Dear Members:
I and other representatives from our Chamber will travel to the Springfield in both March and April to meet with members of the Illinois General Assembly to discuss proposed legislation that will directly impact employers and their businesses.
First, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Chamber Day at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel on Wednesday, March 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., before heading over to the Illinois Capitol Building for meetings.
Then, on April 1-2 (no fooling), Elmhurst will join Chamber630 (Downers Grove and Woodridge), Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce and Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce (West Chicago and Warrenville) on an annual multi-chamber Springfield trip.
Republican members in both the Illinois House of Representative and Illinois Senate support a proposed freeze on local property taxes (which fund the City of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst Pubic Library and more)—legislation that our Chamber successfully opposed back in 2018.
Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch voiced his organization’s opposition to the Illinois Governor B.J. Pritzker-backed Constitutional Amendment on the November 3 election ballot to shift from the current flat income tax to a progressive income tax in an op-ed article published in the Chicago Sun-Times on February 28.
Great Lakes Regional Tournament
The legendary Wayne Messmer is booked to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” before the host Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187 Muddogs’ opening round night game on Wednesday, August 5, at 7 p.m. in the 2020 American Legion Baseball Great Lakes Regional Tournament at the IC Catholic Prep artificial turf field at Plunkett Park. Also, the game will be videotaped by Elmhurst TV for local access cable TV broadcast.
The winner of the eight-team Great Lakes Regional will advance to the 94th Annual World Series at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, North Carolina, from August 13-18.
Post 187 is paying $15K to American Legion Baseball for the Regional hosting rites and will incur a projected $30K in additional expenses, such as transportation for teams, fans and officials, hotel rooms, athletic trainers, baseballs, advertising and field rental.
Presenting Sponsor Elmhurst Auto Group, Event Sponsor Community Bank of Elmhurst and Illinois State Representative and Elmhurst College graduate Kathleen Willis (D-77th District), who is sponsoring Messmer’s appearance, account for $8K in sponsorships.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chicago Elmhurst will serve as the host hotel for the visiting teams (18 players and two coaches on each), families, umpires and officials.
2020 United States Census
“Everyone Counts Elmhurst,” the City of Elmhurst Complete Count Committee’s theme for the 2020 United States Census, is using profiles of a dozen individuals representing disparate demographic groups to promote local participation.
Residents should look for an informational postcard in their mail boxes between March 12 and 20, and promotional materials will be handed out at the 24th Annual Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade down Spring Road on Saturday, March 7, stepping off at 12 noon.
Participants will be allowed to complete their census forms online, via mail and by phone. For more information, visit 2020Census.gov or IlCountMeIn2020.org.
Mandated by the U.S. Constitution every 10 years, the Decennial Census provides the federal government with population data used to appropriate some $700 billion annually in state, county and local funding ($180 per person) for public education, transportation infrastructure and healthcare programs. In addition, the number of seats proportioned to the State of Illinois’ Congressional delegation is dependent on those census figures.
Census data is protected by federal law and cannot be shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), immigration agencies, police or any governmental entity.
Historic Preservation Month
In conjunction with National Preservation Month in May, the City of Elmhurst’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) wants to encourage residents and businesses to celebrate “the beauty and cultural richness of Elmhurst’s buildings, businesses, civic organizations, museums, neighborhoods, people and landscapes.”
May is a month full of community celebrating events, including the 102nd Annual Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade (May 25) through downtown Elmhurst and Post-Parade Military Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Wilde Park. Also featured are Art in the Park (May 2-3), Great Western Prairie Volunteer Day (May 16), Modern Architecture Walking Tour (May 16) and Elmhurst Museum Day (May 17)
The seven-member Commission, which meets monthly at Elmhurst City Hall on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m., has powers and duties as set forth in the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 21 of the Elmhurst Municipal Code).
Elmhurst Pride Collective
On February 10, I met with representatives of Elmhurst Pride Collective, a not-for-profit organization established by Elmhurst residents, business owners and community leaders whose mission is “to foster and promote a safe and inclusive environment” for all people, including the LGBTQ+ community. Some 35 Elmhurst businesses have signed onto an Inclusion Pledge and are displaying an EPC window decal. EPC intends to offer inclusivity training for managers and/or employees three to four times annually.
Happy Anniversaries
Six members are celebrating milestone Chamber anniversaries in March as follows: 15 years—Dawson’s Tree Experts and State Farm Insurance (Curry Agency); 10 years—Daniel Law Office and Law Offices of Hoy and Sahlas; and 5 years—British Swim School and Kilwins Elmhurst.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed three new members in February as follows: Coltiva Wealth, S.B.C. Waste Solutions and Workvana.
Reactivated Members
Courageous Bakery & Café and Elmhurst Eagles Football & Cheer reactivated their memberships in February.
No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following eight members in February: A.V. Franklin, USA, Corp., Expedia CruiseShipCenters Naperville, L.W. Reedy (Kathy Repsis), Napleton Kia of Elmhurst/Ed Napleton’s Acura, Pythagoras Children’s Academy, Topgolf Wood Dale, Triangle Sign and Awning, and Walker Real Estate Group.