Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 082415

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. 

Calendar

K of C Bingo every Monday and Thursday
08/24/2015
Marion Knights of Columbus Hall
Marion K of C Bingo! Buy 1, Double it for $5 (paper and machines) every Monday and Thursday

Cutting Edge Strategies: An Intensive Training on Executive Function Skills
08/24/2015
John A. Logan College
700 Logan College Rd
Carterville, Il 62918
Brehm Preparatory School presents Cutting Edge Strategies: An Intensive Training on Executive Function Skills on August 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

13Pro at Rent One Park
08/25/2015
Rent One Park
1000 Miners Drive
Marion, Il 62959
13Pro will be at Rent One Park for the Southern Illinois Miners Game on August 25, where our Miners will play the Lake Erie Crushers.  Our Miners are currently in first place in the Frontier League’s East Division.

Knock Hunger out of the Park
08/26/2015
Rent One Park
HELP END HUNGER IN SOUTHERN ILLINOISJoin Us Every Wednesday Night Home
Game at Rent One Park, Home of 
the Southern Illinois Miners, to 
Collect Non-Perishable Food Items to 
Stock the Shelves of Local Food Pantries

OSHA is Knocking, Now What? Workplace Xcellence Webinar
08/26/2015
 9:30AM CST
Presenter: Chester R. Razer, Razer Safety and Health Consulting

Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit
08/28/2015
Kokopelli
1527 Champions Drive
Marion, Il 62959
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit will be held on Friday, August 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Kokopelli. 

The event will include a buffet-style lunch (cost $13 to Kokopelli), followed by networking, updates by your Legislators, and then a Q&A session moderated by a member of your Legislative Affairs Committee. 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at RAW Fitness
08/31/2015
RAW Fitness
2002 Bittle Place
Marion, Il 62959
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on August 31 at RAW Fitness in Marion.

K of C Bingo every Monday and Thursday
08/31/2015
Marion Knights of Columbus Hall
Marion K of C Bingo! Buy 1, Double it for $5 (paper and machines) every Monday and Thursday

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Harness Digital Marketing
08/31/2015
Harness Digital Marketing
308 North 16th Street
Herrin, Il 62948
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on Monday, August 31 at noon at Harness Digital Marketing, 308 North 16th Street in Herrin. 

Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting
09/01/2015
Heartland Regional Medical Center
3333 West DeYoung Street
Marion, Il 62959
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at Heartland Regional Medical Center. 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Krispy Kreme
09/04/2015
Krispy Kreme
1307 Halfway Road
Marion, Il 62959
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on September 4 at Krispy Kreme in Marion. 

Krispy Kreme/Night's Shield 5K Doughnut Challenge
09/07/2015
Krispy Kreme
1307 Halfway Road
Marion, IL 62959
The Night's Shield Children's Shelter will be having a 5K Doughnut Challenge at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Marion Illinois on Labor Day Sept. 7, 2015.  Registration is at 7AM and race starts at 8AM.  All proceeds will be going to benefit the shelter.  It is $25 to run/walk in the 5K and $15 to for the 1 mile Fun/Run.

Business After Hours Program: WORKcare.ready.well and Rehab Unlimited Marion
09/10/2015
Rehab Unlimited in Marion
1403 Joe Abbott Way
Marion, Il 62959
The September Business After Hours Program will be held on Thursday, September 10 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Rehab Unlimited in Marion, 1403 Joe Abbot Way, and hosted by WORKcare.ready.well and Rehab Unlimited Marion.

2015 Ewing Demonstration Fall Field Day
09/10/2015
Ewing Demonstration Center
16132 North Ewing Road
Ewing, Il 62836
The University of Illinois Extension will host its annual Ewing Demonstration Center Fall Field Day on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.  

13Pro Glow Golf Scramble
09/11/2015
Kokopelli Golf Club
1527 Champions Dr
Marion, IL 62959
Enjoy the course in a whole new light – glow-in-the-dark style! This is a 9-hole, four-person scramble with a shot-gun start.

Run to Remember 9/11
09/11/2015
SIU Arena Parking Log
Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. Race at 6 p.m. Price $22.

Veterans on Parade
09/12/2015
Veterans on Parade will occur on Saturday, September 12 at 11 a.m. All veterans from Southern Illinois are invited to march or ride.

