Personally from
Gail,

A wonderful 3 day weekend – just what we needed! We’re flying our flag at the Haller house from now through Labor Day!

Another busy week planned so keep reading til the end!


Memorial Day Parade! Did you march in or watch the Park Ridge Memorial Day Parade yesterday? What a perfect day – not too hot, not too cold.

Once again, thank you to Bredemann Chevrolet, 1401 W Dempster, 847-698-1234, for the loan of the big red Silverado truck complete with American flags! (Next year can I please borrow the candy apple red Corvette convertible?!!!)

My entire family came out to ride in the truck: husband Gary, son Dirk and daughter Lian – it was a family event!

I was delighted that many Chamber members came out to march with us in spot 36:

Dental Placement Auxiliary Service, Inc. - Karen Anderson (President of the Chamber)
Lynnette’s School of Dance with dozens of dancers who never stopped dancing the entire parade route!
Tasty Pup
WineStyles Park Ridge
Park Ridge Community Fund
Affordable Interiors – Deborah Oberschelp (Chamber Board Director)
John Clark Management
Cardinal Fitness
Bath Fitter
Park Ridge Financial Advisors – Rick Pucci (Chamber Board Director)

And, of course, thank you to Chamber staff Cindy Clark (and Cindy’s son, Jonathan!) and Dorothy Brownstein!

I never got to see the Governor but I saw all the people in the crowds, cheering us on!


Monthly Business After Hours at Dominic’s Kitchen Store May 28! Monthly Business After Hours is this Thursday!

Dominic’s Kitchen Store has moved into their new home at 116 Main Street!

You’re invited attend their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Kick-Off since its the Chamber’s monthly networking Business After Hours event for May!

At 6pm, National Pie Champion, Food Network Challenge contestant and Executive Chef for Dominic's Kitchen Store's Culinary Arts Program, Chef Matt Zagorski, will share tips and techniques for perfect pastry pie crusts as well as demostrate his award winning recipe for Lemon Curd. Chef Matt will be available all evening to answer questions. Samples and recipes will be available.

All on the Road Catering will cater. There’ll be all kinds of wonderful things going on! You’ve got to see the store – it’s bigger and better than before!

May 28 – Thursday
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Networking, refreshments, raffle prizes and so much more!!!

Mark your calendars! Remember, these Business After Hours are included in your annual dues!!!

Rescheduling: Chamber Workshop at Comfort Inn

The Chamber workshop that was scheduled for the Comfort Inn on Thursday has been rescheduled to later in the year.
Women in Business Breakfast!
May 29 May 29, Friday – 8am to 9:30am Women in Business Monthly Networking Breakfast

Summit of Uptown, 10 N. Summit Avenue, Speaker is Faith Curtis, Life Coach: Unleashing Your Inner Power.

$10 Members/$15 for Prospective Members

Please rsvp asap! This is a popular meeting and includes a full breakfast buffet. Its hard for us when we get a lot of walk-ins without advance reservations because then we’re scrambling to get more tables and places set, more food prepared, and check in is slowed down. We’d really appreciate knowing if you’re coming!

Friday, May 29
Grand Opening
@ Amphora
To Benefit
Rainbow Hospice & Palliative Care Please join us as we celebrate “A Time for Hope” at the Grand Opening of Amphora on Friday, May 29th from 5pm – 10pm. Experience live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres at a Preview Party, Luxury Model Home Tour and Private Shopping Event located in the Shops of Uptown Park Ridge, 2 N. Northwest Highway. Individual tickets are $40 per person.
All ticket proceeds from this gala event will benefit the mission of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care. You may purchase tickets online at https://www.rainbowhospice.org/calendar/events, in person at either current Amphora location at 149 N. Northwest Hwy or Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care at 444 N. Northwest Hwy, Suite 145, by mail at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, 444 N. Northwest Hwy, Suite 145
Park Ridge, IL 60068 or by telephone at 847-292-2353.
For additional information about this exciting event please contact:

Jackie Mathews
Director of Special Events and Major Gifts
Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care
847-292-2353
jmathews@rainbowhospice.org


Shop Park Ridge Campaign in May!

