Merrilee K. Foerster

Merrilee K. Foerester was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.  She moved to Seminole in June, 1971 from Garden City, N.Y. She joined the Seminole Chamber in 1971 as owner and operator of Engraving Services by the Foerster's.

As a Chamber member Merrilee was the Better Business Committee Chairperson for four years, and Group Economic Leader for four years.  She served as Treasurer for two terms and she was on the Chamber's Board of Directors for at least four years.

Along with Jimmy Johnson Merrilee helped organize the monthly Courtesy Clerk Award for the Chamber.  She also organized the very first “Shop In Seminole” campaign where she had two tons of snow delivered in the parking lot of Guillenwater's strip mall on Seminole Blvd.  In addition to the snow the “Shop in Seminole” even also featured clowns, a balloon artist for the kids and food vendors. Through Merrilee’s efforts many Seminole Chamber members, and local businesses donated prizes, and were acknowledged in a brochure printed for the event.  Ten days prior to the actual event, Seminole Mall hosted an event where names were pulled and donated prizes were awarded. The Grand Prize for guessing closest to the hours, minutes and seconds it took the snow to melt was a weekend for two at the Don CeSar. It took more than twenty-six hours for the snow to completely melt.   Merillee and Ron Arnold were present from the very beginning of the event until after all the snow had finally melted a day later.

The second “Shop In Seminole” campaign had two tons of snow delivered to the south side of Seminole Mall.  She and her committee members organized the Chamber’s monthly Courtesy Clerk Award from the names submitted by the public.  Each month an outstanding clerk was picked and awarded a plaque at the Chamber luncheon at Lou Frasier's Driftwood Cafeteria. The winner's picture receiving the award was in the Seminole Beacon with the name of the business the clerk worked at. She and her committee members started the Lighting of the Yule Log on 102nd Avenue.

Over the years Merrillee and her committee organized many Business and Banking Seminars at the original Spoto's Restaurant on Park Blvd.  Other activities of Merrilee’s during her life in Seminole have included:

• She was on the Seminole Advisory Committee for the St. Petersburg YWCA.

• She served on the Board of Directors of the St. Petersburg YWCA, and was Treasurer and Acting Executive Director.

• She was a model for a Fashion Show put on by the YWCA at the Don CeSar.

• She worked with the leaders of local troops of the Brownies and Cub Scouts for many years. She also worked with the leaders of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for many years.

• Merrilee also was a team mother for both the girls and boys Little League teams and teams beginning with T-Ball through 17 and 18-year-old team members.