Dear Members:
Results from a landmark nationwide public opinion poll conducted by The Harris Poll in partnership with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) confirmed United States adults’ overwhelming-positive perceptions of their local chamber, the role chambers play in their communities and the value of chamber member to businesses.
The poll confirmed that local chambers impact economic growth (90 percent) and address challenges (88 percent), satisfy consumer needs (86 percent), are a trusted resource and partner for businesses (81 percent), serve as the collective voice of businesses (77 percent), and fosters job creation and economic development (74 percent).
NFP Giving Tuesday
This Giving Tuesday (and through January 2025) I invite you to join me in making a tax-deductible donation to the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP to support the Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial Fund, Second Century Fund and/or Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University.
Among the highlights of my 25-year tenure as President and CEO, the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP was created as part of the Elmhurst Chamber’s 100th Anniversary Year activities in 2018 with an initial goal of raising $250,000 across three initiatives.
At an investment of nearly $20,000, the interactive touch-screen ECCI Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial has been on display on the second floor at the Elmhurst Public Library since December of 2022. Click HERE to view the Civic HOF website. To date, fundraising for the public memorial has exceeded its $50,000 goal, including my 2024 Giving Tuesday gift of $1,000.
The Second Century Fund has already allowed our Chamber to educate Elmhurst businesses and our community at large on a variety of socio-economic activities. In 2024, the Second Century Fund contributed financially to the City of Elmhurst’s recently-dedicated First Responders Memorial adjacent to Fire Station No. 2 and paid for the production of promotional videos for select member businesses. To date, fundraising for the Second Century Fund has exceeded its $50,000 goal, including my 2024 Giving Tuesday gift of $1,000.
Thanks to an initial donation of $100,000 and subsequent annual gifts from Ralph Pechanio, the long-time appointed Treasurer of the ECCI Board of Directors, the Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst University has exceeded its $150,000 goal by more than double–assuring that the Elmhurst Chamber will have the funds needed to offer paid internship to EU students. Gifts to the Endowment Fund also can be made directly to Elmhurst University.
Explore Elmhurst Holly Trolley
Connecting downtown Elmhurst with both the Spring Road Business and York and Vallette Business Districts, the Explore Elmhurst Holly Trolley started its five Saturday holiday runs in conjunction with Small Business Saturday on November 30 and running 12 noon to 12 midnight through December 28.
Park District Referendum
Endorsed by the ECCI’s Board of Directors, the Elmhurst Park District’s $89.95 million referendum passed by a vote of 57 to 43 percent in the November 5 Presidential Elections.
The funds will be used to replace the 1950s-built Joanne B. Wagner Community Center with a state-of-the-art facility ($84,950,000) four times as large, install at Wilder Park bandshell ($2M), install a new turf field at Helmut Berens Park ($1M) and construct heated restrooms at three parks (Crestview, Eldridge and Wilder) and the Illinois Prairie Path ($500,000 per location).
Veterans Day Ceremony Video
Click HERE to watch Elmhurst TV’s coverage of the Annual Elmhurst Veterans Day Ceremony staged at the Veterans Memorial in Wilder Park on November 11.
State of Tourism Industry
October metrics for DuPage County hotels grew in demand (up 5.3 percent from a year ago), supply (up 1.7 percent), revenue (up 8.1 percent) and occupancy (up 3.5 percent), according to the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Buck-A-Duck Raffle
During 2024, a single Buck-A-Duck winner will split the pot collected at each of our Chamber’s monthly networking events and other selected events. Erica Fine of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving won $48 at the November 21 Membership Breakfast hosted by The Roosevelt at Salt Creek, while Mark Smolenski of Elderwerks won $60 from the November 13 Business After Hours co-hosted by the Elmhurst History Museum and Elmhurst Heritage Foundation.
Happy Anniversary
Five members are celebrating their Chamber anniversaries in December as follows: 25 years—Manion Decorating; 15 years—Elmhurst History Museum and Elmhurst Police Department; and 10 years—ChemStation Chicago and Edward Jones Investment—Rita Borzym.
New Member
The following three businesses and one not-for-profit organization joined our Chamber in November: As Good As Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois, Assistenza Healthcare Management, Fulton Grace Realty, Jordan’s Athletic Center and Promo Merch Sales.
Reactivated Members
Ernies’ Auto reactivated its Chamber membership after a four-year hiatus.
Dropped Members
The Chamber dropped six members in November as follows: Courageous Bakery & Café, Elmhurst CBD Shop, Paylocity, Pure Barre Elmhurst, Spirito! Singers and Trella Auto Tech.