From Gail, Executive Director:
What a great weekend – Lian and I went to the Pickwick, said hi to Dino, and saw ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ which we enjoyed – then to Potbelly’s for dinner and to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for dessert! And of course we made our routine stops at the Park Ridge Public Library and the Park District for swim and ice skating lessons!
I also attended week 3 of the Citizen’s Police Academy where a Detective Dorner told us about Identify Theft, computer crimes, and how to protect your family from both. Its important to check your credit report each year. He recommends that every 4 months check your credit report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com I did it over the weekend and it was quick and easy.
My friend, Lori, and I visited Wine Styles and Dominic’s Kitchen Store! My husband, Gary, retained Chris’ Landscape to do our lawn maintenance at home. Its wonderful living and working in Park Ridge and we always support Chamber members. I’ve had friends say, “Let’s go to ____” and I’ll say, “They’re not chamber members – so let’s go to Noodles or Potbelly’s or Tandoor’s, etc.” and we do!
Newsletter: The Chamber Connection
Did you get your Chamber newsletter in the mail yet? It was mailed last week after assembly by the Maine East High School students with special needs – to whom I’m very grateful! Thank you again!
The ads and inserts are paid for by the businesses. The money we bring in pays for the postage to mail out the newsletters so this is not a program that costs us. It’s a great benefit to the members and pays for itself. That’s how the Chamber attempts to manage the majority of its events.
10/15 Luncheon with the Park Ridge Community Fund!
As of this morning, we have 60 rsvp’s for our monthly networking luncheon next week at the Park Ridge Country Club. Don’t be left out! This is going to be a great event!
The Chamber is honoring the Park Ridge Community Fund (PRCF) by hosting our monthly luncheon in their honor to launch their 50th Annual Campaign Kick-off.
Tom Dore, formerly of the Chicago Bulls, is our keynote speaker along with David Barker, president of the PRCF.
11:30 to 1:30 at $25 per person.
The menu has been selected and is guaranteed to tickle your taste buds:
· House Tossed Salad with Raspberry Dressing
· Breast of Chicken a la Greque
· Grilled Asparagus
· Saffron Risotto
· Sourdough Rolls and butter
· Ice Cream Turtle Sundae
If you’d like to bring a raffle prize, let me know! It’s a good way to get your name and business in front of all the attendees! Money raised that day will be donated to the Park Ridge Community Fund! The Chamber will also donate gift certificates for the drawing.
So far, we have (and thank you to the donors!)
· Holiday Inn O’Hare – one weekend night stay plus breakfast for 2
· Duraclean Services - $50 gift certificate for carpet/furniture cleaning
· Potbelly Gift Basket
· H&R Block Services - $50 gift certificate & more
· Lia Sophia jewelry
· Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Delectable Treats
· Chamber Gift Certificates
Everyone is invited – we expect to hit 80 to 100 people! RSVP to the Chamber now!
Women in Business
10/22
5-7pm
Our next Women in Business meeting will be held at Dominic’s Kitchen Store on Oct. 22 which is a Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Dominic Cimilluca’s friend, Chef Matt Zagorski, will show us holiday entertaining tips and we get to eat the creations! In September, Chef Matt was a featured chef in the Food Network’s successful Food Network Challenge series. This December, Chef Matt will be a guest chef on “Dishin’ with Dionna” which airs on NBC.
Dominic will also offer 20% off everything in his store that evening!
Thank you to Marta Hoover, CopySet Center, for providing the beverages and to Karen Larsen, Order My Gift, for the dessert tray. The event will be catered by Applauze Catering! $10 for members and $15 for prospective members so bring a friend!
Ribbon Cutting: Kidwinks.com
10/22 at 10 a.m. in the Chamber offices: Kidwinks.com Ribbon Cutting!
I hope you can make it! RSVP – refreshments and raffle prizes!
Outback Steakhouse Benefit
Outback Steakhouse is not normally open for lunch however they will be this Friday and next Friday – Oct. 10 & 17 for a benefit. The restaurant will donate all the proceeds from both days to the Muscular Dystrophy Association research. The cost is $20 per person for a set lunch and their hours are 11:30 to 1:30. 8101 W. Higgins. Cash or check only – no credit cards. Call 773-380-0818 for more info and reservations. Let’s get a group together and meet at noon!
1/17/09: ‘SONO’
Thanks to Rick Pucci for chairing a “Service Organization Night Out” on Saturday, January 17 – save the date and mark your calendar!
The Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce, The Elks Club, The Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and any other organizations which would like to participate are invited to bring the whole family!
We’ll meet, eat, and network and then attend a Chicago Wolves hockey game where more surprises are planned for us!Free parking - raffles just for the Service groups and even a Skates (the Wolves Mascot) Bobble Head Doll! Tickets for everything will be $25 each so SAVE THE DATE for fun for the whole family!!!
You'll also receive another free ticket to a future hockey game!
Football Mania!
Don’t forget! Football Mania tickets are still on sale at the Chamber! $20 each. $10,000 in cash prizes. Winning tickets pulled each week once started.
We had $420 worth of winners for Baseball Mania! Aggie Stempniak won $300; John Young won $60; and Julianna Maller won $60! Buy your Football Mania tickets here at the Chamber!
Library Book Sale
Park Ridge Public Library Friends of the Library:
Fall Book Sale
Saturday, November 8, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Park Ridge Public Library First Floor Meeting Room
Half-Price Sale Sunday, November 9, noon-2:00 p.m.
