Chamber stands ready as rougher seas loom

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 7, 2001

Draped in sails and nautical netting, the Palm Court Ballroom at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort was given over to the theme "Charting the Course" for the annual St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce dinner on Thursday.

"And it fits," said outgoing chairman Bernie Young. "We'll sail through this storm," referring to recent events. Both Young, only the third woman to hold the top volunteer job in the chamber's 102-year history, and incoming chairman Terry Brett said the economic slowdown and its effect on local businesses likely will be a major focus in the coming year "since 85 percent of our members are small businesses," Young said.

"The name of the game," said Brett, "is business retention. One of our biggest programs is business assistance. They don't even have to be a chamber member. If they are having problems, we'll put a team to together to help solve their problems."

Bank folks were out in full force, and representing United Bank were Bob Williams, Laura Stewart and David Defibaugh; Mercantile executives included Barry Miller and wife Doris, John Sica and Kim Horstman.

Mark Stroud and Ben Godwin chatted about international travel these days. Godwin, a Tech Data exec, said he tells his people to be prepared to get stranded. We agreed that the best case of that worst-case scenario would be to get stuck in Paris as opposed to, say, Siberia.

Suzanne Fisher, with husband Brent, is stepping down after three years as chair of the chamber's Women's Council, which puts on a huge luncheon every spring, this year featuring Andrea Mitchell as guest speaker.

Brian and Theresa Deeb brought his father Roy Deeb, "who came because he thinks I'm getting an award, but he's being given a lifetime service award. It's a surprise to him."

Even though this was a group of movers and shakers, there were so many people that moving, never mind shaking, became a challenge. Still, I managed to squeeze through to say hello to State Sen. Don Sullivan; Joe Fleece; John Tapp; Tim Bogott; Dagmar DeStefano; Lenne Nickalus-Ball; Marilyn Littlejohn; Charlie Harris; Marcus Greene; Sue Brody; Lee Lowry; Marion Ballard; Donna Fletcher; and Leslie Ann Curry.

A different sort of moving and shaking was happening at the Pier, where lots of bones were rattling in Great Explorations' haunted house on the first floor. It opened a few days ago and members of the Hands On museum were invited to preview it. A party in the museum's third floor space featured chicken fingers (to eat) and Cleopatra, a very large boa constrictor (to observe).

Billy Mills, dressed as a Super Hero -- don't know which one -- pronounced the snake "scaly." His mother, Christi Mills, agreed. Also costumed were Luke and Laurie Peterson, with parents Dr. Andrew and Janet Peterson; Parker Mattern with mom Georgia Mattern; and Katie Carroll with mom Janet Carroll.

The promise of meeting new Eckerd College president Donald Eastman drew a larger than usual crowd to the monthly Women's Forum on Wednesday. More than 100 gathered for chicken salad and the opportunity to have a one-on-one with Eastman and wife, Chris.

As its name suggests, the Women's Forum is composed mostly of women.

"Are you the only guy here?" I asked Eastman.

"I hope so," he said.

A few men tagged along with wives and friends, but the group was largely female and included Carol Upham, Louise Chapin, Erma Jaeckle, Helen Ross and Joan Bailey.

The forum was founded about 15 years ago by the late Sue Armacost, the wife of former Eckerd College president Peter Armacost, "to develop a way for women in the community to be introduced to the college," said Kitty Rawson.

Programs range from musical performances to scholarly talks.

Some of the best things about being a columnist are the conversations I have, via telephone calls, e-mails and letters, with you who read On the Town. I usually learn a lot from them. Two recent communications bear sharing, both concerning a column about the chef's table at the Renaissance Vinoy that featured potato dishes.

Edmond Jacoby wrote to correct a reference I made to Sigmund Freud. He tells me that the quote attributed to Freud is not "sometimes a chair is just a chair." It is "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar," a remark made, Mr. Jacoby said, "after being pressed to explain why he was never seen without one. The implication was that his cigar connoted something deeper." Thank you, Mr. Jacoby, for the information and for the copy of an article about Freud and cigars excerpted from Cigar Aficionado magazine.

Dottie Steinberg called, wanting to know more about chef John Pivar's remark that potatoes can be used to clean paintings. Indeed, they can, Mrs. Steinberg. In her research for the potato menu, Krista Boling unearthed that little tip in a book by food writer Lydie Marshall entitled A Passion for Potatoes.

"To clean an oil painting: First dust the painting with a clean soft cloth," Marshall writes. "Choose a large potato, split in half, and start rubbing the cut side of the potato on the canvas. Cut a slice off the potato when it gets dirty. Wet a soft clean towel and use it to brush off all the potato starch from the canvas. The towel will pick up the starch with the dirt that clings to it."

I'm not sure I would clean a Velasquez or Van Gogh that way, but the idea is food for thought.

LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday

CHRISTMAS TOY SHOP 80TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY: Since 1921, this organization has provided toys to children who otherwise might have none come Christmas. Dressy casual. 6 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club. 11 Central Ave. $40. 526-0693 or 895-3055.

LET THEM EAT CAKE: Members of Friends of the Library welcome Mayor Rick Baker as guest speaker for its fall meeting at the Main Branch. Also on hand will be former mayors of St. Petersburg. The favorite cakes of each will be served as refreshments. Not surprisingly, chocolate is in the majority (Baker, Dave Fischer, Bob Ulrich, Ed Cole and Charlie Shuh). Randy Wedding loves pineapple upside down cake; Don Jones admires carrot cake; and Corinne Freeman prefers butter cake. 2 p.m. 3745 Ninth Ave. N.

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