The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the men and women who serve our country. One way the chamber does this is through its Armed Services Committee.
Led by Chair Mimi Gaffey, Co-chair Andy Davis and Committee Secretary Crystal Babowal, the committee meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the fourth Friday of each month at the chamber, 5934 Priestly Drive, Carlsbad. The committee helps companies learn how to do business with the military and serves as a liaison to Camp Pendleton.
The group, along with Ted Owen, president and CEO of the chamber, and Michael Babowal, the chamber's director of government affairs and the committee's staff liaison, work with chamber members who want to learn about doing business at Camp Pendleton. The committee also has put together a member-to-military discount program called Carlsbad Salutes, which asks chamber members to give an ongoing discount to active duty and retired military personnel, reservists and their dependents.
In addition to these programs, the committee puts on an annual event at the School of Infantry (SOI) West, located at the north end of Camp Pendleton. SOI is an advanced training school for infantry Marines.
Most of the Marines at SOI are under the age of 20 and are fresh out of boot camp. Because of their intense training schedule, SOI students are not afforded time off.
The chamber will host its 4th Patriotic Rally: BBQ & Car Show for more than 4,000 Marines at SOI Sept. 14. This “thank you for volunteering to serve” celebration will again include a classic car show, great civilian food, entertainment and lots of gifts.
Last year, with support from generous companies from our community, we were able to give each Marine a 120-minute calling card, plus hundreds won prizes like goggles, backpacks, water bottles, MP3 players and tools.
Last year, Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, Commanding General Marine Corps Installations West, attended our SOI barbeque. After attending, Lehnert wrote a thank you letter that started with, “What can I do to thank you enough for a wonderful event at SOI?” and ended with, “A day just doesn't get any better than that.”
We hope to make Sept.14 an even better day, but we cannot provide a “thank you” that these Marines will remember or demonstrate our unconditional support for our troops without the support of our business community.
Please consider making a contribution to support each Marine at this year's event.
You can join the following local businesses that are teaming up with the chamber for the event:
• Catalina Restaurant Group Inc.
• McDonald's
• Chef DK Catering
• El Camino Rental
• Lorimar Group Inc.
• AT&T
• Comerica Bank
You also can do more than just donate, you can join the committee or volunteer on Sept. 14 to personally thank these young men. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or joining the Armed Services Committee, visit www.carlsbad.org and click on the “Committees” link and then the “Armed Services Committee” link.
For more information about the SOI event or the Armed Services Committee, call Michael Babowal at (760) 931-8400 or e-mail him at [email protected].
Led by Chair Mimi Gaffey, Co-chair Andy Davis and Committee Secretary Crystal Babowal, the committee meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the fourth Friday of each month at the chamber, 5934 Priestly Drive, Carlsbad. The committee helps companies learn how to do business with the military and serves as a liaison to Camp Pendleton.
The group, along with Ted Owen, president and CEO of the chamber, and Michael Babowal, the chamber's director of government affairs and the committee's staff liaison, work with chamber members who want to learn about doing business at Camp Pendleton. The committee also has put together a member-to-military discount program called Carlsbad Salutes, which asks chamber members to give an ongoing discount to active duty and retired military personnel, reservists and their dependents.
In addition to these programs, the committee puts on an annual event at the School of Infantry (SOI) West, located at the north end of Camp Pendleton. SOI is an advanced training school for infantry Marines.
Most of the Marines at SOI are under the age of 20 and are fresh out of boot camp. Because of their intense training schedule, SOI students are not afforded time off.
The chamber will host its 4th Patriotic Rally: BBQ & Car Show for more than 4,000 Marines at SOI Sept. 14. This “thank you for volunteering to serve” celebration will again include a classic car show, great civilian food, entertainment and lots of gifts.
Last year, with support from generous companies from our community, we were able to give each Marine a 120-minute calling card, plus hundreds won prizes like goggles, backpacks, water bottles, MP3 players and tools.
Last year, Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, Commanding General Marine Corps Installations West, attended our SOI barbeque. After attending, Lehnert wrote a thank you letter that started with, “What can I do to thank you enough for a wonderful event at SOI?” and ended with, “A day just doesn't get any better than that.”
We hope to make Sept.14 an even better day, but we cannot provide a “thank you” that these Marines will remember or demonstrate our unconditional support for our troops without the support of our business community.
Please consider making a contribution to support each Marine at this year's event.
You can join the following local businesses that are teaming up with the chamber for the event:
• Catalina Restaurant Group Inc.
• McDonald's
• Chef DK Catering
• El Camino Rental
• Lorimar Group Inc.
• AT&T
• Comerica Bank
You also can do more than just donate, you can join the committee or volunteer on Sept. 14 to personally thank these young men. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or joining the Armed Services Committee, visit www.carlsbad.org and click on the “Committees” link and then the “Armed Services Committee” link.
For more information about the SOI event or the Armed Services Committee, call Michael Babowal at (760) 931-8400 or e-mail him at [email protected].