volume 28, number 10 november 2013 the catch of the day
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 28, Number 10 NOVEMBER 2013
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER FORT MYERS BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Norma Pevey, Chair – Associate Member
John Gavin, Chair Elect – Gavins Ace Hardware
Eric Tibbs, Vice Chair – Edward Jones & Company
David Anderson, Treasurer – Krusty Pete's
Bud Nocera, President – FMB Chamber
Fran Myers, Foundation – Red Coconut RV Park
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2013
Jim Lambeth – A Better Bugman
John Armitstead – Lee Memorial Health Systems
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2014
Steve DeAngelis – Nervous Nellie’s
Terry Luster – Kiwanis Ft. Myers Gateway to Islands
Ann Alsop – Associate Member
Robb Capps – Premier Sandals Realty
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2015
Curt Brenner – Gullwing Beach Resort
Donna Bates – AAA Travel
Ellis Etter – Pink Shell Resort & Marina
Barbara Farrell – iBERIABANK
SPECIAL DIRECTORSTom Hart – Humphrey Knott et al
Fran Myers – Red Coconut RV Park
FOUNDATION BOARD DIRECTORS:
John Albion
Ann Alsop – C21 Tripower
Maryanne Baker – Sunstream Realty Inc
Linda Beasley – Outer Island Mortgage
Rob Fowler – Fowler Company
Ginny Smith – Pink Shell Development
FOUNDATION BOARD OFFICERS:
Fran Myers, President – Red Coconut RV Resort
FortMyersBeach.org239-454-7500
The Catchof the Day
Join us Thursday, November 14that 11:30am
at Charley’s Boat House Grill, 6241 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, for a delicious Membership Luncheon.
Our Membership Luncheon will be in the morning this month to help everyone beat the traffic.
Join us Thursday, March 14th at 8:30am at Charley’s Boat House
Grill, 6241 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach for a delicious
Breakfast Buffet.
Meet Terry Brennen, Director, Community Funding WGCU Public Media
Terry Brennen, Director, Community Funding WGCU Public Me-dia, will be the speaker at our November Luncheon. He has been with the station for the past 13 years. During that period WGCU has produced more than 20 documentary style pro-grams about Southwest Florida, with many going on to PBS stations across America. WGCU's recent hour-long documen-tary Silver King: The Birth of Big Game Fishing, was distrib-uted to 172 PBS stations. Brennen has spent more than 43 years in the media business.
Pink Gold Rush chronicles the last 40 years of the shrimp industry in Fort Myers Beach and its changes. Are independent shrimpers and a vibrant working waterfront fading into the pages of history in Fort Myers Beach? Is the “Pink Gold Rush” that had its heyday
in the 70s really coming to an end? Or is the $55 million industry just adapting to 21st century challenges like rising fuel costs and cheap, convenient imports?
Through the eyes and hearts of Fort Myers Beach shrimping families, WGCU explores shifting realties that reflect our waning American tradition of independent fishing even in a thriving, healthy fishery. Learn about the challenges and successes of keeping what many consider to be the world’s tastiest, sweetest pink shrimp as a renewable resource.
The Fort Myers Beach working waterfront and shrimping industry is under increased competition from international imports of farm raised shrimp that threaten its stainability by offering lower-cost, more easily accessible product.
The WGCU project will investigate this problem and will provide information about how few res-taurants/stores actually serve/sell pink shrimp; how the international imports are raised with fewer environmental and processing standards and how the livelihood of shrimpers is at stake. It also will address how the ecological health of the Gulf of Mexico is vital to the continued sus-tenance of this species.
NOVEMBER 20132 FortMyersBeach.org
17200 San Carlos Blvd.Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-454-7500 / FAX: 239-454-7910
If you would like to join any of these committees,
contact Jane Ross at 454-7500.
All meetings are held at the Chamber office unless otherwise noted.
Join a committee and make a difference!
