chamber connection - Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER connection
We promote the growth of the Pekin area through the collective efforts of our members.
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Established in 1893
January 2012
402 Court Street
Pekin IL 61554
Phone: (309) 346-2106
Fax: (309) 346- 2104
New Members P.1
Website
www.pekinchamber.com
Email
info@pekinchamber.com
Ribbon Cuttings P.2
Upcoming Events P.3
Welcome New Members
Biz Barometer P.4
Recent Events P.5
Pekin Area Business
Expo ‘12 P.6
Membership
Announcements P.7
Whiz Kidz Academy, 1605 Florence Avenue, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: 309347-5121; email: info@mywhizkidz.com; website: www.mywhizkidz.com; Shelly
O'Connell, Owner/President; Missy Deppert, Childcare Director. Open: Monday Friday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm. Whiz Kidz Academy's mission is to provide first-class
activities and facilities. Their preschool and childcare programs are developmentally
appropriate for your child's age and skill level and are taught by highly qualified and
professional staff. Their facility and procedures ensure safety and contribute to a
nurturing environment.
Membership Renewals
Chamber Board, and
Dr. James Baldi, Morton IL; Individual Member
Ambassadors P.8
Security Finance, 404 North 5th Street, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: 309-3478339; fax: 347-8343; Tony Gordon, Manager; Shain Kell, Supervisor. Business
Hours: Monday and Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Tuesday through Thursday
from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Security Finance is a consumer loan company with an
emphasis on delivering a high quality of professional and personal service, ensuring
satisfaction with each and every customer experience. Security Finance specializes
in installment loans and tax preparation.
Dreamscapes Landscaping, 425 Ann Eliza, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: 309267-0619; Mitch O'Shaughnessy, owner; email:
dreamscapeslandscaping@yahoo.com; website: www.dreamscapespekin.com.
Dreamscapes Landscaping is a full-service lawn and landscape company offering
year-round services, including snow removal.
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Ribbon Cuttings!
Unique Twist Ribbon Cutting
Visit our website @
www.pekinchamber.com
Use the drop down box for
Chamber Resources
Click the Calendar
The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed
The Unique Twist with a ribbon cutting at the
opening ceremonies of Pekin's Winter Wonderland.
Owner Doug Smith and his Professional Balloon
Twisting Crew are unlike any other Balloon Artists
that you may have encountered. If you are looking
for just swords and dogs, then don't look here
because at The Unique Twist "Balloon Animals are not just dogs anymore!” Find
more information on their website at www.theuniquetwist.com.
Comfort Plus Hospice Opens
Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of
Commerce and the City of Pekin welcomed a new
business to the community with a ribbon cutting on
November 28th. Comfort Plus Hospice, 2400 N. 8th
Street, is a new private hospice agency that provides
palliative and holistic care of patients and families
who have terminal illnesses. Teri Rhoades is the
Administrator and she was joined by other staff
members for the ribbon cutting, including Candice
Wright, Social Services, and Areceli Lear, Owner. Comfort Plus Hospice can be
reached at (309) 620-9821
Puttin’ On Pekin Recap
Nearly 100 people attended the December 9th
Puttin’ On Pekin breakfast at the Knights of
Columbus Hall. Jake Ista (Jake's Place) won
the early prize, while Melanie Long
(McDaniels Marketing Communications)
earned a lump of coal with the late prize.
The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble
entertained the crowd with Christmas music.
There were 7 grand prize winners in the big
year-end door prize drawing. Erik Reader,
Drew Lockwood, Ralph Mickley, Beau Austin, Dr. Timm Schwartz, Terry Finnegan,
and Leslie Cameron each won a basket of prizes worth about $300. There were 8
other names drawn of people who weren't in attendance, including one who left the
breakfast early, and one whose name was drawn twice! But you had to be present
to win! Thanks to all of our members who donated gifts for drawing and helped
make it a fun morning. You can see more pictures from this and other chamber
events at: http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
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Upcoming Events
Contact Us
January 2 – Chamber office closed
January 3 – Ambassador Meeting
January 4 – Member Promotions Comm.
