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DON’T DELETE OR TOSS THIS NEWSLETTER! PLEASE PASS IT
ALONG TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, CO-WORKERS & FRIENDS!
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4, CHRISTMAS 2013
THE CHAMBER CONNECTION
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 1:
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
PAGE 2:
OUR 2013 BOARD &
AMBASSADORS
NEW MEMBER
CONNECTION
PAGE 3: RIBBON CUTTING
UPCOMING ONES!
PAGE 4: NEW
PHILADELPHIA
PAGE 5: CHRISTMAS TIME
IN BARRY
PAGE 6 & 7: Y PIKE!
PAGE 8 NEW DENTAL
CLINIC
PAGE 9: MEMBERSHIP INFO
& APPLICATION
PAGE 10: WORKFORCE
READINESS
PAGE 11: WILA
PAGE 12: ELECTRONIC
RECYCLING
PAGE 13: NEAL TIRE
PAGE 14: BUDGETING 2014
PAGE 15: MARKETING
PAGE 16 MISSION
VISION
GOLF
Merry Christmas from The
Chamber Connection, and welcome
to our holiday edition!
At this joyous time of year, we are grateful for
our work with you. We wish you abundance,
happiness, and peace in a new year filled with
hope.
It is my Christmas prayer that Pike County
continues to be the safe, caring community that
rallies around those in need, and that we continue
to work together to maintain the “Quality of Life “ that draws us to the area and keeps
us here. We are fortunate to have many dedicated people and organizations
who share the Chamber’s goals. We will continue to work together efficiently so that
Pike County continues to be a wonderful place to live, raise a family, start or grow a
business and visit.
All of these hopes for the county are part of our mission. We hope you know how hard
we work to for the good of Pike County and you, our member companies. Thank you for
supporting the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s mission and vision. We thank you
also for all of the great service you provide your customers and all of the charitable work
you do in your personal or professional life. We all benefit from your efforts.
The Chamber has a lot we want to do next year, and we can't wait to share our ideas and
celebrate successes with you in future newsletters. If you would like to support our
work and are not currently a member, we invite you to call!
Now, you have probably noticed that this newsletter is EARLY! With the holidays upon
us, there are some time-sensitive events that we want to share! The second annual
ChristmasTime in Barry is Saturday, December 14th, sponsored by our good friends at
the Barry Business Association. Check out the schedule of events on page 5. Neal Tire
invites you all to their Santa Celebration on Saturday, December 14th. See page 13 for details.
If your business is a retail or restaurant establishment, there are some great Holiday Marketing tips
from the Small Business Administration on page 15, and with a new year approaching, who
doesn’t need some good reminders about “Budgeting for the New Year” as found on page 14.
We have added a few new members which you’ll see on the next page, and there are some
upcoming ribbon cuttings planned yet this year, which you’ll find on page 3.
We hope you enjoy this issue of The Chamber Connection and that you’ll share it with others.
Most importantly, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Hug your kids, enjoy your
families, remember the true meaning of Christmas and have a safe and blessed Christmas. Happy
New Year too!
Kaye Iftner, Executive Director & Editor of The Chamber Connection
PAGE 2
Kent Hawley, President,
JWCC
Jill Moss, Vice President
Illini Community Hospital
Peter Wright, Treasurer,
Wright Place Auto Body
David Fuhler, Immediate
Past President, WBBA
Carolyn Casteel, Casteel’s
Bob Evans, Perry Street
Mall
Nancy Kurpaitis, Old
Florence Guest House
Brenda Middendorf, Two
Rivers RC&D/Access
Illinois
Beth White, Farmers Na-
tional Bank of Griggsville
Mike Spann, Country
Financial
Andy Sprague, Sprague’s
Kinderhook Lodge
Robert Wood, City of
Pittsfield
Kaye Iftner, Executive
Director
2013 Chamber Board
2013 Ambassadors
Kim Ator, Farmers State Bank
Sheila Davidsmeyer, North-
western Mutual Financial
Tammy Harshman, Illini
Health Services
Holly Henderson Johnston,
KHQA
Laura Ruzich, Pike County
Dental Clinic
Nathan Painter, Edward Jones
Jayne Pieper, KHQA
Jennifer Ross/Bob Dieker J.D.
