June promises to be as busy and productive as May, but before we jump right into a new month, let's review May. The Chamber's Golf Tournament was another successful event, and the entire recap of winners and more winners is further in this newsletter. Three ribbon cuttings this month included Capt. Butchers, Beach Side Dog Spa and Mrs. G's, there's new business everywhere! Our lunch speaker Florida State Representative Erin Grall provided us with a thorough recap of legislative events in Tallahassee, and Mike Natalie, our lunch sponsor informed about the 25th Annual Bluewater Open, a milestone for the Exchange Club of Sebastian. We will also finish the 19th Annual Concerts in the Park series, and have an official contract with the City of Sebastian for another five years of entertaining in the park! We said good bye to Joe Griffin, the retired City Manager, and said hello to the new City Manager Paul Carlisle. Committee meetings and board meetings rounded out the month, and there's more on tap for June.

Please take a look at the list of nominees for our Board of Directors election process. Every year our Nomination Committee scans the list of members to recruit new leadership for the coming year. When a candidate says yes, they are saying yes to more than a meeting every other month. It's a commitment to lead the Chamber, to provide input to staff, to create policies that are in sync with our mission statement and to give time and efforts to support the membership base. This year's list of nominees is included and reflects the changing faces of our membership. Next month the ballots will be available for you to choose and you will have a stellar list of members. It won't be an easy choice!

Before the end of the month Penny Chandler, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce President will retire, after twenty three years of service. Eighteen years ago, Penny sent me a plant, and the card said, "Welcome to the Chamber world, let's work together".   And we did. Our relationship was defined by the word "collaborative", and we recognized that it was in the best interest of our business community that the Chambers worked together. Through the years we have notched many success stories, and the Chamber world will miss her insight, strategic thinking and professionalism. We all wish her good luck in her future!  

June brings us the summertime pace, less visitors, more time for planning, learning and taking a break. But our Chamber calendar is full of activities to keep you connected. We start with breakfast with the Sebastian Historical Society. Since it is the beginning of hurricane season, Bart Gaetjens, with FPL will speak to us at lunch and we will gather at St Lucie Tire and Battery for a business and pleasure. We will announce the dates of our summer workshops on Social Media in a Chamber Intel, and we will also launch a special project that is sure to please all of the Sebastian Area businesses.

Enjoy the weekend, try some Lionfish, and have a prosperous month!