Chamber of CommerCe - Greetings Chamber Members

PAXTON
AREA
C hamber of
Commerce
NEWSLETTER
Volume 31 • Number 4 • April 2012
The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to making the Paxton area the best possible place to live, work, and to do business.
April 1
April Fool’s Day
April 8
Easter
April 9
City Council Meeting
April 22
Earth Day
April 24
Chamber Board Meeting
11:00am at Jumpin Jax
Paxton Area Chamber of
Commerce Holds
Annual Meeting
T
he Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce
held its annual meeting on Monday,
March 12, 2012 at the Lakeview Country
Club. The officers for the 2012 year were
elected. They were President, Karen
Abbe and Vice President, Nancy Ecker.
The Chamber Board of Directors were
also elected. They were Pat Harris, Cliff
McClure, Don Rasmus, Candi Riecks, Jason
Pictured are the President of the Chamber, Karen Abbe,
Mills, Karen Abbe, Nancy Ecker, Andy
and the speaker for the Annual Meeting, Mike Shively,
Hudson, Royce Baier, Jim Wesslund, Lori
State FFA President.
Epps, and Jennipher Wilson. Committee
assignments for the year were also reviewed and approved.
Don Rasmus, the Extra Mile Award chairperson, announced that Randy Houston,
owner of Houston Heating & Air Conditioning, was the annual winner of the Extra Mile
Award for 2011.
Jason Barickman and Paul Lawrence were
introduced as guests. The president of
the Chamber then introduced the speaker.
Mike Shively, the state FFA President,
gave a presentation followed by a question
and answer time. After the speaker’s
presentation, Karen Abbe presented Mr.
Shively a gift from the Chamber.
Paxton Area
Chamber of Commerce
Officers
President ~ Karen Abbe
Vice President ~ Nancy Ecker
Board of Directors
Pat Harris
Jason Mills
Andy Hudson
Karen Abbe
Cliff McClure
Don Rasmus
Royce Baier
Candi Riecks
Nancy Ecker
Jim Wesslund
Jennipher Wilson Lori Epps
Telephone: 217-379-4655
Address: P.O. Box 75 • 148 N. Market
Paxton, IL 60957
Email Address: pacc@illicom.net
Web Address: www.paxtonchamber.org
Executive Secretary/Treasurer
Diane Rasmus
The people on the Annual Meeting
Committee were Cliff McClure, Carl
Hudson Jr., Lori Epps, and Candi Riecks.
Guests at the Chamber Annual Meeting Paul Lawrence and Jason Barickman
The sponsors for the Annual Meeting were:
Compass Insurance Partners
First National Bank
Farmers Merchants National Bank
Busey Bank
Paxton IGA
Vital Education and Supply Inc.
Fiorillo Shaffer and Associates Ltd.
Nicor Gas
Shooky’s
Pizza Hut
Country Thyme Tea Room Ameren CIPS
Baier Family Funeral Services
Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services
Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop
Paxton Record
Tim’s Lawn Service and Snow Removal
The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to making Paxton
the best possible place to live, work, and do business.
paxton area chamber of commerce
March
Extra Mile
Award
Winner
T
he winner of the Extra Mile Award for the month of March was Tom Meents,
who is a self-employed Professional Monster Truck Driver with a truck known
as Maximum Destruction. Mr. Meents was nominated by Chuck Werner. Mr.
Werner wrote, “The Paxton Church of Christ has a new minister, Milton Cruz.
Milton had a college friend, Kent McDermott, who lives in Centralia, Illinois area.
Kent has a disabled nephew, Kevin. Kevin is a big Monster Jam fan, especially
Maximum Destruction, driven by Tom Meents. Knowing Meents was from Paxton,
he called Milton to see if he knew about him.
Milton asked me, knowing my son was also involved in Monster Trucks, and I took
the information about Kent and Kevin to Tom Meents. Tom emailed them, and Kevin
was able to meet Tom at the St. Louis Monster Jam show. Monster Jam has certainly
put Paxton on the map, because of Tom Meents and his monster truck crew.”
Devin’s father wrote, “Devin has been Skypeing with Tom Meents,
and actually met him on Saturday at Monster Jam in St. Louis. Tom
made sure he had a Pit Pass. Because of a fall, Devin has been having
some trouble walking, but Tom picked him up out of his wheelchair
and hugged him.”
The Extra Mile Award Program awards a $20 gift certificate to
the winner, and a floral arrangement from the Flower Cart, to the
nominator. The program is sponsored by the Paxton Area Chamber
of Commerce.
All nomination letters can be sent to the Extra Mile Award Chairman,
Don Rasmus, at the First National Bank (attention Don Rasmus) P.O
Box 95- 106 North Market in Paxton, Illinois, or to the Chamber office
at P.O. Box 75 Paxton, Illinois.
The 2012 sponsors for the Extra Mile Award are Long Creek Timber
Framers, Inc., Paxton Variety Liquor, and Tim’s Lawn Service and
Snow Removal.
Pictured is Tom Meents, the Extra Mile Award winner
for the month of March.
We encourage everyone to send a nomination letter, if someone has gone that “extra mile” for you.
Did You Know ?
• If Chamber Gift Certificates are used at your place of
business, please mail them to the Chamber’s address at
P.O. Box 75 for reimbursement.
• If you have any news about your organization or
business, please submit it to the Chamber office by the
15th of each month.
