Another fun weekend – getting ready for the holidays! Don’t forget about bringing in receipts totaling $500 for a chance to win $100 in Chamber gift certificates! Wes Bleed pulled the winning ticket at the luncheon last week and it went to Fran Durkin from the Park Ridge Public Library! Shopping Chamber members is profitable!

A member sent me an email: “FYI…A Gina of TransNational Bankcard (847.655.1345) of Rolling Meadows left a VM for me using Park Ridge Chamber as their “referrer”. I called back and it was a sales call. I found it a bit over the edge…just wanted you to know in case other members have the same experience.” I called Gina and told her to stop using our name as the referrer. She apologized and said she’d stop but I wanted you to know about this.



Thank you Rich Callahan, GM Outback!
Our monthly networking luncheon last week was amazing! We had 60 people show up for the Outback spread! Thank you to Rich Callahan, general manager, Outback for opening his restaurant to the Chamber when they usually are not open during lunch time. The food and service were both fabulous! Not only that, Rich donated all the proceeds from the luncheon back to the Chamber – THANK YOU! Please patronize Outback in the evenings and tell Rich hi!



WGN News Director, Wes Bleed, spoke to the 60 members present. I scheduled Wes back in July – who knew back then that there would be such interesting current events to discuss? Thank you to Travis Dearborn, chiropractor, for introducing me to Wes.



Delia Ciminello, First Chicago Bank & Trust, won the 50/50 split the pot!



And Anna Basile from Sun and Moon Yoga won the Spotlight article for the newsletter just by putting her business card into the drawing!



December Business After Hours at

WineStyles!


Coming up this week is our monthly networking Business After Hours: this Thursday, December 18 at WineStyles from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Our very last Chamber event for 2008 – come out and party! Wear your Santa hats and ties! A good opportunity for those holiday sweaters too!



Thank you to Tracy and Doug Bell for hosting! It’s going to be a great time! Wine, food (All on the Road Catering!), and more!



No additional charge – included in your Chamber membership! Plan to buy some wine while you’re there too! Check out their 6 for $60 table!

Indira Salon & Spa Ribbon Cutting
You’re invited to the ribbon cutting at Indira Salon & Spa this Thursday at 10 a.m. 520 West Touhy Avenue. Mayor Frimark will be there and the Chamber Ambassadors will also be there with their giant ribbon cutting ceremonial scissors! Please come out to see the salon and meet the staff. Tracy Nass is the owner and is excited about being in Park Ridge.



Installation & Awards Dinner

‘A Night of Stars’

1/24/09


Did you get your invitation to A Night of Stars for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009?



Don’t miss out on what promises to be a fun time!



Please help by donating a silent auction or raffle item?



Thank you to the following who are donating – either silent auction items, raffle items, in kind donations or monetary donations:

A Sterling Design

Accents by Jenny

American Eagle

Baggio's Studios

Baileys Restaurant

Carmen Nicoles Wellness Spa

Chicago Fire Soccer

Dental Auxilliary Placement Services, Inc.

Dominic's Kitchen Store

French Twist, A Hair Salon for Men and Women, Niles

GB Therapeutic Massage

Hay Caramba!

Howard Frimark

Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Indira Salon & Spa

Jackie's Nails & Spa

Jewel Foods

Journal Newspaper

Kiko's Flowers & Gifts

Kustom Kribs Baby Boutique

Lutheran General Hospital

Lynette's School of Dance

Minuteman Press of Des Plaines

Nika le butik

No 'e' Disign

Order My Gift – Karen Larsen

Park Ridge Financial Advisors – Rick Pucci

Park Ridge Fire Department

PC Medic, Inc.

Perry's Pizzaria

Pioneer Press

Quinn Print, Inc.

Resurrection Health Care Services

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

SCORE! Educational Centers

Select Redesign

Sun & Moon Yoga

Tasty Pup

The Exercise Coach

The Lock Up Storage Center

Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark at Grand Geneva

TriPilates

Wine Styles

You Can Say Yes




The invitations were designed by Rita Baggio, Baggio Studios and were printed by Quinn Print Inc. They were assembled by the students at Maine East High School under the direction of teacher Jeff Gallichio. Thank you to Rita, Mike and Jeff for your continued support of the Chamber! And thank you to Kiko’s Flowers & Gifts for providing the floral arrangements!



