Amendment 4: What Every Business Person Should Know

South Pasadena Mayor Kathleen Peters will share her experiences and knowledge regarding the highly-controversial Amendment 4 on Thursday, Sept. 16, at our Seminole Chamber Power Luncheon. The event is from 11:30 a.m. to  1 p.m. at Banquet Masters, 8100 Park Blvd. Advanced payment ($15 per person) & reservations are appreciated. Sign up online or call the Chamber office at 392-3245.

Untouched by the oil spill, we are blessed to have 14 miles of pristine beaches on our Pinellas County Gulf Coast to be enjoyed by vacationers and locals this summer. We and deeply saddened about the affects the spill is having in Louisiana and Pensacola, and offer our sympathy and support. 

Never knowing which way the wind will blow, we have to be prepared…just as we do for hurricanes, in the event one should hit our shores.Therefore, we offer information on our web site on how to be proactive. 

Chamber Member Assisting Oil Spill Cleanup

The Pet Supplies “Plus” store in Pinellas Park is accepting donations of supplies from those who want to help with the effort to contain the oil spill, assist in reducing its ecological impact, and subsequently, help the animals who are coming to shore covered in oil. The store is asking for: original blue Dawn dishwashing liquid, pantyhose, new brushes and toothbrushes, clean human hair or pet hair, t-shirts, towels, sheets and other linens. For more information, call Pet Supplies “Plus” at  541-1199 or visit http://www.petsuppliesplusfl.com

Volunteers Opportunities: Beach & Wildlife

Our beaches near Seminole remain untainted by the Gulf oil spill. Anyone who would like to be involved as a volunteer can help in the following ways: 

Coastline watchers: To report oil on the shoreline, call (866) 448-5816, or dial #DEP from a cell phone. To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401. For more information, visit www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org

Pre-oil landfall beach cleanup: Sign up online with Keep Pinellas Beautiful for a Special Beach Cleanup at www.pinvol.org. Volunteers who register online would be contacted for a cleanup event 72 hours prior to an expected landfall of oil on the Pinellas shoreline. For more information, call (727) 533-0402.

Local bird survey: Assist Audubon with counting local bird populations by using the eBird checklist at www.ebird.org or call the Clearwater Audubon Society at (727) 431-2856.

Beach and wildlife monitoring: Volunteers can contact Tampa Bay Watch at www.tampabaywatch.org or call (727) 867-8166.

Office work or seabird rehabilitation: Volunteers are needed at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for tasks such as feeding birds and answering the phone to free up trained staff for emergency work. Also, veterinarians and wildlife paraprofessionals are needed for an Emergency Call List to clean oiled birds (training is required). Visit www.seabirdsanctuary.com or call (727) 391-2473.

Aquarium work: Volunteers are needed to assist the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with daily duties. Training classes and long-term weekly shifts are required. Volunteers will not necessarily treat oiled wildlife directly, as marine animal needs will be determined by federal wildlife officials and facility staff. Contact Clearwater Marine Aquarium at www.seewinter.com or call (727) 441-1790, ext. 230.

 Donations

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is requesting donations of items such as towels to treat oiled birds. Visit www.seabirdsanctuary.com or call (727) 391-2473 for a current list.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium has set up an Oil Spill Emergency Fund. Donations can be made by calling the aquarium at (727) 441-1790 or visiting www.seewinter.com.

More information

Pinellas County Volunteer Services (727) 464-3945 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it