the chamber news - Pike County Chamber of Commerce

T HE CHAMBER NEWS
D ON ’ T DELETE OR T OSS THIS NEWSLETTER ! P LEASE PASS IT
ALONG TO YOUR EMPLOYEES , CO - WORKERS & F RIENDS !
V OLUME 5, I SSUE 3, S EPT 10. 2012
Welcome back to The Chamber News! As summer
draws to an end, I think it is fair to say this is has been
a summer we won’t forget for a long time. Record
heat and humidity, the worst drought in years, stressed
crops and high gas prices.
Yet Pike County has weathered these challenges in its
usual “roll up your sleeves and get things done” way
by rallying around each other and our communities.
Harvest is in full swing. Construction is going on around the county. Businesses are
expanding. New businesses are opening up. Our local festivals and events have
drawn good crowds as people braved the heat to have fun and support school and
church groups and other local organizations– and its not over yet!
It was a busy summer for the Chamber. We launched YPike!, our organization for
young people in their 20s and 30s. You can read more about them and what they’ve
been up to on page 6. Providing a platform for these young minds and talents can
only help our county grow and prosper.
We also provided support to the Two Rivers Jeep Club for their two open rides, the
4x4 Safari in May and the 4x4 Blast in August. Over 400 people participated in these
events. TRJC donates much of their profit to Pike County organizations.
IN
THIS ISSUE
P AGE 1:
W ELCOME / OVERVIEW
P AGE 2:
O UR 2012 B OARD &
A MB ASSADORS
M INA RETIRES !
P AGE 3:
N EW MEMBERS &
M EMBER H APPENINGS
P AGE 4:
O UR M EMBERS
P AGE 5:
C USTOMER S ERVICE
W ORKSHOP
P AGE 6 & 7
Y P IKE !
P AGE 8 C OLOR D RIVE
P AGE 9 A RTICLE
P AGE 10 C HAMBER OF
C OMMERCE W EEK
P AGE 11 MEMBER INFO
P AGE 12 SPONSORS , INFO
E MAIL REQUEST
N ATIONAL
P REPAREDNESS
M ONTH
We have worked hard at assembling a comprehensive Calendar of Events and
Parades, and keeping it as current as possible. Promoting our local businesses,
festivals and attractions is part of our mission and a role we take very seriously.
You can always find the most current version on our web site, www.pikeil.org.
You’ll find this version of The Chamber News jam-packed with updates and info.
Fall is a busy time in beautiful Pike County!
Customer Service Matters!
Did you know that a happy customer tells 4 or 5 others if they have a positive experience, but a dissatisfied customer tells 9 to 12 other people how bad it was– or worse–
they post their complaints on Facebook or YouTube! Did you know that 68% of
people who leave a business say they do so because of poor customer service? How
does your Customer Service match up to your customers’ expectations?
The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with University of Illinois
Community Educator Shelby Crow to help local businesses especially those in the
hospitality industry improve their customer service skills. The first round of
workshops will be held in September. These one hour sessions will be offered twice–
once in the evening and once over the lunch hour to accommodate varied schedules and
see which the public finds most convenient. The program will be identical at each and
the cost is only $5 per person. See page 5 for more details and key learnings.
Thanks to all of you for
your continued support!
Kaye Iftner, Executive Director of the Chamber and Editor of The Chamber News
P AGE 2
Mina Robertson retires from FNB in Griggsville
2012 Chamber Board
Kent Hawley, President,
JWCC
Jill Bigelow, Vice President Illini Community Hospital
Peter Wright, Treasurer,
Wright Place Auto Body
David Fuhler, Immediate
Past President, WBBA
Carolyn Casteel, Casteel’s
Bob Evans, Realty 1
Nancy Kurpaitis, Old Florence Guest House
Brenda Middendorf, Two
Rivers RC&D/Access Illinois
Lois Pennock, Fall Color Drive
Board Lead
Mina Robertson, Farmers
National Bank
Mike Spann, COUNTRY
Financial
Andy Sprague, Sprague’s
Kinderhook Lodge
Robert Wood, City of
Pittsfield
Kaye Iftner, Executive Director
2012 Ambassadors
Kim Ator, Farmers State Bank
Sheila Davidsmeyer, Northwestern Mutual Financial Services
Tammy Harshman, Illini
Health Services
Jenna Hubbard, United
Community Bank
Jayne Pieper, KHQA
Jennifer Ross/Bob Dieker
J.D. Ross & Associates, Inc
Daman Emrick, Farmers National Bank of Griggsville– Pittsfield
branch
Noelle Flesner, CNB Bank &
Trust
Lindsey Rennecker, Western
Collision Center
Shelly Martin, Area Disposal
Mina Robertson has retired from Farmers National Bank of Griggsville after 42 years.
