Mentor Appreciation Ceremonies

On June 10 and 11th, we had the wonderful opportunity to recognize all of our Chamber Mentors at the School Board and the Chamber's Friday at the Beach Event.
This year several of our Chamber members have worked together to create our Education Partnership Committee. One of their main objectives was to create a mentoring program with the Bay County School System. As they met, Superintendent Bill Husfelt, their vision became very clear. To start a classroom mentoring program that would empower high school students to see new possibilities for the future.

These mentors have been working at one of the following High Schools:

· Bozeman,

· Mosley,

· Rutherford,

· Rosenwald and

· Bay High School



Each Mentor works with a specific classroom of students, meeting with them once or twice a month throughout the school year. The activities of the mentors vary, depending on the classroom and the teacher. Some of our mentors:

· discussion sessions, to learn more about each other.

· provided educational moments geared towards to their work experience.

· provided teambuilding and trust exercises.

· provided activities related to Success principles.



Most importantly, they were there giving students their undivided attention and support!

We would like to recognize these business leaders and their companies for their dedication, effort and time given to this program.



Ron Sharpe- United Way of Northwest Florida

Carol Brown- Gulf World Marine Park

Erica Spivey- Children’s Home Society

Cheryl Taylor- Gulf Coast Community College

Dr. Carrie Baker- Gulf Coast Community College



Special Thanks to Lori Wolverton from Troy University for her help in coordinating mentors at Rutherford High School.



If you would be interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Skip Alford at the Chamber. 850-235-1159

Committee Monthly Meeting- May 27

Our Beach Chamber Educational Partnership Committee met this week to work on our goals and objectives.

The Chamber is planning several huge fundraising events this year that will help us raise money for our Scholarship Fund. We will have a Golf Tournament- October 15, 2010 (Friday) Hombre Golf Course and a Poker Tournament- August 19, 2010 (Thursday) Ebro Racetrack. Love to see everyone there!
We will also start conducting a 50/50 raffle at the F.A.T.B. Monthly Events.

We will be recognizing our Mentors at two special events this month. June 11th at 7:30- (Marriot) Our mentors and their Companies will be recognized at this FATB meeting. School Board Mentor Wrap Up Meeting- June 10th at Nelson Building@10:00- Please be there for this special event.

Snakes, Dogs and Magazine Cover Shots!

Snakes, Dogs and Magazine Cover Shots!


Snakes, dogs and magazine cover shots! What do these three things possible have in common? They happen to be the conversation starters that got students talking about their personal lives and experiences. Three special Beach Chamber members confidently entered several of Bay County’s schools this week, to meet with the classroom of students they have been mentoring each month. As they open the door to the classrooms, the students were poised and eagerly waiting to see what was in store for the next 30 minutes of class. Eager, maybe, for the reprieve from academic studies, but underneath the conversation starters, these mentors were skillfully weaving in learning lesson that will remain with each student for a lifetime.


This month’s “Focus on the Future” Mentors are:
Erica Spivey, Associate Development Director for Children’s Home Society, mentors Coach Sharon Gilson’s reading class at Bay High School.
Ron Sharpe, Regional Resource Development Director for United Way, mentors Mrs. Ausec class at Mosley High School.
Carol Brown, Education Program Coordinator for Gulf World, mentors Mr. Cantwell and Ms. Prevost, ASPIRE classes at Bozeman School.

If you are interested in mentoring a class of students, contact Lisa Adams, Beach Chamber’s Education Committee Chairperson (email to: www.thrivecoach@gmail.com)

2010 Committee Action Plan

Panama City Beach Chamber’s Education Partnership Committee

Mission: to encourage local business leaders to support and serve our students through motivational and empowering programs.

Committee Chairperson:
Lisa Adams and Lynn Kandler
Committee Members:
Ron Sharpe, United Way
Pat Sabiston, School Board Member
Lori Wolverton, Troy University
David Tipton, The CPA Group
Erica Spivey, Children’s Home Society
Bryan Russell, Health Department
Cheryl Taylor, GCCC
Carol Brown, Gulf World
Lewis Howell, St Joe **
Chris Pariseau, Allegra Printing **
Del Lee, Landmark Gen Contr. **
Pete Mallory, L3 Communication
Skip Alford, Rowland Publishing
Gary Martin, Vision Payment Solution
Janet Kessler, Bay Educ Foundation

2010 Committee Objectives-
1. Maintain at least 10 “active” Chamber members on the Educational Partnership Committee. Active= participating in at least one project, attending monthly meetings, positively contributing to the groups’ mission.
2. -continue to develop, implement and promote the classroom mentoring program with Bay District Schools.
3. -determine, develop and implement a mechanism to provide a Chamber Scholarship Fund for local colleges.
4. -create a system to identify, support and promote other local educational advocate programs to encourage involvement by Chamber members.

Current Status:
1. Seventeen Committee Members (3- Chamber Board Members)
2. 10 Mentors at 5 High Schools in Bay County- working weekly or every other week with 15-30 students at one time.
3. 501 ( C) 3 has been set up with the State of Florida and an banking account has been establish with one Chamber member contributing % of sales.
4. Identifying other organizations in our community working to support the education of children and inviting them to our meeting to present their organizations’ projects for the current year.

Measurable Goals
1. Mentoring Program-
a. Enroll 10 Chamber members to become Classroom Mentors by December 30, 2010.
b. Develop and produce a commercial/ Presentation to promote the Mentoring Program.
c. Be a guest speaker at 1 local Community Events to promote the Chambers Mentoring Program.
d. Conduct a Monthly Conference call to support, share ideas and energize the Classroom Mentors.
e. Create, develop, and post to the web 25 Lesson Plans utilizing and exploring Success Principles to use with the students each week.
f. Develop and maintain the following internet presence for the Mentors; website, blog, Facebook and twitter groups. Update at least once a month.
2. 501 C-
a. Gather information and set up an action plan of steps to be completed.
b. TBD.

3. Other Organizations-
a. Create a List of Non-Profit Organizations that support Education.
b. Establish which ones are Chamber Members and non Chamber Members and work on enrolling at least 80% of the organization into becoming Chamber members.
c. Request information on goals and projects for the year.
d. Make contact with each group and invite at least one organization to present at our monthly committee meetings. Collaborate on programs to enhance education.
e. Set up a system for promoting these projects and events to Chamber members.

February Meeting

Our Educational Partnership Chamber Committee have been working to finalize our objectives and goals for 2010.
The committee meet last Thursday and had two guest speaker present about their organizations.
Mary Alice Gollwitzer, from Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, shared the interesting programs that are available to the schools to enhance life skills and an entrepreneurial spirit among students.
Margie Mazur, from Gulf Coast Community College Foundation, spoke about the scholorship endowment process.

Our first Blog

Our next Committee meeting will be Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 1:30 in the Beach Chamber Boardroom.
We will be creating our new committee goals for 2010. Please join us and be a part of this partnership of Education and Business!
Thanks,
Lisa Adams