IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Newest Members

2. Chamber Calendar of Events; Business After

Hours, Puttin On Pekin

3. SCORE: Does Your Business Need a Boost?

4. Trivia Night

5. Trivia Night

6. Recent Events

7. Member Announcements

8. More News

9. Chamber Board and Ambassadors

10. Membership Renewals

Welcome to Our Newest Member

Senator Bill Brady, 2203 Eastland Drive, Suite 3,

Bloomington, IL 61204

(309)664-4440

http://brady.senategop.org

Bill Brady, Senator

Government-Elected Official

Other key members: Abby Walsh, chief of staff

Business & Community

Recognition Luncheon

Chamber members are invited to the 16th Annual

Business and Community Recognition Luncheon on

Thursday, October 24th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at

the Avanti's Dome Events & Sports Center of Pekin.

The cost of the luncheon is $25.00 per person with

tables of 8 for $200.00 and discounts for MVP Star

Members. Call the Chamber at 346-2106 to make

your reservations.

Special thanks to our Event Sponsors, Savant Capital

Management, South Side Bank and Trust, Pekin

Insurance, and Herget Bank; Awards Sponsor, Pekin

Trophy House and Engraved Gifts; Dessert Sponsor,

Pekin Hospital; and, Decoration Sponsor, the

Greenhouse Flower Shoppe.

The keynote speaker will be Debbie Simon,

President & CEO of UnityPoint Health - Methodist .

If you have not yet nominated your business or

organization for an award, contact the Chamber right

away or download the nomination form

at: www.pekinchamber.com/2013/BACRLnom.pdf.

September 2013

CHAMBER CONNECTION Established 1893. We create opportunities for Pekin-area businesses to succeed.

1

2

2

October 2 - Pekin 1st Committee

October 2- Executive Committee

October 3 - Business After Hours

October 9 - Member Promotions Committee

October 9 - Transportation Committee

October 9 - Board of Directors

October 11 - Puttin’ on Pekin

October 16 - Ambassador’s Meeting

October 16 - Marigold Festival Committee

October 24 - Business and Community Recognition

Luncheon

October 29 - Business Advocacy Council

Chamber events and committee meetings Chamber events and committee meetings are listed on our online calendar:are listed on our online calendar:

Visit our website at www.pekinchamber.com and click Visit our website at www.pekinchamber.com and click

on Chamber Calendaron Chamber Calendar

Chamber Calendar of Events

Don't miss this opportunity to network with

fellow chamber members and community leaders

and learn more about one of our great

members . Call or email to RSVP!

2

3

3

Simple Steps for Growing Your Business Is Your Business in need of a Boost?

This 4-part series of workshops is designed for small business owners and managers

who want to reach the next level of growth and who are looking for targeted assistance

and directions in key areas of business management.

Gain the knowledge and tools needed to analyze and assess your business

Discover potential growth areas

Develop customized strategies to implement growth

When? Thursday mornings, October 17, October 24, October 31 and November 7,

8:00 am – 10: am.

Where? Pekin Public Library Community Room

301 S. 4th Street

Pekin, IL 61554

Overview: This SCORE program, presented by experienced SCORE Mentors

John Amdall and Lee Maki, provides 4, two-hour workshops:

Goal Setting

Marketing

Finance

Operations

Register for this FREE series of workshops at

www.scorepeoria.org/workshops.html

Or call the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 346-2106

4

4

5

5

6

6

RECENT EVENTS

6

Griffin Avenue Extension Opens Representatives from the City of Pekin, the Avanti's Dome, and

the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to

officially open the Griffin Avenue extension. The cost of the road

was just over $1 million dollars and paid for by the City of Pekin

and the Avanti's Dome. The extension runs from the dome to

Veterans Drive. It will provide improved access to the dome, and

create development opportunities near the intersection with

Veterans Drive.

OSF Center for Occupational Health

Welcomed Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

welcomed one of their newest members with a ribbon cutting

ceremony. Peggy Grace, the manager of OSF Center for

Occupational Health, Jacquie Kaufman, Assistant Manager, and

Eric Myers, Account Rep., were joined by other employees for the

ribbon cutting. Located at 100 N.E. Randolph Avenue in Peoria,

OSF Center for Occupational Health and Wellness focuses on all

aspects of health, safety, and wellness in the employee workplace.

