
Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 041316
Index Member Press Releases Chamber News Ribbon Cutting at Saluki Screen Repair, 4/23 Business Happy Hour event 6th annual Marion Chamber Foundation Bass Tournament - 4/24 Business After Hours Program: Williamson CEO May Monthly Membership Luncheon, 5/10 Grad Spree needs your help Business After Hours Program: IKE Honda, 05-19-16 Participate in the 2016 Marion Community Day Would you like to sponsor a Monthly Membership Luncheon? Would you like to host a BAH? Let us put the Spotlight on your Business! Calendar Welcome New Members Send a Member eBlast! Bulletin Promote your business to New Chamber Members! Helpful tips Did you know? Calendar ISO 9001:2015 Risks and Processes 04/14/2016 April 14 – ISO 9001:2015 Risks and Processes 12:00pm – 1:30pm Marion Junior High School Choir presents Into the Woods Jr. 04/15/2016 Marion Junior High School Choir presents Into the Woods Jr. on April 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marion Cultural & Civic Center. SIH Gala 04/15/2016 The SIH Gala will be held on April 15 from 6-10 p.m. at SIU Ballrooms and International Lounge. Marion Junior High School Choir presents Into the Woods Jr. 04/16/2016 Marion Junior High School Choir presents Into the Woods Jr. on April 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marion Cultural & Civic Center. National “Run as One” 5K to be Hosted at Marion VA Medical Center 04/16/2016 Participants can register online here by choosing the Marion Illinois location: https://www.crowdrise.com/runasone. Master Gardner’s to Offer Free Advice 04/16/2016 The Williamson County Master Gardener’s will be set up in front of Rural King in Marion on Saturday, April 16 from 10 am until 2 pm. They will be there to answer any horticulture questions the public may have to get their garden, lawn, or landscape ready for spring and summer. LEAA's 4th annual quilt and fiber exhibit 04/17/2016 The exhibit features quilts, wall hangings, inspired pin cushions, art dolls and a variety of hand crafted items. Marion Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee meeting 04/19/2016 The Membership Committee meet on the third Tuesday of each month at noon. The location of the meeting varies. Please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce to join the Membership Committee, inquire about the location of the next meeting or if you have any questions. Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee meeting 04/20/2016 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 04/20/2016 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 Unit #2 Kindergarten Registration 04/20/2016 Marion CUSD #2 Unit Office Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee meeting 04/21/2016 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. Marion Unit #2 Kindergarten Registration 04/21/2016 Marion CUSD #2 Unit Office Spring Mock Job Fair at USP Marion 04/21/2016 We would like to take this opportunity to invite your business or organization to participate in the “Gateway to Success," a mock job fair on Thursday, April 21, 2016. We will start the day at 8:00 a.m. in the visiting room at the Federal Prison Camp. At 11:00 a.m., we will go inside the Federal Correctional Institution (USP) for lunch and will proceed to the Education Department. We will wrap-up the day around 3:00 p.m. There is no cost for participating in the mock job fair and lunch will be provided by the institution. Marion Unit #2 Kindergarten Registration 04/22/2016 Marion CUSD #2 Unit Office Run Under the Stars 04/23/2016- 04/24/2016 Run Under the Stars 10 Hour Run Williamson County Fairgrounds April 23, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. 2016 Old King Coal Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant 04/23/2016 West Frankfort High School Auditorium 7pm MARION-Run Under the Stars (RUTS) 04/23/2016- 04/24/2016 An evening run/jog/walk starting at 8:00 p,m. and ending at 6:00 a.m. Held at the Williamson County Fairgrounds. Refreshment and support services available. Coordinated by Durbin Race Management. Local contact is Michael Ahrens (d.ahrens3@frontier.com). Nikki Clay-Williams Memorial Benefit 04/23/2016 Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. American Legion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Saluki Screen Repair 04/23/2016 A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on April 23 at Saluki Screen Repair, 2801 Civic Circle Boulevard, Suite 4, Marion. Guests are invited to stay for an Open House from 1-4 p.m. featuring food, drinksm 3 custom iPhones giveaways and entertainment by local musician Jenny Johnson. 6th annual Marion Chamber Foundation Bass Tournament 04/24/2016 Angler's Choice is proud to host the 6th annual Marion Chamber Foundation Bass Tournament. 30% of entry fees will go toward the Marion High School Scholarship Program. Cost for a 2-person team is $70. Big Bass Buy-in is $10. Business After Hours Program: Williamson CEO 04/28/2016 Williamson CEO will host a Business After Hours program during their Trade Show at The Pavilion on Thursday, April 28 at 4 p.m. Auto Swap Meet at Pickers Outlet Mall 04/30/2016 Auto Swap Meet at Pickers Outlet Mall with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Williamson County Fire Station 5. Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting 05/03/2016 The Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at Heartland Regional Medical Center. PIZZA AND POLITICS WITH CHUY GARCIA 05/06/2016 5:00 p.m. Institute Lobby May Monthly Membership Luncheon 05/10/2016 The Marion Chamber of Commerce Monthly Membership Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at noon at Kokopelli. The presenter will be Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher "Joey" Watson who will speak about Distracted Driving. TCT is the sponsor of the May Monthly Membership Luncheon. Book Signing with Bob Hartley 05/11/2016 5:00 p.m. Paul Simon Institute Lobby Free and Open to the Public. Hartley is the author of The Dealmakers of Downstate Illinois: Paul Powell, Clyde L. Choate, John H. Stelle. Books will be available for sale at the event. Grad Spree 05/12/2016- 05/13/2016 It’s that time of the year again to make plans for the Marion 2016 Friends For Life Graduation Spree, Thursday, May 12, 2016, a drug- and alcohol-free environment for the graduating seniors and their guests. Art at the Fair 05/14/2016 LEAA is presenting its first Art at the Fair May 14 and 15, 2016, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission is free to the public. This event is expected to feature artists, photographers, writers, and crafters selling and demonstrating their work. Not-for -profit food vendors, musicians, and kids' activities are also encouraged to be part of the Fair. Art at the Fair 05/15/2016 LEAA is presenting its first Art at the Fair May 14 and 15, 2016, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission is free to the public. This event is expected to feature artists, photographers, writers, and crafters selling and demonstrating their work. Not-for -profit food vendors, musicians, and kids' activities are also encouraged to be part of the Fair. New Member Quarterly Luncheon 05/17/2016 Every quarter the Marion Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee holds a New Member Quarterly Luncheon. This quarter’s New Member Quarterly Luncheon will be held at noon at Fujiyama's on May 17. Arthritis Walk Kick-off Luncheon 05/19/2016 When: Friday, February 19, 2016 - 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Where: Carterville Community Center Business After Hours Program: IKE Honda 05/19/2016 IKE Honda will celebrate its 10th anniversary by hosting a Business After Hours Program on Thursday, May 12 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Welcome New Members KBSI Fox 23 Alex Biles Website ambiles@sbgtv.com Join Date: 03/24/2016 Gateway Foundation Michelle Bertinetti Website mxbertin@gatewayfoundation.org Join Date: 03/30/2016 AT&T of Marion Illinois Adam Blum Website Ab784u@att.com Join Date: 03/31/2016 Farmers State Bank Arla Wasson Website awasson@myfsb.com Join Date: 04/04/2016 The Southern Illinoisan Mary Galli mary.galli@thesouthern.com Join Date: 04/05/2016 Saluki Screen Repair Pryor Jordan Website pryor@salukiscreenrepair.com Join Date: 04/11/2016 Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management - Lucas Bremer Lucas Bremer, MBA Website lucas.bremer@nm.com Join Date: 04/13/2016 Send a Member eBlast! 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. Bulletin March 11 Bulletin March 25 Bulletin April 8 Bulletin Promote your business to New Chamber Members! 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! Helpful tips 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. 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! Did you know? 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!	Member Press Releases Pepsi MidAmerica hosts Independent Bottlers Association Meeting in Marion Pepsi MidAmerica was pleased to host the annual meeting of the Independent Bottlers Association. Members of the Board of Directors across the United States flew into Marion, IL for the 2-day meeting. Submitted: 04/06/16 Article By: Crisp Container Co. SIU Credit Union Announces Retirement of President/CEO Submitted: 04/06/16 Article By: SIU Credit Union SIU Credit Union Encourages Youth to Get Financially Fit Submitted: 04/05/16 Article By: SIU Credit Union National Workplace Management Firm Extra Help, Inc. Rebrands as HireLevel Submitted: 04/04/16 Article By: HireLevel powered by Extra Help. For more Member Press Releases, click here. Chamber News April 2016 Business After Hours Program held at Marion Rehabilitation and Nursing Center March 2016 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held on March 31 at Fusion Boot Camp For more Chamber News, click here. Ribbon Cutting at Saluki Screen Repair, 4/23 Business Happy Hour event 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. The 2016 schedule for the Marion Chamber of Commerce Business Happy Hour events are: April 20 May 18 June 15 July 20 August 17 September 