The committee will be reviewing the Community Star Award nominations this Wednesday.



Remember, in January there will be no monthly networking luncheon because we’re having the Installation & Awards dinner so please plan to attend the dinner. Piano music by Fred Simon! It’s open to everyone! $60 per person.









2009 Chamber Dues are the same as 2008!






2009 Dues did not go up!



You can pay by credit card, with this link:

http://renew.parkridgechamber.org

You can also go to our website for the link.



Platinum status: For $300 more, you get 8 monthly luncheons ($200 value alone!) plus lots of extra recognition. Please consider upgrading to Platinum when you renew.



Members Good through 12/31/09:

4CI

Academic Tutoring Centers

Applications Network

Autumn Tree Care Experts, Inc.

Baggio Studios

Barton & Barton, Ltd

Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois

Chiro One Wellness Centers

Clark Management

Comcast Business Services

Comfort Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Coupon Cash Saver

Crystal Maintenance BK & Art, Inc.

Design Unlimited Interiors

Fully Fit Lifestyles, Inc.

Garveys Office Products

Gary Heck & Associates

Gillick Realtors

Home Enhancements Design Studio, Inc.

HomeControlPlus Inc.

Honorable Painters Inc.

Hyatt Regency O'Hare

Hyatt Rosemont

Indira Salon & Spa

Jackie's Nails & Spa

Jay Crowley/Keller Williams Realty Partners

Kidwinks

LensCrafters Optique

Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation

MocteNet PC & Video, Inc.

Mutual Financial Corp

Neal & McDevitt, LLC

Nelson Automotive, Inc.

Nelson Music

North Shore Dental Group

O'Brien, Harry L.

Park Ridge Animal Hospital, LLC

Park Ridge Fine Arts Society

Park Ridge Multi Med

Park Ridge Paint, Glass & Wallpaper

Park Ridge Shell Auto Maintenance & Repair

Park Ridge Vacuum

PC Medic Computer Repair

Potbelly Sandwich Works

ps:accessories, inc.

Resurrection Health Care

Scarpelli & Brady, LLC.

Select Redesign

Silver Connections

Smart Roofing, Inc.

Summit Specialtees

Sydney M Garza

Tanya Travel, Inc.

Titan Worldwide

WSI-We Simplify the Internet (Jim Cone)

XO Glow





2009 Networking Opportunities
As you plan your budget and networking opportunities for 2009, here are some events the Chamber is involved in where you might want to participate by getting a booth – or at the very least, to attend:

February 5th 4-6:30pm Chocolate & Champagne Networking Event

March 19th 11:30am Multi-Chamber Progressive Networking Lunch

Taste of Park Ridge Business Expo, Sat., July 11

August 27th 8:30am Multi-Chamber Progressive Networking Breakfast

October 22, Thursday, Multi-Chamber Business to Business Expo and Taste

2009 Monthly Networking Luncheons

2009 Business After Hours
As we plan for 2009, looking for places to hold our monthly networking luncheons - typically 40 to 60 people attend and usually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Of course we will only hold events at member sites! Restaurants, hotels, any large room that can be catered by another member. Let me know if you’re interested in having a Chamber luncheon.

We're also looking for hosts for our monthly Business After Hours networking events where you can showcase your place of business. This event is at no charge to our members and allows them an opportunity to see your space and network with other Chamber members and prospective members. The host provides finger foods and beverages and can give an 5 to 8 minute welcoming address. Typically held the last Thursday of the month. Let me know if you’re interested. Members can co-host and share the costs too.



Chamber Benefit: Notary Public


Remember: Cindy Clark and Marci Derrick are both notary publics! This service will be a member benefit, included in your annual dues. At no additional charge!





Golf Outing 2009

Survey


Please complete a short survey for us!

Tom Dombro, ING, and Kane Connell, Liberty Bank for Savings, are co-chairs of the 2009 Chamber Golf Outing.

Here’s the link for a quick 10 question survey that you can cut & paste into your browser: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=IIHUKtg5bO9Uh_2f0CXAkZ_2bg_3d_3d



Member News
Member News - What’s going on in your business?

Send me an email! No charge to be included in my eblasts! Send me an email so I can cut & paste your info into my eblast.

Members I visited:

Outback Steakhouse

Quinn Print, Inc.

