Thank You - Jersey County Business Association

APRIL
2013
2013
Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Bob Manns
Chair
Heneghan & Associates
Shane DeSherlia
Vice Chair
First Bank
Danny Phipps
Treasurer
Scheffel & Company, P.C.
Carolyn Roberts
Secretary
AgriSolutions, Inc.
Jim Mager
Immediate Past Chairperson
DIRECTORS
Julie Brangenberg
LPL Financial
Eric Gowin
Contegra Construction Company
Wendy Tonsor
Tonsor Custom Awards & Decals
Jessica Dean
Whitworth Horn Goetten
Insurance Agency
Tom Smith
Jersey Community Hospital
Wellness Center
Stacey Loellke
Loellke Plumbing, Inc.
Nathan Wittman
Country Financial
Ed Settles
School District 100
Pam Heitzig
Jersey County Board
Mayor Richard
Perdun
City of Jerseyville
Mayor Tom
Thompson
City of Grafton
Mayor Wayne
Schafer
Village of Brighton
Richard Miller
Ambassador Chair
STAFF
Alan Gilmore
CEO
Carrie Decker
Administrative Assistant
Jersey County
Business
Association
209 North State Street
Jerseyville, Illinois 62052
618-639-JCBA (5222)
carrie@jcba-il.us
agilmore@jcba-il.us
www.jcba.us
A Monthly Publication of the Jersey County Business Association
Jerseyville, Illinois
Mann's MONTHLY MESSAGE...
April is upon us … but as I write this, we are still in the mode of “March Madness” – not only
those crazy NCAA basketball brackets, but also the foot of snow that just got dumped on us.
Speaking of basketball, I wanted to commend the Jr. Panther Football organization for another
successful 5-on-5 basketball tournament. The older I get, the more I appreciate that fact that
basketball is a definitely a sport for the younger generations. It was good to see the spirit of
volunteerism at this tournament alive and well, both kids and adults. It was a nice family event,
and a good way to showcase the facilities that JCHS has to offer. We heard positive comments
from several of our local restaurants and other businesses about the increase in business during the weekend, as a
number of players and fans come from outside of the County, and spend their money locally. Job well done!
I also attended the Career Fair at JCHS in March, where students from Jersey and neighboring counties were able
to come in and talk with businesses and professionals from a wide variety of fields. The students that stopped at my
booth were interested and inquisitive, and this was a good opportunity for them to think about their future. We were
able to discuss educational requirements, career choices, job outlook, etc. Carolyn Taviner at the Job Center is to be
commended for the work that she is doing with this program. Likewise, we continue working hard at JCBA to make
Jersey County a place that has desirable jobs available to recruit and retain our local kids and grandkids in this area.
Last month, I also spoke about JCBA at a meeting of all Townships within Jersey County. It was interesting to find out
that a number of those in attendance were unaware of how many economic development activities that JCBA is involved
with and the number of projects we are currently tackling. Some attendees did not know about our JCBA Gift Certificate
program, for example. Please join me in taking opportunities to promote and educate others about the benefits of JCBA
membership.
In other news … while we are still working on some minor revisions, the new JCBA website is live – please check it out
at www.jcba.us. If you have any suggestions for making our website more useful to your business, just send Carrie an
email at carrie@jcba-il.us. I am also excited to announce that we have re-established
• Networking Opportunities
an active Economic Development Committee within JCBA, with Julie Brangenberg
• Business After Hours
serving as Chairperson. Our goal is to focus on targeted economic development tools,
• Annual Meeting
opportunities, programs, and other special projects. If you have an interest in serving on
• Chamber Committees
this Committee, please email Julie at julie.brangenberg@lpl.com. One last note - final
• Chamber Golf Tournament
plans and preparations are being made for our Second Annual JCBA Dinner Auction.
• Committee Involvement
Mark your calendar for Sat., May 4, 2013 at the Jerseyville Knights of Columbus. This is
our largest annual special-event fundraiser, so we are asking for your support again this
• Dinner Auction
year. Carrie, Alan, and our Committee members will be calling on some of you to solicit
• Publicity and Exposure
auction items and to consider corporate sponsorship. If you have anything that you are
• Referrals - website, phone
willing to donate to the cause, please give Carrie a call at the office. There will be great
and walk-in
food, networking, and auction items.
• Business Directory
• Monthly Newsletter
• Member to Member cards
• JCBA Gift Cards
• Ribbon Cutting Events
• Membership Identification
• Legislative Advocacy
• Communication on
Legislative Issues
• A vehicle for reviewing
important information
• Business Resources &
Information
• Third-Class Postage
Privilege
(Bulk Mailing Discount)
• City Maps, Phone Books,
Agency Directories
• Wide Range of Data and
Demographic
As always, remember to do business locally with our JCBA Members.
