CHAMBER CHOWDER© - Key West Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER CHOWDER©
510 Greene Street ~ 1st Floor, Key West
Key West Fire Department Welcomes
Rescue Responsibilities
Key West Chamber of Commerce President Nicki Will, left, thanks Key West Fire
Department Division Chief Eddie Perez for his presentation about the city’s EMS and
ambulance service during the Chamber’s March luncheon at the Marriott Beachside Resort.
ell-stocked, fully staffed, skilled and certified, the Key West Fire
Department is eager to assume responsibility for the city’s ambulance and
rescue services at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1st.
Fire Department Division Chief Eddie Perez reviewed the department’s plans,
preparations and personnel additions for members of the Key West Chamber of
Commerce during the organization’s March 25th membership luncheon at the
Marriott Beachside Resort.
Perez thanked the Key West City Commission for giving the fire department
the chance to take over EMS services following the announcement last year that the
privately contracted CARE Ambulance company was pulling out of Key West.
The fire department hired all of the CARE employees, all but one of whom is a
licensed paramedic, which requires a higher degree of medical training that authorizes
paramedics to administer drugs and IVs.
“You can’t run an ambulance service in Key West the same way you would in
Miami or elsewhere,” Perez said. “The Key West Fire Department was established in
1875, and we have no plans on leaving. We’re here to stay and we’d really like to thank
the City Commission and the community for this opportunity.”
As of 7:00 a.m. on April 1st, 911 emergency calls will be routed through
the fire department, which recently hired 15 new employees to handle the new
responsibilities, including paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
All are cross-trained as firefighters for added efficiency.
“We don’t have as many issues with employee retention as other employers in the
city,” Perez said, describing the fire department as a true brotherhood.
He said the department has been working closely with Florida Keys Community
College, “because we’re hoping to bring some of our specialized training classes down here,
so our employees don’t have to travel to the mainland for these training opportunities.”
Perez also complimented Monroe County Fire Rescue for its help and cooperation
during the transition to an in-house ambulance service.
“The fire department is ready to respond on April 1st,” Perez said, describing
the department as a “brotherhood.” “Our ambulances are stocked and ready.
continued on page 3 4
W
Page 1
Chamber Chowder
Vol. 18, No. 4
www.keywestchamber.org
Message from President Nicki Will
I
would like to
address in my April
message the new
Chamber website and
Goal 3 of Vision 2020.
Please take some
time to peruse the
Chamber’s new and
improved
website
and
contact
the
Chamber office with
any comments or suggestions. The Chamber
team has spent a great deal of time and effort
so let them know what you think. The Key
West Chamber of Commerce is a wealth of
information on tourism in the Keys. Please visit
the Chamber’s website for additional information
at www.keywestchamber.org.
Vision 2020. This month I would also like to
touch on Goal 3 from Vision 2020. Goal 3. We
will have an expanded 10-month tourist season.
Our visitors will more likely arrive by boat or
fly, arriving at improved dock facilities or the
new, improved airport.
Our community certainly has seen changes in
tourism over the past decade. A new and improved
airport was built. Locals appreciate it as well. Success
was also enjoyed by adding AirTran/Southwest for
a time period bolstering airport arrivals in 2013 to
nearly 400,000 or almost 100,000 greater than in
continued on page 34
Table of Contents
Business Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A Tiger in the Woods Golf Tournament . . . . . . . 4
Tom Sawyer 5 Star Program . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Business Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Marketing Your Business Seminar Re-cap . . . . . . . 8
Business After Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cruise Ship Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Student Scholarship Opportunities . . . . . . . . . 11
Chamber Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . 12
April 2015
Spotlight Shines on ... Bud Brewer, Romoco, Inc.
first Volkswagen dealership in the 1950s.
“Then I was in the liquor business for awhile,” is how Brewer describes his
25-year ownership of the storied Esquire Lounge that was located in the North
Roosevelt Boulevard property known simply as The Brewer Building.
The same building now houses Conch Town Bar and Liquor Store, and
Brewer’s office is still on the second floor as it has been for more than 40 years.
“I’ve owned that building for a number of years, and I still own other rental
properties,” Brewer says with his typical reluctance to talk about himself.
The longtime entrepreneur still maintains close ties to the U.S. Navy and is
an ardent supporter of the Key West Navy League.
And although no one wants a vacation to end, coming home to Key West
always makes it easier. Following his current bout of wanderlust, Bud Brewer
will happily return, as he always has, to the island that has been his home since
President Harry Truman had his own home here.