They can be reached at (309) 624-8653 or

www.osfsaintfrancis.org/services/OutpatientServices/occupational-

health

You can see more pictures from these and

other chamber events at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Veterans Drive Opens

Community leaders and elected officials gathered for a ribbon cutting

to celebrate the opening of another section of Veterans Drive. The

0.8 miles of new 5-lane road plus shoulders runs between Broadway

and Sheridan. Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra acknowledged the

leadership of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Transportation

Committee, previous City Councils, and the state and federal elected

officials. Congressman Aaron Schock praised the city for their

foresight instituting a local gas tax which has paid for a large share

of the project.

Tazewell County Dialysis An open house was held on August 29th celebrating the opening of

Tazewell County Dialysis. Representatives from the Pekin Area

Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pekin joined with staff,

family and friends for the ribbon cutting. Through intensive

collaboration, DaVita and their physician partners are "moving

the needle" on integrated clinical care through innovations that

benefit nephrologists and their patients. DaVita is a leader in

alternative treatment modalities, medication management, and

cutting-edge research. Tazewell County Dialysis is located at

1021 Court Street, next to Schnucks. They can be reached at 346-

0159.

7

7

Member Announcements

7

Pekin Hospital is pleased to announce that family practice

physician Lindsay B. Tate, M.D., has recently joined

ProHealth Medical Group. Dr. Tate is accepting new

patients at the Family Health Center of Pekin located at 19

Olt Avenue in Pekin. Her areas of interest include women’s

health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tate, please

call (309) 353-6301.

The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,

IPMR, is pleased to announce the addition of a new state of

the art driving simulator. Over 200 driving scenarios and 39

lessons are possible on the new simulator. The new

simulator was made possible with a gift to the Rehabilitation

Foundation of IPMR from the Peoria Independent (Trusted

Choice®) Insurance Agents Association.

Savant Capital Management, a nationally recognized fee-

only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford,

IL with an office in Peoria, announced today it has been

named by Barron’s magazine as one of the 100 best

independent financial advisors in the country. Savant ranked

56, moving up eight spots from last year. Additionally,

Savant ranked 4th in Illinois. Savant Capital Management

has ranked on this list since its inception in 2007 – one of

only two Illinois firms to earn this recognition consistently.

The Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical

Society is holding its annual sale of Terri Lynn nuts. A

complete listing with prices is available on the society’s

website at www.tcghs.org or at the society’s library at

719 N. 11th Street, Pekin.

Pekin-Peoria Yellow Checker Cab is pleased to

announce the arrival of NexTaxi. The free smartphone

app allows customers to order, track and pay for their

ride. The Pekin-Peoria area joins 50 other cities across

the U.S. and Canada now supporting the app. NexTaxi

is available on both the Android and iPhone operating

systems and in the app store.

Pekin Hospital is pleased to announce that two new

nurse midwives have joined ProHealth Medical Group.

Janey Hitch, MSN, CNM, and Natalie Wipert, MSN,

CNM, are now accepting new patients at Premier

Obstetrics and Gynecology located at 2401 Broadway,

Suite B in Pekin.

Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center

presents their Annual Life Banquet featuring Gigi

Graham, daughter of the Reverend Billy and Ruth

Graham, Tuesday, October 8th, 2013, 7:00-9:00PM at

Stoney Creek Inn in East Peoria IL. There is no cost to

attend this dinner event. Please make reservations by

October 1st, 2013 by calling (309) 620-9227 or e-

mailing tazewell@hopeforafuture.com

Pekin Hospital is pleased to offer an adult diabetes

education workshop on October 14, 15, and 16. The

series of three classes will be held from 2 – 5 p.m. in the

4 South Education Classroom at Pekin Hospital.

For all the details regarding these announcements,

visit our news page:

http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com

8

8

Biz Barometer

Local Real Estate Sales Results Mixed

Through August, the number of residential units sold in Pekin was up 13.4% compared to the first 8

months of 2012. However, the average sales price of $107,597 was down 3.1% for the same comparison

periods. Washington and Morton year to date sales are down significantly compared to 2012. East

Peoria and Washington’s average sales price was up compared to the same period last year (6.4% and

3.9%) while Morton’s average sales price was down 8.6%.

Pekin Sales Tax Growth Slows

The sales tax disbursement to the City of Pekin in September was 1.4% lower than the September of

2012 disbursement. For the 3 month period ending in September , sales tax disbursements to the City of

Pekin were 2.7%% higher than the same period in 2012. For the 12 months ending in September, sales

tax disbursements to the City of Pekin were 9.8% higher than the 12-month period ending through

September of 2012.