2015 RIVERSIDE ART, WINE & BLUES FESTIVAL
09/12/2015
2015 RIVERSIDE ART, WINE & BLUES FESTIVAL
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12

Marion Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee meeting
09/15/2015
Marion Chamber of Commerce
2305 W. Main St
Marion, IL 62959
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
09/16/2015
Marion Chamber of Commerce
2305 W. Main St P.O. Box 307
Marion, IL 62959
The Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. at the Chamber office. 

Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee meeting
09/17/2015
South Porte Bank
701 North Court
Marion, Il 62959
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. 

29th Southern Illinois Women’s Health Conference
09/19/2015
John A. Logan
230 West Main
Carterville, Il 62959
The 29th Southern Illinois Women’s Health Conference begins Saturday, September 19, 2015, 7 a.m. at John A. Logan College in Carterville.  

Heartland Pet Fest 2015
09/19/2015- 09/20/2015
The Pavilion of the City of Marion
230 West Main
Marion, Il 62959
An exciting new event is coming to Marion! Heartland Pet Fest 2015 will be held September 19-20 at The Pavilion of the City of Marion. 

2015 Marion Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble
09/24/2015
Kokopelli
1527 Champions Drive
Marion, Il 62959
The Marion Chamber of Commerce will hold its 31st annual Golf Scramble on Thursday, September 24, beginning with a noon shotgun start. Register your four-person teams today! This event has always drawn a big turnout, and team slots will go fast! Sponsorships are also available. These too will go fast!

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.
  • The Chamber provides you a bulk mailing opportunity by using its bulk-mailing permit. 

Want to know more about the benefits of being a Marion Chamber member? Click here!

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. 
  • September - AVAILABLE
  • October - Priority Staffing Group Ltd. 
  • 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.

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!

Legislative Summit set for 8/28



The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit will be held on Friday, August 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Kokopelli. 

The event will include a buffet-style lunch (cost $13 to Kokopelli), followed by networking, updates by your Legislators, and then a Q&A session moderated by a member of your Legislative Affairs Committee. 

RSVPs are required. To register, click here

Here are a few Legislators who plan to be in attendance:
  • U.S. Rep. Mike Bost
  • Illinois Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs
  • 117th District Representative John Bradley
  • Illinois 59th District Senator Gary Forby
  • Williamson County Commissioner Ron Ellis
  • Marion Mayor Robert Butler
  • Marion Commissioner John Goss
  • Marion Commissioner Angelo Hightower
  • Marion Commissioner Anthony Rinella
  • Marion Commissioner Jim Webb

The Legislative Affairs Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at South Porte Bank in Marion. The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee serves as a research and advisory committee for the Chamber's Board of Directors. The goals of the Legislative Affairs Committee are to monitor governmental matters that could impact the community or local business, present recommendations to the Chamber's Board of Directors, and to assist in the initiation of the appropriate action. The Legislative Affairs Committee is a non-partisan organization and shall neither endorse candidates for public office nor political parties.

Business After Hours to be held 9/10





There are currently no Business After Hours scheduled for November. Business After Hours events are held on the fourth Thursday of the month, unless the Chamber member has a special need for a different date or calendar conflicts arise at the Chamber. For more information about Business After Hours events, click here

31st annual Marion Chamber Golf Scramble scheduled for 9/24


 

The Marion Chamber of Commerce will hold its 31st annual Golf Scramble on Thursday, September 24, beginning with a noon shotgun start. Lunch will be held from 11 a.m. - noon. Dinner will be served from 5-7 p.m. and will include a buffet of chicken, beef, sides and a roll. 

The cost to golf is $125 per golfer or $500 for a team of four. Registration includes green fees, golf cart rental, driving range usage, ticket for snacks/drink on the course, 1 lunch and 1 dinner ticket per golfer, chance at great prizes and more!

Register your four-person teams today here! This event has always drawn a big turnout, and team slots will go fast! 

The event includes a lunch, 50/50 drawing, driving range, dinner, prizes, and more! Event also includes chances to win ONE MILLION DOLLARS, Titleist Pro V1 Balls & Putter, Bushnell Golf GPS, $250 American Express Gift Card and $25,000 toward a vehicle!

Sponsorships are also available. These, too, will go fast!

Below are the sponsors of the 2015 Marion Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble:


Hole sponsors include:


Live hole sponsors include:

Would you like to just come for lunch and/or dinner? One lunch ticket is $10 and one dinner ticket is $20. Come out and enjoy great networking and great food! Click here to get your lunch/dinner tickets today.