Each month, the Chamber of Commerce spotlights a business or professional
person whose business card is drawn at the Business After Hours. This month’s winner
is Bud Brewer, Romoco, Inc..
espite his self-proclaimed status as, “semi-retired,” Key West businessman
Bud Brewer has things to do and people to see. But most of all, the
longtime Key West entrepreneur has places to go.
“I’ve been doing a lot of traveling,” said Brewer, who owns Romoco, Inc.
property management company with his son, Preston. The father-son team owns
and manages a variety of commercial and residential properties. Their assorted
real estate holdings include North Roosevelt Boulevard storefronts, waterfront
condominiums and New Town apartment buildings.
And when Bud Brewer says he’s been travelling, he’s not talking about a
day trip to Miami or a weekend in Manhattan.
“I was in Mexico recently to see the monarch butterflies, and next week
I’m heading to South America, and then Alaska in June,” he said, recalling a recent
trek up a volcanic mountain in Central Mexico that involved horseback riding and
hiking to an altitude of 10,000 feet.
“You could barely breathe up at that altitude,” said Brewer, who will
never forget the sight of tens of millions of monarch butterflies hanging in clumps
of thousands from specialized fir trees.
With the prolonged winter finally coming to an end in the rest of the United
States, Brewer returned to Key West for a few weeks after Mexico and before his
next trip to Colombia and Brazil in South America.
“Then in June, I’m heading to Alaska, stopping first in Denali National
Park,” said Brewer, who was born in Virginia, but had moved to the Redlands,
near Homestead, by the time he was in high school.
After that, Brewer served aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier as a “crash
firefighter” on the flight deck of the behemoth carrier.
In 1949, he moved to Key West and at one point worked as a car salesman for
fellow entrepreneur and philanthropist Edward Knight, who owned the island’s
Connect with
the Chamber on
Facebook
D
T
he Key West Chamber of Commerce would like
to help promote our member businesses events
and activities through our Key West Chamber
of Commerce Facebook page. If you have special news,
hosting an event or activity and want to share the news
with other chamber members please email event details to
[email protected]. Also, if you have any pictures
that we could use please email them as well.
Help Us to Help You! It Takes Two – The Chamber
and You!
If you are not already following the Key West
Chamber of Commerce on Facebook, please take a
moment to like our page!
www.facebook.com/KeyWestChamber
The Chamber Chowder Heartily Thanks These Businesses for Their Generous Support of this Issue of the Newsletter
Ernest Hemingway
House Museum
907 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-1136
Page 2
Porter Allen
Insurance Company
513 Southard Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-2542
La Concha
Crowne Plaza
430 Duval Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-296-2991
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
AT&T
Advertising Solutions
9850 NW 41st St.
Doral, FL 33178
305-482-2601
Old Town Key West
Development
201 Front Street, Suite 301
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-3225
April 2015
“State of the County Update” continued from page 1 4
President’s Message continued from page 1 4
Although it’s normally the worst
day of your life when you need
ambulance services, we’ll be there
to help in every way we can.”
It’s not unusual for a cruise
ship to pull into Key West and
offload three or four people in its
sick bay, Perez said, adding that the
department’s strategic positioning
of ambulances throughout the
island city will ensure continued
rapid response times.
“The ideal response time
nationwide is eight minutes,” Perez
said. “The national average is 10
minutes, and the Key West Fire
Department maintains an average
of three minutes to respond to any
place on the island. We’re working
on some big things.”
Perez described electronic
record keeping and incident
reporting, “So a year from now, we’ll
be able to tell you how many scooter
accidents with injuries happened at
a certain intersection,” he said.
The only unknowns at this
point involve some of the financial
questions about collection rates,
meaning how much the city
department will be able to collect
from patients it transports.
“There will be a fee for service,”
Perez said. “The only place I know
of that doesn’t charge to take you to
the hospital is Walt Disney World.”
The fire department estimates
that the new ambulance service
will add an additional $1.5
million to $1.8 million to the
fire department’s budget once the
service is up and running.
In preparation for the
transition, the department spent
$540,000 on new equipment,
including three new ambulances
that are also equipped with firefighting gear, and $31,500 on
supplies, licensing and fees, Perez
said in answer to a question from
Chamber of Commerce Executive
Vice President Virginia Panico
about expenditures.
Perez also assured attorney
David Paul Horan that the city will
not end up being responsible for
unpaid trauma flight bills.
2003. Unfortunately due to circumstances in the airline industry,
Southwest discontinued operations to Key West in mid-2014.
However, the new facilities and growth did enable the Key West
International Airport to repay the nearly $30 million bond for
the new terminal 23 years earlier than the due date, a tremendous
accomplishment.