Membership Lunch @ Charley’s Boathouse
11:30 amNovember 14
Bud Nocera – PresidentJane Ross – Member Service and Volunteer Coordinator
Cindi D’Andrea – Director of SalesMary Beth Broderson-Soper – Accounting
Doug McElheny – Internet & Social Media ManagerPete Frye – Front Desk
Kathy Hanagan – Front DeskJanet Malloy – Front Desk
Executive Committee Meeting8:00 amNovember 13
Board of Directors Meeting8:00 amNovember 20
Traffic Committee10:00 am - 11:00 amNovember 21
Nov. 22 – Dec. 1 American Sandsculpting Championships
Saturday, December 7Christmas Boat Parade
Donna Bates of AAA
Brandan Brandise – Diamond Head Beach Resort
Ali Carter – Diamond Head Beach Resort
Carolyn Crosby
Patsy Dorsey of Fort Myers Beach Lions Club
Michelle Forneris – Diamond Head Beach Resort
Sandy Hein
Sara Holderfield of Tanger Outlet Mall
Jackie Hornack – Diamond Head Beach Resort
Joni Johnson
Debby Kildow
Cheryl Nye
Pam Schindler
Jessica Titus of Fort Myers Beach Realty
Ken Tribble of Re/Max Realty
Jean-Ann Walker
Debbie Whitehead
Chamber Coffee Connection @ Jungle Golf,17710 San Carlos Blvd
7:30 to 9:00 amNovember 7
Business After Hours @ Outrigger Island Resort
5:30 - 7:00 pm
NOVEMBER 2013 3FortMyersBeach.org
Like to play in the sand? Need 200 volunteers for our 27th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship November 22 to December 1. Event hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Day is divided into two shifts. No heavy lifting involved. Please call Jane Ross at 454-7500 or email [email protected] WE NEED YOU!
Looking for people who love the Beach, love people and love to have Fun. Share your knowledge and join our volunteers in the Roxie. Still have a few shifts available. Call Jane Ross at 454-7500 if you can donate some of your time.
The Hampton Inn is the Luncheon sponsor for the November 14th Membership lunch.
The Lynx Educational Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America's struggle to preserve its independence. The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard the American Privateer Schooner Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement through teamwork and the discipline of sail training. The Lynx Educational Foundation is dedicated to all those who cherish the blessings of America.
America’s Privateer Lynx will be returning to her winter home in Ft Myers Beach at Nervous Nellie’s Eatery on Nov 30th, 2013 at 12:00 pm thru January 12th, 2014. Returning March 21st , 2014 thru May 18th, 2014. To book their excursion they will need to contact the office at 866-446-5969 or visit us online at www.privateerlynx.com
Come experience an amazing piece of history . This floating museum is a great way to learn some 1812 history, and to sail into the sunset on the Bay. The Privateer Lynx is so much more than just a ship ride, it’s an interactive- and very fun- way to learn.
The Lynx Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonpro�t, non-partisan, educational organization, dedicated to hands- on educational programs that teach the history of Americas struggle to preserve its independence. For donation information, please contact the Lynx Educational Foundation at 866-446-5969. Tax ID # 04-3712260
Must purshase this offer by Dec 31st . It can be used any time while the ship is in Ft Myers in 2013 through 2014. Reservation’s will need to be made in advance.
This offer is only valid when you call 1-866-446-5969 not valid if purchased on-line.
Day SailsPort to Port Passages Private Charters10% off
Sailing into History
Introducing future Board Member of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Ezekiel Tibbs. Shown with proud dad Vice Chair of the Board Eric Tibbs. Zeke, as he is fondly referred to, was born
Friday September 13th, to Eric and Melody Tibbs.
Welcome to our world little Zeke.
NOVEMBER 20134 FortMyersBeach.org
Yet Another Water Crisis
By Bud Nocera
There is another water crisis facing prop-erty owners on Fort Myers Beach. The water quality from the Lake O releases is still, and will continue to be, an issue to which every one of us needs to pay attention and remain involved. But as of October 1 another water crisis appeared in the form of federal flood insurance policy rates. This crisis has the po-tential of having a devastating financial im-pact on Beach property owners. It could well stop the recovery in our housing industry and it has the potential to change the very nature of our beach residential community.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established by Congress in 1968 to de-crease the U.S. government’s fiscal burden associated with future floor disasters. Today, the NFIP provides coverage to nearly 5.6 mil-lion policyholders, with over 2 million policies in Florida.
New rules for federal flood insurance premi-ums were established by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. This law went into effect October 1, 2013. The purpose of the legislation was meant to put the fed-eral program on a more solid fiscal founda-tion and increase catastrophic reserve funds. Not a bad idea, right? After all, Hurricane Ka-trina and Super Storm Sandy put the federal flood insurance program $24 billion in debt. The backers of this legislation believed the only way to eliminate that debt is by elimi-nating the subsidies that keep coastal flood insurance rates affordable for homeowners. So the federal flood insurance credits are being removed. Thus the good idea became one with perhaps unintended, but very bad consequences.
