2012 Year-to-Date Highlights from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce – GFLGLCC

2012 was a busy and highly productive year for the GLFGLCC – and we still have a month to go!  While our membership grew, we maintained 8 Media Partners and 9, 501 (c) 3 Community Partners.  Our unique relationship with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, NGLCC allowed us to offer many unique benefits and opportunities to our members.  Take a look below for a sampling of what we’ve accomplished:

January 2012:

·         Moved to our new office!

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn took part in a teleconference with senior Obama Administrations official, Export Import Bank Chairman, Fred Hochberg, and NGLCC Co-Founder & President, Justin Nelson after his meeting with Vice President Biden, to discuss major economic themes from the 2012 State of the Union address and what they mean for the LGBT and allied business community.

February 2012:

·         Sponsored the 2012 GLBT Travel Expo Tour Fort Lauderdale at the Pride Center. GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended and promoted our member businesses at our chamber booth.

March 2012:

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn and Board member Alan Beck attended Palm Beach Pride, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our member businesses.

·          Board member Alan Beck represented us at his Fun Maps booth at the GLBT Expo in NYC -- promoting our chamber and distributing our Rainbow Hospitality Alliance brochures.

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn traveled to ITB in Berlin, Germany to promote LGBT travel to Greater Fort Lauderdale. We created a sponsored brochure, which was distributed in the “Pink Pavilion” in conjunction with the IGLTA and throughout Berlin.

April 2012:

·          The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) invited us to participate with them at the annual Cruise 3Sixty Trade Show, April 27-28, 2012 at the Broward County Convention Center. NGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn, along with FAB2GO-VIP2GO attended and promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our sponsor businesses at our booth.

  

May 2012:

·          NGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn took part in an NGLCC Real Estate Teleconference. On the call, diversity and industry experts from JPMorgan Chase, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae, discussed how businesses within the real estate industry can benefit through participation in the Supplier Diversity Initiative (SDI).  Great insights were gained, which could greatly benefit those in the real estate industry. This includes Realtors, attorneys and any business which takes part in the real estate process.

·          We participated in a hand-delivered letter to President Obama -- with the NGLCC and other affiliate chambers, thanking him for his support of Marriage Equality.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended the CVB Tourism Appreciation Luncheon with the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, County Commissioners, CVB President, Nicki Grossman and many others.

·         We sponsored “Beach Bear Weekend” which helped raise money for Sun Serve, while promoting our member businesses.

·          Board member Steve McAleer along with Roger Handevidt represented our members at Miami Beach Gay Pride, where they promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our member businesses at our booth.

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended Gay Days Orlando Expo, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our sponsor businesses at our booth.

June 2012:

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn, along with Roger Handevidt and Mago Sosa attended the St. Pete Pride event, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our member businesses at our booths.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn, along with Board member Alan Beck attended Stonewall Summer Pride, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our member businesses at our booth.

·         Hosted a packed launch party for SouthFloridaFun.com at Dapur

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn moderated a session, which discussed "Diversity Supplier Relationships and Creating a Strong Ally Culture." This was at the Florida Diversity Council’s Inaugural GLBT-Allies Diversity Summit, which took place at the Pride Center. 

July 2012:

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended the July 4^th Tea Cruise for the Brian Neil Fitness and Health Foundation, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our member businesses at our business table.

August 2012:

·         Roger Handevidt represented the GFLGLCC and Rainbow Hospitality Alliance at the Poverello Bowl-A-Thon, where we promoted our member businesses at our booth.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn and Board Members Steve McAleer, Alan Beck and Todd Bludworth attended the NGLCC National Business & Leadership Conference in Chicago.

September 2012:

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn took part in the historical, first LGBT Trade Mission and the inaugural LGBT Summit of the Americas in Bogotá Colombia.  GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn met with Michael McKinley, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia.

·          We presented the inaugural symposium, “Transitions Solutions for LGBT Seniors” at the Pride Center as a free informative event for the community. Board member Steve McAleer represented the GFLGLCC and our members.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended the Gay Days Las Vegas Trade Expo, where we promoted Greater Fort Lauderdale as the premier LGBT travel destination and promoted our sponsor businesses at our booth.

October 2012:

·          Sponsored the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

·          Held a fund raiser and social, to benefit for the Stonewall National Museum and Archives at the iL Lugano Hotel and Residences.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn and Board member Steve McAleer, along with Roger Handevidt promoted the GFLGLCC and our members at our booth at the annual Oktoberfest in Oakland Park.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn attended the 13^th Annual Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) Conference in San Francisco with GFLGLCC Board Member, Alan Beck and Rickard Gray, newly appointed Managing Director of the LGBT Market for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). While there, we promoted the Greater Fort Lauderdale as THE LGBT travel destination.