May was officially proclaimed as ‘Shop Park Ridge’ month.

Please notice the sign in the windows that say ‘Thank you for shopping locally’. They were designed by Martha Berns, Dempsey Design and the photos were taken by Diddy Blyth, A Sterling Design.

The window signs (posters) are available for sale at the Chamber for just $5 each. Ron at the Frame Gallery of Park Ridge on Northwest Highway framed one of the posters for the Chamber office for $88 and he’ll give Chamber members a 20% discount too!

Please remember to shop Chamber members first! There are 400 to choose from!

Chamber Stimulus Package for May:
Shop Park Ridge! The Chamber has a ‘Chamber Stimulus Package’. Bring in your receipts totaling $100 with any Chamber members (you can combine them from various members) to be entered into drawings to win $50 in Chamber gift certificates ($200 total for the month). Receipts dated in May 2009.

Your chances of winning something are very good since as of today, there are very few entries!

Any member can add prizes to the Chamber’s drawings. Just let me know if you have gift certificates or prizes and I’ll include you in the publicity for the drawings.

Here is a list of prizes so far:

Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce Four, $50 gift certificates
Ace Hardware, 700 N. NW Hwy. Three, $10 gift certificates
Lisa's Homemade Italian Ice, 10 S. NW Hwy. Four, $5 gift certificates
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Four, $10 gift certificates
Jason’s Deli $25 Gift Card


Golf Outing June 24 Hello Golfers! The Chamber Golf Outing is going to be a fun day! Great networking – bring your clients and staff!
4 Hyatt Regency O'Hare David Jacobs
Tim Parel
Chris Kremzir
Chryss Thomas
4 Liberty Bank for Savings Kane Connell
Robert Hohe
Richard Julkowski
Chris Melton
The price to golf this year is just $150 per golfer. Please see insert in the May newsletter for all available sponsorships.
Cathy Janus, Marc Printing, is providing the environmentally friendly, reusable goody bags!
Here is what we’ve received for the raffle/silent auction:
Hyatt Regency O'Hare David Jacobs 847-663-4601 Complimentary One Night Stay including dinner for two at O'H American Grill Hyatt Regency O'Hare, expires 6/24/2010
Hyatt Regency O'Hare David Jacobs 847-663-4601 Complimentary Dinner for two at O'H American Grill The Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 6/24/2010
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Linda Hills 847-318-6801 Chocolate basket ($25 value)
Savvy Salon & Spa Jim Riggio 847-518-0266 One, 1-hour massage ($60 value), expires 4/4/2010
Savvy Salon & Spa Jim Riggio 847-518-0266 One spa package #3 includes manicure, pedicure and choice of facial or massage ($114 value), expires 4/4/2010
WineStyles Tracy & Doug Bell 847-518-9463 Wine Basket
Oakton Community College Bea Cornelissen 847-635-1812 Certificate for one college credit class, value $246
Affordable Interiors Deborah Oberschelp 312-909-1255 An authentic, English-style tea complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones and British Tea served in antique bone china cups served up with design ideas and decorating tips from Affordable Interiors. Value $275


Taste of Park Ridge – Canopies on Courtland
Sat. July 11
The Chamber has 30 booths at the Taste of Park Ridge on Saturday, July 11, for a business expo, “Canopies on Courtland”.

The booths are on sale now for $325 each for members and $650 for Prospective Members.

The layout will be different this year – our booths will face both sides of the street and will be 15 on each side – then a 10 foot aisle before the 30 Taste sponsor booths. The four end cap booths will be $425 each and for members only.

I will email you the agreement upon request. Here who has signed up so far so just 25 booths are left!
Aqua Plumbing
Loyola Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine at Park Ridge
Resurrection Health Care
GB Therapeutic Massage
Rosemary Mulligan

Membership Committee Theresa Olson, Resurrection Health Care, has agreed to chair the Chamber’s Membership Committee and we’re looking for members to volunteer an hour a week to work with Theresa and me regarding membership issues. Please email me if you’re interested.
Member News Last week I visited:
Oakton Ice Rink
Park Ridge Public Library
Hay Caramba!
LensCrafters Optique
Panino’s Pizzeria
Park Ridge Frame Gallery

Business Survey State Representative Rosemary Mulligan wants to survey our businesses so please take a moment to respond:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WaJpoJHyLpu6DQ1G2CXSyQ_3d_3d

If the link doesn’t work, please copy and paste into your browser.

