WILLIAMSON COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION AT MARION VA ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND

02/02/2016
Williamson County Clerk Amanda Barnes will be at the Marion VA Medical Center to register Williamson County residents to vote or sign up for a Vote by Mail ballot on Tuesday, Feburary 2, 2016 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Pharmacy Waiting area of the main hospital building.

Earthquake Summit for Businesses 2/3/16 in Cape Girardeau
02/03/2016
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®, FEMA Building Science Branch, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri Seismic Safety Council, U.S. Geological Society and other partners will present a QuakeSmart® Business Preparedness Summit for businesses in Southeast Missouri and Southwest Illinois on Wednesday, February 3 at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. 

Grad Spree Committee meeting
02/04/2016
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Grad Spree Committee will meet at 8 a.m. at the Chamber office. If you plan to attend or would like to join the Committee, please call the Chamber at (618) 997-6311.

Emerald Realty, Jewels & More, Pretty Woman Grand Opening
02/05/2016
Emerald Realty along with Jewel’s & More, & Pretty Woman is having a grand opening. The staff will be meeting and greeting everyone. They will offer food and drinks and will also have a giveaway from Emerald and a diamond pendant from Jewel’s & More. River to River will be here. Everyone is welcome. 

February Monthly Membership Luncheon
02/09/2016
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Monthly Membership Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, February 9 at noon at Kokopelli. 
Jo Poshard, co-founder of The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, will be the presenter. Also, a $1,500 check from the Diamond Drop, sponsored by Diamond Designs, will be awarded to The Poshard Foundation. The Diamond Drop was a part of the 95th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Auction & Awards Banquet, held on January 15.
GFI Digital, Inc. is the sponsor of the February Monthly Membership Luncheon.

Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours at Re/Max Above and Beyond
02/11/2016
Join us for a Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 p.m. and a Business After Hours program from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Re/Max Above and Beyond on Thursday, February 11. 

Free concert for Veterans
02/13/2016
The Marion VA Medical Center is pleased to present the 2016 Valentines for Veterans Concert featuring The Kentucky Headhunters, Cache River Band, Dustin Bogue, Cory Rowe and the Red Byrds.
On February 13th, the Marion VA will be hosting a FREE concert for Veterans at the Marion, Black Diamond Harley-Davidson Performance Center. Doors will open at 6pm and the show starts at 6:30pm.

Prep for Final FLSA White Collar Exemption Rules
02/16/2016

Presenter:

Matthew W. Stiles, Shareholder

Maynard Cooper Gale

In late 2015, the Obama Administration proposed the first significant change to the FLSA’s white collar exemptions in a generation. The proposed regulations would more than double the current $455 per week minimum salary necessary to qualify for a white collar exemption from minimum wage and overtime. Final rules are expected in mid-2016 with a potential first compliance deadline in 2017. Employers should act now to collect valuable data and anticipate how this change may affect their organizations. Compliance will be far more complicated than simply bumping up salaries or making formerly exempt employees non-exempt.

In this session, we will discuss what’s behind the Administrator’s proposed rules, provide a timeline for planning, and make practical recommendations to help employers stay ahead of the final rules.

Register today! http://www.extrahelpinc.com/keep-calm-work-more-overtime-preparing-for-2016s-final-flsa-white-collar-exemption-rules/

Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee meeting
02/17/2016
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. at the Chamber office. 

Business Happy Hour event
02/17/2016
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Business Happy Hour event will be held every third Wednesday each month throughout the year from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Martini Joe's in Marion. All drinks during the Happy Hour will be 1/2 price for all Marion Chamber of Commerce members. There is no charge to attend. 
All Marion Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to attend to unwind, network and share in good company.

Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee meeting
02/18/2016
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee meeting is held on the third Thurday of each month at 8 a.m. at South Porte Bank. 

Foreign Direct Investment for Southern Illinois
02/25/2016
To register or for more information
Call 618.453.3342 or email kmmartin@siu.edu
Workshop is free but pre-registration is required
Continental breakfast & lunch are included if registered in advance

SI Men’s Expo
02/27/2016
SI Men’s Expo
Saturday, February 27, 2016
7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Black Diamond Harley-Davidson Entertainment Center, Marion, IL

Here are the latest editions of The Bulletin:

• December 11
• December 25
• January 8
• January 22

Each month, the Marion Chamber of Commerce averages 10-15 new voting members. 
 