Property owners with mortgages on Fort My-ers Beach are required by their mortgage companies to have flood insurance. Federal
flood insurance is the only flood insurance available. The changes to the NFIP provided some of the affected policy holders with a structured high annual rate increases (25% annually) over time. But it failed to provide a rate increase structure over time for primary residences purchased after July 6, 2012. The act abruptly eliminated those subsidies without any consideration of the financial consequences for affected property owners, including those who own homes on Estero Island.
The result? All property owners on Estero Is-land will see significant rate hikes and new homeowners will see devastating increases in flood insurance premiums this year. People who want to buy property own the beach may choose not to because of the insurance ex-pense. Property owners who need to mortgage their home may no longer be able to afford to live on the island. It may mean real estate on the beach becomes the domain of cash investors who can self insure and who will use their properties as rental investments. That will mean a change to the nature and fabric of our community. Rentals will become more expensive.
Adding insult to this calamity is the fact that Florida has traditionally been a “donor state” to the federal flood insurance program. Since its inception, Florida property owners have contributed over $16 billion in premium pay-ments to the program but have made only $4 billion in claims. Additionally, FEMA has made it more difficult for local government to challenge both flood maps and rates.
Congressman Trey Radel (R-Fort Myers) has shown leadership on this issue. Congress-man Richard Nugent (R-Spring Hill) has proposed legislation (H.R. 3218), which Con-gressman Radel has co-sponsored. This bill will freeze the current and impending rate increases.
The decision made by Congress on H.R. 3218 in the next few months will have a great eco-nomic impact on our beach property owners and real estate community. It is time for ev-ery beach resident to get behind Congress-man Radel’s bill. In addition, each of us needs to encourage our snow bird friends to get their congressional representatives back home to get behind the bill. If they do not, their winter residences or winter rentals will become more expensive in future years.
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John is a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual and our newest Ambassador at the Fort Myers Beach Chamber. He is originally from Connecticut but moved to Southwest Florida to attend Florida Gulf Coast University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management Degree.
John and his Fiancé Meghan are Fort Myers Beach residents, raising their 16 month old daughter Khloe in paradise. He joined the Fort My-ers Beach Chamber to develop relationships with other professionals in his new home town and become more active in the community.
Backed by the strength of Northwestern Mutual, John and his team provide you with a balanced approach to achieving your goal of financial security, assuring that your intentions have been understood and your needs are being addressed. And when it comes to implementing solutions, the full capabilities of Northwestern Mutual are leveraged to provide you with exclusive access to a comprehensive variety of products and services.
John’s primary focus is to develop personal relationships that help individuals create long term financial security for themselves and their families. Feel free to contact John at (239) 676-2330 or stop by his office located in Coconut Point Mall at 23160 Fashion Drive, Suite 217 Estero, FL 33928.
Debra Anderson – Universal VacationsDwayne Bowes – Residence Inn Fort
Myers/SanibelRobb Capps – Premier Florida Realty
John Crane - Northwestern Mutual Naples/Estero Group
Steve DeAngelis – Nervous Nellie’s Inc.Barbara Farrell – iBERIABANK
Jaime Huffman – Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise
Denice Knudsen – Premier Florida RealtySandy Lepley – Century 21 Tripower
Wanda Linatsas – Royal Scoop Ice CreamTerry Luster – Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers
Gateway to the IslandsFran Podraza – CFS Roofing Services
Barb Rich – VIP VacationsJan Ruhstorfer – VIP Vacations
Charles Stallings – Hampton Inn & SuitesEric Tibbs – Edward Jones & Co.
John P. Crane, Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual
It’s time to hit the beach! The American Sand Sculpting Cham-pionships are November 22nd to December 1st, 2013 at the Holi-day Inn on Fort Myers Beach.
Bring the whole gang down to Fort Myers Beach and watch sculp-tors from around the world use over 1,000 tons of sand to turn Fort Myers Beach into a tempo-rary art gallery. Come watch and participate in special events all week long as Master, Advanced Amateur and Amateur competitors battle it out for the number one spot. We invite everyone of all ages to come and learn the tricks of the pros in daily workshops, use their newly acquired skills to compete against fellow audience members, get inspired, and make memories with young ones that will last for years.
27th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship
We need 200 volunteers! No heavy lifting involved. Call Jane Ross at 454-7500 if you can donate some of your time to this event!