Perry's Pizzaria - Nick

Prospective Members Visited:

Panera Bread

We need two categories for memberships – the Chamber gets calls for locksmiths and plumbers and we have neither as members. Bring me either and receive a Chamber gift certificate for $10!

Midnight Madness this Friday!

Friday, December 19th - 6pm-Midnight

Put the kids to bed and "shop til you drop" for all the items on your holiday wish lists. Visit the following participating Chamber members:

2 Sisters Boutique

Dominics Kitchen Store

Kustum Kribs Baby Boutique

Nika le Butik

ps: accessories

Rocky Mountain Chocolate

WineStyles

Special discounts & refreshments at select stores! Support Chamber members and shop locally!




Rainbow Hospice Rug on ebay
Area Rug Auction from Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care

If you like browsing eBay or you just happen to be looking for a nice rug as a holiday gift or for your hourse, Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is hosting a small online auction for some very nice rugs. All rugs were donated to Rainbow Hospice brand new from a store foreclosure. The listings can be found, Here at The Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care Merchant Page. Please stay tuned to our eBay page as additional listings will become available.



SCORE!
SCORE! Educational Centers Park Ridge is offering a FREE VISIT ($55 value) for the children of Chamber members in the month of December. At SCORE!, we deliver academic progress in a fun learning environment that inspires kids from Pre School- 9th grade to love learning. Stop in at 35 S. Northwest Highway to take advantage of this month's special. You can sample our Reading, Writing, Math, Algebra or Study Skills courses to help your child catch up, keep up or get ahead! Please call us (847) 292-4307 to set a time today!

SCORE! is doing a huge grand re-opening January 3 and you’re invited! For more information, contact Catherine Calloway, Marketing and Sales Manager, SCORE! Educational Centers, 35 S Northwest Highway; 847-292-4307; www.scorelearning.com



Tanya Travel
Nadya of Tanya Travel in Park Ridge said she is the only travel agency in town and that in the 1980’s there were 19 travel agencies. And she’s a long time member of the Chamber – that’s not a coincidence! Tanya Travel has been in business for 34 years in Park Ridge!

Kidwinks.com
Kidwinks.com is offering to Chamber members the special price of only $30 (normally $50) for an ad spot in our monthly email sent to over 900 Chicago area businesses. The ad should be an image of size 314 x 112 pixels and will link to either your website or your listing on kidwinks.com. We limit the number of ad spots in each newsletter, so sign up early. www.kidwinks.com



Cornille Family
If you came to the Women in Business holiday luncheon, there was a prospective member in attendance – the lady with the Hawaiian look and flower in her hair that was a guest of Lynda Tourloukis. Sadly, her family suffered a devastating fire in their Park Ridge home shortly after the luncheon. Many Chamber members – as well as the community at large – have come together to help and you can too:

www.CornilleFamily.com

JoAnn Arnswald at MB Financial Bank opened a new account in to set up a fund for them. Dominicks and Jewel were recipients of buying food for the family. Sebastian Co. Real Estate and Mc Lennan Commercial Properties were looking into accommodations for the family locally. Residents have purchased Chamber gift certificates for the family that can be used locally.



Noodles & Co: Moodle Ring for Make a Wish Foundation!
Moodle Ring promotion starting today! The rings are $1.50 and 100% of the proceeds goes to Make A Wish Foundation. Noodles will have this promotion for the next 3 months with the goal to raise $50,000 as a company.



1/17/09: ‘SONO’
Saturday, January 17, 2009

Service Organization Night Out with the Chicago Wolves Hockey Team. The Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce, The Elks Club, The Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and other service organizations and families are invited! Meet, eat and network at The Elks Club in Des Plaines. Free parking at the game, prizes just for our groups, and a Skates Bobble Head Doll – plus two tickets to another Wolves game! Kids get goody bags!

Cost is $25 adults and $19 for kids 12 and under. Only 40 tickets left to the game are for sale. If you want to come just for dinner and networking at the Elks Club, its $17 for adults. Thank you to Rick Pucci for putting it together!



Lets say thanks to our troops!

If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . It is FREE and it only takes a second. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.
Thanks for taking the time to support our military!





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


Thank you to our Platinum Members:

Aardvark Builders 312.504.4090
Applications Network 847.823.1830
Kumon Math & Reading Centers 847.939.5090
PC Medic Computer Repair 847-299-5556
State Farm Insurance & Financial Services - Ann Witek 847.692.3260
The Exercise Coach 847.823.0035