WE NEED YOUR HELP!

• The Marion Chamber is in need of your business’ goodies to distribute to all of our new voting members. Do you have cups, koozies, stress balls, coupons, fun trinkets, etc. that you would like to be presented to all new voting members at the Chamber in their new member gift bag? During each New Member Quarterly Luncheon, members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee meet with new members from the past quarter to go over their new member packets and give them a gift bag filled with goodies from our members to welcome them to the Chamber. Call or email the Chamber to include your business in the goodie bags today!
• Do you have great discounts to offer other Chamber members? We can include you in our Member-to-Member Discounts! Click here to see who is already giving discounts to Marion Chamber of Commerce members. Call or email the Chamber today to start listing your Member-to-Member Discounts.
• Do you want to offer a “thank you for joining the Marion Chamber Team” discount to only new Chamber voting members? We can include your coupon or discount in all new voting members’ packets. We already include offers from other members, including discounted advertising rates!  We would love to include something from your business in our packets.  This is a GREAT way for your business to get noticed by potential new business customers! Call or email the Marion Chamber today to list your new member discounts/coupons today!

 Our goal is to promote more business growth and an opportunity for our members to connect.  We hope you will take a moment and let us know what you are willing to offer.  We have so many great members with top notch products and services, we want to make sure we share the news!
 
Thank you!

There are many benefits to being a Marion Chamber of Commerce member! Did you know the benefits include:

• If any Marion Chamber of Commerce member would like to have fliers for an upcoming event, announcements, etc. placed at each attendee's seat at the luncheon, please contact the Chamber at 618.997.6311 to arrange for delivery of the fliers prior to the luncheon. Distributing fliers / business cards/ etc. at the Monthly Membership Lunches is free and a part of your Marion Chamber of Commerce Membership!
• As a member, you have access to many discounts provided by other Chamber members. Discounts include radio and newspaper coupons, insurance discounts (commercial and personal), mobile telephone discounts, banking incentives and more!  These discounts often cover the cost of membership! Member-to-Member Discounts are located here. 
• Rack space is available for you to display your business brochures and business cards for visitors to our office.
• To assist members with their own direct mailings, our mailing list is available on labels to our members for $35 per printed set or free for electronic versions. We do not provide our e-mail list for distribution.

Want to know more about the benefits of being a Marion Chamber member? Click here!

Marion High School Update
Submitted: 02/02/16
Article By: CU #2 Schools - Marion

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Extra Help, Inc. Hires Rachelle Bauer as Chief Operating Officer
Company Continues Regional Growth and Expansion 
Submitted: 02/01/16
Article By: Extra Help, Inc.

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Painting and drawing contest reminder
Submitted: 02/01/16
Article By: Little Egypt Arts Association

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For more Member Press Releases, click here. 

India Delight
Satish Walia
Join Date: 12/01/2015

Gateway Foundation
Lonnie O'neal
Website
Join Date: 01/02/2016

John A. Logan College
Michelle Hamilton
Join Date: 01/04/2016

Kibler Law Office
Jonathan Kibler
Website
Join Date: 01/21/2016

Herrin Signs
Tracy Estes
Website
Join Date: 01/22/2016

Fusion Boot Camp
Brandy Robinson
Join Date: 01/25/2016

Heartland Women's Healthcare
Leana Horn
Website
Join Date: 01/25/2016

Heartland Women's Healthcare
Riki Jenkins
Website
Join Date: 01/25/2016

Finish Line Car Wash
Chris Presswood
Website
Join Date: 01/27/2016

Saluki Sports Properties
Jonathan Ihrig
Join Date: 02/02/2016
 

The Marion Chamber of Commerce is happy promote members on the homepage of the Chamber's Web site in the Member Spotlight section for $150.

Note that one Member Spotlight is featured a month. Slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A company may only request a Member Spotlight once a year.