January 4 – Executive Committee Meeting
January 5 – Pekin 1st Committee
January 5 – Business After Hours
January 10 – Member Services Committee
January 11 – Transportation Committee
January 11 – Board of Directors Meeting
January 12 – Tazewell Chambers After Hours
January 14 – Pekin Area Business Expo
January 16 – Chamber office closed - MLK
January 18 – Marigold Festival Committee
January 31 – Business Advocacy Committee
402 Court Street
Pekin, Illinois 61554
Reservations
Appreciated
346-2106 or
email us at
info@pekincham
ber.com
Ph: (309) 346-2106
Fax: (309) 346-2104
E-mail: info
@pekinchamber.com
Website: www.
pekinchamber.com
Chamber Blog:
http://pekinchamber.bl
ogspot.com
Marigold Blog:
http://marigoldfestival.
blogspot.com
January 5th
Riviera Tan
2133 Court St.
Tazewell County Chambers of Commerce
Business After Hours
Scan to add the
Chamber to
your contacts!
Your Chamber Staff:
Bill Fleming,
Executive Director
Diane Sego,
Receptionist
Brittney Beal,
Office Assistant
Thursday, January 12th
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Embassy Suites, East Peoria
Hosted by Fondulac Bank
Start the New Year off right - networking with chamber
members from East Peoria, Morton, Pekin and
Washington at the annual county-wide Business After
Hours.
No need to RSVP – just bring your business cards!
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Join us for
networking,
refreshments,
door prizes, and
more.
Biz Barometer
Pekin’s unemployment rate down from October’s 9.6% to
November’s 9.3%
Pekin’s unemployment rate down from 10.9% in November
2010 to 9.3% in November 2011
16,456 employed in Pekin in November 2011, an increase of
709 (+4.5%) compared to November of 2010
Peoria regional unemployment down from 9.3% in November
2010 to 7.9% in November 2011
191,943 employed in Peoria region in November 2011, up 6,650
or 3.6% compared to November of 2010
Pekin’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in October
(disbursed by State in December) up 1.8% over previous 12
month period ending in October 2010
Morton’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in October up
8.1% over previous 12 month period
East Peoria’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
October up 6.7% over previous 12 month period
Washington’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
October up 5.4% over previous 12 month period
Number of residential units sold in Pekin through November of
2011 down 7% compared to same period in 2010
Average sales price of residential unit in Pekin ($106,033)
through November of 2011 down 3.4% compared to same
period in 2010
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
was unchanged in November on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4%
before seasonal adjustments.
Sources: Illinois Department of Employment Security; Illinois Department of
Revenue; Peoria Area Association of Realtors; Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Recent Events
Chamber Challenge Trivia Nite
Thirteen teams competed in the 2011
Chamber Challenge Trivia Nite. This was
the 7th year the Chamber's Ambassadors
hosted the event - a fun evening of
networking and trivia. Congratulations to
the Herget Bank team, who recaptured
their title as champions. You can see
pictures from the event at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
Business After Hours Held
Liberty Village (Pekin Manor and Pekin
Estates) hosted the December Business
After Hours in conjunction with their
Holiday Open House. Chamber members
enjoyed great refreshments, including a
wine tasting, tours of the facility, and a
door prize drawing. Thanks to Ben
Perkins and the staff for a great holiday
event.
