Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 101216

Welcome New Members

Withers Broadcasting
Johnny Younger

Website
johnny.younger@mywithersradio.com
Join Date: 09/28/2016

Illinois Department of Employment Security
Dennis Hoffman
dennis.hoffman@illinois.gov
Join Date: 09/28/2016

Shelter Insurance
Tony Craven

Website
tcraven@shelterinsurance.com
Join Date: 09/28/2016

Coldwell Banker Preferred
Shawnna Donovan
shawnna.donovan@gmail.com
Join Date: 10/01/2016

Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding
Patricia Nardini

Website
patchuck67@gmail.com
Join Date: 10/07/2016

State Electric Supply Co
Dan Miller

Website
dan.miller@stateelectric.com
Join Date: 10/12/2016

Shoe Sensation
Dylan Hale

Website
ss933@shoesensation.com
Join Date: 10/13/2016

 

Calendar

The BFG: Big Friendly Giant
10/14/2016

LEAA Invitation to new group - Music
10/16/2016

Marion Community Day Committee meeting
10/18/2016

Membership Committee meeting
10/18/2016

Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee meeting
10/19/2016

Business Happy Hour
10/19/2016

You’re Invited! SBA Lending: A Valuable Financial Resource For Your Business
10/19/2016

Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee meeting
10/20/2016

The Gil and Jean Kroening Lecture with Steven Ellis
10/20/2016

OSHA Compliance under Ever-Changing Regulations
10/20/2016

Deadline for Nomination Agreement Forms
10/21/2016

Movie Night at Marion Rotary Amphitheater
10/21/2016

CASA of Williamson County Quarter Auction Fundraiser
10/21/2016

Illinois & Iowa Employment Law Update
10/25/2016

Marion Chamber Annual Dinner Committee meeting
10/26/2016

Business After Hours Program: Banterra Bank
10/27/2016

Retirement reception and farewell for David Yepsen
10/28/2016

Illinois Star Centre Mall Boo Bash
10/31/2016

Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting
11/01/2016

Deadline for Award Nomination forms
11/01/2016

LEAA fund raiser - smoked pulled pork
11/02/2016

Awards Committee meeting
11/02/2016

Payroll Changes! Important HR Compliance Updates for 2017 and Beyond
11/03/2016

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Buds 2 Blooms Floral & Gifts
11/05/2016

Election Day
11/08/2016

Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors election ballots sent
11/08/2016

Being an Effective Supervisor Under Legal Scrutiny
11/09/2016

Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours Program: Priority Professional Group
11/10/2016

Women Together 5k Fundraiser
11/12/2016

Business BEFORE Hours at Sam's Club
11/15/2016

New Member Quarterly Luncheon
11/15/2016

Ballots due for Marion Chamber Board election
11/25/2016

3rd Annual New Laws Forum
11/30/2016

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:
  • 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.

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. 

Space available for your business on the Chamber's digital sign!

The Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee members worked together to design and coordinate the construction of the new digital and stone outdoor sign at the Chamber office. The Marion Chamber of Commerce makes the electronic sign available for rent to a wide variety of Chamber members, local businesses, organizations, community groups and residents. 

Ads can be up to 2 lines of text with the typical line containing about 18 characters (including spaces). Ads will be displayed twice for 15 seconds each on a 5 minute loop. We allow for a maximum of 10 ads, which means each ad is live on the board 576 times every day and approximately 17,520 times per month. The sign runs 24/7 so your message gets maximum exposure.

For more information or to take advantage of this great opportunity, click 
here.

Promote your business to Chamber Members!

Dear Marion Chamber of Commerce 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!
 
Dalus Ben Avi 
Executive Director
Marion Chamber of Commerce
2305 West Main Street
Marion, IL 62959
p 618.997.6311  f 618.997.4665

director@marionillinois.com
www.marionillinois.com

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! December 2016 and February - December 2017 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:

Nomination process open for Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

The Marion Chamber of Commerce Nominations Committee is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors.
 
If you would like to run for the Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, you must fill out a Nominations Agreement Form, which is available at the Chamber office or here. ALL Nominations Agreement Forms must be turned into the Chamber office by October 21
 
Ballots will be mailed on November 8 and must be returned by November 25. 