Ross & Associates, Inc
Lori Bigley, Liberty Village
Noelle Flesner, CNB Bank &
Trust
Lindsey Rennecker, Western
Collision Center
Shelly Martin, Area Disposal
New Member Connection
Welcome New Members
The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is proud to have welcomed three new
members into the Chamber family since mid November. As usual, some of these
are businesses new to our area and some are familiar names. You can always
find their contact information and links to their websites in the Chamber
Member Directory at www.pikeil.org. We hope will support them with your
business.
American Red Cross (Tel: 217-222-2477, extension 7305) at 3000 N. 23rd Street,
Quincy, IL 62305. The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering
in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity
of donors. The Red Cross helps people prepare for and prevent disasters, but also pro-
vides services when and if they occur. Amanda Stotts is our contact. You can learn
more about all the American Red Cross offers at www.redcross.org
Borrowman Chiropractic, (Tel: 217-285-2600) is located at 1235 W.
Washington, Pittsfield, 62363. Borrowman Chiropractic Dr. Jessica Borrowman is
a graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic and trained in the core chiropractic
curriculum, as well as acupuncture and the treatment of pregnant or pediatric patients.
Dr. Borrowman also specializes in Women’s Health issues. For those who have or
desire an active lifestyle, Dr. Borrowman offers physical therapy via both electrical
stimulation and therapeutic ultrasound, rehabilitative and therapeutic exercise regi-
mens, and physical examinations for work, school or sports. Dr. Borrowman is ready
to serve the chiropractic and acupuncture needs of the community! We’ll be doing a
ribbon cutting for Borrowman Chiropractic on Friday, December 20th at 2 PM.
Complete Chiropractic Acupuncture and Family Wellness, (Tel: 217-285-1915)
114 N. Monroe Street, Pittsfield, IL 62363. Complete Chiropractic Acupuncture
and Family Wellness offers a wide variety of Chiropractic Services. Dr. Bryan
Howland, a recent graduate and Valedictorian from Logan College of Chiropractic, is
associated with cutting edge forms of healthcare treatments for musculoskeletal inju-
ries (neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and many more conditions), nutritional
analysis (food sensitivities), and hormone analysis (stress panel, menopause and male
hormone panels) that is changing the way people eat, move, and feel. If you are tired
of living in pain, feeling fatigued, and are wanting to make a change, then contact the
clinic of Complete Chiropractic.
Not a Member of the Chamber? We invite you to join us!
A national survey of over 2,000 adults conducted by The Schapiro Group reveals that
consumers are 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from companies that are
members of their local chamber. See the membership information on page nine or
call Kaye today!
Thanks to our Chamber 2013
VIP Sponsors!
3
Welcome More New Members!
.
Our Chamber First Class Sponsors!
Throughout the pages of this newsletter you will see the logos of our corporate sponsors. Since we are almost
entirely funded by membership dues and fundraisers, sponsorships allow us to offer all of our services and at
the same time provide excellent exposure for your business. Call for details!
Ribbon Cutting for Complete
Chiropractic Acupuncture and Family
Wellness on Monday, December 9th
The Chamber, along with the City of Pittsfield and
Pittsfield Main Street held a ribbon cutting for Dr.
Bryan Howland’s new clinic at 114 N. Monroe St.
in Pittsfield. Attending the ceremony were (left to
right): Dean Capps, Nancy Capps, Ryan Howland,
Janet Brown holding Kadence Sethaler, Garrett
Howland, Noelle Flesner, Jeff Howland, Dr. Bryan
Howland, Wendy Sethaler, Kaye Iftner (Chamber),
David Fuhler, Sherri Howland, Cleo Howland,
Mayor John Hayden, Christy Davenport (Pittsfield
Main Street), Bob Evans, Jill Moss and Gina
Sheurman, Pike County Economic Development.
Pg. 4
The New Philadelphia Association is excited to announce the National
Park Service (NPS), after careful evaluation, has found that the New
Philadelphia Town Site qualifies to be included in the National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. A Certificate of
Acceptance will be on display at the site and the site will also be
included on the NPS Network to Freedom website at: www.nps.gov.
Founded in 1836, New Philadelphia is the first town in our nation
legally registered by an African American. The town traces its
association to resist enslavement to founder Frank McWorter. Before
moving to Illinois from Kentucky in 1830, McWorter purchased
freedom for his wife, himself and a son who had fled to Canada with
funds earned through various entrepreneurial enterprises. Risking
capture by slave trackers, the McWorters returned to Kentucky to
purchase freedom for other family members. McWorter freed sixteen family members with funds earned through
entrepreneurial enterprises.
