May 2014 Newsletter - North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce

www.northbaldwinchamber.com
May 2014
Welcome to our newest
North Baldwin Chamber
Members!
Earthly Delights
Kevin Dyess
251-600-9474
Kona Ice
Cherri Pacatta or Angie Surgenor
251-586-8808
Berney Office Solutions
Jon Cline or CJ Crawford
251-660-0710
Tupperware
Debra Stringer
251-605-3731
Lighthouse of the Angels
Debra Stringer
251-866-5708
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce hosted a
Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, March 27th to
welcome Vapor Parlor to the Chamber Family. The
Vapor Parlor is located at 130-A Courthouse
Square in Bay Minette.
The Vapor Parlor offers electronic rechargeable
cigarettes combined with a wide variety of flavored
liquids containing different levels of nicotine.
Vapors are a growing trend among smokers who
are looking to put down the cigarettes in exchange
for a healthier and more affordable alternative.
Store owner Jennifer Ryan says, “The best part of
this process is that there is NO SMOKE! They only
emit a water vapor that is not only healthier for the
smoker, but is also healthier and less offensive for
those around you.”
Jennifer and husband, Paul Ryan, opened their
store in October 2013. Paul came to Jennifer with
the idea of opening a vapor store and neither of
them knew a lot about the business, just the
basics. They stepped out on faith and put the
plan in motion and they have been pleased with
the outcome. Both Paul and Jennifer commented
that they love hearing their customers come in
and brag about how long they have been
cigarette free! They invite you to come in and
check out their store to learn more about how
they work and test out their unique flavors and
find what will work best for you.
Stop by or give them a call today, 937-8181.
Ashley Jones named Executive Director of North Baldwin
Chamber of Commerce—
BAY MINETTE, Alabama -- The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce has hired
a familiar face for its Executive Director position. The board promoted Ashley
Jones, who has worked as the Chamber’s Marketing and Project Manager since
2012.
Jones has served as interim Executive Director since Rebecca Cheshire left the
post Jan. 30.
In making the announcement, Board President Brian Seals hiring Jones for the
post was a “great opportunity for the membership.” During Jones’ tenure with
the chamber, Seals said membership has increased more than 30 percent. “This
represents her ability to communicate and work with businesses and
individuals throughout the community.”
Jones said she is excited to take on this new role in her hometown. “The
chamber has a wonderful Board of Directors who are dedicated to the North
Baldwin area and I am looking forward to working with each of them to
continue to carry out the strategic plan set in motion under our previous
director,” she said. “Great things are happening all around in north Baldwin and I am excited to be a part of that.”
Calling Jones a “team player,” Seals said she has maintained stability while working through two transition periods of past
directors. This “shows her dedication to keep projects on task and recognizing the importance of not allowing the
membership to notice any down time of promoting the community.”
Jones has also been instrumental in the development of new projects including the successful Delta Dash which has “become
a major economic event for the Chamber,” Seals said. “It requires her to coordinate and communicate with multiple
government agencies, volunteer groups, members and individuals. (Ashley) has represented herself well and inspired others
to do the same.”
Jones is a native of Bay Minette and graduate of Baldwin County High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Communication from Auburn University. While at Auburn, Jones gained experience in communication and public relations in
the non-profit world when she became a volunteer and later interned for the East Alabama Chapter of the American Red
Cross.
After graduating she returned home to Baldwin County and completed a second public relations internship with Red Square
Agency in Mobile. Jones also gained experience in retail business management and marketing with American Eagle
Outfitters.
Jones is a member of the Leadership Baldwin class of 2014 and a Dale Carnegie Course graduate. She is a member of the
Young Professionals of the North Baldwin Chamber, and the Bay Minette Beautification Committee. She is currently the
chairwoman for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life North Baldwin Committee.
Jones is also a member of the Heritage Junior Women’s Club and was recently named its Clubwoman of the Year.
Seals said Jones’ community involvement has only enhanced her work with the Chamber of the Commerce. “She is the type of
individual that the Chamber deserves to have leading the community,” Seals said. “I look forward to working alongside her in
the future.”
Article contributed by Tina Covington, Community Relation Coordinator, City of Bay Minette
Photo courtesy of Dragonfly Photography.