The bank hosted an open house on Friday, August 31st. In addition to her years of
service to the bank, its customers, and the community, Mina has been on the Chamber
Board for many years. It is tradition at Chamber Board meetings that Mina moves to
adjourn the meeting. Those of you who know Mina can attest that she is a no nonsense kind of person. So when we’re done, we’re done!
So we thought it fitting to express our sentiments in a way that reminds us of her.
Fortunately, Mina is going to stay on the Chamber Board for a while, so we will have
other opportunities to let her know how much we appreciate her. Congrats, Mina!
Save the date!
Nov 1st is
Thanks to our
VIP Sponsor,
Neal Tire!
Girls Night Out!
Details on the next
page.
3
New Members and Member Happenings
Welcome New Members
The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome another new member since
our last newsletter!
The Picket Fence, 1271 W. Washington, Pittsfield, IL offers something for everyone. Angela
Burbridge is the owner and she invites you to come out and see her. The Picket Fence carries antiques, collectibles, name brand clothes, gifts, used furniture, handmade crafts and odds & ends.
The hours are Monday from 10 AM until 5 PM, Tuesdays by chance, Wednesday-Friday 10 AM
until 5 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM until 2 PM. You can reach Angela and The Picket Fence
by telephone at 217-285-1491. Be watching your email for the announcement of a ribbon cutting!
Thanks to Farmers State Bank
for sponsoring a great Lunch &
Learn on Thursday, September
6th. It was a teleseminar
featuring an interview with
Darren Hardy, the publisher and
founding editor of Success
magazine. He has also written a
book called The Compound
Effect: Achieving Success In
All You Do. Farmers State
Bank not only treated us to a
nice lunch from Catering &
More but participants received
a copy of the book! Thirteen participants joined several representatives from Farmers State Bank
for the Lunch & Learn which was held in the Shaw Room of the Pike County Senior Center.
The post-meeting evaluations provided excellent feedback on the content and execution of the
workshop. Of the 13 participants surveyed, seven gave the Lunch & Learn an “excellent” overall
rating, and the remaining 6 rated it as “good”. Nine participants rated the speaker as “excellent”,
with four rating Mr. Hardy as “good”. The food was rated as excellent. Other suggestions for
future workshops include: personal growth & development, personal productivity, overcoming
procrastination, goal setting & planning, social media marketing, being a good boss, helping employees be more effective, better utilizing our community assets and similar motivational topics.
Watch for more opportunities in the future!
Pittsfield Main Street and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce are continuing their efforts to
promote local shopping by sponsoring the third annual “Girls Night Out” on the Square in
Pittsfield on Thursday, November 1st. It will take place from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at businesses around
the Square. Ladies will have the opportunity to shop for gifts that evening and put items on a “wish list”
at the participating locations. There will be special offers, food, fun, and an opportunity to get
Christmas shopping done early- all this right here in beautiful Pike County!
PAGE 4
Support our Pike County Chamber Members
Abe Lincoln Project
Access Illinois Outdoors
Adecco Employment Services
Administrative Services, Inc.
Adventures Unlimited
Airsman-Hires Funeral Home
Allen Tire Service
Ameren CIPS
American Red Cross—
Pike County Chapter
Area Disposal Service, Inc.
Armistead Backhoe & Septic
B&B Printing
Bank of Kampsville/
Pleasant Hill Facility
Bainter Enterprises LLC
Barber Agency
Barry Community Care Center
Barton & Associates
Baughman, Wayne
Beard Design and Graphics
Beautiful Creations for
Special Occasions
Bee Creek Quarter Horses
& Cattle
Benton & Associates, Inc.
Birch, John & Cheryl
Blue River Outdoors, Inc.
