EMERGE Lakeland Blog

Candidates Sought for the Civil Service Board

The City is looking for representation on the Civil Service Board. The Civil Service Board position that is open cannot be employed by the City and the person must reside within the Lakeland City limits.

Attached are the petition forms along with the Candidate Oath form. Nominations close at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 13th.

For more information please contact the City Clerk’s Office at ext. 46210.

Civil Service Board Website

]]> Oath Form

VISTE presents the Bumble Bee Canned Tuna Wreath Contest

When: Friday, December 11, 2009

Time: Event starts at 6:00 p.m.
Drop-off/Set-up wreaths anytime between 5-6 pm at the stage area.

Where: Lake Mirror Promenade/ no rain date

Why: In order to raise awareness to the needs of the elderly, VISTE is making wreaths out of Bumble Bee Tuna cans, one of our most popular foods in our food distribution. The wreaths will be given to our clients.

Rules:• Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to participate. There will be categories for judging with prizes awarded in each category. Judges will be Bumble Bee officials.

Individuals/Your Group/Schools/Churches
Businesses/Corporations

Design rules and regulations
Decorate or build a wreath using whole unopened cans of Bumble Bee Tuna and other decorative items. All materials are provided by entrant (including wreaths, cans of tuna, etc.)
Teams need to decide how they want to display their wreath. VISTE can assist with finding easels, but will need prior notice if one needs to be provided. This information must be included in registration.
No cans of tuna can be punctured in any way.
All wreaths and cans of tuna will go to VISTE to be distributed to clients following the event.
Wreaths can contain organizational logos, names, trademark, etc.
Let your imagination go wild. All efforts and contributions will benefit VISTE and their clients.

Deadline for Registration: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
Contact for Registration: Tom Stull, Advisory Board Member
863-688-1211
tstull@furrandwegman.com
625 E. Orange St.
Lakeland, Fl. 33801

All wreaths will be donated to clients. Any special props are the responsibility of the entrant. If you bring your own stand you are responsible for picking it up at the end of the event.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a business, school, or church may do so by contacting the organization directly. The organization designing/building the wreath should register as indicated above.

Judging Categories:
Originality
People’s Choice
Best of Show

Tuna Flyer

Registration Form

WANTED: Energetic People that Love the Arts

Download file

Downtown Lakeland Gets Creative

Emerge Lakeland http://www.emergelakeland.com info@emergelakeland.com Community News

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The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce 2009 CarBQ

CarBQ is a “drive through” themed fundraising event held every November at Tigertown. This year’s event will be November 20th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Over 100 volunteers meet at dawn to assemble 3000 lunches that are delivered throughout the community. Many employers purchase CarBQ lunches for their employees to demonstrate their appreciation or to celebrate the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. CarBQ has been a huge success over the past two years.

Time is Running Out!
Order your CarBQ lunches Today!
The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce has cooked up a great event that is guaranteed to delight your employees’ taste buds! Our own Fred’s Southern Kitchen and the Rib Crib will fire up the CarBQ grill on Friday, November 20th from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Celebrate your employees and the upcoming holidays by ordering your completely portable CarBQ lunches for the entire office. Then, just drive on through at Tigertown and get your mouth-watering pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, corn on the cob, pickle and dessert served right up! If you order more than 25 lunches, we’ll even bring ‘em to ya!
Please fill out the order form below or found on the Chamber’s website at www.lakelandchamber.com and fax it back to the Chamber at 863/683-7454 asap! All tickets are pre-ordered, and we’re due to sell out soon!
For questions, please call the Chamber at 863/688-8551 ext. 241 or 228.

Order Form

If you are interested in helping prepare lunches, please call the chamber at 688-8551 ext. 228 or 241 for more information

Volunteer

Dr. Scissorhands Pumpkin Carving Event in Downtown Lakeland on October 31.

Make plans to attend the 2009 Dr. Scissorhands Pumpkin Carving Exhibition taking place on October 31 during the Downtown Lakeland Farmers Market. Local doctors will be carving pumpkins to be auctioned off for charity. The proceeds of this year's event will benefit VISTE.

Please link here more information http://edit.polkvoice.com/uploads/2434083-drscissorhandsposter2009(2).pdf

Calling all car enthusiasts!

Calling all car enthusiasts! The Lake Mirror Classic Car show will be held on Saturday, October 17th and there is no charge for admission to this great event in downtown Lakeland. If you like live music, the Hot Rod Rendezvous is held on the evening of Friday, October 16th. at the Lake Mirror Amphitheatre. Tickets for various special events throughout the weekend can be purchased through the Classic’s website. Visit www.lakemirrorclassic.com for details on all the events.

City of Lakeland Boards and Committees:

The City of Lakeland is always looking for exciting young professionals who are interested in getting involved in the Lakeland community. Two Advisory Boards which we are actively recruiting members for are the Dixieland Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board and the Mid Town Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board. Each of these Advisory Boards is made up of property or business owners, or representatives of property or business owners within these redevelopment districts. Eligible applicants must also live within the Lakeland City limits. If you are interested, please fill out an application http://www.lakelandgov.net/boards/home.html and return it to the City of Lakeland’s Communications Department, or lcra@lakelandgov.net

To learn more about the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency and the role of the Advisory Boards, please visit, http://www.lakelandgov.net/commdev/cra/annualreports.html

Polk Works Professional Coffee Talk

Polk Works would like to invite you to our monthly Professional Coffee Talk
Date: Tuesday September 29th 2009 at 10:30am
Location: Books-A-Million 1520 Towne Center Drive Lakeland, FL 33803

Topics of discussion will include:•What the employer is seeking
•Resume tips that get you noticed
•Practice interviews
•Exchange job leads with fellow job seekers
•Professional employment services are provided to job seekers that have training and education beyond high school, usually holding degrees, certifications or licensures recognized in a particular industry, with a work history demonstrating that the individual has held positions requiring minimal supervision and involving independent discretion and judgment.