Huntingdon College in Baldwin
County proudly announces the
Graduating class of 2014:
Barbara Pratt Cook
Dawn Renee Hall Demko
Diane Michelle Felis
Courtney Jo Hart
Stella Suzanne Holland
Kellie Brooks Isbell
Steven Wayne Isbell
Tracy Reed Simpson
Rachel Ashley Matthews
Alice Noel Anderson Summers
Henry Andrew Parker
Samantha Nicole Tyree
Shannon Audwin Peavy
Karen Mae Spencer West
Paula Chason Havard Pizzotti
Heather Whitney Wilson
Business @ Breakfast returns
Tuesday, May 13th —
Our Business @ Breakfast 2014 series
continues on May 13th in the City of Bay Minette
Council Chambers at 7:30am with Mitchell Sims as
our guest Speaker. Mitchell Sims is the Director of
the Baldwin County Emergency Management
Agency (BCEMA), serving at the will of the Baldwin
County Commission. His role is to help protect the
people of Baldwin County by coordinating local assets with state and federal resources during
emergencies and disasters through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
The topic for presentation will be "How to Survive the Next Big Blow! Resilient ideas turn
$1 into $15." Mr. Sims will be discussing how to prepare your employees and your business for the
next disaster, including how to develop a continuity of operations plan.
The North Baldwin Chamber Business @ Breakfast events are held quarterly and are free to
attend. For more information contact the chamber at 251-937-5665.
North
Baldwin
Coalition
for
Excellence in Education announces
Summer
Enrichment
Camp
schedule—
BAY MINETTE, Alabama-- Registration is now
underway for the 2014 Summer Enrichment Camp Series offered by the North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education. This year’s slate is full of returning favorites, with some new camps thrown into the mix as well.
Activities begin the week of June 2 with camps focusing on computer literacy and cooking and etiquette lessons. The final
camps in the series involve Legos and will feature a program offered through the company Bricks4Kidz.
In between those, campers can enjoy everything from art lessons to science experiments to the new camp “Healthy Bodies,
Healthy Minds,” which will focus on fitness and nutrition.
“We are very excited about our schedule of camps this years. We have worked very hard to offer a well-balanced
enrichment series that will appeal to children of all ages,” said Tina Covington, president of the North Baldwin Coalition for
Excellence in Education. “We appreciate all of our schools and principals with working us to be able to offer these camps at
affordable prices.”
The schedule of camps includes:
June 2-6: “Moodle for Your Noodle” from 9 a.m. to noon at Bay Minette Intermediate School. (Rising 3rd to 5th grades)
Students will be working on online Moodle activities.
Cost $50. Instructor: Danielle Watson Brown.
June 2-6: “Mac Attack” from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bay Minette Intermediate. (Rising 5th to 7th grades) Students will be attacking
basic Mac programs like iMovie, Keynote, etc. MacBook skills will work great for class assignments, projects, self-reflecting
and creative outlets.
Cost $50. Instructor: Danielle Watson Brown.
June 2-6: “Cooking with Class” (9 to 11:30 a.m.) and “Culinary Arts” (1 to 3:30 p.m.) at Baldwin County High. (Ages 8-12
years)
Cost $50. Instructor: Karen Sims.
June 9-13: “Spectacular Science” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bay Minette Middle School (rising 5th to 8th grades).
Cost $75. Instructor: Jennifer Jones.
June 9-13: “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Bay Minette Intermediate School gymnasium. (Rising
3rd to 6th grades) Students will focus on fitness and nutrition during this camp.
Cost $50.
Instructors are Jake McGowin and Jamie McGowin. Classes will be divided by gender.
June 16-20: “Art for the Fun of It” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (rising K-3rd grades) and 1 to 3:30 (rising 4th-6th grades) at Bay
Minette Intermediate.
Cost: $60.
June 23-27: “Story Central” from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Bay Minette Elementary. (Rising kindergarten to 2nd grades)
Cost: $50. Instructor: Jennifer Kilpatrick Gee.
June 23-27: “Take a Summer Reading Tour” camp from 9 a.m. to noon at Bay Minette Intermediate School. (Rising 4th to
8th grades). Students read books from their summer reading lists before camp and work on book reports during the camp
to turn in at the beginning of school in August.
Cost $35.
Instructor: Gail Richerson.
NBCEE will offer two different summer band camps aimed at preparing young musicians. (Courtesy Tina Covington)
June 23-27: “Sixth Grade Band Camp” at Bay Minette Intermediate band room. (Rising sixth graders). ***Pre-requisite for
this camp: Students should meet with band teachers at Perdido/Stapleton/Pine Grove/Delta on Parent Night to select instruments.
Cost: $40.