Bow Lake Golf Course LLC
Bowler’s Universe
Boy Scouts of America,
Mississippi Valley
Brookside Marketing
Buckeye Creek Outfitters
Butler Farms Outdoor
Adventures
Calvary Baptist Church
Carnes Communication/
US Cellular
Carnes, Inc.
Casey's General Store
CASSCOMM
Casteel ‘s Color Wheel
Catering & More
Center for Effective Nonprofits
Central State Bank
Cherry's Guest House
Church of the Nazarene
City of Barry
City of Griggsville
City of Pittsfield
CNB Bank & Trust
Collver Family Winery
COUNTRY Financial
Country Fixins Primitive Craft and
Antique Mall
County Market
Courtyard Café
Dave Dieker Transport Inc
DCEO
DNG Technology Inc.
Dolbeare Farms
DS Carts, Inc
Dugan Designs
Eagle One Investments LLC
Eastside Health &
Rehabilitation Center
Ed & Woodie's S & S Inc.
Edward Jones
Entrup Drywall & Painting
Evergreen Lawn & Pest Control
Farmers Bank of Liberty-Barry
Farmers National Bank
of Griggsville
Farmers State Bank
Fashion Flowers
First Baptist Church of Pittsfield
First National Bank of Barry
Florence Guest House
Flowers N More
Fosco Farmhouse
Frontier
Geared Up!
GFC/ Bale Bandit
Gray House Bed & Breakfast
Green Acres Motel by Ionson
Griggsville Christian Church
Griggsville Estates
H & R Block
Harpole's Heartland Lodge
Harrison Business Services
Health & Wellness Foundation
of Pike County
Heaton Chevrolet-Olds-Geo
Heimer & Associates, Inc.
Hollahan Law Office
Hooper-Niebur Insurance
Hopewell Winery
Hull Community Center
Iftner, David & Kaye
Illini Community Hospital
Illini Fitness
Illini Health Services Inc.
Illinois Department of
Employment Security
Illinois Rural Electric Coop
Illinois Small Business
Development Center at WIU
Illinois Valley Paving Company
Illinois Xtreme Whitetail Lodge
In Motion Fitness & Wellness
Ingersoll, Charles and Marsha
Ingersoll, Katherine
Innoventor Engineering Inc
International Eye Care
Investment Centers of America
J.D. Ross & Associates, Inc.
J. Roberts Jewelers
Jacksonville Journal Courier
JBS United
State Rep. Jim Watson
John Wood Community College
Jones Poultry
KHQA TV
Kidd’s Shirt Shack
Kinderhook State Bank
KJFM Radio– Eagle 102
Law Office of Carrie Boyd
Law Office of E. John Clark
Liberty Tax Service
Liberty Village of Pittsfield
Little Johnny’s
Logan Agri-Service Inc.
Lowry Music Company
MATAM, Inc
Maya Authentic Mexican Cuisine
McCartney Real Estate
McDonald's
MECO Engineering Company
Mefford Chiropractic Center
Melanie Ann’s Hair Salon
Memory Lane Awards
Mental Health Centers
of Western Illinois
Midstate Insurance Agency Inc.
Miller & Moss Construction
Milton’s Big Buck Inn &
Outfitters
Mississippi Valley Lodging LLP
Monroe Street Suites
Moss Family Farms, Inc.
Motel Pike
Mountain’s Mountain
Nancy Ross Chapter of NSDAR
Nature Society
Neal Tire & Auto Service
New Way Signs
Niebur Funeral Home
Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network
Oitker Ford Sales
Old Orchard Country Club
Peter's Heating &
Air Conditioning
Pike Bucks Unlimited
Pike County Chapter of the
American Red Cross
Pike County Government
Pike County Concrete
Pike County Contractors LLC
Pike County Community
Health Partnership
Pike County Economic
Development Corporation
Pike County Express
Pike County Farm Bureau
Pike County Glass Inc.
Pike County Health Department
Pike County Historical Society
Pike County Housing Authority
Pike County Lumber Company
Pike County Real Estate, Inc.
