JANUARY, 2009 – GENERAL MEETING
The January, 2009 Chamber general meeting will be held on Thursday, January 8th, at 8:00 AM, at North Shore Community Bank – Sauganash, 4343 W. Peterson Avenue, (773) 545-5700. The Chamber thanks Kate Galllagher for hosting this meeting and Maria G. Monastero from Monastero's Ristorante for hosting our December general meeting. Since New Year's Day falls on the 1st Thursday of the month, this meeting is being moved back to January 8, 2009.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING
The next Board of Directors' meeting will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 4:30 PM at the Edgebrook Public Library, 5331 W. Devon Avenue (312) 744-8313. Thanks, to Katherine Panares for providing our meeting room.
GUEST SPEAKERS – JANAURY, 2009
Jillian Holly and Matt Fishbune from Edward Jones Investment will co-host a presentation on the financial investment options available in these uncertain times. There is always a silver lining!
2009 CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DUES
We are all dealing with tough economic times, but it is important to renew your membership! Benefits include: inclusion in the annual membership directory distributed to local businesses, residents and community groups; receiving the monthly newsletter; linkage to the chamber website; inclusion in the Member-to-Member Discount and Welcome Packet programs; eligibility in the Banner program; and participation in the annual Edgebrook Festival and Golf Outing. Dues must be received by February 16, 2009 to be in the membership directory. A membership letter and renewal form are included in this newsletter.
SIGNUP FOR THE BANNER PROGRAM
Applications are still being accepted for the Chamber's Street Banner Program. A Standard Banner is $300 and a Custom Banner is $350. The program includes a five-year maintenance program that covers everything. A purchase form is included in this newsletter.
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISEMENTS:
Business card newsletter advertisements are available for $100 per year. Send your card to the Chamber by the 20th of each month to be in the newsletter. The Chamber thanks the following for renewing their newsletter advertisements!
* State Representative John C. D'Amico
* State Senator Ira I. Silverstein
* Mary Lou & Jim Quinn from BQS Realty, Inc.
* Glenn Nadig from Nadig Newspapers
* Janet Newell from Right at Home
* Bill Kolodziej from Edgebrook Construction
The chamber would also like to recognize Jim Oehler from Century 21 – Ambassador for placinga new advertisement in the chamber newsletter!
HOLIDAY SLEIGH RIDE RECAP
The Chamber and Happy Foods co-sponsored the annual Holiday Sleigh Ride on Monday, December 8, 2008. Families were taken on a 20-minute hay-ride tour of neighborhood homes to see their outdoor holiday decorations. Santa, Frosty the Snowman and many chamber helpers were present to hand out hot chocolate and cookie treats. The event had a miniature zoo with over a dozen animals (and a camel!) to hold the interest of children while they waited for the ride to return. Kudos to Barbara Eastman of Happy Foods for making this a really cool (pun intended) event. Did I mention a really nice guy won the wine-tasting contest? Was there a contest?
2008 CHAMBER HOLIDAY DINNER RECAP
The Chamber's annual Holiday Dinner was held on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Al Primo Canto Galeteria, 5414 W. Devon Avenue. Forty-five (45) members and friends came out on a chilly night and they were not disappointed! Event coordinator Maria G. Monastero and Al Primo Canto owners' Maria and Georges Elbekai collaborated on a great dinner menu that was a hit with everyone. The after-dinner auction was presided over by Michael Erde and Jim Schultz and it netted the chamber a tidy sum of revenue to help sponsor other events throughout the year. A certain chamber "friend" may have stolen the show by actually singing the secret cryptic message on the final auction item.
CITY SNOW REMOVAL NOTICE
All Chicago businesses and commercial property owners are required, under Municipal Code, to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property or businesses (Section 4-4-310 and 320). Business owners should clear a path at least 5 feet in width. It is important to remember that a sidewalk free of snow / ice is a provision of your business license (Section 4-4-320 & 10-8-180).
CHAMBER PARKING LOT POLICY
The Chamber's parking lot is intended for patrons of Edgebrook businesses only! Cars have and will be towed. Please remember a two-hour parking limit is being strictly enforced (7:00 AM until 9:00 PM each day, Monday through Sunday). Overnight parking is also prohibited and cars will be towed. Please respect the right of other consumers to use the parking lot.
CAR THEFT SAFETY TIP
Robbers are now armed with a device that "clones" the security code of your key-chain locking device. Robbers simply "capture" the code when you remote lock your door. Then, the captured code is used to open the car door and steal whatever they can. Lock your car door manually by hitting the lock button. Doing this prevents your security code from being cloned. Thanks to Marilyn Henry from Edgebrook Massage Therapy for this car theft safety tip.
BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY!
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reports motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for ALL Americans ages 2 through 34. Sadly, the majority of these fatalities could have been avoided by buckling a safety belt before getting on the road. IDOT's Traffic Safety Division is offering FREE "Click It or Ticket" reminder items (pens, posters, etc.) to hand out at your place of business to promote this worthy cause. To order these free items, visit IDOT's website at: www.buckleupillinois.org.
CONSUMER CORNER INFORMATION
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan warns shoppers to guard against identity theft and financial fraud. Clean out your wallet or purse and take only what is necessary. Try and use only one credit card and leave the others and your check book at home. Keep your purse closed at all times and your wallet in your front pocket. If shopping on-line, shop only at secure Web sites. How do you know? At the point of purchase, the Web site address should change from "http" to "shttp", the "s" indicates the site is secure. The Attorney General's website is located at: www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov.
CHIGAO PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS
A member of the Lyric Opera Lecture Corps will present the music & history of Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci on Saturday, January 3rd at 1:00 p.m. In honor of African-American History Month, readings from the "Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass" will be read by Betsey Means on January 29th at 7:00 p.m. For more in information call (312) 744-8313.
DID YOU KNOW?
American consumers gobble up countless dollars of Chinese goods each day, including cheap cashmere sweaters. China's enormous herds of cashmere-producing goats have slashed the cost of this once-trendy consumer item to Wal-Mart like prices. This is a good thing, right? Not without proper environmental controls. These goats have grazed Chinese grasslands down to moonscapes, unleashing some of the worst dust storms on record. These storms have fueled a mammoth plume of pollution that is heavy enough to reach the North America skies. So, before buying that cheaper cashmere sweater, consider taking a position on protecting the global environmental for future generations.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:
JANUARY 8TH – 8:00 AM
General Meeting
North Shore Community Bank – Sagaunash
4343 W. Peterson Avenue
JANUARY 15TH (8:30 AM – 9:30 AM)
Before-Hours Breakfast Networking Event
Office Depot – Chamber Membership Discount Program
6165 N. Lincoln Avenue – Lincoln Village Mall
JANUARY 15TH – 4:30 PM
Board of Directors' Meeting
Edgebrook Branch – Chicago Public Library
5331 W. Devon Avenue