Allegro Music Center START YOUR SUMMER OFF RIGHT!
Up to 20% Savings on Beginning Music Lessons for Kids, Seniors, Moms and Dads. 8 week Summer courses beginning June 15 Monday – Friday 11:00am – 2:30 pm
8 Lessons Guitar and Bass $164
8 Lessons Drums, Piano, Woodwinds $184
Tuition includes one private ½ hour lesson a week for 8 weeks. Offer good for beginning students, as well as current Allegro students who wish to take up another instrument.
Please pay in advance by check or cash… Sorry, we can’t offer refunds or credits on this special offer.

FOR QUESTIONS AND SCHEDULING, PLEASE CALL ALLEGRO MUSIC CENTER: 847-692-6021
Allegro Music Center, Inc., 800 W. Devon Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068


Jim Cone - WSI Webinar Invitation - Google Analytics: Optimize Your Marketing During the Recession
Measuring your marketing dollars is all the more important in a challenging economy, so register for this session and learn:

1. How visitors interact with your website, email campaign or any other online marketing campaign you run
2. How to leverage data to define what marketing tactics are working for your business
3. Some important tools that will help you further enhance your marketing strategies
4. Ways to improve your campaigns using the information that Google Analytics provides

Registering is as easy as following the link below and completing the form. Be sure to put in my name, James Cone, when you register.

Title: Google Analytics: Optimize Your Marketing During the Recession
Date: May 28, 2009 at 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/361218904
tel: (847) 430.6842

jcone@OnlineWSIMarketing.com
online at www.onlinewsimarketing.com

Park Ridge Fine Arts Society The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society has updated their website: www.prfas.org The 2009 Concert Schedule begins June 19th. Contact Emily Kosaka at 847-217-7119 or etoy@mesirowfinancial.com regarding sponsoring a "Concert in the Park".

Veteran’s Seminar:
May 28th Join us for a seminar on Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit on May 28th at 6 PM.
Veteran’s Seminar

An educational program on Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Housing and Care Benefits on Thursday May 28th, 2009 at 6 p.m.
War-time Veterans or the surviving spouse of a Veteran are eligible for $12,672 to $23,388 a year in tax-free funds to help pay for medical costs, home care workers or assisted living options. Over 22% of eligible Veterans and 75% of eligible widows have not applied for this benefit.
Pat O’Dea-Evans, MS, RN, LCPC an expert in senior resources. Autumn Green at Wright Campus 4239 N. Oak Park Ave.Chicago, IL
Kidwinks.com
Kidwinks.com is offering any Park Ridge Business a free coupon for the month of May. Contact kidwinks.com for more details. nina@kidwinks.com or 847-685-1275.


Edward Jones Edward Jones Receives High Marks from SmartMoney Magazine

The magazine lauded Edward Jones for growing the number of financial advisors in a down market. The St. Louis-based firm, with a reputation for excellent client service, also managed to lead the pack in stock picking, according to the magazine.

The firm has consistently been ranked highly in the SmartMoney survey as No. 2 in 2008, and No. 1 in 2007 and 2005.

Edward Jones, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2009," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones interactive Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

Fully Fit Lifestyles
Fully Fit Lifestyles, Inc is launching a new program this summer! It is a new fitness program, “Tweens in Training” aimed at 10-13 year olds and it kicks off mid-June. Call Cara Lindell, Founder Developmental Exercise Specialist. 1420 Renaissance Drive, Suite 308, Park Ridge, 847/390-8348 Cara@FullyFitLifestyles.com

Affordable Interiors Deborah Oberschelp, C.I.D. - Affordable Interiors Home Decorating & Design (and Chamber Board Member and Platinum Member!) is speaking at the Northwest Chapter Business Resource Luncheon on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Maggiano’s in Schaumburg!