2016 Member Spotlight Schedule:

• February - McKendree University
• March - Bass Tournament Sponsors
• April - AVAILABLE
• May - Grad Spree Gold Sponsors
• June - Marion Community Day Sponsors
• July - August - AVAILBLE
• September - Gold Scramble Corporate Sponsor
• October - KBSI Fox 23
• November - December - AVAILBLE

To grab your spot in the spotlight, email director@marionillinois.com or call 618.997-6311 and let us know what month you'd like.

The Marion Chamber of Commerce is happy to to offer to members the sponsorship opportunity at the Monthly Membership Luncheons, held on the second Tuesday of each month (except for January) for $100.

Each Monthly Luncheon will have only one sponsor, and that sponsor is entitled to:

• a logo in the luncheon invitation
• opportunity to speak for up to three minutes at the luncheon, and a table set up by the registration table at the luncheon. The opportunity is limited to one Monthly Luncheon Sponsorship per business per year. 

2016 Monthly Membership Luncheon Sponsorship Schedule:

• February - GFI Digital
• March - House 2 Home
• April - D & C Sheet Metal Heating & Cooling
• May - TCT
• June - Southern Illinois Waste Container
• July - December - AVAILABLE

To become a Monthly Membership Luncheon sponsor, email director@marionillinois.com with what month you'd like to sponsor or call the Chamber at (618) 997-6311.

The Marion Chamber of Commerce is happy to send promotional eBlasts once a week on behalf of members as a member benefit for $50. Slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A company may only request a Member eBlast once a month. Click here for the form. 

The Marion Chamber of Commerce and Affordable Gas and Electric have teamed up to offer chamber members this exclusive opportunity to save BIG on their electricity and natural gas bills.

AGE will negotiate a custom, group-discounted price from our partnered suppliers, execute a contract on your behalf, and send you a Transaction Confirmation with a 3 day recession period. If the Transaction Confirmation is not declined, AGE will officially enroll your accounts in the transaction presented for the length of the term designated on the Transaction Confirmation.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
• You must be in an eligible Utility Zone. Accounts serviced by co-ops are not eligible.
• If you are under contract with another Retail Supplier, it must be set to expire within 6 months of submitting this form.

For more information, click here. 

Have you thought about hosting a Business After Hours event? Schedule yours today!

Business After Hours events are held on the fourth Thursday of the month, unless the Chamber member has a special need for a different date or calendar conflicts at the Chamber arise.

The hours for a Business After Hours event are to be determined by the Chamber member. However, 4:30-6:30 p.m. is recommended.

The Business After Hours Program fee is $100. 

Email director@marionillinois.com, call 997-6311 or fill out this form to schedule your BAH event today! June-December BAH slots are available!

Chamber responsibilities include:
* Promoting the event through all of our communications (newsletter, Web site, social media, Monthly Membership Luncheon announcements, etc.)
* Provide member mailing labels for invitations

Chamber member suggestions:
* Send special invitations to Chamber Members and their customers (must include Chamber logo on printed materials)
* Provide food and beverages at the event 
* Provide door prizes at the event
* Make a presentation about your business/organization

2016 Business After Hours Program Schedule:

• February - Re/Max Above and Beyond, 2/11
• March - Title Pro, 3/24
• April - Marion Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 4/12
  • Williamson CEO, 4/28
• May - Ike Honda, TBD
• June - December - AVAILABLE

• Submit your events/news: All Marion Chamber of Commerce members can submit their events, press releases, etc. through our Member Management System. To log in, click here. 
• Member-to-Member Discounts: Don't forget to check out your member-to-member discounts. Click here to start saving today. To submit your member-to-member discount, go to the Coupon Editor in your Member Management System. To log in to the Member Management system, visit our Web site and click "Member Login" on the top of the homepage.
• Member survey: We would like your feedback! Click here to take the Marion Chamber of Commerce survey. 
• Classifieds: Check out our members' classified ads here. 
• Sign up for Committees: All Marion Chamber of Commerce members can sign up for Chamber Committees through our Member Management System. To log in, click here. Then, go to "Forms."
• Download the Mobile Chamber App: Useful information at your fingertips. Click here for information on how to download the app today!