Chamber Board Christmas Party
The Board of Directors of the Pekin Area
Chamber of Commerce, along with
several past presidents, chamber staff,
spouses and guests got together for a
Christmas dinner at Mashie's. Christmas
entertainment was provided by Val &
Greg Springborn, Connie Moser, and
Dan Taylor. The guests brought stuffed
animals that will be donated to the
Tazewell County Children's Advocacy Center. More pictures from this
and other chamber events can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
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Join us for the
Pekin Area Business EXPO ‘12
Saturday, January 14th
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Avanti’s Dome Events & Sports Center of Pekin
Free Admission – Free Parking
Exhibits by over 70 Area Businesses
Entertainment on Stage
9:30 am YWCA of Pekin’s Coalition for Equality: 19th Annual Martin Luther King
Jr. Celebration featuring the Fantastic Jones Family, a gospel group
from Springfield, Illinois
10:30 am Pekin Park District Dance Classes
11:00 am Classical Dance Academy
12:00 pm Signsations
1:00 pm Kuk Sool Won of Pekin
Door prize drawings throughout the day donated by Exhibitors
Grand Prize Drawing: $250 Visa Gift Card, Sponsored by Illinois Collections Unlimited
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Membership Announcements
For all the details regarding these announcements, visit our blog @ http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy®
will be offering FREE online
training events that you can
access from the comfort of your
desk over the next three months.
These training events are
designed to help businesses
become more knowledgeable
about energy efficiency. For more
information on all ActOnEnergy
training events, go to the
Education and Training page at
ActOnEnergy.com.
Pekin Hospital is pleased to
offer a Healthcare Provider CPR
course for nursing students and
others who are entering a health
occupation field in the January
2012 semester. A full
professional rescue CPR class is
scheduled for January 3 from 8
a.m. – noon in the 4 South
Education Classroom at Pekin
Hospital. The cost of the class is
$35 and will include the course
manual. Registration is required
and class size is limited. To
register, please call (309) 3530351 or email
Pgreen@pekinhospital.com
The Internal Revenue Service
recently announced the 2012
optional standard mileage rates
used to calculate the deductible
costs of operating an automobile
for business, charitable, medical
or moving purposes. To view the
new standard mileage rates for
the use of a car (also vans,
pickups or panel trucks), please
visit the Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
/2011/12/irs-announces-2012standard-mileage.html
CARF International announced
that Goodwill of Central Illinois
has been accredited for a period
of three years for its Community
Services and Employment
Services. This is the sixth
consecutive Three-Year
Accreditation that CARF
(Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities) has
awarded to Goodwill of Central
Illinois. For more information
please visit the Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
/2011/12/goodwill-of-centralillinois-awarded.html
Professional Therapy Services,
Inc. is pleased to announce that
Shannon Stubbs, MS, CCC-SLP
and Roberta ‘Bobbie’ Stergar, PT,
CLT and have attained the status
of Senior Clinician and Advanced
Senior Clinician, respectively. For
more information visit
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
/2011/12/professional-therapyservices.html
The Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) District 4
along with its partner agencies,
the Illinois State Police (ISP), the
City of Peoria and the City of East
Peoria police and public works
departments announces a new
website which will provide
detailed traveling conditions to
Peoria area motorists.
www.gettingaroundpeoria.com
“This website will be an asset to
motorists as well as law
enforcement and first
responders,” said Joe Crowe,
IDOT Region 3 Engineer.
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The 16th Annual John M.
Evans Scholarship Golf
Tournament will be held
Wednesday, June 20, 2012. The
outing has been moved back 1
week later this year only, due to
the Tri-Fund Conference. Look
for more information around
February 15th. John M. Evans
appreciates your continued
support and look forward to
seeing you on June 20th.
Bard Optical is celebrating 70
years of providing vision care
excellence! As a “Thank You” to
the communities in which Bard
Optical has an office, they are
donating up to 70 pairs of glasses
to “in need” public school
students in each community.
Bard Optical will begin this
program in Districts #108, #50,
#52 and #122 on January 3,
2012. Bard Optical is pleased to
help meet the vision care needs
of these deserving students! For
more information, log onto
www.bardoptical.com
Pekin Hospital is participating in
the American Heart Association’s
Get With The Guidelines®–Heart
Failure program. The program
provides hospital staff with tools
that follow proven evidencebased guidelines and procedures
in caring for heart failure patients
to prevent future hospitalizations.