To register to play in the Golf Scramble, become a sponsor or purchase lunch or dinner tickets for the event, click here

Help select Marion's best



Ashley Gott, Chairman of the Board of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, announced today 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 11, 2015. Awards will be presented at the Marion Chamber of Commerce’s 95th Annual Auction and Awards Banquet on Friday, January 15, 2016, at the Pavilion of the City of Marion.

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, or a list of past winners, click here

For more information, please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce at (618) 997-6311 or e-mail director@marionillinois.com.

Member News

Marion High School Update

Submitted: 08/24/15
Article By: CU #2 Schools - Marion

Marion High School Update: PSAT

Submitted: 08/24/15
Article By: CU #2 Schools - Marion

Room for rent on Town Square Plaza
Approx 1900 Square Feet
Submitted: 08/21/15
Article By: Ivan & Wanda Zwick

Schedule Miss Illinois for your next event
Jared Garrison is the Miss Illinois Business Manager and is seeking to schedule Miss Illinois 2015, Crystal Davis on appearances in our area. 
Submitted: 08/20/15
Article By: City of Marion

Extra Help, Inc. Announces New ACA Compliance Services

Submitted: 08/20/15
Article By: Extra Help, Inc.

High School Update

Submitted: 08/17/15
Article By: CU #2 Schools - Marion

Sports nights coming up!
We invite you to “Dig the Excitement!” On August 25, 13Pro will be at the Southern Illinois Miners game. 
Submitted: 08/17/15
Article By: 13 Pro Young Professionals Group

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. completes acquisition of 12 Branches of Old 
First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMBH) (“First Mid”), the parent company of First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, N.A., announced today that the acquisition of 12 Southern Illinois banking centers from Old National Bancorp has been completed. 
Submitted: 08/14/15
Article By: First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc.

911 educational push
The Marion 911 center/Marion Police Department will be starting an educational rollout targeting different groups of the population. 
Submitted: 08/06/15
Article By: City of Marion

SIUCU’s Kim Babington attends National Youth Involvement Board Conference
Kim Babington, Vice President of Business Development at SIU Credit Union, recently attended the National Youth Involvement Board (NYIB) 2015 Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas as the Illinois delegate.
Submitted: 08/06/15
Article By: SIU Credit Union

Brehm Hosts An Intensive Training on Executive Function Skills Seminar
Brehm Preparatory School (Brehm) hosts “An Intensive Training on Executive Function Skills” seminar, presented by Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC-SLP.
Submitted: 08/06/15
Article By: Brehm School Foundation

Extra Help, Inc. Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary

Submitted: 08/05/15
Article By: Extra Help, Inc.

SIU Credit Union’s Mike Lantrip attends CUNA Management School
Mike Lantrip, Vice President of Finance at SIU Credit Union, recently completed Year 2 of Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School in Madison, Wisconsin.
Submitted: 08/03/15
Article By: SIU Credit Union

For more Member Press Releases, click here

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.

The following months are available for purchase: December in 2015 and February, April, July, August, October-December in 2016. 

The following sponsors will be featured in our Member Spotlight:
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.

Chamber unveils new outdoor digital sign

The unveiling of the new digital and stone outdoor sign at the Marion Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday, July 31 at 8 a.m. 

The Marion Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee has worked together to design and coordinate the construction of the new digital and stone outdoor sign. Liberty Signs, Bangs Masonry and American Monument Company have recently completed work on the sign. 

Marion Chamber of Commerce members are offered the opportunity to advertise on the digital sign. For more information, click here.

Save on gas and electricity





The Marion Chamber of Commerce and Affordable Gas and Electric have teamed up to offer chamber members this exclusive opportunity to save BIG on their electricity and natural gas bills.

AGE will negotiate a custom, group-discounted price from our partnered suppliers, execute a contract on your behalf, and send you a Transaction Confirmation with a 3 day recession period. If the Transaction Confirmation is not declined, AGE will officially enroll your accounts in the transaction presented for the length of the term designated on the Transaction Confirmation.

Eligibility Requirements
  • You must be a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
  • You must be in an eligible Utility Zone. Accounts serviced by co-ops are not eligible.
  • If you are under contract with another Retail Supplier, it must be set to expire within 6 months of submitting this form.
For more information, click here
Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter - Marion Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 082415