Tourism has changed with regard to the cruise ship industry
as well. According to the Key West Port Operations Office the
height of the cruise passenger volume in Key West was in 2003
when 1,067,222 passenger arrivals were logged for our city. Fast
forward to 2014 with 796,960 passenger arrivals. The projected
cruise passenger volume trend for 2015 is expected to be lower
than 2014. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council
also estimates that over 300,000 persons undertake day trips to
Key West in a year.
So as far as a 10-month season, we consider the “off season”
to be August and September and the “shoulder season” as May
through July and October through December. If you look at
the trends in bed tax collection (see data on Chamber web site
and in the newsletter) over the past decade, you certainly can
see the trends of strengthening of the shoulder season months
with September continuing to be the weakest month. Over time
many organizations have planned events including cultural,
sporting, life style and so forth for the “shoulder season” and the
work has paid off.
The amount of Key West bed tax, the four penny bed tax,
collected in 2014 was $17,664,753, an increase of 8.9% from
2014. The amount of bed tax collected a decade earlier in 2004
was $7,271,371. Although inflation and CPI would factor in, I
do not believe anyone would argue that this is not a substantial
increase. We are certainly thankful for our healthy economy and
strong tourism industry.
Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber.
Please let me know how we may better serve you.
Page 3
Horan asked Perez whether
city dispatchers will summon
the county-owned Trauma Star
helicopter, which is based in
Marathon and free for Monroe
County residents, or the privately
owned LifeNet helicopter, which
is based at Lower Keys Medical
Center on Stock Island. LifeNet
flights to mainland trauma
centers come with a price tag of
about $55,000.
“I’ll be honest, in the city of
Key West, time is of the essence, and
LifeNet’s ETA is eight minutes until
they’re on the scene and loading
the patient into the helicopter,”
Perez said. “Trauma Star is about 25
minutes until we can get you in the
air, and when it’s a matter of life and
death, we call the closest option,
which is LifeNet.”
Horan wanted to know who
is responsible for the outstanding
trauma flight bills when patients
can’t afford the $55,000 flight.
“If in fact you guys are the
ones calling LifeNet, can they
turn around and bill the city for
people’s unpaid bills?” Horan
asked. “Because if that’s the case
it’s going to be real easy for the city
to determine that it will be much
cheaper to just put Trauma Star in
Key West.”
Perez assured the Chamber
audience that “the cost won’t
ultimately fall back to the city.”
The new in-house ambulance
service received a strong vote of
confidence from City Commissioner
Mark Rossi, who closed the
presentation by commending Perez
and assuring the audience they’re in
good hands.
“You don’t realize how much
work Eddie’s done behind the
scenes to get this done,” Rossi said.
“I’m telling you, rest assured, they’re
going to be just fine.”
The new city ambulance
service will have staff members
positioned at all three fire stations,
including
North
Roosevelt
Boulevard, Kennedy Drive and
the new downtown fire house on
Simonton Street.
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Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
MY100BANK.COM
A Home BancShares Company (Nasdaq:HOMB)
April 2015
PLATNIUM SPONSORS:
Charley Toppino & Sons
Waste Management
CLUBHOUSE SPONSORS:
Centennial Bank, Horan, Wallace & Higgins, Icamco, Isaksen Insurance, Lower Keys Medical Center, T.E.M. Environmental, Island Dental, Westin Key West Resort
Par 3 Sponsors:
Anderson Outdoor Advertising
Beverage Cart Sponsor:
and
Key West Marriott Beachside Resort
OMI/CH2mHillAdvertising
RAFFLE PRIZES, GOODY BAG ITEMS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Dear Valued Chamber
Members,
the
r 10th Annual “Tiger inth at
ou
for
ed
ed
ne
ll
sti
is
t
April 26
Your suppor
nt scheduled on Sunday,
Woods” Golf Tourname . At this time we are reaching out to
is event through
the Key West Golf Club
continued support of th
our members for your tificates and/or prizes for this year’s
the donation of gift certhat can be placed in the goody bag.
event, as well as itemsmembers has enabled us to continue to
The generosity of our ber’s member events and community
fund many of the Chamour entire island, including a $10,000
programs which benefit
donation to FIRM.
rnament with
ed for the day of the tou
Volunteers are also need d food tent workers.
set up, hole watchers, an
e 10th Annual
ll consider supporting th ar. For more
wi
u
yo
pe
ho
ely
cer
sin
e
ye
W
Golf Tournament this
“Tiger in the Woods” rship opportunities contact Kerry Baker
information and sponso4-2587 or [email protected].
the chamber at 305-29
support.
ideration, and continued
Thank you for your cons
Sincerely,
Anderson
Greg Sullivan and John hairs
Golf Tournament Co-C
Page 4
KEY WEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
10TH ANNUAL TIGER IN THE
WOODS GOLF TOURNAMENT
SUNDAY, APRIL 26th, 2015
REGISTER TO PLAY
Registration fee: $125
Includes:
• Food & beverage throughout
the day on the course.
