Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

The 18 th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast for Equality will be held Saturday, January 15 th at 9:00 a.m. at Edison Junior High School.  Breakfast will be available at 8:15 a.m. and will be catered by CJ’s Café.  Students (18 and younger) attend for free, with an $8.00 charge for adults attending.  This year’s speaker is Oba William King, a poet and storyteller.  He will present his program, “I Love My People”, featuring poetry and stories that share the commonality of people as captured in the writings of African-American authors.  Click here to view the flyer .  For reservations or more information, please call the YWCA at (309) 347-9922, ext. 25.  The Breakfast is sponsored by the YWCA’s Coalition for Equality, United Way of Pekin, and the Illinois Humanities Council.

TAPS recently published their December 2010 Newlsetter. Here is just a glimpse of what you will find.   Warm Holiday Greetings to Everyone,   Another year has past to reflect on as the Holidays are upon us, and the New Year right around the corner. From an economic standpoint - this has been a more challenging year for TAPS, but the economy is only one measure of success. When resources are more abundant, there are more ways we can to enrich the lives of animals at TAPS, as well as make a larger community impact, but we are by no means in danger of closing or walking away from our goals and mission - thanks to the steady support of so many individuals and businesses who help in various ways. No - a successful year is also made up by the animals cared for and adopted, lives touched, relationships built or sustained and community impact. In these areas we have made a difference. Continued...    Additional Information available online: Upcoming Events Featured pets of ...

Pekin Hospital is pleased to offer an adult diabetes education workshop on January 10, 11, and 12.   The series of three classes will be held from 2 – 5 p.m. in the 4 South Education Classroom at Pekin Hospital. The classes are designed to provide information on managing adult diabetes and are designed to help diabetics learn and develop the skills of self-management of diabetes therapy.   Topics covered in the sessions will include:   v       the importance of diabetes control and the factors that influence this control v       how to plan meals according to food selections and serving size v       the possible complications associated with diabetes v       why exercise will benefit your health and make you feel good Workshop speakers will include a Certified Diabetes Educator, Registered Dietitian, Registered Nurse, Registered Pharmacist, Exercise Specialist, and Regis...

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois Responds to Increased Demands on Local Food Banks, Announces $36,000 in Year-end Grants; Total Local Impact to Exceed $58,000. PEORIA- In response to the increased demands on local food banks, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) announced today the distribution of $36,000 in year-end grants to help three local non-profit organizations provide food to needy children and families this holiday season.   CFCI will make three $12,000 grants to benefit the Salvation Army Food Pantry, the Peoria Area Food Bank, and Midwest Food Bank.   The grants are being made by CFCI from the RLI Corporate Fund.    Directors from each of the food banks took part in a news conference held at the Salvation Army’s Food Warehouse, communicating the impact these grants will have on their programs.   Larry Herman, Director of the Midwest Food Bank said, “ Midwest Food Bank is humbled by the investment that RLI is making into o...

Another month has passed and we've condensed all the news from our blog into a monthly digest.  Please view or print this month's Chamber Connection  newsletter by visiting:   http://www.pekin.net/ChamberNewsletter.htm

Business EXPO 2011 The 2011 Pekin Area Business EXPO is a great opportunity to showcase your products or services to the public.   Last year 65 businesses and organizations participated. We hope you’ll join us for the Pekin Area Business EXPO ’11. Avanti’s Dome Saturday, January 22, 2011 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Free Admission – Free Parking Great EXPO Features: Ÿ          Entertainment Ÿ          Grand Prize Drawing: $250 Visa Gift Card, Sponsored by Illinois Collections Unlimited Ÿ          Door prize drawings all day from Exhibitors Join your fellow chamber members and promote all that is available in the Pekin area!   Register your business today.   View and print registration information on line at http://pekin.net/2010/EXPOmailer2011.pdf   Discounts apply to Chamber Members.   Register by December 31 st to be included in the special EXPO...

