Dear Members:
Hello from sunny Phoenix, Arizona, where I am fortunate enough to be playing in the Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series (60 and over) at major league complexes across the metropolitan area.
November 6 Mid-Term Elections
The most powerful instrument of being a citizen of the United States is your right to vote, so (if you haven’t voted early) make sure to get out to your polling place on November 6 to cast your ballot in the Mid-Term Elections.
Here in Elmhurst, the ballot includes the $168.5 million referendum for Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 to rebuild 103-year-old Lincoln Elementary School ($32.5M) and 87-year-old Field Elementary School ($29M), renovation Edison elementary School ($18.1M) and Bryan Middle School ($21.1M), and much more.
In September, our Board of Directors voted its endorsement, as done for the $77M referendum in March of 2000 that included rebuilding York Community High.
New Director of Member Services
Mariella Mastromauro, former Project Service Specialist with ADP, started work as our new Director of Member Services on October 16.
Mastromauro views her role with customers as that of a problem solver and she prides herself on her ability “to understand the client’s needs.”
Originally developed as a hybrid position that included office management duties, the Director of Member Services is now responsible principally for member recruitment, member retention and member services based on the Chamber’s newly-adopted three-tiered dues annual investment schedule and two sponsorship packages (see more below).
Shifting from employee-based dues to tiers will require our Director of Member Services to work more closely with prospective members to identify which tier and/or sponsorship level will best serve their needs and wants.
What’s in Tiered Dues for You
The Board of Directors’ September 11 adoption of a tiered dues annual investment schedule from the current criteria based on number of employees (inaccurately titled “Fair Share”) will allow new members to determine their own ‘What’s In It For Me?’”
New member tiers include Advocate (Engagement Tier) at $120 per month, Investor (Marketing Tier) at $80 per month and Member (Networking Tier) at $40 per month—paid via our Chamber’s direct debit options of bank account or credit card.
Regardless of tier level, new and current members also can purchase a sponsorship package of either Second Century ($5,000 annually) or Elm Leaf ($2,500 annually).
While only new members will join under the tiered dues schedule, current members are welcome to move to a dues tier at any time, getting credit for all of their pre-paid months.
Director and Marketing Committee Chair Kevin Kost of Edward Jones Investments is proud to be the first “grandfathered” member moving to tiered dues, opting for the Investor tier for its participation option in our New Resident Greeter Tote program.
Elmhurst-Opoly Goes Public
While Elmhurst-Opoly can be bought online at a cost of $25 (retail sales tax included), our board game also can be purchased at any of the following six commercial and retail locations across Elmhurst:
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- Community Bank of Elmhurst (Main Branch and City Centre);
- Elmhurst City Centre;
- Elmhurst History Museum;
- K & T Colors;
- The Uptown Shop; and
- Total Window Treatments.
To date, more than 400 of our production run of 1,000 board games have been sold or given away as gifts since their delivery in late July.
Happy Anniversaries
Three members are celebrating milestone Chamber anniversaries in November, as follows: 30 years— International Contractors Inc.; 20 years— Lexington Square of Elmhurst; and 15 years— Chicagoland Group, Inc.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed five new members in October as follows: Advent Systems, At Home, Dewberry Architects, Touching Hearts at Home and WoodWorx Lumber Supply.
No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following two members in October: G.L. Hair Design and LiveWell Chiropractic.