• Roast pork dinner.
• Putting contest entry.
• Red tees and Mulligans.
• Goody bag.
Prizes to include:
• $500 cash closest to the pin par 3
contest— holes: #5, #8, #13, & #16
• Prizes on every hole
• 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in each flight
• Closest to the hole prizes
• Longest putt
To register contact the Key West
Golf Club at 305-294-5232
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
Are you taking advantage of your membership privileges?
M
embership does have its privileges, and they’re not only for credit card holders. As part of its ongoing effort to support local
businesses, the Key West Chamber of Commerce offers services that are available exclusively to its members.
Officials at the organization want to remind people this spring about the “Members Only” section of its website at www.
keywestchamber.org.
By clicking the Members Only link from the Key West Chamber’s home page, members will log in with a username and password
that is assigned when their membership begins.
From that page, members can click in the members only resources link to review the Chamber’s financial reports; its revenues,
assets and expenses, and this section is also home to the myriad surveys the Chamber conducts periodically to gauge the business
environment. The results of each survey also are posted on that page when the responses are tallied. Members can also view the latest
cruise ship schedules.
In addition members may also update their contact information to ensure that the names and phone numbers are current for
the tourism operators fielding phone calls, live chats and emails seeking information.
The Members Only page allows members to submit details about an upcoming special event, fundraiser, play, performance
or lecture. Pending approval the event will be included in the online Calendar of Events, which is available to everyone who
visits the Chamber’s website, regardless of their membership status. Some events also will appear in the monthly Chamber
Chowder newsletter that is distributed electronically to all members on the first of each month, as well as the weekly “Chamber
Chatter” E-Newsletter.
Members will see on the financial reports the income derived and expenses incurred from the Chamber special events such as the
annual golf tournament, the monthly Business After Hours and from yearly membership dues, which last year represented $214,000
of the Key West Chamber’s overall budget.
The Members Only web page can be a valuable tool for the organization’s members. Anyone who needs to know their
business’s username and password to access the page should contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 305-294-2587 or
stop by the office at 510 Greene St. to be sure you’re taking advantages of all the privileges of membership.
Chamber members can make a difference to local students!
How? By contributing $100 to the
Honor Roll 100/Charley P. Toppino Memorial Scholarship Fund.
This fund provides a $15,000 scholarship to a Key West High School
student over four years and is awarded annually.
Not only will your company earn the sincere appreciation of the
student who receive this scholarship, but your company will have
earned one of the available five stars in the
Tom Sawyer Five Star Program.
To donate to the scholarship program contact the Chamber at
[email protected] or 305-294-2587
Page 5
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
Passenger arrivals to Key West
International Airport in February 2015
totaled 32,551. This is a decrease of
12.2% when compared to February of
2014.
Key West International Airport Arrivals
January 2010 - February 2015
50,000
AirTran service began 12/2009
Southwest service ends 06/07/14 and
Silver Airways assumes limited routes
45,000
Deplanements
40,000
35,000
Total passenger arrivals for the first two
months of 2015 were 65,460. That is a
12.4% decrease over the same period in
2014. These monthly decreases of just
over 12% are half the 20-25% decreases
we were seeing monthly last year,
following Southwest's withdraw in June
2014.
Southwest acquired
Airtran 11/2012
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Source: Key West International Airport
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
A total of 84,501 cruise ship passengers
disembarked in Key West during February
2015. This was 5.1% higher than
February of 2014, which saw 80,368
passengers disembark.
Key West Cruise Ship Passengers
January 2010 - February 2015
120,000
For the two months of 2015, cruise ship
arrivals saw 173,419 passengers
disembark from 82 port calls. While port
calls are up 10.8% so far for 2015,
passenger counts are only up 6.8% over
the same period in 2014.
Passengers
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
The cruise ship schedule for April through
June 2015 compared to the same three
months in 2014 is shown below:
20,000
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
April
May
June
Source: City of Key West Port Operations
2010 Source:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Key West International Airport
2015
Bed Tax Collections in Dollars
2,500,000
Lexington Properties
offline for renovation
6/16/13 (519 Beds)
BP Oil Spill 4/20/10
2,000,000
4th Penny Tax
Implemented 6/1/09
1,500,000
According to Smith Travel, January
2015 occupancy was 92.4%, a 1.4
percentage point decrease from the
January 2014 occupancy rate of 93.8%.
