The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce kicked off their third annual Chamber Choices campaign with a breakfast meeting at the Gift Horse Restaurant in Foley on Sept. 16.

Guest speaker Drexel Gilbert said since the oil spill has impacted our coast this summer “everyone is watching to see how we respond.” She also said that it would be “so easy to focus on the pitfalls and the tarballs,” but that this campaign and the work of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is more important now than ever before. Gilbert said “this group is preparing to walk down the road that is going to lead you to a 2011 that will be the best possible year ever for businesses in South Mobile County. I believe it is possible.”

The ten teams involved in this year’s campaign, called “The Road To Success,” announced monetary goals that together equal $414,749. Organizers of the event had only set a goal of $265,000.

The Chamber Choices campaign takes place over eight weeks. During the campaign, the teams involved gather financial resources and sponsorships, are gathered by the teams involved. Resources and sponsorships go towards aiding the South Baldwin Chamber and the Chamber Foundation’s programs. Teams will also obtain sponsorships for events, publications and other media.

The Chamber Choices campaign also serves as a membership drive.

This year’s campaign offers several hundred sponsorship opportunities to businesses that are already members of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce or those businesses that are not yet members. The ten teams involved are expected to encompass around 75 volunteers, which will aid business leaders to make the best sponsorship choice for their marketing needs.

The teams and team captains of this year’s campaign are Ray Belew with Team GPS; Matt Fetner; Samantha Graber with Bahama Bound Baby!; Jay Jennings with Cruise Control; Paris Love with The Scarecrows; Lilia Mothershed with the Go-Gettersl Michelle Nelson with Yellow Brick Pavers; James Thomas with Wine not the Islands?; Barbara Ward with the Gold Masons; and Tommy Lee with Cruisin’ Past Ya!.

Donna Watts, president and CEO of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce concluded the kickoff breakfast with expectations of a successful campaign that is “going to be such fun.”

This year’s campaign has already raised $116,000. Some of the money raised will go to support the Chamber Foundation, which goes to “support schools and children in our communities, children who one day will be working for businesses, leading businesses and be the foundation for the community itself,” said incoming chamber president Britton Bonner.