What a fun weekend we had!  The Hallers are doing their best to support the Park Ridge economy!  My friend, Lori Annetti, and I went to WineStyles 1st Anniversary wine tasting party on Saturday and had a wonderful time!  Did you know they have a table where all the wines are marked down to $10 each if you buy six or more?  The selection changes often but they’re all wonderful!  We each bought our six!  Thank you to Tracy and Doug Bell for a fun time! 
On Sunday, my 9 year old daughter, Lian, and I went to St. Matthew Center for Health to view the nativity scenes from all over the world.  I’m so glad we went!  It’s an annual event that the owner of the collection, Susan Greeley, volunteers each year.  There were over 300 nativity scenes made out of everything imaginable – olive wood, recycled newspaper, volcanic ash, pewter, soda cans – it was truly amazing.  They handed out a scavenger hunt list and Lian hunted out each and every item on the list!  Each culture has its own interpretation of the nativity and their own artistic styles and mediums.  My favorite was from Alaska where Mary and Joseph were Inuit eskimos and the Wise Men arrived on dog sled, whale, and the barn was an igloo.  Each one was so very special in its own way.
Don’t forget to bring in your receipts for the Chamber’s Economic Stimulus Package!  $500 spent with members will get you entered into a drawing.  We’ll pull the November winner at the luncheon on Wednesday!  Save the December receipts for a January drawing!
Did you see that our 400th member is Park Ridge Paint, Glass, & and Wallpaper?    71 new members since April!  
 
 
December Monthly Luncheon at Outback!
You’re invited to attend the Chamber’s last monthly networking luncheon of the year!  It’s at Outback Steakhouse this Wednesday, December 10, from 11:30 to 1:30.  
I heard on the radio this morning that many companies are eliminating their holiday parties so let this be your party!  It’s only $25 per person for members ($30 prospective members) and Rich Callahan, GM at Outback, puts on a great spread!  Don’t be left out!Outback is located at 8101 W. Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL 60631 (east of Cumberland).  Phone: 773-380-0818   www.outbacksteakhouse.com.  Our guest speaker is the news director at WGN, Wes Bleed and his topic is “Follow the Leader.”  Wes Bleed is a veteran broadcast journalist with more than 25 years experience in radio and television journalism. Whether behind the mic or in front of the camera, Wes has performed as reporter, anchor and talk show host. Wes can also be heard providing news reports and other stories for CLTV and WGN-TV. He has also been a contributing reporter for the ABC Radio Network.
Here’s who has rsvp’d so far:
Karen
 Anderson
 Dental Auxiliary Placement Service
 
John
 Barrett
 Applications Network
 
Diddy
 Blyth
 A Sterling Design
 
Bob
 Campbell
 Willow Wellness Center
 
Lisa
 Campbell
 Willow Wellness Center
 
Delia
 Ciminello
 First Chicago Bank & Trust
 
Tom
 Dombro
 ING Advisors Network
 
Justin
 Duhai
 Northside Community Bank
 
Curt
 Edlund
 Larsen and Edlund
 
Jenny
 Fitzgerald
 Sabella & Graham, P.C.
 
Diane
 Forsythe
 Brickton Mortgage Corporation
 
Susan
 Frangos
 Higher Level Wellness
 
Kathleen
 Frey
 Pioneer Press
 
Cathy
 Janus
 Janus Premiums
 
Cara
 Lindell
 Fully Fit Lifestyles, Inc.
 
Christina
 Niklas
 Prospective Member
 
Deborah
 Oberschelp
 Select Redesign
 
Brent
 Plunkett
 Prospective Member
 
Doug
 Root
 Home Comfort Heating & Cooling
 
Rosemary
 Sajovic
 Journal & Topics
 
Tom
 Schroeder
 Commerce Group Service
 
Don
 Sebastian, Jr.
 Sebastian Co. Real Estate
 
Sonia
 Teruel
 Comfort Heating & Cooling, Inc.
 
Lynda
 Tourloukis
 You Can Say Yes!
 
Kim 
 Uhlig
 City of Park Ridge
 
Chris
 Valentine
 Edward Jones
 
Anna
 Wasyliw
 Harris Bank
 
Dorothy Brownstein’s birthday is this Wednesday so come celebrate with us! 
 
December Business After Hours at 
WineStyles!
Business After Hours:  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!  Did you know that most of their wines are between $10 and $25?
 
 
Installation & Awards Dinner ‘A Night of Stars’  1/24/09
 A Night of Stars:  Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 
Can you donate a silent auction or raffle item?  Let me know!
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
 
Chicago Fire Soccer
 
Dental Auxiliary Placement Svc
 
Dominic's Kitchen Store
 
French Twist, A Hair Salon for Men and Women, Niles
 
Hay Caramba!
 