Instructor: Melanie Brannan.
June 24-27: “Summer Band Camp” 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Bay Minette Middle School Band room. (Rising 7th and
8th grade students who have participated in band for at least one year.)
Cost $40.
Instructor: Wayne Fillingim.
July 14-18: “CSI: Bay Minette” from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Baldwin County High School library. (4th to 8th
grades).
Cost $60.
Instructor: Ronda Campbell.
July 21-25: “Lego Camp” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Bay Minette Intermediate School. T
Cost $75.
July 21-25: “Angry Birds/Bad Piggies” from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Bay Minette Intermediate School.
Cost $75.
Registration forms will be distributed through area schools and can also be found at www.nbcee.org.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and enrollment is only secured with payment. For
more information about the camps, call Tina Covington at 251-580-0434 or tccovington@bellsouth.net.
Article Submitted by Tina Covington, NBCEE President
Congratulations to Quincy
Compressor for being
presented the Beautification
Award for April —
Quincy Compressor Completes
Beautification Project as a Sign of the
Times.
This year marks one of growth for
Quincy Compressor, a leading designer
and manufacturer of reciprocating and
rotary screw air compressors, from
one-third to 350 horsepower; vacuum
pumps and a full line of air treatment components. Headquartered in Bay Minette, the company
has been building durable air compressors for industry since 1920.
Quincy’s recent beautification project took shape following the addition of several new
employees in response to business growth. In 2013, Quincy completed a parking lot expansion
project, and it sparked an emphasis on the building’s exterior appearance, which now includes
three signs, additional trees and an employee gathering space.
Quincy also operates facilities in Quincy, Illinois and in Kunshan, China with more than 600
employees worldwide. Its products are sold through multiple channels, including a network of
distributors, commercial retailers, online and company-owned stores.
(Article Information provided by : Jacqueline Gay, Marketing Services Manager for Quincy Compressor)
(Pictured in Award Photo from left to right:
Elizabeth Bridges Byrd, Production Manager of Unit Assembly and Shipping; Keith Schumacher, VP of Marketing and Business
Development; Emily Jones, VP of Human Resources; Amanda Hall & Kristina Angelone, with the Beautification Committee. )
Bay Minette to hold communitywide Operation Clean-Up—
BAY MINETTE, Alabama --- The City of Bay Minette is calling on
volunteers to take part in “Operation Clean-Up,” an effort to beautify
the county seat. The clean-up day will be held 7 to 10 a.m. May 17.
Grounds supervisor JJ Hall will be heading up this project and has
identified 10 target areas that need attention. Volunteers are asked to
arrive around 6:30 a.m. at Community Kids Park and will be divided
into teams to receive assignments and gear.
The city will provide gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and maps of
the areas to be cleaned. Hall said volunteers can bring “a friend,
gloves if they prefer their own, good walking shoes and sunscreen.”
If there are ample volunteers, Hall anticipates covering more than
10 miles in the clean-up effort. “We have so much trash that winds up
in ditches and along roadways and the only way to remedy that is to
get out there and start collecting it,” he said.
With city crews leading the effort, Hall said the clean-up will be
streamlined for maximum effect at this event and future efforts.
“Target areas can be mapped to provide guides for not only annual
clean-ups but monthly and weekly clean-ups as well,” he said. “Trash that is collected will be weighed after the event so the
community will know exactly how much waste is being dumped in our ditches and along our roadways.”
Rounding up volunteers is vital to the success of Operation Clean-Up, Hall said, and will promote civic responsibility. “The
purpose of this is to clean up our community, show pride toward our community and make it the cleanest in Baldwin County.”
Mayor Robert A. “Bob” Wills encourages students, clubs, churches and individuals to pitch in for Operation Clean-Up. “Having
a clean city is not only a source of civic pride for all of our citizens but it also sends a positive message to others that we care
about our community and are willing to do our part to make it a great place to live and work,” Wills said.
For more information about Operation Clean-Up, or to sign up an organization to help, contact Bay Minette City Hall at 251580-1625. Article submitted by Tina Covington, Community Relations Coordinator, City of Bay Minette.
Franklin Primary Health Centers are offering FREE prostate screenings at ALL locations,
including Bay Minette. Participants must be a resident of Mobile, Baldwin or Washington
counties and be between the ages of 40 and 75 years old. Contact our local center here in North
Baldwin, located at 201 D’Olive Street, Bay Minette at 251-706-8700 to schedule your
appointment.