COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

For more than twenty years the Merchants Association of Florida, Inc. (MAF) has reinvested funds back into the communities it serves. Over $3,250,000 have been returned in the form of scholarships and funding of many worthwhile programs. The primary focus of these reinvested funds has been towards support for education and children’s programs.

The Association is proud of it’s’ involvement through sponsorships. During this past year, the Association has served as a primary sponsor for several fund raising activities.

MAF was a principal sponsor of the annual Lifepath Hospice Celebrity Golf Outing held in the spring. We are pleased to be associated with such a terrific organization such as LifePath Hospice and take great pride in the fact that we can work to support one of our own members for whom we provide background-screening services.

Other sponsorships this past year included: Tampa General Hospital’s Gala benefited Fund for the Future, a special fund to help the hospital deliver exceptional care every day.

All Children’s Hospital funds from MAF to match donations in support of their 24th annual Telethon to benefit the thousands of sick children they will serve this year.

The Merchants Association was again the underwriting sponsor for the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s 2007 Fashion Show Luncheon and Silent Auction thereby allowing sale of tickets and proceeds of the auction to go straight to the services they provide in the community.

Look for our logo on Lowry Park’s ZooVenture Vans. These vans will take the Zoo’s message of Look for our logo on Lowry Park’s ZooVenture Vans. These vans will take the Zoo’s message of conservation to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, community centers, etc. reaching thousands of people in the Association service area. Subjects will include the Rainforest; Nocturnal Animals; Native Florida; and Scales, Feathers and Fur. MAF will also partner with Lowry Park in their Bird of Prey Program through a rehab facility providing critical care for injured, sick and orphaned birds of prey. This program is designed to educate the 930,000+ annual visitors to the Lowery Park Zoo about the endangered status of Florida’s native birds of prey, the importance of habitat preservation and what everyone can do to promote conservation. Also look for our name with the Spirits of the Sky Show! 

Merchants Association partnered with the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Operation Tickets and Outreach Program. The Center’s programs are taken to children in communities and locations where children do not have access to the performing arts and/or where a host organization wants children to experience performers in a more intimate setting. Operation Tickets & Share-a-show program attempts to match donated and subsidized tickets with individuals and children who would not otherwise have the orrportunity to attend a live performance. Look for our name in the regular “Playbills” for all performances offered by the TBPAC this year.

MAF was a sponsor of Prevent
Blindness Florida’s 2007 Light the Night for sight Walk. Funds generated from the walk enable continued programs including vision screening for children, glaucoma screening for at-risk adults, public health education initiatives and research into the causes of and cures for eye diseases. Light the Night for Sight walkathon held at Lowry Park Zoo on May 18 was a great success! Approximately 600 walkers and guests enjoyed the zoo under clear Florida skies!

Bayfront Health Foundation received sponsorship funds for their 11^th Annual Bayflite Golf Classic to be held in November 2007. Funds raised at the tournament help secure the most advanced life-saving equipment for Bayflite, the award-winning aeromedical emergency program of Bayfront Medical Center. Bayflite currently serves 13 counties along the west coast of Florida.

Also in November 2007 MAF will be a Celestial Patron Sponsor for the 17^th Annual Starlight Ball benefiting University Community Hospital’s Breast Care Center

Our Heroes Luncheon, an annual event to honor the men and women of Hillsborough County’s law enforcement and fire rescue, was held in May 2007. MAF has been a contributor to this event since its inception 13 years

Announcements

Holly Tomlin Chairs Merchants Association

Holly Tomlin, President of Tomlin Staffing was recently elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the merchants Association of Florida, Inc.  Holly succeeds Eric Newman in this role.

 Tomlin Staffing was founded in 1985 by Holly Tomlin. Holly has combined experience of over 28 years in the Human Resource industry. Prior to Tomlin Staffing, her experience included seven years in Human Resources at Standard Oil of Ohio (Cleveland). She is a graduate from Baldwin-Wallace College with a business degree.

Holly has been an active participant in numerous community and professional organizations including: The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Rotary Club of Tampa Board Member (first woman president 1999-2000 - founded 1917), Moffitt Corporate Partners, University of Tampa Fellow, Board Member of the Athena Society, Member of League of Women Voters, 2005 Leadership Tampa Graduate, Leadership Tampa Board Member, Leadership Tampa Co-Chair Class of 2007-08, Charter Board Member of The Bank of Florida Tampa Bay, Board Member of Prevent Blindness, Member of Hillsborough County Business Advisory Group (BAG), Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance Board Member, Tampa General Hospital Foundation Board Member, Westshore Alliance, Committee of 100 Investor, and Member of Executive Women’s Golf Association.

She has also been featured in the Book of Lists under CEO Profiles, and in 1990 won the “Up and Comer” award from Price Waterhouse and the Journal.

Tomlin’s firm has been a finalist for Small Business of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2002.

Holly won Tampa Bay Business Journal 2006 BusinessWoman of the Year, and was also the winner in the Business Services category.

Jack Amor, Director of Community Affairs, TECO Energy; William P. Bissett, President, Bissett McGrath Properties, Inc.; Robert Boos, President, Boos Development Group, Inc.; Anthony Borrell Jr., CEO, Wilbey Industrial Service Corp; Jack Butcher, (retired); Patricia Carter, Senior Vice President, Carter Insurance Group, William Douglas, President, St. Pete Jeep-Chrysler; Michael I. Kartt, (wholesale jewelry); Michael Kilgore Vice President Marketing, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; Deborah MacArthur, President, MacArthur Galleries; Jack McMullen, President, Andros, Inc., Ronald A. Sacino, President, Sacino’s Formalwear; Martin Shine, President, Kirby Mens Wear; Peter Rodriguez, Jr., CEO, Merchants Association of Florida, Inc.; Holly Tomlin, President, Tomlin Staffing; and Michael Zagorac, Jr., (retired).

Retiring from the Board were Victor Leavengood, (Retired) GTE; Jack Stefany, President, Architectural Consultants Corp; and Joe Voskerichian, Executive Director, Gold Shield Foundation.

Staff officers reelected were Peter Rodriguez, Jr. President /CEO; Leslie Dukes, Vice President, Credit Services; Robert Krone, Vice President Merchants Security Exchange; T. Curtis Flynn, Vice President Merchants Association Information Services Division and Collection Services; and Carol Jo Meador, Corporate Secretary.