Pekin continues to lead the area communities on the 12-month running average comparison, as East

Peoria was up 7.2%, Washington was up 2.2% and Morton was down 0.6%.

Consumer Price Index

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-

U) increased 0.1 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis. Over the last 12 months, the all items

index increased 1.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Women’s Leadership

Network

The Pekin Women's Leadership

Network empowers women to

become effective leaders by

providing essential skills and

strategies for professional and

personal growth. A variety of

carefully tailored programs are

designed to support women in all

phases of their careers.

Our focus is on helping young

women develop the skills and

abilities necessary to succeed and

flourish in their chosen career

paths.

Get all the information at here or

contact Melinda Figge, Executive

Director, at the YWCA at 347-

2104 x 25.

Great Promotional

Opportunity

Illinois Central College (ICC) is

please to announce their new

Alumni Association and an

exciting opportunity for local

businesses.

Chamber members are invited to

join with the ICC Alumni

Association as a participating

partner. By participating in the

program, your business can offer

ICC alumni a discount or special

incentive when they use their

alumni card while patronizing

your business.

For more information contact

Elaine Goslin in the ICC Alumni

Relations office at (309) 694-

5282 or alumni@icc.edu or visit

www.icc.edu/alumni

OSF Center for

Occupational Health and

Wellness Seminar

Join OSF for their first annual

educational seminar at the Jump

Trading Simulation & Education

Center, on the campus of OSF

Saint Francis Medical Center.

Designed to help your

organization prepare for the

changing landscape of employee

Health & Wellness, this seminar

will cover a broad range of topics

vital to today's workplace.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

7:30am - 11:30am

FREE, but limited to first 125

Register at:

http://2013osfocchealthseminar.e

ventzilla.net

9

9

President Tom Hornstein, Excalibur Seasoning Company

President Elect

Aindrea Balagna, Wolf, Tesar & Company

Vice President

Gregg Ratliff, Herget Bank

Treasurer

John Franks, Pekin Peoria Yellow Checker Cab Co.

Past President

Drew Leman, Leman Property Management

Board of Directors Larry Crouch, Monge Crouch & Mahoney

Amy Darling, Pekin Insurance

John Dennison, Ray Dennison Chevrolet

Zak Ehrmantraut, Springleaf Financial

Chad Gambetti, Pekin Trophy House / Engraved Gifts

Greg Henderson, Henderson Funeral Home

Gary Jepson, Pekin Hospital

Brad Juergens, Seico Security

Scott Kriegsman, Elliff, Dancey & Bosich, PC

Andrew Lockwood, Pekin Community Bank

Courtney Moessner, Tazewell County

Tee Rynerson, Jim Maloof Realtor

Becky Saban, BodyWealth Massage

Frank Shearer, Covenant Heating & Air

Laurie Barra, Mayor, City of Pekin

Board of Directors Ambassadors

John Abel, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes and

Crematory

Angie Atherton, McDaniels Marketing

Communications

Daryl Dagit, Savant Capital Management

Zak Ehrmantraut, Springleaf Financial Services

Jessica Eyler, Tebben Insurance Services

Jennifer Gray, Pekin Hospital

Brigitte Harper, Pekin Insurance

Arlene Heine-Meyer, World Wide Travel

Chip Hill, South Side Bank

Cathy Lusch, Herget Bank

Christie Perry, Pekin Hospital

Les Rosiere, Individual Member

Becky Saban, BodyWealth Massage

Robin Thomas, Chemtura Agrosolutions

Teresa Ann Tucker, Individual Member

David Vaupel, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes and

Crematory

9

10

10 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you for your support!

Website: www.pekinchamber.com

Email: info@pekinchamber.com

402 Court Street

Pekin IL 61554

Phone: (309) 346-2106

Fax: (309) 346- 2104

BodyWealth Massage ~ Concorde Inn & Suites ~ Cordts Heating & Air Conditioning

Covenant Heating & Air ~ Cranwill's Drive In ~ Deuce Development

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ~ Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria

Lowman & Barra ~ Personal Finance Company ~ Rescued Heart Animal Hospital

State Senator David Koehler 46th District

* The Grand Victorian of Pekin *

* John M. Evans Supportive Living Community *

* Newman & Ullman *

* Velde Cadillac Buick GMC *

10