"Dressing A House for Success: Undress that Closet and Dress Up Those Walls" Learn about de-cluttering & organizing, wall accents & staging, with a focus on how our tips can benefit Realtors.
Deborah@affordableint.com www.AffordableInt.com

The Northwest chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors is the organization that our very own Chamber member Jaye Crowley is president of!

George S. May
"Uniting the Community Through Music" Benefit Concert event at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Saturday, May 30. Park Ridge Chamber members can purchase tickets for $15 instead of $25; $30/door. All proceeds will benefit the P.A.U.S.E. Initiative music education program. Call Donna Werner, George S. May Foundation for the Arts at 847-993-5239 http://pause.gsmfoundation.org



Oakton Community College With the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February 2009, the Workforce Board of Northern Cook County was given substantial funds to stimulate local industries and assist the unemployed. A roundtable discussion will explore how your business can benefit from the stimulus money. The Stimulus Summit will be held 8 – 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 27, at Oakton’s Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road. Breakfast will be served. Call 847-635-1808.

FREE Job Seeker Workshops at the Library! FREE Job Seeker Workshops at the Park Ridge Public Library
Résumé / Cover Letter: Expert guidance on writing a résumé and cover letter that gets results.

Job Search Techniques: This segment will focus on exploring tactics and techniques to find jobs in today’s market, including internet job search and networking.

Interviewing: Guidance and direction will be provided to help you prepare for an interview, including the common questions that can be
expected and ways to answer them. Mock interviews will be conducted to give you an opportunity to practice skills you have learned.

Dates :

JUNE 12: Limit 15
JULY 17: Limit 15
AUGUST 17: Limit 90

Workshops start at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Please come 15 minutes early.
**Latecomers will not be allowed into the workshop after 9:30 a.m.
Please register by calling the Reference Desk at 847-720-3230 or online at: www.parkridgelibrary.org/calendar.html

Maine Center Celebrate an Early Father’s Day on Maine Center’s Fifth Annual
Odyssey Fundraising Cruise, Sunday, June 7, 2009

2 Hour Brunch Cruise; Boarding 11 AM; Embarking twelve noon.
Panoramic views of the beautiful Chicago skyline.
Complementary champagne toast. Chocolate Fountain. Fabulous raffles on board ship! Elegant buffet. Cash bar. Music.
$95 per person with $21 of each ticket price is a charitable donation.

For Reservations: Call 847-696-1570, extension 308.Only 200 seats available. Tickets will be held for pickup at check-in on the dock. Parking is available on Navy Pier.

Maine Center brings the pieces together to change lives. Maine Center provides nationally accredited mental health and substance abuse treatment services to over 3,000 3-90 year olds annually in the greater northwest suburbs. 847/696/1570 x310

Security Tip From Bill Hominick, Director of Security, The Youth Campus
Always leave on some interior lights at night. Lights should be towards the rear of the business so intruders will be silhouetted and be seen from the street.


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
1. Affordable Interiors - Deborah Oberschelp 312.909.1255
2. barrett-TECH - John Barrett 847.823.1830
3. Cardinal Fitness of Park Ridge - 847.318.7550
4. Home Comfort Heating & Cooling - 847.824.4336
5. Leys, Kirsten - Prudential Financial Services 847.627.3950
6. PC Medic Computer Repair - Jerry Flanagan 847.299.5556
7. Resurrection Health Care - Theresa Olson 847.813.3210
8. Ross E. Rubino, D.D.S.P.C. & Associates 847.825.1002
9. Sebastian Co. Real Estate - Don Sebastian, Jr. 847.823.3117
10. State Farm Insurance & Financial Services - Ann Witek 847.692.3260
11. The Exercise Coach - Chad Finney 847.823.0035
12. The McTigue Financial Group - Tom Canale 773.380.4025
13. You Can Say…Yes! Motivational Guidance Services - Lynda Tourloukis 847.401.5787
14. Y-Tech Heating & Cooling - 847-696-0477