Chamber Calendar of Events Jan 4 Ambassador Meeting Jan 5 Executive Board Meeting Jan 6 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 6 Pekin 1st Committee Jan 6 Business After Hours – The Grand Victorian Jan 11 Member Services Committee Jan 11 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 12 Transportation Committee Jan 12 Board of Directors Meeting Jan 13 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 17 Martin Luther King Day Jan 18 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 19 Marigold Festival Committee Meeting Jan 20 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 22 Business Expo 2011 Jan 25 Business Advocacy Committee Jan 25 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 27 R. David Tebben Leadership Academy Jan 27 Taz. Co. Chambers of Commerce Business After Hours in East Peoria Chamber Calendar, including events and committee meetings are also online at:    www.Pekin.net ·     Use the drop down box for Chamber Resources   ·     Click on Cale...

Executive Directors Report American Community Survey One of the great things about the internet is the vast amount of useful information we can access with just a couple taps on the keyboard.   One of the largest sources of information is the U.S. Census Bureau at www.census.gov .   The U.S. Census bureau just released the first-ever 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.   Social, economic, housing and demographic statistics are now available for every community in the nation. Prior to releasing this information, small communities had to rely on outdated 2000 census figures for detailed information about the characteristics of their communities.   The new 5-year ACS estimates give even the smallest communities more timely information on topics ranging from commute times to languages spoken at home to housing values. The data released on December 14 th is based on a rolling annual sample survey mailed to about 3 million addresses between Jan. 1, 2005 a...

Biz Barometer The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.   Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment. On a national basis, the unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent in November, and non-farm payroll employment numbers changed slight, increasing by 39,000.   Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month, while employment fell in retail trade.   Employment in most major industries changed little in November.

Membership Renewals through December 20th    Thank you to the following chamber members who have recently renewed their investment in the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce: American Fire Service ~ Art's Ads ~ Avantis Ristorante Aventine Renewable Energy ~ Bagley & Miller, Attorneys ~ Bard Optical George Beres ~ Carney's Insurance Store ~ Champion Fitness Physical Therapy Clanahan Chiropractic ~ Dr. Robert Ehrich ~ Enviro-Dry Four Seasons Gutter Protection ~ Glesne Family Dentistry Hallmark House Nursing Center ~ Harbor Light Hospice Heartland Bank & Trust Company ~ Heartland Chiropractic Center Illinois Collections Unlimited ~ ITV-3 (OmniLEC) ~ J & J Consulting Firm Jim Maloof Realtor ~ Johnson Mechanical Services ~ Kriegsman Warehouses Dr. David Kuban, DDS ~ Midwest Generation Powerton Station Miller, Hall, & Triggs ~ Otto Baum Company ~ Pekin Area Board of Realtors Pekin Moose Family Center, Lodge # 916 ~ Les Pulfer ~ Ray Dennison Chevrolet Redbrand Credit Uni...

From Your Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Do you need a last minute gift or stocking stuffer? Buy a Papa Murphy's Gift Card!! If you buy $10 or more you get a FREE pound of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!! Stop by today! 1807 Broadway St, Pekin       347-5051   ww.facebook.com/papamurphyspekin

The 18 th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast for Equality will be held Saturday, January 15 th at 9:00 a.m. at Edison Junior High School.  Breakfast will be available at 8:15 a.m. and will be catered by CJ’s Café.  Students (18 and younger) attend for free, with an $8.00 charge for adults attending.  This year’s speaker is Oba William King, a poet and storyteller.  He will present his program, “I Love My People”, featuring poetry and stories that share the commonality of people as captured in the writings of African-American authors.  Click here to view the flyer .  For reservations or more information, please call the YWCA at (309) 347-9922, ext. 25.  The Breakfast is sponsored by the YWCA’s Coalition for Equality, United Way of Pekin, and the Illinois Humanities Council.