McWorter Family and local residents’ accounts, documented oral histories and primary documentation attest that New
Philadelphia and area residents participated actively in the Underground Railroad by concealing, harboring and some-
times accompanying runaway African Americans to Canada. New Philadelphia, Illinois was a gathering place for African
Americans of the region and, although integrated, was regarded by many local residents as a black town.
Like other free African-American communities, New Philadelphia’s residents, some formerly enslaved, were mindful of
the adversity and tribulations of enslavement. There are reports of the consequences inflicted on residents of Pike County,
where New Philadelphia was located, for participating in the Underground Railroad. These individuals demonstrated their
commitment to self-determination by jeopardizing themselves to help others find freedom
Now an archaeological site with only a few building foundations visible on the landscape, New Philadelphia was listed in
the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 for its potential to provide nationally significant information about the
life ways and relationships of African Americans and European Americans in a pioneer setting, and designated a National
Historic Landmark in 2009 for its potential to yield information of major scientific importance and to affect
archaeological theories, concepts and ideas.
Currently, there are no formal or official educational programs or tours conducted at the site. A "Talking House" presenta-
tion is available by radio transmission on AM station 1670. The presentation provides a brief history of New Philadelphia
narrated by Pat Syrcle, former mayor of the nearby town of
Barry, based on text written by Carol McCartney, secretary of
the New Philadelphia Association.
Plans are underway to develop signs providing a history of
various dwellings and structures that were once part of the
New Philadelphia landscape. Informal tours are conducted
upon request by members of the archaeology team and New
Philadelphia Association. A self-guided walking tour of the
site has been developed by the New Philadelphia Association.
For more information about New Philadelphia or to learn how
you could help or become a member, please go to:
www.newphiladelphiail.net.
To the left is a map of the town site. You can help the New
Philadelphia Association raise money for the site by
sponsoring a lot for a tax deductible donation of $1000. Or
join the 1836 Club (the year the town was founded) and
sponsor two lots for $1836. Call Kaye for details!
Connecting to our past
New Philadelphia Board members Dr. Terry Martin,
Claire Martin and Carolyn Dean greeted visitors at the
site during the Fall Color Drive.
Pg. 5
The YPike! organization is a committee of the Pike County Chamber for employees in their 20s and 30s who want to meet new
people, make business contacts and develop their leadership skills. The mission of YPike! is to motivate, captivate and invigo-
rate emerging leaders under 40 through professional growth opportunities and social interactions.
The cost to join YPike! is minimal, and you do not have to be a Chamber member to join although employees of Chamber mem-
bers enjoy a discount on membership. YPike! plans to survey its membership and prospective members after the first of the year
to plan out its 2014 activities and direction.
A Facebook Page has been established. You can find it at https://www.facebook.com/#!/YPIKEIL . While there, be sure and
"Like” the page. YPike! will be communicating news and events and posting their progress. Those not on FB can follow pro-
gress on the Chamber’s web site. YPike! wishes to thank the four local businesses that have come on board as Corporate Spon-
sors: Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, CASSCOMM (Cass Cable), Investment Centers of America, and CNB Bank & Trust. A
combination Membership/Corporate Sponsorship form is included on the next page, but can also be obtained by contacting the
Chamber.
Why Pike? YPike!
On Tuesday, November 26th, YPike! hosted a Lunch
and Learn program at the Farm Bureau Building in
Pittsfield. Twenty eight people attended. Connie
Schroeder, vice president of Corporate Innovation
Integration for the Blessing Health System presented
information regarding healthcare reform, the
Affordable Care Act, and the Illinois Health
Insurance MarketPlace. Kathy Hull, CEO of Illini
Community Hospital gave an update about changes
coming to the hospital, including a new addition to the
west side of the building planned for 2014-2015.
Evaluation forms were very positive, and YPike!
plans other business workshops in the future. Watch
for updates in future newsletters and on Facebook.
Thanks to Connie Schroeder (above)
and Kathy Hull (to the right) for their
informative presentations.
7
New Business Connection
Ribbon Cutting for Pike County Dental
Clinic December 2, 2013
The Chamber held a ribbon cutting for
Pike County Dental Clinic on Monday,
December 2nd at 2 PM. Immediately
following the ceremony, the Pike County
Health Department held an open house for
the public from 2-5 PM. Back, left to right:
Julie Plattner, Patty McIntosh, Brenda
Middendorf, Pike County Board Chairman
Andy Borrowman, Ruth Holman, Anita
Andress, Mayor John Hayden, Jan Bleich,
Greg Sandidge, Tammy Harshman,
John Petty, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer. Front,
left to right: Angie Stover, Dr. Sreekanth
Emani, Laura Ruzich, Meggan Arnold,
Paula Dean and Kaye Iftner (Chamber).