Pike Press
Pikeland Outfitters
Pioneer Express Gas & Grill
Pittsfield Main Street
Thanks to our First Class Sponsors
Pittsfield Community Center
Pittsfield Public Library
Production Press
Quanada
Quick Shot Photography
Quincy Area Convention
& Visitors Bureau
Quincy Herald Whig
Quincy Medical Group
Reach Out Center
Refreshment Services Pepsi
Rhoads, Patty and Robert
Rotary Club of Pittsfield
Rueb, Tara
S&S School of Dance
Sassy Stitches
Schulman, Violet
Schutte, Douglas
Scranton Appraisal Services
SEH Construction
Servpro of Quincy
Sheppard, John
Sprague's Kinderhook Lodge
Stage Coach Inn
State Farm Insurance
Stilwell, Johnson
Stroemer Foods Catering
Studio on the Square
Summer Hill Antique Mall
Tee Pee Mini Mart/Subway
The Maschhoffs
The Masters Touch
The Picket Fence
Tim’s PC Music Machine
Trinity Rentals/ D-C Elec.
Twin Pike Family YMCA
Two Rivers FS
Two Rivers Jeep Club
Two Rivers Regional Council
Of Public Officials
United Community Bank
Village of Pleasant Hill
Wade Real Estate
Walmart
Watts, Sean and Tara
Waycool Customs & Collision
WBBA - DJ Two Rivers, Inc.
Wells Fargo Advisors
West Central Electric, Heating
and Air
West Central Mass Transit. Dba
Pike County Transit
Western Collision Center
WGEM TV and Radio
William Watson Hotel
Wright Place Auto Body
Wright, Harry & Helen
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
at Pine Lakes
P AGE 5
Thanks to our Business Class Sponsors
Why Pike?
YPike!
YPike!, the Chamber’s newly forming organization for young people in their 20s and 30s is off to a great start!
The group met monthly in June-August, on the third Tuesday of each month. The third YPike! meeting was
hosted by Ted and Deb Festa at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ at Pine Lakes Resort in Pittsfield on Tuesday,
August 21st. Members toured the facility and the meeting took place in the new concession stand and pool area.
(For additional information or to make a reservation at Pine Lakes, call 217-285-6719).
The meeting was very informal as families were invited to enjoy the pool and campground. New membership
forms were distributed. A combination Membership/Corporate Sponsorship form is included on the next page,
but can also be obtained from the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.
YPike! had a few new prospective members attend and a lot of networking took place. Locations for the
September 18th meeting were discussed and Sprague’s Kinderhook Lodge is a possibility– watch for details!
A Facebook page has been built by YPike! member Tanya Thomas. Please visit it at:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/YPIKEIL and "Like it"! YPike! will be communicating news and events and
posting their progress. Those not on FB can follow progress on the Chamber’s web site.
Corporate sponsors include Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative,
CASSCOMM (Cass Cable) and Investment Centers of America.
Stan Moss
Justin Noble
and Josh
Filbert
enjoy the
networking!
Welcome Chad Herron and Tiffany Smith!
7
8
9
This article and the ad on the opposite page are appearing in the 2012 Discover Central Illinois Visitor and
Vacation Guide. The Guide is placed in travel racks and Visitor Centers throughout Illinois.
10
September 10th through the 14th is Chamber of Commerce Week
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed
September 10 through September 14, 2012 as Chamber of
Commerce Week throughout Illinois. The Pike County
Chamber of Commerce has joined the Illinois Association of
Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) in celebrating
this special recognition of the contributions chambers of
commerce make to Illinois civic and economic life.
In his Proclamation, the Governor declared, “Chambers of
commerce have contributed to the civic and economic life in
Illinois for 174 years since the Galena Chamber of
Commerce was founded in 1838. Chambers of commerce
encourage the growth of existing industries, services, and
commercial firms and encourage new businesses and individuals to locate in Illinois.”
The Pike County Chamber actually began as the Pittsfield
Chamber of Commerce in the early 1950s. In 1987, forward
looking people determined there was the need for an organization to represent the entire county and the organization
was legally changed to the Pike County Chamber of
Commerce. Since then the Pike County Chamber has been
actively working for the good of the whole county. The Chamber focuses on advocating for its members and the
county, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the entire county. We aggressively promote Pike County both
within and to the outside world, and promote tourism. This can best be summed up in our slogan “Making Pike
County a great place to live, work and visit”.
The Pike County Chamber has approximately 220 members from all over the county, and our membership includes
businesses, communities, non-profit organizations, and civic-minded individuals.
