Dear Members:
As part of a complete rebranding campaign leading into the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Centennial Celebration in 2018, the newly redesigned and re-platformed version of our website went live this morning.
The Chamber’s new “responsive” website is built on a WordPress platform and will automatically adjust pages to fit the size, platform and orientation of any accessing device—from smart phones to tablets, from computer laptops to desktops.
Website redevelopment was contracted to Chamber member SMB Advantage Group under the direction of Partner Jennifer Speaker, who is a Past Chair (2012) of our Board of Directors and a member of our Marketing Committee.
First created in January of 2000—only two months after yours truly took office as President and CEO—elmhurstchamber.org had morphed into a content management mix of ChamberMaster modules (member directory, events calendar, job postings, news and more) and JOOMLA! pages displayed within a template developed by SMB.
Features of the new website include the following:
- Under the home page logo (also new) and drop-down search categories, there is a banner photo with text box overlap. The photo element is designed to be changed out quarterly, while the text element (starting out with the Chamber’s Mission Statement) can be changed more frequently;
- Under the banner photo, there are six informational modules that will draw content from the Chamber News and Community News modules, as well as President’s Messages and Photo Pages;
- Access to the online membership directory will be done via a user-friendly “Smart Search” module, eliminating the need for a half-dozen or so quick links such as restaurants, entertainment, retail shopping, etc.;
- There are modules for both the Upcoming Chamber Events and Chamber News & Notes;
- There are three “Don’t Miss These Items” modules that will be used to highlight new members, recruit new members, and promote holidays and other special events in our community;
- The home page footer provides an expanded look at the search categories listed in the header; and
- The Community News section features links to an improved events listing (Things To Do), an enhanced video library and our first photo library.
The Marketing Committee, chaired by First Vice Chair Ken Bartels of Community Bank of Elmhurst, has provided oversite on the website redevelopment project, including the selection of SMB from a list of highly-qualified member candidates.
Still a work in progress, our website now employs user-friendly technology designed for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Gifts Support Capital Campaign
Though technically still in its “silent” phase, our $250K Centennial Celebration Capital Campaign is now at 57% of goal (or $141.5K raised), thanks to a recent five-figure pledge to the Elmhurst College Student Internship Endowment Fund (now at $110K) and another $5.5K in gifts and pledges to our Second Century Fund (now at $31.5K).
Your financial support—as a business and/or individual—in cash or as a gift-in-kind donation at any level is both wanted and needed, and much appreciated.
New Logos Attracting Attention
Our new Chamber logo and Centennial Celebration logo, developed by Korzenowski Design in partnership with the Marketing Committee, are drawing rave reviews.
Ambassadors and staff now don North End Sport shirts ordered from The Stevens Group, name badges (white for members and silver for Directors, Ambassadors and staff) ordered from Dependable Printing Services were worn for the first time at our July 26 Membership Breakfast hosted by the Elmhurst Park District and static-cling membership decals are on order with Creative Inks—all with the new logo.
The Centennial logo is embroidered on new polo shirts for Directors, Ambassadors and staff ordered from SPECIAL T UNLIMITED, and is heat sealed on New Resident Greeter Totes currently on order with Creative Inks.
Cycling Classic on Cable TV
Elmhurst Our Kind of Town will air videotape coverage of the DuPage Cycling Foundation-organized Fifth Annual Superior Ambulance Elmhurst Cycling Classic held on July 21 around the Elmhurst College campus throughout August on Thursday at 5 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 p.m. on Comcast Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, with Ken Bartels and me teaming up to serve as your emcees.
Happy Anniversaries
Six members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in August, as follows: 30 years—Mehta Motors; 20 years—First Congregational United Church of Christ; 15 years—Elmhurst Independent and Enerpace; and 10 years—BW Bookeeping & Taxes and DeForest Dance Academy.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed two new members in July, as follows: Advanced Disposal and HealthStyle Chiropractic and Wellness.
No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following three members in July: CMAS, John B. Peterson Insurance and Mary Kay/Nancy Magurno.