summer time in Washington D.C. means sidewalks are packed with families and tourists. This week was no exception- even with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees! We were pleased to welcome…

Lindsey Steck and her husband Luke as they started their trip up from Pensacola. Lindsey shared that she was an intern here at Florida House 9 years ago, and loved seeing the new exhibit and additions to the house since her time here. Her husband Luke also loved seeing Our State Embassy for the first time before they ventured to the Smithsonian museums.
A father and two sons from Miami who were eager to see our newest exhibit. They were in the process of returning from a roadtrip to New York, and said this was one of their favorite stops thus far!
A family of 5 from Tampa before their tour of the Supreme Court. The family was thankful to leave their bags before their adventure, and enjoyed coming back to eat and learn about our history.
A couple from Washington D.C. who arrived early Monday morning. They came ready to start their day full of adventures around Capitol Hill, and were thrilled to visit our new photography exhibit.
A family of 5 from Fort Myers as they stumbled upon Our State Embassy after touring the Supreme Court. They loved seeing the view of the gardens and the Capitol from our upper level.
A family of 4 from Palm Beach County for their last stop on their tour of new places in Washington D.C.! They loved seeing our architecture and the You Are Here exhibit.
A man from Brazil who was eager to see our wildlife photography. His favorite photos were of the pitcher bog plants and the panthers. He also appreciated our cold orange juice on the hot day.

Upcoming Events and Activities for Next Week

Tuesday, July 18th - Innovations Series #5 with Captain Robert Betts
Thursday, July 20th - Summer Intern Seminar Series #5
Thursday, July 20th - Investment Taskforce meets via Zoom