A recent national study found that consumers are 63% more likely to buy from businesses that are members of their
local Chamber, and one of the first places people look for information about a community is the local chamber of
commerce. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce works tirelessly to promote its members and the Member
Directory on our web site is the most visited section of the site. In addition, the Chamber handles dozens of calls
every week from businesses, tourists and residents looking for your business information. As a Chamber member
you have access to one of the most efficient and effective networking systems available to promote your business
and expand your customer base.
During Chamber of Commerce Week, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for being a member and
supporting us. We rely on your dues to operate. For those of you reading this who are not members, we encourage
businesses, organizations, communities, and individuals who are not Chamber members to use Chamber of Commerce Week as a time to join. We even have a special introductory offer during Chamber of Commerce Week, so
call me and let’s discuss the benefits of membership. Membership is important because the more members the
Chamber has the better we can represent the business community and deliver on our mission.
Happy Chamber of Commerce Week!
Mission Statement of the Pike County Chamber :
The purpose of our organization is to advocate for our
members, promote tourism and a positive business
climate, and enhance the overall quality of life in the
County. Our mission is summed up in our slogan
"Making Pike County a great place to live, work, and visit”.
Our Vision :
We are the front door to Pike County for people and
businesses, and a trusted source of information,
resources, and advocacy.
11
Support our Pike County Chamber Members
Flowers N More,
located at 107 East
Washington in
Pittsfield recently
celebrated the one year
anniversary of being
on the Square. Owner
Carla Black marked
this milestone with an
open house on Friday,
September 7th .
You can reach them at
217-285-5588 and/or
“like” them on
Facebook!
Save the date….The Illinois Rivers
Transmission Project is hosting an
open house on Monday, Sept. 24th,
from 11 AM to 2 PM at the
American Legion in Griggville.
www.ILRiversTransmission.com
Did you know…..September is Hunger Action Awareness Month.
Nearly 49 million people in America face hunger. That is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population – including more than 1 in 5
children. Feeding America is a network of more than 200 food banks. During September they are trying to raise
awareness and remind people that hunger exists 365 days a year. Our pantries locally always need help on a
continued basis, according to Kaleigh Friend with the Central Illinois Foodbank. Friend says nearly 25% of kids in
this area don't know where their next meal will come from. If you can do anything to help please consider doing so.
There are different events going on across the state this month for hunger awareness.
For more information visit http://hungeractionmonth.org/.
September is National Preparedness Month!
If a disaster strikes, how will you and your family be ready? During the
month of September, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and
the Ready.gov teams are focusing on planning and preparing for
disasters during National Preparedness Month . This month, DHS is
asking you to “ Pledge to Prepare .” Visit www.ready.gov/prepare
to see simple steps you can take, such as keeping an emergency kit in
your office and at home and keeping copies of important family documents in a safe place.
224 W Washington
PO Box 283
Pittsfield, IL 62363
217-285-2971
[email protected]
www.pikeil.org
Being disaster prepared is more than just knowing what to do in case
of a tornado or a fire. It’s also about preparing a 72-hour disaster
supplies kit for your home, office and car; developing and practicing an
emergency plan for your family and employees; understanding our
community’s warning systems and evacuation routes; knowing who to
contact for more information, and how you can get involved.
If you are receiving
this in hard copy,
please send me your
email address. You
are missing valuable
information! We
promise not to share
your email address
with anyone without your permission.
Please make sure you identify your business in the email. Thanks!! Kaye
T HANKS
AGAIN TO OUR
Disasters are like pop quizzes – most often they are unpredictable. If
you are not prepared, they can be devastating. The more you prepare, the better you will know exactly what to do and where to go.
There is a very helpful booklet available online:
http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2012_R2BR.pdf
2012 P IKE C OUNTY C HAMBER S PONSORS
2012 Business Class Sponsors:
2012 VIP Sponsor :
The Wright Place Auto Body
Neal Tire & Auto
Farmers National Bank of Griggsville
Illini Fitness
2012 First Class Sponsors:
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Pine Lakes
Illini Community Hospital
Pike County Farm Bureau
We appreciate your support!
Help us get the
word out about
the Chamber.
“Like” us on
Facebook!
If you are a small community
looking to start a fundraising
project, give us a call– Mad
Money may be available to help!
Business Class Sponsor, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park