1,000,000
500,000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Source: Monroe County Tax Collector
2010
Page 6
2011
2012
2013
2014
Number of Ships
2014
2015
32
34
24
12
16
12
Reported Bed Tax Collections for Key
West were $1,924,561 for January 2015,
an increase of 10.7% compared to
January 2014.
Key West Bed Tax Collections
January 2010 - January 2015
0
The increases to date are being seen in
American and Silver, with 35% and 59%,
respectively.
The Average Daily Rate (ADR) was
reported at $315.66 for January 2015,
an increase of 9.2% from the ADR of
$289.06 posted for January 2014. This
ADR of $315.66 is the highest recorded
for the month of January. This continues
the record of 60 months where the ADR
has been higher than the previous year. In
fact, the last 46 months are all-time
records for each month.
2015
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
Local Taxes in Review
Major Legislated Taxes Collected in the Florida Keys
Source: FL DOR; Monroe County Tax Collector
250
$17.7
Million
Since 2012 Visitors pay more to sleep than Residents
Key West Bed Tax revenue hits $17.7 million in 2014
versus the City Property Tax levy of $15.7 million 192.2
$31.2
75.2
79.9
98.5
99.3
177.0
2012
$27.9
$25.4
69.4
14.2
2011
15.7
2010
MC School Property Tax
95.1
96.7
105
$23.3
77.1
14.5
$19.8
2009
City of Key West Property Tax
167.4
157.4
142.0
78.2
2008
15.4
$16.2
78.1
15.3
$14.8
14.9
2007
Sales Tax
110.7
113.1
139.4
149.9
84.2
112.8
118.4
$15.1
2006
Bed tax
14.8
2005
15.4
12.1
$13.7
50
$14.2
73.6
81.2
106.2
100
157.9
159.7
153.0
Dollars in Millions
4th Penny Bed Tax Implemented June 2009
71.7
October 2005
Hurricane Wilma
150
0
April 20, 2010
BP Oil Spill
December 2007 ‐ June 2009
Great Recession
14.9
August 2005
Hurricane Katrina
200
2013
2014
Monroe County Property Tax
While Floridian's enjoy not paying state or local
income tax, tracking down the taxes that are paid can
be like herding cats. Here we try to give the "Catman"
a run for his money.
The "Bed Tax" on lodging is made up of the Tourist
Development and the Impact taxes. Key West
generates about 58% of the total $31.2 million in
2014, or $17.7 million.
Taxing Authorities and Their Sources of Revenues*
Monroe County
The 4 penny Tourist Development Tax on lodging
funds the Tourist Development Council (TDC).
$78 million in Property Taxes
$53 million in Sales & Tourist Taxes
$17 million in Shared Taxes & Grants
$62 million in Charges for Sevices
$9 million in Other Fees
MC School District
Source: Monroe County Fiscal 2015 Adopted Budget‐in‐Brief
$76 million in Property Taxes
$16 million in Sales Taxes
$25 million in Federal & State funds
$3 million in Charges for Sevices
$2 million in Investment Income
City of Key West
Source: keysschools.com, Tentative Annual Budget 2014‐2015
$15 million in Property Taxes
$14 million in Sales Taxes
$11 million in Shared Taxes & Grants
$40 million in Charges for Sevices
$7 million in Other Fees
$5 million in Rents
The 1 penny Tourist Impact Tax on lodging funds ½ a penny to the County and ½ a penny to the Land Authority.
The 7½ penny Sales Tax is comprised of the State's
6% tax, the County's 1% Infrastructure Tax, and the
School District's ½% Capital Improvement Tax.
Many believe a sales tax is preferable because
estimates are that about 60% of the $192.2 million in
revenues for 2014 were paid by tourists.
The aggregate 4.903 County Millage Rate is
comprised of levies for general and special purpose
districts (Mosquito Control), some of which do not
apply to incorporated areas. Not included in the $99.3
million in County property taxes for 2014 are the
School District and Municipalities, such as Key West
which are stated separately here.
The 3.626 County School District Millage Rate is
composed of a State 1.878 mills portion, a District
0.748 mills portion, and a District capital
improvement 0.500 mills portion. The School District
relies heavily on property taxes as a percentage of total
funding, at 62%.