(Photo courtesy of Jeanette Wallace/Pike Press)
Those wishing to schedule an appointment for children, aged 21 and younger, should call: 217-285-5311. Hours of
operation will be 7:30 AM to 6 PM every Tuesday through Thursday.
The Pike County Dental Clinic will serve the oral health needs of low income children in Pike County and the surrounding
areas. This will include serving those children through the age of 21, who have coverage through Medicaid or income eli-
gible children who have no dental insurance. The Clinic will be owned and operated by the Pike County Health Depart-
ment. Dr. Stephen Liesen, long-time local dentist, has agreed to serve as the volunteer Dental Director for the clinic.
We welcome and congratulate the Pike County Dental Clinic!
2013 Chamber Business Class Sponsors
Pg. 8
This is our Elf named Zebulon. He is named for Zebulon Pike, the man for whom
Pike County was named. Santa has sent him to keep a watchful eye on the Chamber
& Pike County. Many of you know how this works, for your homes have an “elf on
the shelf” too!
Each night while we are sleeping, Zebulon flies home to the North Pole to report to
Santa on whether we’ve been good or bad. Each day when Kaye arrives at the
office or is “out and about” in Pike County, Zebulon is in a new and different place.
If you are on Facebook, be sure and “like” the Chamber’s page PikeCountyIllinois
Chamber and follow Zeb’s escapades throughout the county!
Become a Member of the Chamber today!
Business & Education Connection: Workforce Readiness Certificate Pg. 10
All four Pike County high schools will soon be implementing a Workforce Readiness program for seniors. Patterned after a
successful program in Brown County, this program is a collaborative effort led by the Business Retention and Workforce
Committee of Pike County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) and the 4 school systems, working hand in hand
with Quarterly Business Education Roundtables to bridge the gap between the business community and the educational
community. As was confirmed in the recent Business Survey you completed, Workforce Development continues to be a huge
need, not only in Pike County, but in the region and nation. Throughout the past months, a Workforce Readiness Program has
been researched and developed which will provide students in Pike County the opportunity to achieve certificates that
promote the soft skills that employers desire. The Chamber was the first organization to endorse the program, and issued the
Letter of Commitment (below) at our Annual Meeting in March.
So what’s next?
Now it’s time for you, as potential employers to support the program. We believe there are many benefits of this
program to our county. But, we also know it’s human nature for students to ask “What’s in it for me”? In addition to the
intangible benefits, it will be very useful to have some tangible benefits that a student will see as a result of achieving the
Workforce Readiness Certificate. Perhaps it is something like being guaranteed an interview when appropriate jobs or
internships become available. Maybe it’s a discount at your store or if you are a restaurant, a free sandwich or beverage.
In the weeks to come we’ll be approaching you for ideas and your commitment. Let’s get creative and make this a strong
program! Kaye
2014 Western Illinois Leadership Academy Pg. 11
2013 Chamber Business Class Sponsors
The University of Illinois Extension has announced that
registration is open for the Western Illinois Leadership
Academy (WILA) 2014 to begin on January 24, 2014.
WILA brings together leaders from the five counties of
Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler. Through the
program, participants will; acquire a broad understanding of
the complex issues facing our region; build relationships
participants and speakers; become better prepared for active
involvement in leadership roles. The academy will also in-
clude a number of tours directly related to topics
addressed.
WILA will meet 7 times beginning January 24 and concluding on April 11th. Most sessions will be held on alternating Fri-
days. One session to be held Wednesday, April 2nd will include a trip to Springfield, IL.
Cost for the program is $225 and includes all materials, lunches and snacks. Participants are responsible for their own
transportation to and from sessions.
Schedule and Topics include:
January 24 (Schuyler County) – Introductory Session
February 7 (Adams County) – Community Development and Entrepreneurship
February 21 (Brown County) – Workforce Development and
Education
March 7 (Pike County) – Healthcare and Social Issues
March 21 (Hancock County) – Agriculture
April 2 – (Springfield) – Government
April 11 – (Adams County) Leadership and Graduation
For more information contact:
Shelby Crow, Community Development Educator
sschoon@illinois.edu 217/223-8380
Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® presents to Chamber Members
Earlier this year representatives from the Ameren Illinois’ ActOnEnergy Business program presented to Pike County Chamber mem-
bers on how they can become more energy efficient and how to apply for ActOnEnergy cash incentives. Ameren Illinois commercial
business, non-profit and private school customers are eligible to apply for and receive incentives.