Howard Frimark
 
Hyatt Regency O’Hare 
 
Indira Salon
 
Jackie's Nails & Spa
 
Jewel Osco
 
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
 
Order My Gift
 
Park Ridge Fire Department 
 
PC Medic, Inc.
 
Perry's Pizzaria
 
Pioneer Press
 
Quinn Print, Inc.
 
Resurrection Health Care
 
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
 
SCORE! Educational Centers
 
Select Redesign, Inc.
 
The Exercise Coach
 
The Lock Up Storage Center
 
Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark at Grand Geneva
 
TriPilates
 
WineStyles
 
 
The invitations were designed by Rita Baggio, Baggio Studios and are being printed by Quinn Print Inc.  They’ll be 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 another big thank you to Kiko’s Flowers for offering the provide the table arrangements! 
 
The committee will be reviewing the Community Star Award nominations next week so they must be received by this Friday, 12/12, in order to be considered!
 
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! If you have any 2008 money left and want to pay your 2009 Chamber dues, we’re accepting them now!  If you would like to pay by credit card, here is the link:
http://renew.parkridgechamber.org  You can also go to our website for the link.  
Platinum status:  For just an additional $300, you get extra recognition and 8 monthly luncheons ($200 value alone!).  Please consider upgrading to Platinum when you renew.
 
Chamber Benefit: Notary Public
 We at the Chamber are always trying to come up with new ways to support and benefit our membership and here’s the latest:  both Cindy Clark and Marci Derrick are a notary public!   This service will be a member benefit, included in your annual dues.  Although we haven’t decided on a non-member fee yet, we’re considering it – do you know what others charge for this service?
 
 
 
Golf Outing 2009 Survey
Tom Dombro, ING, and Kane Connell, Liberty Bank for Savings, are co-chairs of the 2009 Chamber Golf Outing.  
Please give us feedback on what we should do this year for our 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!  I’ll include your info in my eblasts at no additional charge!  Its best to send me an email in the 3rd person so I can cut & paste your info into my eblast.
Thank you to Cathy Janus, Janus Premiums, for recommending two new members for the Chamber and they both joined:  A Silver Connection and Comfort Heating & Cooling.  Cathy received 2 Chamber gift certificates for $10 each and then took me to Baileys Restaurant for lunch last week where we spent them!
Congratulations to Delia Ciminello for being promoted to Branch Manager for the Touhy branch of Chicago Bank & Trust!  
Members I visited:
Ann Witek, State Farm Insurance & Financial Services
Park Ridge Garden Club – had their holiday party last week!
Janus Premiums
Baileys Restaurant
Diane Forsythe – Brickton Mortgage - Are you thinking of getting an outside office? If so, talk to Diane Forsythe at 847-338-2013 as she has space available.
Indira Salon Spa – Donielle Vines, senior stylist (opening soon!)
Carlucci's Rosemont – John Compagna
Tom Dombro, ING
Kevin Witek, Y-Tech Heating & Cooling
Kidwinks - Nina Taluc & Jean Lemke
Perry's Pizzaria - Nick
McNulty Design Group
Prospective Members Visited:  
Park Ridge Paint, Glass & Wallpaper – Dan Galuska joined!
Panera Bread
Eco Tec Insulation – Tom Decker (he’s coming to lunch on Wed!)
Tom Canale & Brent Plunkett – Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Brent is coming to lunch on Wed too!
Business Center.com
Michelle Gabrielle Boutique
Car Guy Garage.com
Across the Street 
 
 
All on the Road Catering Express
 All on the Road Catering Express has opened at the train station by the library!  Congratulations, Barb!  
5 a.m. to 10 a.m. serving breakfast pastries, coffees and teas Monday through Friday.  Barb says to stop in even if you’re not riding the train.
 
 
2009 Renewals
 I’m happy to announce the following members who renewed last week for 2009 (thank you!):
Park Ridge Multi Med – Keith Berndtson
WSI – We Simplify the Internet (Jim Cone)
A bunch came in today but I’ll mention them next Monday!
 
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’
 Save the date! 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!
 
 
U.S. Troops:  Please Help!
Maine Township Partners with Golf Mill and Journal to Collect Items for Troops 
Monday, Dec. 8 through Dec. 15 2008, Maine Township will collect items and monetary donations for our troops overseas. 
For more information on how you can make a positive impact in the life of a soldier overseas this holiday season, call 847-297-2510 or visit www.mainetownship.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
 
 
  
 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
 
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