October 18, 2010
Weekly Chamber Update

Personally, from Gail
What a fun weekend – I attended Rainbow Hospice Angels Ball and it was fabulous! Record attendance of almost 800 and everyone was bidding on all the amazing silent auction items. When the guest of honor, Father John Cusick spoke, you could have heard a pin drop. At our table were Diddy Blyth, Ann Witek, Theresa Olson, Susan Scatchell, Lori Annetti – all fun ladies! We danced to the Gentlemen of Leisure band whom we loved from the Lake Effect event and enjoyed a delicious steak dinner which was hot and perfectly prepared (for 800 people!). Held at Hyatt Regency O’Hare, another member, so we stayed over and had a wonderful breakfast in their lobby restaurant (I love Eggs Benedict and their Hollandaise was perfect!). All in all, a memorable occasion made more so by the special people of Rainbow Hospice and their great works.

Thank you to Romano’s Family Pizzeria The Chamber’s Monthly Networking Luncheon at Romano’s Family Pizzeria & Sports Bar, 27 S. Northwest Hwy last week was another successful event with 33 people, a wonderful meal of pasta and pizza, great speaker and fun raffle prizes.

Thank you to Gary Romano, manager Paul and waitstaff for hosting a wonderful event.
Thank you to those who brought gifts for the drawings! Here are the lucky winners:
1. Accounteque Services, Inc. custom designed portfolio was won by Sara Koveleski Kraut, Advanced Physical Therapy & Health Services
2. $25 Chamber gift certificate was won by Pat Riordan, Riordan Insurance Group
3. 1 month Chamber Greeter Box participation was won by Larry Schumacher, SportClips Haircuts
4. Ringside HVAC (Jim Schmitt) was won by Joe Campagna, Grant Merchant Services
5. WineStyles wine tasting party was won by Bob Suriano, Side Job Bob of Cook County
6. Romano's gift card was won by Sara Koveleski Kraut, Advanced Physical Therapy & Health Services
7. A Sterling Design family portrait gift certificate was won by Bob Suriano, Side Job Bob of Cook County
8. Generation Connection 1 hour consultation was won by Bob Suriano, Side Job Bob of Cook County
9. Theatre Tickets donated by were won by Maureen McCarthy, Norwood Life Care Foundation and won by Pat Riordan, Riordan Insurance Group

Thursday: Multi Chamber Expo & Taste October 21, Thursday, 3:00pm – 6:00pm, Multi-Chamber Business-to-Business Expo & Taste, 828 E. Rand Road, Mt. Prospect,

Thank you to major event sponsor: Barton & Barton, Ltd.

Also, thank you to our other Park Ridge Exhibitors:

• Commerce Group Service Insurance
• Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
• Jason’s Deli
• Lisa’s Homemade Italian Ice
• Regus

Join us along with seven other Chambers for this HUGE B2B expo. Admission is free with a business card and last year we had 500 come through. Free parking. Bring lots of cards so you can enter all the drawings!

Electronic Recycling this Saturday at Public Works!
October 23, Saturday, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Electronics Recycling Event, Public Works Service Center, 400 Busse Highway. Kane Connell, Liberty Bank for Savings, is the chair. Dispose of your old pc’s, peripherals, and tv’s for just $5 per car and receive a $5 coupon good towards $20 purchase at participating Chamber members which will be listed on the back of the coupon.

Cell phones will be donated to the Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign. We’ll be taking household batteries too.

Thank you to the City, Liberty Bank for Savings, Maine Township, Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano for sponsoring.

For the Member News on Thursdays… I’d like to print up some fun, fast facts for the member news. Send me a one-liner about your business that I can do a title “Did you know…?” Thanks to those who have sent – look for them this Thursday.
Did you know that Nick is hosting a fundraiser for the Park Ridge Community Fund from Oct. 25 to 31 when you mention the Community Fund?
October is our Annual Membership Drive!
Time is Running out on the Chamber Fall Membership Drive!

There’s still time earn your special thank you for referring new members to join the PR Chamber. Invite your business neighbors to become Chamber members. They’ll receive 15 months for a 12 months membership, plus they’ll get a dedicated e-mail blast or chamber mailing labels, a $50 value, just for signing up!

As a special thank you, for every new member you bring into the Chamber you’ll receive a $20 Chamber Gift Certificate and be entered to win valuable prizes such as a free newsletter insert ($150 value) or a dedicate e-blast ($50 value).

For questions, contract Gail Haller by phone (847-825-31210 or email (gail.haller@parkridgechamber.org)

Right now we have four new members for October!

Ringside Heating & Cooling (Jim Schmitt)
Gibson’s Steakhouse & bar
SportClips Haircuts
Creative Flare Products


Mark Your Calendar for these Chamber Networking Events! All meetings are held at 720 Garden unless specifically mentioned:

October 20, Wednesday, 8:45am – 9:45am Retail Committee Meeting. Chaired by Linda Hills, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, the goal of the Retail Committee is to find ways to get residents to come to their stores and shop locally.

October 21, Thursday, 3:00pm – 6:00pm, Multi-Chamber Business-to-Business Expo & Taste, 828 E. Rand Road, Mt. Prospect, Join 7 other Chambers for this HUGE expo. Great exposure for networking. Admission is free. Fees for Exhibitors, please Contact the Chamber for Exhibitor’s Application and pricing.

October 23, Saturday, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Electronics Recycling Event, Public Works Service Center, 400 Busse Highway. Dispose of your old pc’s, peripherals, and tv’s for just $5 per car. Kane Connell, Liberty Bank for Savings chairs this event. Cell phones will be donated to the Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign. We’ll be taking household batteries too. Thank you to the City, Liberty Bank for Savings, Maine Township, Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano for sponsoring.

