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Talk of the bay

Rep. Putnam adds name to Emerge Tampa member rolls

By JEFF HARRINGTON
Published March 28, 2005

It's not often that a group for young professionals secures a seasoned representative of Congress as a member.

For Emerge Tampa, it was a first.

Then again, not every congressman is Adam Putnam, who was the youngest member of the House when he was elected in 2000 at the age of 26.

Putnam, R-Bartow, now a Capitol Hill veteran in his third term in Congress, said he has joined Emerge Lakeland and Emerge Tampa. The latter group, an offshoot of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, is geared toward business people aged 21 to 35. Volunteers network and try to attract other young professionals to the city.

Putnam applauded the group for its leadership programs and for acting as an entry point for emerging business leaders to become involved in the chamber. "I think they are realizing that they have to refresh the membership tree a little bit," he said.

Between duties in Washington and his district, however, Putnam hasn't been able to spend much time on Emerge activities.

In fact, the representative has made only one meeting since last fall. He acknowledges: "I wouldn't say I'm going to win member of the year."

[Last modified March 25, 2005, 19:02:02]