• The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking
nominations for the Extra Mile Award. Please send all
nominations to Don Rasmus at the First National Bank
or to the Chamber office at P.O. Box 75, Paxton, Illinois
60957.
• The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce holds its
board meeting at various eating establishments. If any
Chamber restaurant or business that serves food would
like the Chamber to hold its 4th Tuesday of the month
meeting at your location, please contact the Chamber
office at 379-4655.
• “Do, or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda - Star Wars Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back
Slight Edge
Solutions, LLC
New
Cham
Membber
er
(SES) provides solutions
to small businesses to
help their business grow
and be protected. SSES is
a LegalShield representative which
provides services nationwide that protect your most
valuable assests: your business. your employees, and
you and your family. SES provides a unique marketing
solution utilizing the most modern day technology
available. Lastly, with the many years of construction
experience. SES will also provide consulting services
in commercial/residential construction and landscape
design. Slight Edge Solutions looks forward to meeting
the needs of the construction and landscape design.
Slight Edge Solutions looks forward to meeting the
needs of the community and surrounding areas. Please
contact Craig or Janet Loschen to learn more about
the unique services available. Phone (217) 379-8061
or visit www.slightedgesolutionsllc.com
paxton area chamber of commerce
PACC Makes Preparations for
July 4th 2012
The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce has started to make
preparations for the Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration at Pells Park
on July 4. The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored
the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration for the past thirteen years.
The Chamber took over the event in 1999 after a group of citizens
had worked on the celebration for 15 years.
It takes many hours and many volunteers to organize an event as large as the Paxton 4th of July celebration. The celebration has grown
from a small gathering, to one of the largest events of the year for Paxton.
The 4th of July Committee recently held the first meeting to plan activities for 2012. If you have any ideas for this year’s celebration, or
you would like to help on the committee, contact the general chairman Jake Pietkiewicz at the First National Bank 379-2336, or any of
the sub-committee chairman listed below.
General Chairman-Jake Piekiewicz (379-2336)
Sub Committees
• Soda Stand - Laura Pietkiewicz
• Food Vendors-Candy Riecks with Paxton IGA
• Chamber Food Tent-Craig Riecks with Paxton IGA
• Entertainment Committee-Cliff McClure with PBL School District
• Church Service Committee-Colleen Lawrence
• Set Up Committee Before Event Committee-Don Ragan
• Set Up Committee July 3-Lindsay Ostendorf
• Tractor Show Committee –Raymond Riggleman
• 5K Race Committee-Mike Brehm with PBL School District
• Car Show Committee-Chad Riggleman
• Children’s Games Committee-Mike and Heather Wilson –Mike is with Eastern Illini Electric Coop
If you are not able to make a large commitment of time, there are many small jobs that need to be done such as helping to put up
decorations, taking down chairs after the celebration, children’s games, the soda stand, serving food at the Chamber food tent etc. If you
are able to donate an hour of time or several hours, all would be greatly appreciated. There are endless possibilities for you to help in
a small or large way, and it is a great way for everyone to be a part of a community activity.
Listed below are the Sponsors for the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration for 2012.
First National Bank
Country Thyme Tea Room
Heyman & Heyman Optometrists Doug’s Pharmacy
NICOR Gas
Shooky’s
Paxton IGA
ons
ati
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4t N for
n
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Go eds
De ard
Aw
July
Market Street Barber Shop
Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services
Tim’s Lawn Service & Snow Removal
Vital Education & Supply Inc.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Moore Surveying & Mapping
Pizza Hut
Compass Insurance Partners
Hudson Drug & Hallmark Shop
Fiorillo, Shaffer & Associates Ltd.
Baier Family Funeral Services
523 Design
Busey Bank
T
he Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce as a part of the July 4th
celebration is seeking nominations for the Golden Deeds Awards.
Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce would like to continue to
honor volunteers in the community that unselfishly volunteer their
time and talents to help other residents.
To nominate someone, a letter needs to be written and mailed to
the Chamber office at P.O. Box 75, Paxton, Illinois or to Don Rasmus
at the First National Bank. The nomination letter should contain all
the volunteer efforts of the nominee. A committee will review all
nominations, which need to be received by June 15.
The awards will be presented during the Community Church Service
on July 4th. Last year’s recipients were Rev. John Davenport and Terri
Hancock.
In previous years this popular award was presented by the Paxton
Exchange Club. In 2011 the Paxton Exchange Club disbanded, so the
Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce has elected to preserve the recognition of our community volunteers by
sponsoring the award.
Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 75
Paxton, IL 60957
PACC Quarterly Luncheon
Wednesday May 16, 2012 • 12:00 Noon
Speaker: Dennis Higgins
County Emergency Management Coordinator
Please reserve _________lunches for the following people:
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
Please mail your check and this form to Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 75, 148 N. Market St., Paxton, IL 60957
The lunch is served by the Paxton Women's Club at $8.00 per person. Reservations and payment must be made in advance,
and received by May 11, 2012. Call 379-4655. The public is invited.
First National Bank
Country Thyme Tea Room
Busey Bank
S & P Rentals
NICOR Gas
Paxton IGA
Baier Family Funeral Services
Sponsors for the Quarterly Luncheons are:
Market Street Barber Shop
Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services
Fiorillo, Shaffer & Associates Ltd.
Tim’s Lawn Service & Snow Removal
Compass Insurance Partners
Hudson Drug & Hallmark Shop
523 Design
Pizza Hut
Paxton Record
Doug’s Pharmacy
Shooky’s
Heartland Health Care Center