For more information, please visit
the Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
/2011/12/pekin-hospitalparticipates-in-american.html
Thanks to the following members who recently renewed their investment in the Pekin
Area Chamber of Commerce:
Amanda's Closet ~ Ameren Illinois Utilities ~ American Fire Service ~ Bagley & Miller, Attorneys ~ George Beres ~
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy ~ CJ's Café ~ Commerce Bank ~ Elks Lodge ~ Enviro-Dry ~ Fred Lawrence
and Sons Fire Equipment ~ Glesne Family Dentistry ~ Golf Green Lawn Care ~ Hallmark House Nursing Center ~
Harbor Light Hospice ~ Heartland Chiropractic Center ~ Herget Bank ~ Illinois Collections Unlimited ~ J & J
Consulting Firm ~ Jim Maloof Realtor ~ Kriegsman Warehouses ~ Linde Group ~ Little 'Ades' Bicycle ~ Midwest
Generation Powerton Station ~ Miller, Hall, & Triggs ~ Moehle, Swearingen & Umholtz ~ Neal Chiropractic Clinic ~
Pekin Community Bank ~ Pekin Hospital ~ Pekin Park District ~ Pekin Veterinary Clinic ~ Professional Towing &
Recovery Operators ~ Les Pulfer ~ Ray Dennison Chevrolet ~ Redbrand Credit Union ~ Glen Rittenhouse ~
Sprint/ Wireless Express ~ State Farm Agency - Julie McElwee ~ Steger's Furniture ~ Dr. Dennis Stoller, DDS ~
The World of Vitamins ~ Charles Thomas, Attorney ~ Eric White
Board of Directors
Ambassadors
President
Skip Schermerhorn, Herget Bank
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President Elect
Drew Leman, Leman Property Management
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Vice President
Tom Hornstein, Excalibur Seasoning Company
Treasurer
Aindrea Balagna, Wolf Tesar & Company
Past President
Althea Geiser, B'Ribboned, Etc.
Board of Directors
 Kevin Andrews, Pekin Hospital
 Courtney Antonini, Tazewell County
 Denise Comerford, Sound Choice Hearing Clinic
 Daryl Dagit, Savant Capital Management
 Paula Davis, Pekin Community High School
District #303
 John Dennison, Ray Dennison Chevrolet
 John Franks III, Pekin-Peoria Yellow Checker
Cab
 Yancy Green, Riviera Tan
 Greg Henderson, Henderson Funeral Home
 Neal Johnson, Ameren Illinois Utilities
 Scott Kriegsman, Elliff, Keyser, Oberle &
Dancey
 Brent Morgan, Timbercreek Rehab & Health
Care
 Paul Scherer, Associated Bank
 Diane Steiner, Pekin Insurance
 Laurie Barra, Mayor, City of Pekin
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John Abel, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes
and Crematory
Angie Atherton, McDaniels Marketing
Communications
Beau Austin, Enviro-Dry
Daryl Dagit, Savant Capital Management
Amy Darling, Pekin Insurance
Brittany Dorf, Pekin Community Bank
Arlene Heine-Meyer, World Wide Travel
David Homerin, Advanced Media Partners
Cathy Lusch, Herget Bank
Rose Melz, Illinois Collections Unlimited
Stacey Mutchler, Harbor Light Hospice
Christie Perry, Pekin Hospital
Amanda Rogy, Amanda’s Closet
Les Rosiere, Jim Maloof Realtor
Paul Scherer, Associated Bank
Bill Shock, Unland Companies
Diane Steiner, Pekin Insurance
Kim Tarpley, Morton Villa / Terrace
Robin Thomas, Chemtura Agrosolutions
Teresa Ann Tucker, Avon Independent
Representative
David Vaupel, Preston Hanley Funeral
Homes and Crematory
Milissa Welborn, Busey Bank