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn with Roger Handevidt and VIP2GO/FAB2GO participated with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s free Business Education Seminar, designed to help your business grow.  We displayed members’ business collateral in our booth space.

November 2012:

·          GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn and Board members Steve McAleer and Alan Beck attended the first-ever Federal Procurement Fair for LGBT businesses at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank spoke to the attendees. 12 Federal agencies were represented -- all looking to do business with our LGBT Certified members. Met with the Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator, Eugene Cornelius Jr.  The Federal Procurement Fair is designed to connect LGBT-owned businesses with the over $400 billion the federal government spends annually on goods and services, of which nearly $100 billion is with small business suppliers. At the fair, NGLCC announced significant memorandums with federal agencies, deepening collaboration with government leaders to bring resources, access, and new opportunities to your business. 

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn along with Board members Todd Bludworth, Steve McAleer and Alan Beck attended the NGLCC's 10th Anniversary National Dinner: Beyond Expectations in Washington, DC at the National Building Museum. GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn met briefly with Congressman Elect Patrick Murphy. Board members Todd Bludworth, Steve McAleer and Alan Beck were present.

·         GFLGLCC President/CEO Keith Blackburn and Board member Steve McAleer attended the official opening for the NGLCC Supplier Innovation Center, where U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills performed the ribbon cutting honors. 

·         Teamed up with the NGLCC and Small Business Saturday to promote our chamber and small business owners.

Announced that our inaugural “Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay Travel Guide,” which will have a circulation of 10,000 copies and a worldwide distribution.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Named Collaborating Partner in the First Ever U.S. Government Certified LGBT Trade Mission

Date: August 30, 2012                                                                   

                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            

Media Contact:

Keith Blackburn

305-798-5455

GoGayFortLauderdale@gmail.com

                                                                                                

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Named Collaborating Partner in the First Ever U.S. Government Certified LGBT Trade Mission

(Fort Lauderdale, Florida) –August 30, 2012–The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC), is excited to announce they have been named a “Collaborating Partner” in the historic first ever U.S. Department of Commerce Certified LGBT Trade Mission to Colombia, taking place this September 11-15.

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) along with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) is inviting its members to participate in the The NGLCC-led trade mission, made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding between the NGLCC and the Department of Commerce, signed last year.

GFLGLCC Chamber President/CEO Keith Blackburn will represent Greater Fort Lauderdale in Bogotá, where he will explore Colombian trade, along with travel and tourism opportunities to Greater Fort Lauderdale.  Blackburn will also participate as a delegate in the Inaugural LGBT Summit of the Americas. 

The Summit is happening in conjunction with the trade mission and will bring together LGBT business leaders from the U.S., Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay. Invited speakers include The Honorable Angelino Garzón - Vice President of Colombia, the Honorable Peter McKinley, Ambassador of the United States. 

"The support and backing of the U.S. Government gives the mission increased validation as we work with our Colombian counterparts and that's good for our members who will be attending and looking for new and expanded markets," said Justin Nelson, NGLCC Co-Founder and President. "The mission highlights the administration's commitment to a fully-inclusive economic recovery."

The trade mission presents an opportunity for LGBT-certified businesses to meet counterparts, including buyers and business leaders, and to work with the commerce attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and the Department of Commerce to build connections crucial to international export and import trading.

Background:

The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

On May 15, 2012, The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force.  The agreement immediately eliminates tariffs and duties on 80 percent of consumer and industrial products sold to Colombia and more than halves those remaining from 10.8 percent to 4.0 percent, making Colombia an incredibly lucrative market for U.S. exporters and providing them an advantage over exporters from non-free-trade countries.

"With the entry of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement into force, great things can happen for U.S. businesses. We're excited to support LGBT businesses abroad as well as at home, and we look forward to working with them to expand their customer base into Latin America," said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.

About Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC):

The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, with the following Mission Statement:  Dedicated to promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. To be an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality.  To promote tourism with a unified approach, by working with appropriate and related organizations.

For more information about the GFLGLCC, or to become a member, please visit GoGayFortLauderdale.com. For media coverage, press kits, membership kits and live interview requests, please contact Keith Blackburn at 305-798-5455, or via email at: GoGayFortLauderdale@gmail.com ###