Dear Members:
While Elmhurst’s Memorial Day Parade was cancelled for a second straight year due to Restore Illinois Bridge Phase Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic restrictions, a Second Annual “Always Remember” Convoy took place on May 31, followed by the traditional in-person Military Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Wilder Park. Click HERE to watch both events.
Scott Levin of ECCI member Howard and Howard and 2010 Chair of ECCI’s Board of Directors delivered his first Memorial Day speech as Elmhurst’s new Mayor at the Military Ceremony. While serving as acting Mayor in 2012, Levin spoke at the November 11 Veterans Day Ceremony.
Our 104th Annual Memorial Day Parade is expected to return to the streets of downtown Elmhurst on Monday, May 30, 2022.
Congressional Update
United States Representative Adam Daniel Kinzinger (R-Illinois 16th District) will present a virtual Congressional Update to members of 10 suburban chambers on Thursday, June 3, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Registration costs are $10 per members and $35 per non-members. Click HERE to register by the June 2 deadline of 12 noon.
Board Treasurer Donates $10K
ECCI Board of Directors Treasurer Ralph Pechanio in May donated $5K to both ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP’s Second Century Fund and the Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University named in his honor.
Created in honor of ECCI’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, the NFP’s one-of-a-kind $250,000 Capital Campaign since 2016 has raised $260K for the Endowment Fund (versus a goal of $150K), exceeded the Second Century Fund’s $50K goal (counting pledges) and generated more than $10K towards the $50K goal to develop an ECCI Civic Hall of Fame public memorial.
Civic HOF Fundraising
In memory of the April passing of ECCI Civic Hall of Famers Thomas O. Myers Jr. (2006) and Jim Van Ewyk (2004), the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP solicited five tax-deductible donations totaling $725 during May to fund the Civic HOF public memorial—which will featured a TouchPros Touch Wall interactive, touch-screen TV monitor (55 to 70 inches) on which users can view biographies, photographs and video clips of each of the inductees.
Created in honor of ECCI’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP’s one-of-a-kind $250,000 Capital Campaign has raised $260K for the Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University (versus a goal of $150K), exceeded the Second Century Fund’s $50K goal (counting multi-year pledges) and generated more than $10K towards the $50K Civic HOF goal since 2016.
To donate, simply mail a check to our Chamber office at 300A West Lake Street.
SBA EIDL Loan Increases
In May, ECCI completed the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) online application process to increase our Chamber’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) of $100.2K by $200.2K from to a total of $300.4K for 30-year term at a not-for-profit interest rate of 2.75 percent.
To date, our Chamber has not used any of the EIDL funds thanks to $90.25K in forgiveness-eligible grants, including federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) First and Second Draws ($39.75K and $32.5K, respectively), Reinvest DuPage ($15K) and EIDL Emergency Loan ($3K).
A total of $45K of the EIDL funds are invested in Certificate of Deposits of various lengths and terms at members banks, some which have already rolled over for another period.
In-Person Monthly Networking
Our Chamber resumes in-person monthly networking events this month, with Alpine Creek Dental hosting the June 3 Business After Hours at Elmhurst Brewing Company. Elmhurst University will host the June 23 Membership Breakfast.
Business After Hours are booked for August through December, while Membership Breakfasts are booked for July, September and October.
New Members
Our Chamber welcomed a new member in May as follows: D&M Home Improvement.
Reactivated Members
Fitz’s Pub reactivated its membership after a two-year hiatus.
Happy Anniversary
Eight members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in June as follows: 45 years—McMaster-Carr Supply Co.; 40 years—IC Catholic Prep; 35 years—Odeum Expo Center; 30 years—Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Prairie Path REALTORS; 20 years—Leonard Metzl, CPA & Associates and SMB Advantage Group; 10 years—Tail Gate; and 5 years—Guaranteed Rate-John Noldan.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following two members in May: British Swim School and CHR Design & Build.