The ActOnEnergy program can help a business save money in two different ways. First off, the program offers cash incentives to help
offset the initial cost of an energy efficiency project – incentives can be anywhere from 10-50% of a projects cost. Secondly, by up-
grading to energy efficient equipment, a business can have future savings on their utility bill through reduced energy consumption.
These projects often have a payback period of 2 years or less. Incentives are available for a variety of projects for lighting, HVAC,
refrigeration/freezers, compressed air and more. You can also take advantage of the ActOnEnergy online store and purchase CFL
Light Bulbs, LED Light Bulbs, Exit Signs, T8 & T5 Lamps, and Motion Sensors/Controls, at a discounted rate. For more information
or to get started, visit ActOnEnergy.com/Business or call 1.866.800.0747
I had the opportunity
to attend WILA in
2009 and found it to
be very worthwhile.
Here’s my class
photo! Kaye
Community Connection: Electronic Recycling Pg. 12
Business & Community Connection Pg. 13
Pg. 14 Business Connection: Budgeting for the coming year
Now that we are in the fourth quarter of the year, it's time to get ready for 2014. There is much to do from a financial, legal and
tax perspective. In this article are guidelines for mapping out your company’s financial plans for 2014. In upcoming articles,
you’ll see what legal steps you should take and last-minute tax planning moves you should make before the end of the year.
Overview of budgeting Budgeting is a process in which you estimate the income you expect your company to receive as well as the expenses you ex-
pect it to incur during any fixed period, typically for the year. This helps define your marketing and sales efforts and your
spending habits for the coming year. Admittedly, there is a lot of guesswork because the future is uncertain. However, budget-
ing provides a framework in which to operate. You can deviate from the budget during the year as things change. For example,
when your revenue is running short of your projections, you’ll need to reexamine expenditures accordingly (besides figuring out
why revenues are lagging).
The first step in budgeting is to review your current financial position by listing your revenue and expenses for the year. Your
accounting software can easily help you organize your financial data to help you with budgeting. For example, in QuickBooks,
go to the Report Center for help.
Projecting revenues The linchpin for any budget is a realistic projection of your revenues for the coming year. This is not a number made up of
hopes and wishes; it is based on a review of revenues for the current year and what you can expect to do in the next year.
Anticipating expenses Now project your outlays for next year. Start by dividing estimated expenses into two categories: fixed and variable.
Fixed expenses are those that are certain to be incurred and do not vary with the amount of sales you generate, such as rent and
insurance premiums. Variable expenses are those dependent on sales, such as inventory costs. You likely will have a number of
semi-variable costs, such as wages, travel and entertainment (T&E) costs and marketing expenses. Use estimates by the experts
for rises in wages, insurance, fuel, travel costs and other expenses to help you make projections.
Profit You don’t want to work for free, so be sure that your budget allows for a profit on your activities. As you know, profit is what
you have after subtracting your expenses from your revenue. (There are more calculations, such as reducing gross profits by
taxes on those profits, to determine what you can actually pocket at the end of the year.) No one can tell you what profit you can
or should make, but again, be realistic. Compare your projection with profits of small business within your industry.
Putting it all together Budgeting is an art, not an exact science. Be sure to build in a "fudge factor" to account for the unknown. Some unknowns that
can throw your budget out of whack, unless you add a cushion, include:
Inflation. This rise in the overall cost of goods and services means that your buying power decreases, so you’ll want to account
for this possibility. While inflation has remained low in recent years, economists warn that the high federal deficit and other
factors could trigger higher inflation in the near future. What's more, the inflation you experience may be higher than the official
rate of inflation.
Fuel costs. All businesses are impacted by a greater or lesser degree by the cost of gasoline and other fuel. For instance, if your
company makes deliveries, the price at the pump affects you in a meaningful way.
Interest costs. If you have outstanding loans with variable interest rates and those rates rise, then the cost of servicing this debt
will also rise.
Next year, as you put your budget into play, be sure to monitor it continually. If you were overly optimistic about sales, you'll
need to trim your spending or figure out how to increase your sales revenue so you don't run into financial problems.
