With credit to San Diego Stand Down Founders, Robert Van Keuren and Dr. Jon Nachison who started their stand down thirty years ago in San Diego, Tom Cowan believed that North County should follow in that proud tradition of serving veterans in our community. After spending over a year talking to people and getting like minded veterans to adopt his idea for a Stand Down in the North County Area, The North County San Diego Veterans Stand Down (NCSDVSD) was established as a 501 c 3 charity.
 
Our first stand down was completed in January of 2017 at Green Oak Ranch in Vista.      The VA Medical and Benefits teams, provided an opportunity for our veterans to receive needed services. The Green Oak ranch staff allowed our men and women to eat and sleep in a safe environment and help get their lives back together. We could not have done this event without the North County community pulling together and helping us provide food, clothing, legal services and volunteers who made our veterans feel like the community was behind them.

Today, Oceanside Chamber announced that its facility is running on 100% renewable energy thanks to San Diego Gas & Electric’s new EcoChoice program. The new, environmentally-friendly program is available to all residents and the Oceanside Chamber is hoping to set the stage for a more sustainable future.
 
By signing up for EcoChoice, participants can increase the amount of renewable energy powering their businesses or homes all while reducing their carbon footprint and their impact on climate change.  

This summer, the Oceanside Chamber, along with MainStreet Oceanside and Visit Oceanside are taking on the task of helping Google provide coverage of local gems that are not accessible through Google's Street View program. The Oceanside team is utilizing the Google Trekker program to highlight many of Oceanside's "off-street" features such as the beach, pier, bike paths, Pier View Way Undercrossing, Artist Alley Pedestrian Promenade and the Oceanside Harbor.

On Wednesday, June 12th, nearly 200 community leaders came together for the Oceanside Chamber's Annual Oceanside Heroes Reception, presented by Tri-City Medical Center. The community recognized members of the Oceanside Police Department, Fire Department, Lifeguards and Oceanside Unified School district for their outstanding contributions to the well-being of the City of Oceanside.

In early May, the Oceanside City Council voted to transition from at-large council elections to district elections in order to avoid a potential lawsuit threatened under the California Voting Rights Act.  
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Numerous community meetings and public hearing took place during May and June in order to provide for community input into the districting process. The Chamber was represented at each of the meetings and has been a strong voice for the business community in the process.

With the Race Across America (RAAM) about to begin, the Oceanside Chamber wants to take a minute to offer our best wishes to Team Oceanside! To follow Team Oceanside's progress over the coming days and support their efforts to raise funds for Rady Children's Hospital, please take a minute to visit their website and Facebook pages...
https://oceansideraam.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TeamOceansideRAAM/
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On May 20, 2017, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce held its 16th Annual Operation Appreciation. An estimated crowd of 4,000 - 5,000 active duty military family members were treated to a day of food, entertainment and family activities. 

Opening ceremonies were attended by Congressman Darrell Issa, Col. John Polidoro, SgtMaj Ernie Rose, Oceanside Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery, Oceanside City Councilmember Jerry Kern and San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond.

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With all the exciting new development taking place in downtown Oceanside, you may be surprised that are still many great parking options available within walking distance of most of the key downtown attractions.

Thank you to our friends at MainStreet Oceanside for sharing this video with us!

The Oceanside Chamber recently sent a letter of support to the Oceanside Planning Commission encouraging the opportunity for residents and business owners in the South Morro Hills area of Oceanside to put together a community vision plan centered on the concept of agritourism.

According to Chamber CEO, Scott Ashton, “the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the 3500 acres of South Morro Hills agricultural land is a unique and valuable asset for Oceanside. The possibility of creating agritourism opportunities in this community is exciting and compelling and the Chamber wants to do whatever possible to give this vision a chance to develop.” Some of the possibilities discussed for the farmland have included bed & breakfasts and boutique hotels.
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Along those lines, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted last month to support a window of time of 24 months for a community vision plan to be developed for this area.  During this period of time, the Chamber’s intention is to not support individual projects proposed for this area.
Chamber staff and volunteer leadership will continue to remain engaged with the property owners and city leaders during this time period.