October 26, Tuesday, 9:00am – 10:00am, PREN 2: Park Ridge Executive Network. Leads and referral networking group.

October 27, Wednesday, 9:00am – 10:30am Health Care Forum At each meeting, speakers introduce their businesses to the group with the goal of educating and increasing awareness of their particular aspect of health care. Meets 4th Wednesday of each month.

October 27, Wednesday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at SportClips Haircuts, 35 S. Northwest Hwy. Join us as we welcome Larry & Natalie Schumacher and their new business to Park Ridge. Mayor Schmidt, Chamber Ambassadors and Chamber members will be in attendance – all are welcome.

October 28, Thursday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Business After Hours Networking Event - Hosted by EKG (Entrepreneur Knowledge Group), 720 Garden Street. Showcasing our entrepreneurs, let me know if you want to participate as a host. Here’s our host list so far:
1 A Sterling Design Photographic Artists Diddy Blyth
2 Catalyst Marketing & PR Carol Simantz
3 Higher Level Wellness Susan Frangos
4 Lee Acupuncture & Healing Mary Lee Quaid
5 Mary Kay Cosmetics Kirsten Leys
6 Park Ridge Financial Advisors Rick Pucci
7 Ringside Heating & Air Conditioning Jim Schmitt
8 Silpada Silver Jewelry Sally Petterson
9 WSI – We Simplify the Internet Jim Cone
10 You Can Say... Yes! Motivational Guidance Services Lynda Tourloukis

October 29, Friday, 8:30am – 10:00am Women in Business Networking Breakfast, 720 Garden Street, Eat Away Stress: How Diet can Help to Minimize Depression and Anxiety Presented by Sandra G. Carey, Psy.D., M.S., Willow Wellness Center. The perfect breakfast will be catered by The Perfect Dinner! $10 Members, $15 Prospective Members

November 4, Thursday, 9:00am – 10:30am (EKG) Entrepreneurial Knowledge Group Regus, 350 S. NW Highway, Suite 300 – A group for emerging entrepreneurers meeting monthly.

November 4, Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., North Suburban Young Professionals. This group of young professionals is a joint networking event between Park Ridge, Niles and Skokie Chambers. Help Save the Skokie Theater. $10. Live entertainment: Forever Frank, The Sinatra Legacy. RSVP Skokie Chamber of Commerce 847-673-0240

November 5, Friday, 11:30 to 1:30, The Summit of Uptown will host a fashion show to benefit the Park Ridge Community Fund.

November 5, Friday, 9:00am – 10:30am Membership Committee Meeting. Addressing Member Acquisition, Satisfaction and Retention.

November 10, Wednesday, 11:30am - 1:30pm Monthly Networking Luncheon, Dr. Philip Bender new Superintendent of Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 will talk about the District’s new strategic plan and activities underway for the 2010-11 school year.

November 26, Friday, 6 to 9 p.m. WINTERFEST! Mark your calendars and save the date for another fun event!

December 26, Sunday, St Paul of the Cross Sunday Supper. The Chamber will serve Sunday Supper at St Paul of the Cross on Sunday, December 26. We’ll need food, money, and volunteers to serve at least 100 hungry people (including children). Please open your hearts, checkbooks, and more importantly, give your time to help out those less fortunate. We are collecting names of our volunteers so please let me know if you can help out.
January 22, Saturday, Installation & Community Star Award Dinner at Park Ridge Country Club with Past President Reception
Contact me: Gail Haller
Executive Director
Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce
720 Garden Street
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. Accounteque Services Inc.: 847.768.9100
2. All on the Road Catering & Bakery: 847.518.8958
3. AMA Dancers & Company: 847.727.7066
4. Aqua Plumbing, Heating and Cooling: 847.459.7900
5. ATI Physical Therapy: 847.292.0151
6. barrett-TECH: 847.823.1830
7. Cardinal Fitness of Park Ridge: 847.318.7550
8. Catalyst Marketing-Public Relations, Inc.: 847.298.8748
9. CMR Construction: 847.926.4245
10. Comfort Inn O'Hare/Des Plaines: 847.635.1300
11. D'Agostino's Pizza & Pub: 847.518.8700
12. Express Auto Center: 847.813.9469 new!
13. Falkor Group LLC: www.falkorgroup.com
14. Global Handmade Hope: 847.720.4084
15. Home Comfort Heating & Cooling: 847.824.4336
16. Houlihan's Restaurant: 847.692.6205
17. Hyatt Regency O'Hare: 847.696-1234
18. Jason's Deli: 847.823.0210
19. K.G.M. Plumbing, Inc.: 847.583.8988
20. le Flour Bake Shop: 773.631.1400
21. Minuteman Press of Deerfield: 847.279.8550
22. Naperville Exterior, Inc. : 847.593.7337
23. Panino’s Pizzeria: 847. 823.3450
24. Park Ridge Community Fund: 847.825.5311
25. Periodontics of Niles, P.C.: 847.685.6686
26. Perry's Pizzeria & Ribs/Catering: 847-823-4422
27. Pickwick Theatre: 847.825.5800
28. ProWindow Window Service, Inc.: 847-825-4890
29. Resurrection Health Care: 847.813.3210
30. Romano's Family Pizzeria & Sports Bar: 847.823.7499 new!
31. Ross E. Rubino, D.D.S.P.C. & Associates: 847.825.1002
32. Sebastian Co. Real Estate: 847.823.3117
33. Subway of Park Ridge at 2618 Dempster: 847.813.9552
34. The Juniper Center: 847.759.9110
35. Unbound Technology: 847.235.4994
36. William Cunningham Movers, Inc.: 773.594.0398
37. You Can Say…Yes! Motivational Guidance Services: 847.401.5787
38. Y-Tech Heating & Cooling: 847.696.0477
39. You can be here!