For more information, please visit:
www.FMBsandsculpting.com
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Newsletter Ads$50 - 1/8 page $75- 1/4 page $100- 1/2 page
Affordable Member-2-Member Adveritsing
For more details, contact: Cindi D'Andrea at [email protected] or 239-454-7500 ext 206
Best Deal
$150 / INSERT (up to 8.5” x 11”)
NOVEMBER 2013 7FortMyersBeach.org
The Spirit of the Holidays Committee is being chaired by Ginny and Shannon Smith. They are in need of more committee members to help them.
The schedule for the Spirit of the Holiday is:
Tuesday December 3: Dinner/Auction 5:30 to 10:00 pm @ South Beach Grille
Saturday December 14: Pancake Breakfast @ Red Coconut Club House
Monday December 16: Wrapping party @ Red Coconut Club House
Tuesday December 17: Firemen with Santa deliver presents.
The Committee is also seeking donations for the auction. For more information call the Chamber office at 454-7500 or Red Coconut.
Spirit of the Holidays
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PHONE CALLS!
FREEQUOTES
Tax Credit for
DonationsDid you know you can donate that old car, boat, RV, and appliance
to the Fort Myers Beach Chamber Foundation and get a tax credit?
So get on with fall house cleaning, clean out that
garage.
DONATE.
Call Jane at 454-7500 for more information.
NOVEMBER 20138 FortMyersBeach.org
Fort Myers Beach Chamber held their monthly Chamber Coffee Connection at Mango Street Inn on Thursday Oct. 3. Shown (left to right) is Trish Cotte of Torchlight Productions, LLC, Ambassador Debra Anderson of Universal Vacations, Jane Ross of the FMB Chamber, Debra Salyers of Sunshine Window Fashions and Design, Denice Monahan of Seacoast Cottage Co.
Photo by Bob Petcher of the Observer
Coffee Connection
Chamber Coffee Connection Thursday Oct. 3 at Mango Street Inn (left to right) Ambassador Fran Podraza of CFS Services, Ambassador and Board Member Barbara Farrell of iBERIABANK and FMB Town Manager Terry Stewart.
Photo by Jane Ross
Busy ladies take a break at Mango Street Inn (left to right) Ambassador and Board Member Barb Farrell of iBERIABANK, Ambassador Denice Knudsen of Premier Florida Realty and Donna Maul of FMB Community Foundation.
Photo by Jane Ross
Hosts for Chamber Coffee Connection on Thursday Oct. 3 were Town Councilman and Chef Dan Andre and his beautiful wife Tree. They are the owners and operators of the Bed And Breakfast Mango Street Inn located at 126 Mango Street on beautiful Fort Myers Beach.
Photo by Jane Ross
Pictured in center is FMB Elementary School Principal Larry Wood with (on left) Tom Swanbeck of VIP Realty and LaVerne Wicks of Brown and Brown of Fl. Inc. at the Mango Street Inn Chamber Coffee Connection.
Photo by Jane Ross
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Chamber President Bud Nocera and Chairman of the Board Norma Jean Pevey celebrate the Pirate Fest a bit early at the Membership Lunch.
Membership Luncheon
Lunch Sponsor Bill Fagan of SPD Solutions explains how they can save companies money with their trash and recycling.
Guest speaker at the Chamber Membership lunch, Roland Ottolini, address the membership on water quality.
New members of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce receive their plaques at the Membership lunch held at Charley's Boathouse on Thursday October 10. Shown left to right are Chamber Chairman of the Board Norma Jean Pevey with Beth Haely, Brian Johnson and Gina Barfield of Fort Myers Scene; Nick Miller of The Shutter Guy; Richard Humeston of Riptide Wave Runners; and Bud Nocera, Chamber President.
Photos by Jane Ross
THE SAND PAPER HAS GONE MOBILE!www.i-sandpaper.com to check it out the best information guide for our area!
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NOVEMBER 201310 FortMyersBeach.org
Pirate Fest
Photo courtesty of Island Sand Paper
Photo by Bud Nocera Photo by Bud Nocera
Photo courtesty of Island Sand Paper Photo courtesty of Island Sand Paper
Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer
NOVEMBER 2013 11FortMyersBeach.org
Photo by Bud Nocera
Pirate Fest
Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer
Photo by Bud Nocera Photo by Bud Nocera
Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer Photo by Bob Petcher of The Observer
Chamber Members receive 15% Off yourWhole Guest Check ONE COUPON PER TABLE Can not be used with any other offer. 18% Gratuity may be added to bill before discount. 11am - 10pm, Expires October 6th,20131131 1st St., Ft. Myers Beach • www.nervousnellies.netGPS Coordinates: 26”27’23.41” N • 81”57’15.18” W
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