The 2.7743 City of Key West Millage Rate levied
$15.7 million for 2014. Included in the City's $40
million in Charges for Services are disembarkments,
dockage, and parking of $3.5, $3.7, $4.9 million,
respectively.
Source: cityofkeywest‐fl.gov, Fiscal Year 2014‐15 Budget
*Internal transfers, fund balances and non-revenue sources disregarded
Page 7
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
FREE STUFF
Marketing Your Business Seminar
from the Key West
Chamber of Commerce
D
The Key West Chamber of Commerce presented a “Marketing
Your Business” Seminar on Friday, March 20, 2015 at the Key
West Marriott Beachside Hotel. The seminar was hosted by
nationally known facilitator, speaker and trainer, Debbie Mason.
Those who attended the seminar left knowing: different ways of
rethinking/building your brand, understanding differentiation,
marketing, PR and planning, message development, website and
blog trends, social media best practices, evaluation strategies.
Missed the seminar? Contact the Key West Chamber for upcoming
conferences at 305-294-2587.
Page 8
o you have an upcoming Family/
High School Reunion, a Key West
Wedding, or Business Retreat? The
Key West Chamber of Commerce is offering
FREE VISITOR INFORMATION for
you to place in your welcome bags!
Made for you by yours truly, Ms. Gladys!
Your welcome bags can be stuffed with
visitor’s guides, coupons, maps, brochures
for shopping in the Key West area, different
Accommodations for Hotels, Resorts and
Bed & Breakfasts, Key West Museums and
Attractions, Restaurants, Watersports, EcoTours, Sunset Cruises; you name it!
Have an event coming up with out of
town guests, give us a call today! We are here
to help you and your visitors’ Key West stay
more enjoyable and worry free. The visitor
information packets are free for pick up in the
Key West Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s
Lobby or only a nominal charge if shipped.
If you would like your business coupon or
brochure involved in our welcome bags and
presented in our Visitor’s Lobby please join
our Rack Card Program. To advertise with
your business card it is only $5.00 a month,
for a brochure just $10.00 a month.
For more information on FREE STUFF
from the Key West Chamber or joining our
Rack Card Program please contact Emily at
the Key West Chamber (305) 294-2587 or by
email: [email protected]. Thank you!
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2015
Hosted by: First State Bank of the Florida Keys, 1201 Simonton Street
Page 9
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
Cruise Ship Schedule
Welcome New Members!
April 2015
04/01 Azamara Journey
04/02 Majesty of the Seas
04/03 Constellation
04/03 SS Navigator
04/04 NO SHIPS
04/05 Constellation
04/06 Serenade
04/07Ecstasy
04/07 C. Dream
04/08 AIDAVita
04/09 Majesty of the Seas
04/10 Carnival Victory
04/11 Disney Wonder
04/12 Vision
04/12 Brilliance
04/12 Amadea
04/13 Disney Magic
04/13Ryndam
04/14Ecstasy
04/14 C. Magic
04/15 SS Navigator
04/15 Grandeur
04/16 Majesty of the Seas
04/17 NO SHIPS
04/18 NO SHIPS
04/19 Oriana
04/20 Carnival Freedom
04/21Ecstasy
04/22 NO SHIPS
04/23 Majesty of the Seas
04/24 Regatta
04/25 Disney Wonder
04/26 Brilliance
04/27 C. Conquest
04/27 Disney Magic
04/28 C. Magic
04/29 NO SHIPS
04/30 Majesty of the Seas
12:00pm-6:00pm
9:30am-6:00pm
8:00am-5:00pm
8:00am-5:00pm
8:00am-5:00pm
11:00am-5:00pm
7:30am-1:30pm
8:00am-5:00pm
8:00am-4:00pm
9:30am-6:00pm
7:30am-2:00pm
11:30am-6:00pm
11:00am-6:00pm
11:30am-5:30pm
2:00pm-8:00pm
11:30am-7:45pm
12:00am-6:00pm
7:30am-1:30pm
10:00am-7:00pm
7:00am-1:00pm
9:00am-5:00pm
9:30am-6:00pm
8:00am-5:00pm
10:00am-6:00pm
7:30am-1:30pm
9:30am-6:00pm
6:30am-3:00pm
11:00am-5:30pm
11:30am-5:30pm
8:00am-4:00pm
11:30am-7:45pm
10:00am-7:00pm
10:30am-6:00pm
The Key West Chamber of Commerce welcomed new members to the organization during its
March luncheon. Pictured left to right: Karem Kramer of Exit Realty; Membership Committee CoChair Joyce Benavides; Stephen Walker of Star Parking Lots; Membership Committee Co-Chair
Kim Works and Key West Chamber of Commerce President Nicki Will. Other new members not
pictured include Double Down Sportfishing and Gulfstream Fishing and Party Boat.
