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Our Mission
(Click Here for PDF of Mission Statement)
We Strengthen Member Businesses through:
Networking and Referral...
Ongoing programs and special activities that publicize, promote, and refer member businesses to our community and to one another.
Business Education...
Opportunities for business education which challenge and equip member businesses for improvement, growth and greater success.
Business Promotion...
Community projects and events which showcase member businesses and by their involvement link them to the community.
Governmental Action...
Representing member business concerns and interests before local, state, and federal government; providing information, communicating the facts, and coordinating action on behalf of member businesses.
Building Leadership...
Achieving community leadership with strong business perspective.
Continually working to identify and better meet the changing needs of member businesses for commerce.
More About Our Mission
Networking and Referral...
(Click Here for PDF of Networking and Referral)
Monthly Events (2)
Free to host and attend, Business After Hours provide two hours of networking, usually 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a more social atmosphere. Members come and go as they please or as their schedule permits.. Dinner fare or hors d'oeuvres and beverages (alcoholic and/or non0alcoholic) are compliments of the host.
Free to host and attend, Membership Breakfast provide one hour of structured networking from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Every member is given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and promote their business. Breakfast food and beverages are compliments of the host.
Annual Luncheons (3)
Held in January, the Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon celebrates the Chamber's previous year of accomplishments with a 60-minute awards program.
Held in April on Administrative Professionals Day, the Spring Luncheon honors Chamber members in a segment of the business community for their contributions to Elmhurst's economy.
Held in August, the New Teachers Luncheon welcomes teachers new to Elmhurst's schools. Members can treat a new teacher to lunch and/or donate items to a goody bag.
Special Events (3)
Held in July at Maple Meadows Golf Course in Wood Dale, the Chamber's annual Golf Outing has been a popular events for nearly 60 years.
Held in September at The Hub at Berens Park, the Family Steak Fry, catered by The Silverado Grill, brings together families of Chamber members to commemorate both Chamber of Commerce Week in Elmhurst and the official end of summer.
Held in October, the Business-to-Business Expo includes a prominent Keynote Speaker whose field of expertise includes matters related to government, business and/or economic development.
Community Events
Held in early June, Elmfest attracts as many as 100,000 residents and visitors to downtown Elmhurst for three days of food and drink, two stages of entertainment, carnival rides and games, special attractions and a close-proximity fireworks show.
Elmfest will celebrate its 26th Anniversary in Elmhurst City Centre on June 13-15, 2008
Business Education...
(Click Here for PDF of Business Education)
Under the umbrella of Leadership Elmhurst, the Chamber provides a wide range of learning opportunities—Brown Bag Lunches, Character Counts in Elmhurst and Educational Partnerships among them—for business growth, professional development and personal enhancement.
Brown Bag Lunches
Created in 2005, the free Brown Bag Lunches allow members to share their expertise in a given field (i.e., website development, marketing, benefits) with fellow members in a learning, non-sales call environment. Attendees bring their own lunches; refreshments are provided.
Character Counts in Elmhurst
Typically a school-based initiative, but adopted throughout Elmhurst in 2003, Character Counts is a national coalition whose mission is to establish a framework for ethical decision making in our educational, civic and business lives through the promotion of the six pillars of character—Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.
The Chamber, as a Character Counts in Elmhurst partner, encourages members to be “citizens of good character” in their business dealings with customers and clients, as well as employees, co-workers and superiors.
Educational Partnerships
In an effort to create unique learning experiences for our membership, the Chamber continually work to develop partnerships with governmental agencies, educational institutions, chambers of commerce, business associations, not-for-profit organizations and member businesses.
Business Promotion...
(Click Here for PDF of Business Promotion)
The Chamber provides a variety of community projects and events which showcase member businesses and, by their involvement, link those members to the Elmhurst Community.
Publications
Published annually in the spring, the Elmhurst Community Directory is the city's most comprehensive busines and community refernece guide. Some 20,000 Directories are delivered complimentary to residences door-to-door, and distributed via governmental entities, economic development agencies, educational institutions and business associations.
Published bi-annually, the Elmhurst Street Map highlights business districts, park and school locations, and points of interest to compliment thedetailed map and street listings.