Final thoughts Get input from your staff about what may be needed next year, such as additional employees, new smartphones or equipment
upgrades. Use your accounting software’s budgeting tools to help you create your budget for 2014. If you need help in
constructing your company’s budget, work with your CPA or other financial advisor. To learn more about budgeting, read the
SBA’s Budgeting for the Small Business . We’d be happy to send you a copy.
Marketing Connection: Fine Tune your Holiday Marketing
The holiday season is crunch time for all of us – whether you’ve got gifts to buy or gifts to sell.
If you’re a small business owner facing the busy holiday shopping and dining days ahead, here are some tips from the
Small Business Administration to help you maximize your holiday sales. Here are a few tips for an effective “holiday
countdown” marketing campaign:
Make it easy for consumers to find holiday gift lines – Organize your selections by categories such as
“Gifts under $50,” “Gifts for Him/Her,” “Popular Items,” etc. If you have an online presence use emails, social media
and e-newsletters to group and highlight inventory along the same lines.
Offer gift suggestions – Start offering up gift ideas and suggestions NOW, if you haven’t already! Buying gifts for
family, friends and business acquaintances is hard work – make it easy for your customers this year. If you want to
introduce a special offer early in the month, make sure it is bound by a time limit.
Get creative – Use the 12 Days of Christmas to engage with your customers. This is all about raising your brand
profile during a busy time while promoting action. For example, send out daily riddles on social media and reward
winners with a special offer. Another option is to promote a “catch of the day” deal on each day of your campaign.
Build urgency into your subject lines, Tweets and Facebook posts – The week before Christmas or other gift-
giving days build some urgency into your messaging. “There’s still time…,” “It’s not too late…,” etc.
Offer ideas for those last minute impulse purchases – Whether it’s a gift for a party hostess or an office “Secret
Santa” party, start giving your customers gift-giving ideas in the last week before Christmas. For those absolute last minute shoppers – On December 23 and 24, reach out to those who are still looking for gift
ideas by spreading the word about gift cards or certificates.
Don’t Forget Super Saturday The last and busiest Saturday for buying gifts is December 22 this year. Mark your calendar and plan accordingly – this
is the time to offer targeted promotions and incentives. Why not do a little more to entice your customers to come in
during the last few shopping days before the holidays, perhaps a warm glass of apple cider or a free shoulder massage for
your frazzled holiday shoppers (or their spouses)!
Restaurants and Food Service Businesses – Target the Holiday Crowd Restaurants can do a roaring trade during the holidays, but there’s always room for more! Here are some ideas for boost-
ing your share of holiday profits this year:
Work on attracting last-minute office parties or lunches – Many smaller companies wait until the last minute to treat
their staff or customers – think of ways to entice this crowd. Talk to your regulars, train hostesses and servers to mention
your party services when they speak to customers on the phone or in person. Promote special incentives for parties that
make bookings on quiet days/nights.
Target the New Year’s Eve crowd – Offer incentives for customers to come and dine outside and either side of peak
hours so you can maximize bookings throughout the night. You could also offer an incentive to New Year’s Eve revelers
to move to the bar after they’ve dined with you. Good luck and happy holidays!
More
2013
Chamber
Business
Class
Sponsors
224 W Washington
PO Box 283
Pittsfield, IL 62363
217-285-2971
info@pikeil.org
www.pikeil.org
We are trying to update our email information. Please send us corrections or additions We promise not to
share your email address with anyone without your permission. As always you can opt out of email messages by con-tacting Kaye.
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.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. If
your gatherings involve alcohol, make plans so that you don't
have to drive after drinking. For example:
* Prior to any drinking, designate a non-drinking driver when
with a group.
* Don't let your family or friends drive impaired. Take their
keys away if necessary.
* If you have been drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi.
* If you're hosting a party where alcohol will be served, remind
your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver;
offer alcohol-free beverages; and make sure all guests leave
with a sober driver.
We encourage you to stay safe as you gather with family and
friends this holiday season. You’re important to us!
Chamber Celebrates Local Small
Businesses by Promoting Small Business
Saturday® in Pike County! November 30th
marked the fourth annual Small Business
Saturday, a day to support the local busi-
nesses that create jobs, boost the economy
and preserve neighborhoods around the coun-
try. Small Business Saturday was created in
2010 in response to small business owners’
most pressing need: more customers. We
participated in the fourth annual Small Busi-
ness Saturday as a Neighborhood Champion,
and will continue to promote local shopping
all year. The most important reason to shop
locally? Simply put, it strengthens our com-
munity! Watch for more promotions in the
weeks to come.
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