Double Down Sportfishing
Gulfstream Fishing, Inc.
1801 No. Roosevelt Blvd., Slip #14
Key West, FL 33040
305-304-2314
www.doubledownsportfishing.com
Fishing Charter
Contact: Captain Brice Barr
Sponsored by: Key West
Charter Boat Association
1801 No. Roosevelt Blvd., Slip #8
Key West, FL 33040
305-296-8494
www.gulfstreamkeywest.com
Fishing Charter – Party Boat
Contact: Captain Jamie Snediker
Sponsored by: Key West
Charter Boat Association
Exit Realty Key West
Star Parking Lots, LLC.
1722 No. Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-2230
www.welcometokeywest.com
Real Estate
Contact: Ms. Karem Kramer
P.O. Box 6163
Key West, FL 33040
305-509-4110
Parking Lots
Contact: Mr. Stephen Walker
Share Your Event Information
The Key West Chamber of Commerce strives for comprehensive coverage and promotion of Key West events that
benefit our local organizations, businesses, citizens and visitors; however, we can only do this with your help!
We’d like to remind everyone that we do have an online calendar of events that we are happy to add your organization
events to. In addition, your event would be listed in our weekly newsletter, the Chamber Chatter, and our monthly
newsletter, the Chamber Chowder, that is posted online at www.keywestchamber.org. Best of all—your event listing is
free! To submit an event, please contact Emily at [email protected] with your event details.
Page 10
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
Community Calendar
April 2015
4/1
Jimmy and the Coral
Reefers at San Carlos
Institute http://www.
margaritaville.tv/thisones-really-for-you
4/4
Mote Marine’s Inaugural
Tuna Trot Race for
the Reef 5K Run/
Walk; 305-292-7963
4/4
Sixth Annual Florida
Keys Ocean Festival &
Waterfront Craft Show
11am-6pm at Florida
Keys Eco-Discovery
Center; 305-393-6022
4/5
Key West Artisan Market at
1111 Eaton Street 10am2pm; 305-294-7994
4/6
Memphis at Tennessee
Williams Theatre
8pm www.keystix.
com; 305-295-7676
4/8-11 Second Annual Viking
Yachts Key West
Challenge; 609296-6000x345
4/4-11/30Key West Fishing
Tournament; 305-295-6601
4/11 Florida Keys Community
College VIP Series:
Discover DaVinci &
Michelangelo: Side by Side
at Tennessee Williams
Theatre 8:00 pm www.
keystix.com; 305-295-7676
4/11 CASINO NIGHT at the
VFW 7:00pm-10:00pm;
305-304-1182
4/12 Vintners’ Dinner at Casa
Marina; 305-296-6196
4/12 13th Annual Michelle’s
Willie Wonka Chocolate
Festival SM House from
11am-3pm; 305-293-7104
4/15 The Customs House: The
Curator Sessions 12:30pm1:30pm; 305-295-6616
4/15-19 Key West Sailfish
Championship;
305-395-3474
4/17-18 20th Annual American
Cancer Society’s Relay
for Life Lower Keys at
KW Highschool Track
Page 11
6:00pm-12:00pm
Contact: Mark Batzel at
mark.batzel@cancer.
org or Scott Duszynski
at [email protected]
4/17-26 33nd Annual Conch
Republic Independence
Celebration www.
conchrepublic.com;
305-294-2298
4/18-7/315th Annual Key West
Art Garden at Key West
Botanical Gardens;
305-296-1504
4/18 34th Annual 7 Mile Bridge
Run, 6:45am-9:00am
7milebridgerun@gmail.
com; 305-395-7040
4/18 2nd Annual Cow Key
Bridge Run http://
cowkeybridgerun.
com/home.htm
4/22 Kathy Griffin at Tennessee
Williams Theatre
8pm www.keystix.
com; 305-295-7676
4/24 Monroe County 2015
Law Enforcement Torch
Run; 305-292-7027
4/25 American Cancer
Society Diamond Gala
of the Keys at Key
West Marriot Beachside
6:00pm-11:00pm; 305292-2333 ext. 4904
4/26 10th Annual Key West
Chamber of Commerce
Golf Tournament;
305-294-2587
4/26 13th Annual WILLIE
WONKA CHOCOLATE
FESTIVAL at the
Southernmost House
11am-3pm; 305-296-0021
4/28-5/16Waterfront Playhouse
presents: ME AND
JEZEBAL 310 Wall Street
at 8pm; 305-294-5015
4/29-5/23Red Barn Theatre
presents: Venus in
Fur 319 Duval St. at
8pm; 305-296-9911
4/30-5/3Key West Paddleboard
Classic; 305-304-4259
Key West Chamber
of Commerce
Student
Scholarship
Opportunities
I
t’s that time of year when students (and parents!)