The Chamber also promotes member events and activities via its two newspaper columns— "News & Notes" in the Elmhurst Press and "Strictly Business" in The Elmhurst Independent—and newspaper ad space in The Elmhurst Doings.
Internet
Home Page Sponsorships—Members can promote their business on the internetas an exclusive sponsor of the Chamber's website, www.elmhurstchamber.org. Your business logo and promotional catch phrase will appear prominently on the home page, with a hyperlink to your website. Cost is $50.00 per month or $500.00 per year.
Broadcast Fax/E-Mail Advertising—Reach some 850 local business people and reinforce the concept of "Shop Members First" with a stamp-saving Member Message. Your information will be sent via e-mail, fax or mail to each of them. The cost is only $150.00 per submission, less than 18 cents per contact.
Internet-Accessible Member Database with Website and E-Mail Hyperlink—Members receive a FREE listing on the Chamber website, www.elmhurstchamber.org, plus FREE internet and e-mail hyperlinks to your website and contact person.
Informational Services
Free Products and Services—Members receive products and services such as New Resident Packets, Community Directories, Street Maps, paper listings of both Membership and the Area Clubs & Organizations, and "Shop Members First" stickers at no cost.
Discounted Products and Services—Members receive discounts on products and services such as mailing labels and disks (or e-mail) of the Membership, New Resident and the Area Clubs & Organizations listings.
Governmental Action...
(Click Here for PDF of Governmental Action)
As the strongest voice for Elmhurst’s business community since 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry represents the concerns and interests of member businesses before local, state and federal government, while providing information, communications of facts and coordinating action on behalf of our members.
City of Elmhurst
The Chamber has developed strong working relationships with administrators and elected officials serving with the City of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst Public Library—providing our members with greater input into the decision-making process.
To better address issues related to business recruitment, rentention and expansion, the Chamber partners with leaders from the city and its new Department of Zoning, Planning and Economic Development (formerly the Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation), and Elmhurst City Centre through the Elmhurst Business Alliance. The Chamber President is an ex-officio member of the City Centre's Board of Directors and serves on the Central Business District (CBD) $10,000.00 Retail Business Grant Committee.
The Chamber also promotes the activities of the Elmurst Visitor & Tourism Department, which is funded by a portion of the city's hotel/motel room tax. he Chamber President serves on the Elmhurst Visitor & Tourism Advisory Board.
County of DuPage
The Chamber suppots the activities of the county's new Economic Development andPlanning Departments and the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (DVCB).
State of Illinois
Through its membership in the lllinois Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE), the Chamber can represent the conerns of member businesses before state lawmakers and administrators.
U.S. Government
Federal legislators and administrators are accessible through the Chamber's membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
Building Leadership...
(Click Here for PDF of Building Leadership)
In an effort to build community leadership with a strong business perspective, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry provides members with a range of opportunities to participate in the organization, planning, development and implementation of policies and procedures.
Board of Directors
The Chamber derives considerable strength and leadership for a volunteer Board of Directors representing a broad and diverse spectrum of business and industry. The quality of this leadership is a major asset to the business community and the Chamber membership.
The 24-member Chamber Board is headed by a six-member Executive Committee, which includes the Chairperson, First Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, Treasurer, Past Chair and President.
The Board is comprised of 21 elected Directors serving three-year terms and three ex-officios. Seven Directors seats are open to election by the membership each October.
Ambassadors
The green-coated Ambassadors serves as the public relations arms of the the Chamber by officially welcoming new members with ribbon-cutting visits, joining with members to celebrate anniversaries and other special events, and acting as greeters at Chamber events.
The 30-member group is divided into three team of 10 Ambassadors, each with a captain.
Standing Board Committees
Non-Directors are encouraged to volunteer for one of the Board’s standing committees—Marketing, Membership, Ways and Means, and Governmental Affairs—each of which is chaired by a member of the Executive Committee.
Standing Committee Chairs are the First Vice Chair on Marketing, Second Vice Chair on Membership, Treasurer on Ways and Means, and President on Governmental Affairs. The Chairman of the Board is an ex-officio member of each of the Standing Committee.
Business Partnerships
The Chamber partners with the Spring Road Business Association and York/Vallette Business Association to better serve those shopping districts, an promotes the activities of the Elmhurst Jaycees, the local Junior Chamber of Commerce chapter. |