Something to keep in mind … In 1837, inventor and small businessman John Deere
founded Deere and Company. Today, the Moline-based business sells more than
$30 billion while maintaining its core values of integrity, quality, commitment, and
innovation.
Bob Manns
Bob
rjmanns@heneghanassoc.com
Thank
You
to our Five Star Members
for their generous financial support of the JCBA:
Jersey County, City of Jerseyville,
MJM Electric Cooperative Inc., CASSCOMM,
Jersey Community Hospital and Grafton Technologies, Inc.
The
Jersey
County
Business Report
By Alan Gilmore, CEO
Have you ever heard the old southern
expression “Even a blind pig finds an
acorn once in a while”. Well that is exactly
what happened to me when I was looking
for something worth writing about this
month. What I found is so unbelievable
that it almost took me to my knees. The
basis for the following information came
from Reuters New Service, which is a
foreign news reporting agency and not
aligned or affiliated with any U.S. news
agency. To me this is very significant
to see how an independent news service
views our issues here in the U.S.
It has been 48 years since President
Lyndon Johnson announced his war on
poverty in Washington D.C. and in the
past 48 years the rich got extremely richer
and the poor got decidedly poorer. The
income of the top 5% of Washington D.C.
households made more than $500,000
last year, while the bottom 20% made
less than $9,500; a ratio of 54 to 1.
Two decades ago the ratio was 39 to 1.
Compare this to Jersey County Illinois
where we would be hard pressed to find
a dozen people outside of production
agriculture with annual earnings
exceeding $500,000. We all know
that the U.S. Government redistributes
some of the country’s wealth down to
struggling Americans, but what most of us
don’t know is that the U.S. Government
is also redistributing wealth up to the
higher income Americans too, and this is
especially true in the 9 states immediately
surrounding Washington D.C. If Horace
Greely was alive today his advice would
be “Go East Young Man, Go East” and
for sound economic reasons. The average
median family income of Washington
D.C., Maryland, Connecticut, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Virginia, New York, & Rhode Island in
2011 was $62,512. For the Midwest
states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky,
& Tennessee was $46,589, a difference
of almost $16,000 per household. The
most egregious example of this type of
difference is when you compare Maryland
at $70,004 against Kentucky with an
annual average median income of
$41,141, a difference of $28,863.
I have been working with household
income statistics for nearly 30 years and
a difference of $16,000 between states
in not only huge it is staggering. We are
talking about 10’s of Millions of People
affected by this issue at $16,000 each
annually for millions of families. The
question that begs to be asked; “Is why
is there, such a staggering difference,
and where is the money coming from”.
Well fellow citizens the sad truth is, it is
indirectly coming from we Midwesterners
and the rest of the nation, the South,
the West, the Great Plains and the
Northwest. Our Federal government does
redistribute some of the nation’s wealth
down to struggling Americans, but in
the years since President Johnson took
aim at poverty the Federal government
has been redistributing wealth up to a
certain class of elite Americans which are
mostly in the proximity of Washington
D.C. These wealthier beneficiaries are
not Billionaire Bankers or Celebrities;
they are Federal Contractors, Lobbyists
& Lawyers. The Federal government
funneled $83.5 Billion to these entities
in 2010, and increase of over 300% since
1989. This has resulted in a huge transfer
of wealth to an elite group of people
affiliated in one way or another to the
federal government. The latest Census
figures show 10 counties surrounding
our Capital in Maryland and Virginia
in the top 20 counties nationwide for
the highest median household income.
During the past 20 years the middle class
income earner has seen his annual income
drop by 5%, while those earning more
than $100,000 annually has seen their
incomes increase by nearly 15% resulting
in a leaner middle class and a wealthier
upper middle class. According to Reuters
most of this imbalance can be traced back
to a policy change called the Bush Tax
Cuts that redistributed nearly $2 Trillion
dollars nationally over the past 10 years
to mostly high income earners. The sad
aspect of the Bush Tax Cuts is that it was
falsely sold to us and as being a benefit
to the middle and lower income earners.
Sorry to leave you hanging, but I have run
out of space to finish this article, so I will
continue on with it next month.