21 October 19 November 16 December 21 6th annual Marion Chamber Foundation Bass Tournament - 4/24 Dear Chamber Friend, The Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation is sponsoring the 6th annual two-person Bass Tournament at Pyramid Acres Marina on Sunday, April 24. The event is a fundraiser for the Marion Chamber Foundation Scholarship Program. The tournament fee is $70 per team and optional $10 for Big Bass at 100% pay back. Entries will be limited to the first 150 teams. To register your team, click here. 30% of the entry fees will go toward the Marion Chamber Scholarship Program. The Marion Chamber of Commerce currently offers two scholarships: John A. Logan College One Year Tuition Waiver and a Grad Spree Scholarship. The Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation awards these scholarships based on the amount of money generated by the fundraising efforts from the previous year. The tournament also needs volunteers! If you are interested in helping at this year's tournament, please contact the Chamber by phone at 997-6311 or e-mail at director@marionillinois.com. The following time slots are available: Registration: 5 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. Check-in: 2-4 p.m. Weight recordkeeping: 2:30 - 4 p.m. Sponsors of the tournament include: Hill Printing, Pyramid Acres Marina, U.S. Angler's Choice and the Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Sponsors of the guaranteed $500 cash purse for 1st place are: Bank of Herrin Williamson County Tourism Bureau South Porte Bank Hospice of Southern Illinois Ike Family Dealerships The plaque/trophy sponsor is First Southern Bank. Please help us spread the word about this year's event! Share the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/544353019074202/ Email the registration link to potential participants: http://marion.chamberofcommerce.me/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=MCOC&evid=28803441 Share the calendar listing: http://marion.chamberofcommerce.me/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=210162 Download, print and share the event's flier by clicking here Or download, print and share the event's registration form by clicking here Business After Hours Program: Williamson CEO May Monthly Membership Luncheon, 5/10 The Marion Chamber of Commerce Monthly Membership Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at noon at Kokopelli. The presenter will be Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher "Joey" Watson who will speak about Distracted Driving. TCT is the sponsor of the May Monthly Membership Luncheon. To register for the luncheon, click here. The cost for lunch is $14, payable at the door. 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. Celebrating 39 years of broadcasting... read more... Grad Spree needs your help It’s that time of the year again to make plans for the Marion 2016 Friends For Life Graduation Spree, Thursday, May 12, 2016, a drug- and alcohol-free environment for the graduating seniors and their guests. The cost to provide this event last year was more than $10,000 with the average cost being more than $40 per student. This year we expect more than 300 seniors, their guests and chaperones to attend the event. Marion Grad Spree would not be possible without the help of our Chamber and community members. We are writing to you today to request donations of funds to help cover the cost of the event and door prize items to giveaway to seniors throughout the night. Any item you can donate will help make this a memorable evening for the seniors. For businesses and individuals, we have the following sponsorship levels available: Silver-$250, Gold-$500, and Platinum-$1000 or more. Of course, any amount is appreciated. We will honor our Gold & Platinum Sponsors by including their name and link to their Web site in Grad Spree promotional materials, on our website, newsletter and email blasts. A donation statement for your taxes is available upon request. To make a donation, click here, call the Chamber at 997-6311 or e-mail the Chamber at director@marionillinois.com. Volunteers are also needed for Grad Spree. Last year, more than 30 people volunteered to chaperone this annual event. We are anticipating needing at least 30 chaperones again this year. Any time you can volunteer will help make this a memorable evening for the seniors and their guests. Grad Spree will be held from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on May 12. Chaperons are needed from 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Individuals may sign up to supervise the graduates and their guests all night (9 p.m. report to The HUB, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. at The HUB, 2-2:30 on bus to SI Bowl, 2:30-4:30 a.m. at SI Bowl, 4:30-5 a.m. on bus to The HUB, 5-5:30 a.m. at The HUB), during signup (9-11 p.m. at The HUB), at The HUB only (9 p.m. - 2:30 a.m) or at SI Bowl only (2 - 5 a.m. at SI Bowl). To sign up to volunteer, click here, download and fill out this form, call the Chamber at 997-6311 or e-mail