Preview Night Friday, November 7, for Members Only 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Numbers given out beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Friends membership may be purchased at the door.
Comcast Business Services
This morning, the Chamber switched over to Comcast Business Services for telephone, internet, and video. Everything is working great! Call Doug Stolz at 847-331-2500 if you want to switch, improve the performance of your internet service, and save money! The Chamber anticipates saving over $1,000 in the first year but, more importantly, our internet is faster! And now I have cable tv at the Chamber too as I brought in a tv from home! (They installed it for free!)
PREN – An Open House?
Last week we held the Entrepreneurs Knowledge Group (EKG) meeting. Many are home-based entrepreneurs who get together to bounce ideas off each other and to combine resources where possible. The group is considering getting together during Winterfest - the day after Thanksgiving - to hold an open house and, for those who may have tangible products to sell, to display and sell their products. We’ve gotten the green light from the owner of the vacant store front at 147 S. Vine (where Brickton Art Center used to be) across from City Hall. But we need more entrepreneurs to commit and pull it together so please let me know if you’re interested!
Oct. 23 Multi-Chamber B2B Expo & Taste!!
Another great networking opportunity: Business to Business Expo (B2B) and Taste!!!
Come for free if you have a business card! No need to rsvp to attend but could use more Restaurants for the Taste (only $50 for a booth for restaurants). So far, the following restaurants have signed up (none from our chamber):
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
California Pizza Kitchen
Maggiano's Little Italy
The Yumbus Station Restaurant
Cumberland Café
Rex Italian Foods
Panera Bread
Illinois Nut & Candy
Edible Arrangements
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Thursday, October 23: Chateau Ritz 9100 N. Milwaukee, Niles from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Participating Chambers: Des Plaines, Edison Park, Morton Grove, Mt Prospect, Niles, Park Ridge, Skokie, Wheeling
$300 for a booth except for Restaurants which only pay $50 for a booth (they’re providing food, after all!)
$500 Major sponsor (only 5 spots left): PRIME booth location; Name in event promotional materials; Expo Signage; Name/logo on cover of event program.
Members I visited last week:
Pickwick Theater - Dino
Park Ridge Park District
State Farm Ins. & Financial Planning – Ann Witek
Potbelly’s
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – Linda Hills
Wine Styles
Dominic’s Kitchen Store – Dominic Cimilluca
Susan Frangos – Higher Level Wellness
We Simplify the Internet – Jim Cone
Catalyst Marketing & PR – Carol Simantz
Park Ridge Public Library
Park Ridge City Hall – Police Department
McLennon Commercial Real Estate – Gary Stubits
Comcast – Doug Stolz
Baggio Studios – Rita Baggio
Barton & Barton - Dick Barton
Dental Auxilliary Placement Services – Karen Anderson
Sebastian Co Real Estate – Don Sebastian Jr.
Pioneer Press – Jennifer Williams
Coupon Saver – Curt Case
Janus Premiums – Cathy Janus
We now have a BLOG for the Chamber! Members can add their events to it. Another member benefit and another way to keep up with the available technology to network and market your business. Simply post your comments.
Check it out: www.parkridgechamber.blogspot.com
Other Member News:
Go Figure is celebrating its 5th anniversary in Oct and GB Therapeutic Massage will celebrate its 1st year!
Kidwinks.com: In celebration of their ribbon cutting ceremony on October 22nd, Kidwinks.com will be highlighting Park Ridge in their newsletters during the week beginning October 20th. They will particularly concentrate on family-oriented activities, restaurants, shops and services. Kidwinks' members from throughout the Chicagoland area will be encouraged to visit Park Ridge (especially to take the train - kids love trains!) during this week and see what our city has to offer families. Please contact kidwinks at info@kidwinks.com or 847-685-1275 if you are interested in participating. kidwinks.com <http://www.kidwinks.com/> The site to know with kids in tow
Northwest Suburban Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizens Banquet on Thursday October 16th 2008 7:00 p.m. at the Meridian Banquets in Rolling Meadows. The Northwest Suburban Council will be honoring Mr. Ed Goldberg President/CEO of St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates. Phil Rogers with TV 5 is this year's Keynote Speaker and promises to be very exciting as Phil just returned from covering the Olympics in China. Individual seats for this very special evening are $150.00. If you would like an electronic brochure of this event, or have further questions, please contact NWSC Finance Director Pete Stikovich. http://www.nwsc.org
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Thank you to everyone who has brought in their old cell phones!
Please help our military personnel keep in touch with their families. Donate your old cell phone, battery and charger which get recycled. For every donated cell phone, a 60 minute phone card is sent to a military person to use to call home.
The Chamber office is a drop off collection point. These caring Chamber members have also agreed to be drop offs centers for your used cell phones (and battery and charger):
· Sebastian Co. Real Estate (601 W. Devon),
· Ann Witek’s State Farm Insurance & Financial Services (701 ½ W. Devon)
· MB Financial Bank (1014 Busse Hwy)
For more information on this wonderful program, check out www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
Contact me:
Gail Haller
Executive Director
Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce
32 Main Street, Suite F
Park Ridge, IL 60068
phone: 847.825.3121
fax: 847.825.3122
email: gail.haller@parkridgechamber.org
website: www.parkridgechamber.org
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