The Times

Saturday, September 25, 1976, page 10 (of 26)

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Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce ranks in Florida's TOP 10

By ROBERT HARCOURT President Elect: Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Vice President: Florida National Bank at Coral Gables It may seem almost axiomatic to say that its Chamber of Commerce, now with over 1200 members, stands out like a lighthouse as one of Coral Gables' most valuable assets. Ranking in size among the top 10 Chambers in Florida, it is by no means a johnny-come-lately. The Chamber has served the City Beautiful for 50 years — virtually ever since the day Coral Gables was founded. Primary goals of the Chamber, which will be headed until this October by Margaret St. Germain, the first woman to head a chamber in a city as large as Coral Gables, are well-defined. It works for better living and working conditions throughout the city, maintaining its quality and high standards, and bringing a unified voice to Coral Gables' constantly growing business community. These objectives are achieved through a paid staff, headed by Col. Thomas E. Chegin, USA Ret., as executive director, an elected president, Board of Directors and 21 hard-working committees, as follows: Membership; Visitors; Coffee Club; Legislative Affairs; Bicentennial; Committee of 21; and City Government Affairs. Also, Parking and Traffic; Planning and Suggestions; Total Employment; Keep The City Beautiful; Metro Relations; Task Force; By-Laws; University Relations; Christmas Program; Publicity and Public Relations; Education; Transportation; New Ideas and Planning; and Retail Merchants. Mere names of these entities provide an excellent indication of the amount and scope of the work carried on by the organization. The chamber never intervenes in narrow issues, but essentially treats municipal and regional matters timely in nature. An example of the thrust a given committee can exert is to be found in the fact that Coral Gables can now honestly claim the title, "Corporate Capital of the Americas." The Committee of 21, chaired by Jim Barker, district manager for Southern Bell Telephone Co., has been largely responsible for this. This group was designed and conceived 10 years ago especially for community development, working with the Community Development Department of the city. At the time there was a handful of multi-national firms headquartered here. The objective was to bring the Latin American headquarters or more such firms to the Gables. Since its formation the committee has attracted 53 of these companies, the list of which reads like a who's who of multi-national businesses. Today, the committee is made up half of local businessmen and half of heads of these firms. The Chamber participates in and/or sponsors numerous events and social programs during an average year. Each has a clearly defined objective with respect to the organization. A stellar event on May 21 this year was the 10th annual International Ball, which was honored by the attendance of Gov. and Mrs. Askew. The Ball honored the international firms that most recently established Coral Gables offices, and provided a platform through which all of the city's multinational businessmen could meet socially and get to know each other better. Previously, on May 11, an entirely different type of group had been feted. Sponsored by the Chamber's Education Committee, this event was a Scholarship Achievement Luncheon honoring the top five percent of the graduating high school seniors in Coral Gables, South Miami, West Miami, and certain unincorporated Dade areas. James McLamore, chairman of the board of Burger King Corp. was the featured speaker. The entire program keynoted the accomplishments of the American free enterprise system. Monthly membership events that have proven especially popular and productive are the Coffee Club breakfasts held at 7:30 a.m. on the last Thursday of the month at the Polly Davis Cafeteria. Each of these events is sponsored by one of the banks or commercial establishments in the Gables. Another annual Chamber event is the Holiday Weekend. It was held this year at the Naples Beach Hotel, Naples, Fla., on May 25, 26, and 27. Members enjoyed virtually unlimited golf, tennis and swimming. But the overriding reason for membership is by no means based on social or quasi-social events. There are nine much more concrete reasons such as those that follow: • Because I realize that in unity there is strength. • Because it is the best medium for serving my community as a whole. • Because I believe in the future growth and progress of Coral Gables. • Because its only qualification for membership is good citizenship. • Because I want to work with my fellow townsmen for the common interest of all. • Because I want to benefit by their concerted planning, counsel and action. • Because it is a clearing house for business information, business and community effort. • Because membership pays a high rate of interest in service, personal contacts, community betterment and civic pride. • Because experience and the records of the past have conclusively demonstrated its usefulness and justified existence, not only in Coral Gables, but in practically every other community in every part of the world.

This educational endeavor is made possible by the cooperation of the following public-spirited citizens who are always in the fore, striving to make our community a finer and better place in which to live.

COPYRIGHT © 1976 KEY NEWSPAPER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMMING 05106 JULIO ABISLAIMAN, Vice Pres. Riviera Jewelers | JOHN C. BROCKWAY, Pres. Bill Ussery Motors, Inc. | HOWARD R. DOWNES Chairman of the Board The Dominion Companies | KENNETH E. KAMBERG, Pres. Coral Gables Fed. Savings & Loan Assoc. | CLIFFORD J. NAGEL, JR., Pres. The Witters Construction Co. So. Fla. Chapter Assoc. Gen'l Contractors | E. CARR SMITH | ROBERT ULLMAN, Pres. Bemi Blanks Men's Store Miracle Mile Merchants Association | CARLOS J. ARBOLEYA, Pres. Barnett Bank at Westchester N.A. | GLEN ALLEN BUFF | EUGENE F. STREWS, Pres. Fidelity National Bank of South Miami | MARIAN KRUTULIS, Director Gulliver Academy, Inc. | DAVID C. NEALE, Div. Manager 7-Eleven Stores Division of the Southland Corporation | RICHARD D. SWETONIC, Pres. Wallachs/Dick Richmond | WILLIAM BAGWELL, Pres. Miami Safe and Lock Inc. | GUY C. CARMICHAEL, JR. PRES. Crow, Pope & Land of Florida, Inc. | GENERAL WATERWORKS South Florida Division | MR. PETE LATA The Madrid Restaurant | FRANK H. POE, Pres. Poe's Hardware & Rent Alls | NATHAN TARTAK, R.P. Riviera Pharmacy | M.H. FARNSWORTH, Chairman International Corporate Services Ltd. | G. HERNANDEZ-CARTAYA Chairman of the Board W F C Group | WOLF HANAU, President Les Jardins Restaurant | TIMOTHY F. LONG Sweden House Restaurants | RONALD R. READER C.L.U. General Agent Mass. Mutual Life Ins. Co. | SOUTH DIXIE DISCOUNT CENTER 8865 South Dixie Highway | CURTIS BLANK Co-owner Cafe Chauveron, Inc. | C. DeWITT COFFMAN, Pres. The Coffman Corporation Hotel Consultants | RALPH JENSEN, Pres. Continental Travel, Inc. | RAUL P. MASVIDAL, Pres. Royal Trust Bank of Miami, N.A. | GERALD L. ROSE, Pres. Security Federal S & L Association | RICHARD D. THOMAS, Administrator Coral Gables Hospital | NORMAN BRAMAN, Pres. Braman Cadillac | MARVIN S. CONE, Director Deerborne School | M. "DICK" JONES, Pres. Catalina Aquatech Pools, Inc. | GARY A. MATTHEWS, Pres. Gary's Paint & Body Shop, Inc. | ROBERT L. SEARLE, Pres. Searle & Morris Insurance | L. GERALD WRIGHT Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Aristar Management Inc. | JAMES E. DOWNS, Pres. [?Downs?] & Klem Jewelers, Inc. | FELIPE MORENO, Manager Distributor Sales Latin American Operation Ingersoll-Rand International | FRANK H. MERIZ, Gen'l. Mgr. The Seafarer Restaurant