Tazewell County Resource Centers, Inc. completed its three-year accreditation process with CARF on December 15, 2010.   Of the 932 standards on which it was judged, TCRC received a compliance rating of 99.3% – placing it within the top one percentile of the national and international organizations that also care for the needs of persons with developmental disabilities.     Ron Hale, TCRC’s President and CEO, is very pleased with the outcome, “TCRC put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.”   He went on to say that, “our community can have every confidence in TCRC and its high quality programs and services.” CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhanci...

Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, offered his congratulations and best wishes to Dennis Kief on his retirement.  Fleming made his wishes on behalf of the chamber board, members and staff at a reception hosted by the City of Pekin on December 20th.  Kief is retiring from his position as City Manager, after a career with the city that lasted 26 years.  

WHAT:            The Community Foundation of Central Illinois Responds to Increased Demands on Local Food Banks, Announces $36,000 in Year-end Grants; Total Local Impact to Exceed $58,000.    The Media is invited to attend. Please join The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) at the Salvation Army Food Warehouse as they announce the distribution of $36,000 in year-end grants to help three local non-profit organizations provide food to needy children and families this holiday season. Three $12,000 grants to benefit the Salvation Army, the Peoria Area Food Bank, and Midwest Food Bank will be made by CFCI from the RLI Corporate Fund.   The $36,000 in grants has leveraged additional contributions of $15,000 from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) and $7,631 from an employee giving campaign at RLI for a total amount of $58,631 being distributed to local food pantries in December. In attendance wi...

Peoria, IL (December 20, 2010) – Savant Capital Management, a nationally recognized fee-only wealth management firm with offices in Peoria, is pleased to announce Julie Dreesen has joined the team in Peoria as a Financial Advisor. Dreesen will be responsible for managing all aspects of the financial planning and investment process for clients. She will routinely meet with clients, advisors, portfolio managers, and planners to determine and coordinate effective planning, investment, and tax strategies. Dreesen brings with her more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and has earned the Series 7, 66 and 31 Licenses. In addition, she holds the State of Illinois Life, Health and Variable Annuities Insurance license. Prior to joining Team Savant, Dreesen was a Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. In addition to her wealth management expertise, Dreesen has a strong background in banking. Previously, she owned a financial consulting firm that specializ...

PEORIA, IL, December 20 – On Tuesday, December 21st at 4:00PM, Power 92.3 (WZPW-FM) will make a blanket donation to two area charities in the lobby of the Little Caesars Pizza on Sterling Ave. during the closing ceremony of the “Power Blanket’s Peoria” charity drive.  The drive was designed to collect new blankets that will be donated to the Southside Mission and Crittenton Center to assist in keeping people warm this winter. “This year’s blanket collection has really made it possible to give back to the community.” Power 92.3 Program Director Jason Parkinson said. “I’d like to personally thank Little Caesars Pizza for stepping up to the plate and offering their stores as drop off locations.” New blankets can still be donated at RadioPlex in Downtown Peoria and at Little Caesar’s Pizza locations in Peoria and Pekin. The blankets will be donated on Tuesday, December 21 st during a ceremony at Little Caesars Pizza on Sterling Ave. at 4:00PM. Townsquare Media Illinois General Mana...

Charles R. Hanley, funeral director at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory , recently earned the designation of Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) , awarded by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) . The CPC designation is nationally recognized as the standard of excellence in funeral service. The only national certification program in the specialized field of advance funeral planning, NFDA’s CPC Program promotes the expertise and professionalism to assist in the process of preplanning under state preneed laws and sets the industry standard of excellence and integrity in preplanning through voluntary certification. The Significance of the CPC Designation In order to become a CPC, candidates must meet specific program requirements and pass an examination based on a standards manual. CPCs demonstrate their ongoing professional commitment by fulfilling educational requirements for renewed certification every four years. “On behalf of our entire staff, we cong...