the Chamber at director@marionillinois.com. All seniors who register by April 22 are guaranteed a Grad Spree t-shirt. The FINAL DEADLINE for seniors to register for Grad Spree is May 9. If for any reason you must leave early that night, your parent/guardian must personally bring a written note to the Chamber Office no later than 4 p.m. on May 4 and be the person who will pick you up. Only your parents will be allowed to pick you up if you leave early. For graduating seniors in need of a registration form to attend Grad Spree, click here. Only graduating seniors (and their guests) may attend Grad Spree. Also: Seniors must sign up in advance for you and your guest. There is a $10 charge at time of sign up for guest. There are no refunds. Guest minimum age is Freshman status 15-16 school year and maximum age is 21. ALL information on the registration form must be filled out for you AND your guest. If your guest should change, you must notify the Chamber Office by May 9. This is a drug-free and alcohol-free event. The Marion Chamber of Commerce Grad Spree Committee is proud to offer this event to our graduating seniors. We have kept our seniors safe for more than 30 years. Thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support, Matt Carnaghi, Harness Digital Marketing Dalus Ben Avi, Executive Director Grad Spree Committee Chairman Marion Chamber of Commerce Please make your check payable to “Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation” and mail it today to: Marion Chamber of Commerce Attn: Graduation Spree P.O. Box 307 Marion, IL 62959 Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsors Walmart First Church of God Marion First Apostolic Church Silver Sponsors Integrity Built, Inc. Bank of Herrin First Southern Bank Commercial Janitorial Services Bruce Electric Extreme Kids J&J Ventures Gaming LLC McDonald's The Insurance House Aisin Electronics Business After Hours Program: IKE Honda, 05-19-16 Participate in the 2016 Marion Community Day Marion Community Day at Rent One Park is Friday, June 24. The Southern Illinois Miners will be facing off against the Evansville Otters. Show your community spirit and support for Marion Grad Spree this year by attending the game. As a Chamber member, you have access to deals with the Southern Illinois Miners for Community Day, including the following options to participate: Business vendor at Tailgate Party - $50 The Tailgate Party for the Marion Community Day will begin at 4:30 p.m. on the gravel lot of the Rent One Ballpark. To display your business' goods/services at the Tailgate Party, the fee is $50, which includes one parking pass. 12 box tickets and a table on the concourse - $125 Your business will receive 12 box tickets to the game and a display table on the concourse during the game to promote your business and products. Tailgate Party vendor, 12 tickets, concourse table - $175 Your business will receive 12 box tickets to the game, a display table on the concourse to promote your business and products/services during the game and a space to display your business' goods/services at the Marion Community Day Tailgate Party. The Tailgate Party for the Marion Community Day will begin at 4:30 p.m. on the gravel lot of the Rent One Ballpark. Tickets to the game - $8/each Choose this option if you aren't interested in the business vendor space at the Tailgate Party or a table on the concourse to display your business' goods/services. Participate in the Two-Person Bag Tournament - $40/team The bag tournament would begin at 5 p.m. The winning team will receive 50% of the registration fees. The cost to register a team for the tournament is $40/team. To register for any of the above options, click here. read more... Would you like to sponsor a Monthly Membership Luncheon? 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: May - TCT June - AVAILABLE July - AVAILABLE August - Illinois Star Centre Mall September - AVAILABLE October - Southern Illinois Waste Container November - 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. Would you like to host a BAH? Have you thought about hosting a Business After Hours event? Schedule yours today! Business After Hours events are usually 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-July and October-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: April - Williamson CEO, 4/28 May - Ike Honda, 5/19 June - Hospice of Southern Illinois, 6/2 July- AVAILABLE August - South Porte Bank, 8/25 September - Extra Help, 9/8 October - Banterra Bank, TBD November-December - AVAILABLE Let us put the Spotlight on your Business! 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: April - Bass Tournament Sponsors May - Grad Spree Platinum/Gold Sponsors June - Marion Community Day Sponsors July - WORKcare.ready.well August - AVAILABLE September - Golf Scramble Corporate Sponsor October - KBSI Fox 23 November - December - AVAILABLE 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.
Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter - Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 041316