RICHARD PERDUN
Business
MEMBER RENEWALS
Bray Drug Store
Cell Tech Electronics
Da-Com
Grafton Winery & Brewhaus
Jersey County Farm Bureau
Jerseyville Carpet & Furniture Galleries
Miles Accounting Service
The Great Rivers Fireplace Store & More
of the Month
Wolves Crossing Golf Course was
nominated and chosen by the Small
Business Committee as the April
Business of the Month. They are located
at 23745 North Centennial Road
in Jerseyville and can be reached by
calling 618-498-3178 or email wcgc@
wolvescrossing.com. Wolves Crossing Golf Course has been in business for 20 years
offering an 18 hole course and driving range. They employ two full time and six part people
to serve their customers year round, weather permitting. Wolves Crossing is also the site of
many tournaments including a free Veterans Day Tournament and the Children’s Miracle
Network Fundraising Tournament, to name a few. They have a “Senior Scramble” which is a
2-person scramble for individuals 55 and older every Monday beginning in April. For more
information on Wolves Crossing Golf Course visit them on the web at www.wolvescrossing
.com or www.golfhgm.com. Congratulations!!
• JCBA Dinner Auction •
The 2nd Annual JCBA Dinner Auction date has been set for Saturday, May 4th at the Jerseyville
Knights of Columbus with doors opening at 5pm. There will be live and silent auction items to
bid on and a fantastic rib-eye dinner. You won’t want to miss it!!
We are offering various levels of sponsorships and advertising opportunities.
Bronze Level - $100 – 2 dinner tickets & advertising with your business name only
Silver Level - $150 – 4 dinner tickets & advertising with your business name only
Gold Level - $250 – 8 dinner tickets (reserved table) & advertising with business logo
Platinum Level - $500 + – 16 dinner tickets (2 reserved tables) & advertising with business logo
If you are interested in making a cash or auction item donation,
donors will be recognized under the following headlines:
Up to $25.00
From $26.00 to $50.00
From $51.00 to $100.00
Donations above $100.00
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Sponsor/Donor names &/or logos will be electronically displayed via video projection,
the business name will be listed in the auction booklet and will also be
announced periodically throughout the evening.
Everyone is welcome so if you are unable to attend feel free to offer your tickets
to any employee or customer. You may also donate your tickets back to be re-sold.
BUSINESS
After Hours
The April Business After Hours will be
sponsored by Bishop Family Eye Care
and Dennis Ford – State Farm. Join us on
April 18th from 4-7pm for food, fun and
networking at Dr. Bishop’s new office
located at 301 South Jefferson in
Jerseyville.
CASH MOB
Mark your calendars…The next CASH MOB
will be held Friday, April 12th from 11am-2pm
at State Street Antiques and Collectibles located
at 115 North State Street in Jerseyville. They
are sure to have something for everyone!! Also,
if you are interested in being “mobbed” contact
the JCBA office for details.
Networking Lunch
The JCBA will host a networking
informational lunch on Tuesday, April 23rd
at noon at Mulligan’s West in Jerseyville. Our
guest speaker will be Ella York, Community
Outreach Liaison from the Office of the
Attorney General. She will speak about scams
targeting small businesses. If you would like
to attend, please rsvp by April 18th.
Individual dinner tickets are available for purchase at $25 per person.
Dinner ticket includes Rib-Eye, Baked Potato, Salad, Green Beans, Roll, Draught Beer & Soda.
Please contact the JCBA office for dinner auction tickets, to donate or for more information.
Metal Roofing Solar Dealer
SINCE 1862
1251 North State Street
Jerseyville, IL 62052
618-498-6441
PHONE: (618) 639-2244
WEB: www.hwcrins.com
Jersey County
Business Association
209 North State Street
Jerseyville, Illinois 62052
April in Jersey County
Tues., April 2 City
Council Meeting, 6:00pm,
Jerseyville City Hall
Tues., April 9 Small
Business/AG Committee
Meeting, 9:00am, JCBA
Office
Tues., April 9 Jersey
County Board Meeting,
7:00pm, County Admin.
Bldg.
Tues., April 9 Grafton City
Council Meeting, 7:00pm,
Grafton City Hall
Fri., April 12 Cash Mob,
11:00am-2:00pm, State
Street Antiques
Tues., April 16 JCBA Board
Meeting, 9:00am, JCBA
Office
Tues., April 16 City
Council Meeting, 6:00pm,
Jerseyville City Hall
Thurs., April 18 Business
After Hours, 4:00pm,
Bishop Family Eye Care
Thurs., April 18 Board of
Education Meeting, 7:00pm,
Unit Office
Tues., April 23 Networking
Lunch, Noon, Mulligan’s
West
Tues., April 23 Grafton
City Council Meeting,
7:00pm, Grafton City Hall
Tues., April 30 City
Council Meeting, 6:00pm,
Jerseyville City Hall
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