Please RSVP to attend as space is limited. Deadline to RSVP is Friday September 25th 2009 5pm. Please call or email:
Allison Harris
863-508-1600 ext 1107
Allsion_Harris@polkworks.org

Marquita Polite
Marquita_Polite@polkworks.org

600 N. Broadway Ave.
Suite A
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 508-1600 TTY: 711

Polk Works’ missions is to be an innovative leader to ensure and sustain a quality workforce for today and in the future

Men's Health Conference

This is a FREE event in efforts to educate our community on important health issues facing today's men. If you would like more information about the below event please feel free to call Cauney Bamberg, Foundation Executive Director,at the below number.

2009 Polk Start! Heart Walk

Date: Saturday, Sept 19, 2009
Where: 2250 S Floral Ave, Bartow

Time: Fun starts at 8:00 am

A 3-mile walk benefiting the American Heart Association (a one mile route is also available). Cost is free, donations are welcome. For more information and to register: www.americanheart.org/polkwalk.
Volunteers also needed to help out the morning of: please contact Melissa Innella at 863-801-4293 or melissa.innella@heart.org.

Special invitation to the 2009 Multicultural VIP Reception/Festival

EMERGE members and their guests are invited to the 2009 Multicultural VIP Reception and Festival.

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009
Time: 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Lake Mirror Park, Magnolia Building

Please refer to the following brochure for more information.

This is a free event and spaces are going fast so please R.S.V.P as soon as possible to Carmen M. Solis at 863-667-78122

EMERGE Lakeland and Platform Florida invite you to an evening with the Arts

EMERGE Lakeland and Platform Florida are bringing you a wonderful opportunity to tap into your inner artist. On September 26, 2009, you are invited to check out artwork from emerging Central Florida artists, short films, a ‘60’-style fashion show, music by MPG, and USF’s Contemporary Dance Troupe. For a special price of $15 advance purchase or $20 at the door, you can attend this extraordinary event.

And, wait…there’s more…if you are one of the first 25 to register, you can attend a VIP reception where networking and getting to know the ‘Who’s Who’ is the goal and food, wine, and beer will be available.

Crucial info:
Saturday, September 26, 2009
6:30-10:30p.m.
202 North Massachussetts Avenue, Lakeland 33801
$15 advanced purchase/$20 at the door

To take advantage of this generous offer, please email Punam Saxena at punamsperfections@yahoo.com or call 559.6615.

Directions to United Way

We are excited to have you all attend our EMERGE event this Thursday, August 25th at United Way. I understand Mapquest is sending you all to North Lakeland, but that is the wrong direction, so please refer to the following directions if you do not know where we are located. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all on Thursday!

Directions to UWCF
5605 U.S. Highway 98 South
Highland City, Florida 33846

Get on Polk Parkway (570 Toll Road) and get off on exit 10, which will take you to U.S. Highway 98 South. Go South on Highway 98 and go approximately 2 miles until you reach Highland City. There is one major intersection followed by a yellow blinking light. United Way of Central Florida is located in an one-story strip center on your right. The United Way sign is highly visible in front of the building.

If you have any difficulties finding us, please call 863.648.1500 and press 0 for the operator. Thank you!

Swan Development Advisors- Project Manager / Urban Planner Position Opening

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This is a new position and the selected applicant will have great latitude to work across a
variety of disciplines that include Urban Planning, CRA Planning and Projects, Project
Management, Affordable and Workforce Housing, Public Housing and Economic Analysis. The
Project Manager is responsible for the administration and implementation of planning projects,
and technical research documentation related to redevelopment plans, feasibility studies and
similar. Responsibilities in housing include regulatory compliance and monitoring of real estate
transactions, construction administration and sales transactions, market analysis, community
outreach and public speaking.

The Project Manager is responsible to coordinate with the current team on project data,
tracking, preparing required periodic reports and maintaining statistical data related to
redevelopment programs; managing community meetings, and communicating with program
partners, clients and the general public and public officials. This is a new position that works in
collaboration with the Program Manager and other team members.

SPECIAL SKILLS OR QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Detail oriented with excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing. Ability and
eagerness to learn new programs and design new systems. Ability to prepare and review
complex studies and reports that include financial data. Strong research and analytical
abilities essential, as are excellent computer skills. Experience with federal grant programs
helpful, but not required. Familiarity with real estate terminology, development processes,
budgets, and transactions is preferred.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Completion of a Bachelors degree in urban or regional planning, business, public
administration, or a closely related field. Masters Degree in related field is preferred.
Certifications including AICP, CEcD, AIA or similar preferred. Significant work experience in
applicable field is required.
Periodic evening meetings, occasional overnight travel and local travel required. Open until
filled. EOE/ADA/drug-free workplace. Salary commensurate with education/experience.

Please submit resume and cover letter to either: Redevelopmentjob@aol.com
or:
Redevelopment Manager
Swan Development Advisors, Inc.
P.O. Box 2097
Lakeland, FL 33806-2097