Dear Members:

As we move into Fourth Quarter of 2021’s consumer holiday season, I am still stunned by the employment numbers that purport continuing job growth at the same time that millions of positions remain unfilled as American workers struggle with new career choices and concerns over Coronavirus (COVID-19) and related vaccination mandates in the workplace.

That being said, our Chamber fully supports the City of Elmhurst’s Elmhurst Loves Local COOL TO BE KIND campaign encouraging consumers to be patient and kind during this time of a nationwide staffing shortage.

Second Nashville Songwriter Fundraiser
Thanks in part to City of Elmhurst Explore Elmhurst Community Grant funding support, our Chamber and Post 187 will co-host the Second Annual Nashville Songwriter Fundraiser in the Normandy Room on Saturday, October 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. Click HERE to purchase an $85 ticket, which are limited, and/or join in as a $500 Blue, $250 Red or $100 White sponsor.

The Nashville Songwriter event will feature the return of country singer/songwriter Jason Sever, a native Texan who has worked the past 20 years in Music City U.S.A, as a headlining solo artist, studio musician and ensemble performer, along with acclaimed singers, songwriters and record producers Frank Myers and Anthony Smith.

Former member of the duo Baker & Myers, Myers is a three-time American Country Music (ACM) and County Music Academy (CMA) award nominee for “Duo of the Year.” His success spans more than four decades in the music industry, including a dozen No. 1 hits—starting with “You and I” in 1982 and including 1994’s “I Swear”—and 20 Top 10s charters. He has written and produced songs recorded by a Who’s Who of more than 50 country and pop artists.

Anthony Smith has more than 250 of his songs—including “If That Ain’t Country” in 2002—recorded by Nashville artists ranging from George Strait to Blake Shelton, from Tim McGraw to Rascal Flatts, and from Trace Adkins to Faith Hill.

Minority and Women Business Study
The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) is conducting a disparity study of its Business Enterprise Program (BEP) for Minority- and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) to examine if MWBEs have equal access to contracting opportunities.

An electronic survey will be released late in fall of 2021, small group business owner sessions will be scheduled for early winter of 2021 and written comments can be e-mailed to CMS-study@mbelaw.com.

Multi-Chamber Danube River Cruise
Our Chamber is among a dozen West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives (WSCCE) members partnering to host an Amazing Danube River Cruise aboard the 5-star MS Amadeus from October 12-21, 2022, along with an optional pre-cruise, three-night stay in Prague.

102nd Annual Awards Gala
Visit ElmhursTV.com to view coverage of ECCI’s 102nd Annual Awards Gala breakfast event in the Elmhurst Legion’s Normandy Banquet Room on September 8 and find October cable TV air dates on Comcast Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.

Click HERE to view Awards Gala photo page. As soon as available, the program will be posted to our Chamber website’s video library page.

73rd Annual Golf Outing
Click HERE to view photo page from “Networking on the 9s,” our Chamber’s 73rd Annual Golf Outing staged at Sugar Creek Golf Course in Villa Park on September 23.

New Members
Our Chamber welcomed four new members in September as follows: Elmhurst Hall; Frank’s Real Estate; Lindsay Sebion – New York Life Insurance Co.; Mata Ne New Asian; and Sam Arpino – Merrill Lynch – The Speers Group.

Happy Anniversary
One member is celebrating a Chamber anniversary in October as follows: 35 years—K&T Colors.

Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following eight members in September: American Gardens, BMO Harris Bank – City Centre, Bounce Houses R Us, Coltiva Wealth, David King & Associates, DuPage County Area Project (DuCAP), Equity Property Investments and Goldfish Swim School.