Birthday Celebrations

This is a week of birthday celebrations. Starting with our family get-together last night, the Andersons celebrated my nephew turning 16 last week and me turning 39 this week. Also this week is my mother-in-law’s birthday and our friend Dawnn’s birthday. Capricorns are referred to as a stubborn bunch, but our traditional characteristics are: practical and prudent; ambitious and disciplined; patient and careful; humorous and reserved.

On my official birthday day my friend James from the Herald-Tribune is taking me to lunch at Eat Here. On my official birthday night my wife is taking me to dinner at Fleming’s. I’ll be eating well on Tuesday. On Friday night my wife and I will be bar-hopping with friends in Gulf Gate Village. Let me know if you’d like to join the fun, or perhaps we’ll see you there…

In between all the revelry this week, we plan to attend a number of more serious events:

American Advertising Federation Suncoast

The AAF Suncoast Board of Directors will meet Tuesday night from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All eyes are focused on the upcoming ADDY Awards Gala and our Marquee Event featuring Sally Hogshead.

For those of you in the advertising game and related businesses, make sure AAF Suncoast membership and support is part of your 2012 budget. This club has turned a corner over the last couple of years so it’s a great time to join or get back involved.

And don’t miss the ADDY Entry Social at Sign Zoo on Friday evening from 5:30pm to 7:30m. It’ll be a great time to get your last-minute entries mounted and have a beer with your friends at AAF Suncoast.

Gulf Coast Venture Forum – Why Invest in SWFL?

On Wednesday night from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Hyatt you’ll get to meet new leaders from the Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte County economic development organizations during this open forum event.

Gulf Coast Builders Xchange

On Thursday night from 5:30pm to 7:30pm GCBX members will celebrate the New Year with PGT Industries. I know they’ve been working hard over the last year consolidating production facilities, and I’m looking forward to touring their operation.

Suncoast Technology Forum

On Wednesday afternoon STF’s membership and events committees will hold their first meetings of the year. If you’re business is in technology or your job is technology-related, then you should consider joining STF.

And if you’re passionate about growing the local technology economy, then consider volunteering at a higher level. STF will conduct our first monthly board meeting of the year this Thursday from 11:30am to 1pm at Keiser.

One final note, Girl Scout cookie season is upon us. My daughter’s Brownie troop is selling cookies now through March 18. And if you haven’t heard, this is the last year they’re selling boxes for $3.50. Next year the price will go up to four bucks a box so be sure to stock up!

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.