are looking for any scholarship funds they can
find to help defray some of the costs of attending
college. That’s where the Key West Chamber of
Commerce’s Education Committee can help! We
offer both the Honor Roll 100/Charley P. Toppino
Memorial Award and the Rachel & Billy Appelrouth
Scholarship Award to local high school seniors who
plan on furthering their education.
The Honor Roll 100/Charley P. Toppino Memorial
Award is a $15,000 scholarship given over a four year
period that is awarded to a student at Key West High
School. Applicants for this scholarship must have a strong
background in community service and carry an honor
roll grade average that’s in the top 10% of their class.
In addition, the student should have a sincere financial
need. Strong consideration is given to applicants who
plan to live and work in Key West. Part-time enrollment
students do not qualify. If there is a tie vote among two
student applicants the Committee may have the option
of awarding a scholarship to both students in the amount
of $7,500 each over a four year period.
The Rachel & Billy Appelrouth Scholarship Award
is a $1,000 scholarship awarded to a young man and
woman attending Key West High School that carry a
mid-range grade average as well as a strong background
in community and volunteer service. Additionally, all of
the students must be enrolled full-time in a college for
the coming semester and have a sincere financial need.
Don’t let your student miss out, or if you don’t have
a student that is currently eligible, then let your friends
and family know about these scholarships so that they
make take advantage of them! Application packets are
available from Ms. Gavin Townsend, at the Key West
High School ([email protected]).
Members may also earn a star in the Chamber’s Tom
Sawyer Five Star Program by contributing $100.00 to
the student scholarship fund. For more information
or to make a donation, please contact the Chamber at
305-294-2587 or [email protected].
Chamber Chowder ©
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015
CHAMBER CHOWDER©
510 Greene Street ~ 1st Floor, Key West
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Nicki Will, President
Lower Keys Medical Center/294-9200
Greg Sullivan, Vice President
Waste Management/434-9140
Randy Moore, Treasurer
First State Bank/296-6231
Sam Holland/Secretary
The Conch House/293-0020
Robin Lockwood MD, Past President
Robin Lockwood, MD/296-2212
Melissa Kendrick, Appointee
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum/294-2633x24
Cara Higgins, Appointee
Horan, Wallace & Higgins, LLP/294-4585
Virginia A. Panico, Executive Vice President
Key West Chamber of Commerce/294-2587
CHAMBER STAFF
Virginia A. Panico
Executive Vice President
Steven Weed
Director of Research
www.keywestchamber.org
Key West Chamber Calendar of Events
April 2015
May 2015
Business After Hours
Date: Thursday, April 9th
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Key West Golf Club
and Waste Management, Inc.
Location: 6450 College Road
Members Only Networking Event
Business After Hours
Date: Wednesday, May 13th
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Conch Town Liquor & Lounge
Location: 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
Members Only Networking Event
General Membership Meeting
Date: Wednesday, April 22nd
Noon
Speaker: Key West Chamber Executive
Vice-President Virginia A. Panico
Topic: Presenting the Key West
Chamber of Commerce New Website
Location: Doubletree Grand Key Resort
Please RSVP to the Chamber
at 305-294-2587 or email:
[email protected]
General Membership Meeting
Date: Wednesday, May 27th
Noon
Speaker: The Honorable Holly
Raschein, State Representative
Topic: Update on the 2015
Legislative Session
Location: Key West Marriott Beachside
Please RSVP to the Chamber
at 305-294-2587 or email:
[email protected]
Key West Chamber of Commerce Presents:
10th Annual “Tiger In The Woods” Golf Tournament
Date: Sunday, April 26th
Tee Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Key West Golf Club
To register, sponsor, donate raffle prizes or volunteer,
please contact the Chamber at 305-294-2587
or via email: [email protected]
Mari-Lynn Boerma
Executive Assistant
Kerry Baker
Membership Director/Special
Events Coordinator
Gladys Clarks
Tourist Information Receptionist
Emily Brogdon, Nancy Caruthers
Office Assistants/Tourist
Information Operators
Virginia A. Panico
Newsletter Editor
Cindy Jefferson
Art Director
Page 12
Chamber Chowder
Vol. 18, No. 4
April 2015