Andrea Galabinski Over 100 residents and business representatives turned out for the North Fort Myers Chamber Welcome Center Reception. Those on hand included JoAnn Cicone, Terry Tucker, Alan Parvey, Dwight Sedgwick, Deena Westberry, Ken Hess, Kim Constantine, John Gardner, Donna Ellis and Kim and Baron Cohen.

Over 100 community members and business leaders turned out for the North Fort Myers Chamber Welcome Center Reception held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Shell Factory complex.

“We wanted to highlight all the new resources in our Welcome Center and chamber,” said Executive Director Kim Constantine. “We also have 40 new members that we got in the last 14 weeks and as a result of this celebration we generated revenue for 20 businesses in the community.”

A highlight of the evening was a presentation to the Rotary Club of North Fort Myers.

“They generously sponsored the new door and chamber sign for the Welcome Center,” Constantine said.

Rotary officials were given a plaque which is now hung in the Welcome Center. The Rotary’s President Deena Westberry and Dwight Sedgwick were among those who accepted the award.

Rotary Club of North Fort Myers President Deena Westberry accepts a thank you award from North Fort Myers Chamber President John Gardner and Executive Director Kim Constantine.

Catering was by Cohen and Cohen, ambassadors for the chamber.

“We have 10 ambassadors now,” said Constantine. “Ambassadors represent the organization and help promote business in the community.”

Constantine also announced a new event.

“On Wednesday, Oct. 14, we invite the community to the first ever New Member Business Expo, which will be held at the Welcome Center,” she said. That event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. “Bring someone new – meet someone new – it is free.”

A special thanks was also given to Rafael Ramos of Handy Man Services and The North Fort Myers Neighbor for their support of the event.

Celebrity Waiters announced

A reminder for all on a popular local event: tickets are now on sale for $35 per person for the chamber’s annual Celebrity Waiters Event.

It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Faith Assembly of God Church, North Fellowship Hall, off Bayshore Rd., Thursday, Oct. 29.

Celebrity waiters just announced will include Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall, Commissioner Ray Judah, North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye, Lee County School Board Chair Jeanne Dozier, Lisa Cronin Miller from LARC, Veronica Culbertson of the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Honorary Mayor of North Fort Myers Deputy Jarrod Cantrell and more.

Proceeds from the benefit support the chamber’s scholarship program.

Check out the brand new chamber Web site where you can pay on line.

For information on any chamber event, call 997-9111. For information on membership, ask for Constantine.

The chamber offices are located in the Shell Factory & Nature Park, 2787 North Tamiami Trail, Unit 10. The Web site is www.nfmchamber.org or you can e-mail exec@nfmchamber.org.