Term for members of the Board of Directors is three years. Board of Directors meetings are usually held at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Heartland Regional Medical Center. 

The guidelines and expectations for Board of Directors members are available here

Thank you,
Dalus Ben Avi

Help select Marion's best! Submit your nominations for the annual Chamber awards

Doug Kimmel, Chairman of the Board of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, announced that nominations are being accepted for the Chamber’s Annual Awards for Distinguished Member, Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Young Professional Leadership.

To nominate an individual, please fill out this form - the Annual Awards Nomination Form or call or visit the Marion Chamber of Commerce office to receive the nomination form. All nomination forms must be received by 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2016. Awards will be presented at the Marion Chamber of Commerce’s 96th Annual Auction and Awards Banquet on Friday, January 20, 2017, at the Pavilion of the City of Marion.

For more information, or a list of past winners, click here

The guidelines for the awards are as follows:

  • Distinguished Member: An individual who has shown outstanding community service through loyal, faithful, and unselfish efforts in lasting contribution to our community through the Marion Chamber of Commerce. The recipient of this award must be a voting member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
  • Citizen of the Year: An individual who has shown significant contribution for the betterment of our community and who has excelled in a field outside of the Chamber.
  • Lifetime Achievement: An individual who has demonstrated dedication and achievement in their chosen profession for forty (40) years or more.
  • Young Professional Leadership: An individual who demonstrates excellence and initiative in their business or profession and is under the age of 40.
For more information, please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce at (618) 997-6311 or e-mail director@marionillinois.com.

Grow Your Leadership . . . Grow Your Business

Grow Your Leadership . . . Grow Your Business
 
To fulfill the Marion Chamber's goal to help business and industry prosper and grow --- the Membership Committee needs your help to launch a Leadership Development Program in 2017.  Your feedback on the following survey will help the committee meet your needs and expectations for leadership development for yourself and your organization.  
 
Thank you for responding to this quick online survey: https://www.chamberorganizer.com/members/form.php?orgcode=MCOC&fid=2308037

Thank you,
Dalus Ben Avi
 

In Memoriam

The Annual Dinner Committee would like to honor those we have lost in the past year who have contributed to the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Marion area. The tribute will be played during the 96th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Auction & Awards Banquet. 

Please complete this form about anyone who has contributed to the Marion Chamber of Commerce and/or the Greater Marion area who has passed away since the 2015. You may also call the Marion Chamber at 997.6311 or email director@marionillinois.com to submit someone who has passed for the In Memoriam.

Submissions made prior to January 2, 2017, will be included in the In Memoriam tribute played during the 96th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Auction & Awards Banquet on January 20 at the Pavilion.

While they are gone, they shall not be forgotten. 

Business Happy Hour , 10-19-16

Movie Night at Marion Rotary Amphitheater, 10-21-16

Business After Hours Program: Banterra Bank, 10-27-16

Vendors wanted for Boo Bash

The Illinois Star Centre Mall will hold its big annual Boo Bash event on Monday, October 31 from 5-8 p.m. If you are interested in displaying your goods/services at a table along the concourse in the mall during that event, the fee is only $20.
 
Each vendor will have access to electricity if requested and be supplied with a table and chair. Please supply your tablecloth, brochures, etc. Vendors can begin setting up as early as noon. All vendors must be setup by 4:30 p.m. All vendors must have all materials removed from their vendor tables by 8:45 p.m.
 
Vendor signup requests will be taken until Monday, October 31 at noon, or until all slots are filled. If you are interested or have questions, please call the Illinois Star Centre Mall office at (618) 997-5377. All vendors are welcome!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Buds 2 Blooms Floral & Gifts, 11-05-16

Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours Program: Priority Professional Group, 11-10-16

Business BEFORE Hours at Sam's Club

A Business Before Hours program will be held at Sam's Club, 2709 Walton Way, Marion, on Tuesday, November 15 from 7-9 a.m. featuring breakfast, networking and more.

Sponsor a 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
  • a table set up by the registration table at the luncheon.
The opportunity is limited to one Monthly Luncheon Sponsorship per business per year.

Monthly Membership Luncheon Sponsorship Schedule: 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.
Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter - Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 101216