Chamber announces Celebrity Waiter Event, profiles new members
North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce officials have announced the fall date for the popular Celebrity Waiters fund-raising event.
“The event will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, at Faith Assembly of God Church where we’ve had it before,” said board member Wendy Murray.
Murray and fellow board member Mary Havener will be chairing the event.
“We’re looking for a lot of auction items this year,” Murray said. “We’re going to be having a Chinese auction, a silent auction and a live auction. We have a lot of celebrity autographed items already this year for the first year.”
The event is one of the chamber’s biggest fund-raisers of the year and many say one of the most fun, as area notables wait on the guests and raise money with extras, like paying for a song request.
In past years, Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and many local TV personalities have been part of the event. The full list of waiters is still being completed.
The event will be a luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the cost is $35 per ticket. You can call the chamber now and reserve your seat.
“There are also table and corporate sponsorships available,” added Murray. “This will also replace our monthly membership meeting for October.”
The announcement about the event was made at the chamber’s monthly Business Leaders Luncheon held July 15 at Pinchers Crab Shack restaurant.
Gil Perez, general manager of Pinchers, welcomed chamber members.
“He is also a new member,” said Chamber Acting Executive Director Kim Constantine.
Constantine introduced many new and returning members. They included JP Terrasi, Terrasi Media; Millie Greidanus, Mi-Lu Enterprises; Ed Southard and Darlene Moore, ELS Properties; Bruce and Darlene Vanderveen, Allegra Print & Imaging; and Joseph Francioni, Innovative Printing.
All talked about their businesses and services.
Other news
In other chamber news, North Fort Myers Honorary Mayor and chamber board member Jarrod Cantrell talked about a current event: Weight Loss Wars.
In his challenge, Cantrell and Chamber President John Gardner each put together a team to see who could get fit and lose the most weight through the last month.
“Weight Loss Wars will end Aug. 17, the last day to weigh out,” Cantrell said.
He said he’s been enjoying the process.
“Everybody is excited on my team,” he said. “Everyone is doing exercise and looking at their diet.”
He said it’s a friendly competition.
“But if anyone wants to help out the Mayor’s Team, they can drop off a sweet tea to John Gardner at Lee County Insurance,” he said.
The next Business After Hours event will be held at Ichiban II Restaurant Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP to the chamber by Aug. 10.
For information on any chamber event, call 997-9111.