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ZOOM….thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to keep our Aventura Marketing Council/Chamber of Commerce members together during 2020/2021…a time of lockdowns! Elaine Adler
With awareness of COVID-19 in March, 2020, the Aventura Marketing Council/Chamber of Commerce (AMC) immediately pivoted to virtual meetings thanks to the constant guidance and support from Michael Stern, former Aventura Commissioner and current AMC Board Member, who became their Zoom Administrator Extraordinaire. After 15 months and 115 Zoom meetings, the members of the AMC are now returning to in-person meetings. But there surely is something to be said about those many wonderful virtual meetings that kept the businesses connected and able to do business as they networked with friends old and new. During those many months, the AMC tremendously increased all their meetings on ZOOM to ensure that those business connections would remain strong during this challenging time. Where there used to be a great guest speaker at each of the monthly Breakfast Meetings and Chairman’s Roundtable luncheons, the AMC organized top-tier guest speakers and programs every week. In place of the monthly SpeedBiz programs that provided outstanding one-on-one networking, Michael Stern led a weekly SpeedBiz program.
The list of virtual guest speakers and programs is long and varied…Florida State Senators Jason Pizzo and Lauren Book and Florida State Rep. Joe Geller; Aventura Mayor Enid Weisman and Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho; Student “Shark Tank” programs; “Women of Influence” seminar; Physicians from Aventura Hospital and Memorial Healthcare System; Bill Talbert, President & CEO of the Gr. Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and 20 Police Chiefs from throughout Miami-Dade County; Restaurant Showcases; FBI and local Police Chiefs; Law Committee seminars; Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix speakers Marcus Bach-Armas, Miami Dolphins/Hard Rock Stadium and Richard Cregan, Formula 1; Condo & HOA Association Board Members Seminar chaired by Aventura Comm. Dr. Linda Marks; NFL Former Players “Giving Back” with CBS Sports Anchor Jim Berry and so many more.
One the last ZOOM meetings was their largest as they worked closely with the North Dade Justice Center Judges Linda Singer Stein and Myriam Lehr on their annual LAW DAY program. Keynote speaker was Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel who spoke eloquently on “Learning From the Life of Justice Gerald Kogan”. Bar Associations from throughout the State of Florida helped sponsor the meeting along with Professional Bank.
The AMC’s signature event, their 11th annual Interiors by Steven G ~ YOUNG STARS SHOWCASE powered by AT&T benefiting the AMC Education Foundation was held virtually.
Although a great success, there’s nothing like a full-house audience in the beautiful Aventura Arts & Cultural Center that is filled with applause for the incredible young singers.
On the other hand, the ZOOM platform allowed family members and guests from around the world to see and hear the Young Stars, and talk to them via ZOOM after the performances.
Yes…ZOOM was a life-saver for many businesses and organizations, and there may be some hybrid meetings where people alternate Zoom with in-person meetings. but people are ready to see one another, say “hello” in person and actually see a smile on someone’s face that is not behind a computer screen.
So here’s to ZOOM and all those great technology platforms that kept us sane and connected during a long, long period of time…..we thank you, we appreciate you upgrading all your systems to handle a whole new world on ZOOM and we hope we only need to use you when we choose to do so!
