We are so proud to have such an exceptional group of health and wellness businesses in our community and hope to connect you with the resources you and your family need in order to improve your well-being and live life to the fullest.
It is a joy for us to be part of the planning committee and we appreciate all of the time and effort put into planning past events that we now get to resurrect. We look forward to seeing you again in person and providing a safe and valuable experience!
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Friday March 4 , 12-12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at Kettlestrings Tavern
Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at the esteemed Kettlestrings Tavern! In this event, we convene at a designated restaurant to pick up our takeout lunch choices, and get to see each other for a bit while we're at it in a socially-distanced meetup. Like our Tuesday Tasting lunch series from which this springs, lunch is a flat $16 including tax and tip; a range of menu choices are listed on the website.
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Tuesday March 8 , 5-7pm - Business After Hours at Baird & Warner
Join us at our regular monthly networking event! Business After Hours (BAH) occur on the second Tuesday of every month at a new location each time. This is your chance to connect with other members in a more casual setting. All members and non-members are welcomed.
Our March Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Baird & Warner, one of Oak Park's most successful real estate agencies.
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Friday March 11 , 9-10:30am - Women in Business at TBD
WIB is continuing our monthly series by honoring Women's History Month. In lieu of a guest speaker, we are inviting you to be our speakers. Every women has powerful women in her life that influenced, encouraged, motivated, taught, coached, or mentored her. Bring your short stories of the powerful ladies in your life. Show us a photo or two!
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After a "small" Covid hiatus, we are thrilled to announce that the OPRF Chamber's Annual Health & Wellness Fair is scheduled for May 15, 2022!
This is an amazing event, but we need your help to make it happen! Come along to our organizing committee meeting, learn about the event and sign up to help us get this over the line!
We will be meeting next at 1pm on February 23rd at FFC Oak Park.
If you are considering joining the planning committee, please make sure to register!
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Join our Young Professionals this Wednesday, Feb 23 6-7:30pm for a fun evening, striving together to solve puzzles to make our way out of the escape rooms at Escape Factor!
There are several rooms to choose from, so when we know how many we are, we'll form teams - if you've already done a room or two there, you'll be able to request a different room to keep it fresh.
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We will be hosting an informal meet and greet at Styles 4 Kidz on Monday, February 28th at 5:00 pm. Come connect with Black, Latinx, Asian-American, indigenous peers from the OPRF business and nonprofit community!
During this event, we will do introductions, talk about the type of programming and resources are needed for the community, and discuss meeting frequency and goals for the group.
Come join us to make connections with great folks, and help us shape the future of this new group!
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Take a Break with Us
We know that owning or working in a business has been particularly hard this past year and we are guessing that you could use some TLC!
Join us as we launch our NEW Chamber program aimed at taking care of you, our small business community. Welcome to our monthly Meditation Mondays! All it takes is half an hour (that's only 30 mins!) for us to help you put your to-do list aside, empty your head of all the chatter and truly look after yourself.
Who will lead the meditation?
We are thrilled to partner with the Kadampa Meditation Center in Oak Park to bring you this monthly meditation. The fabulous Kelsang Chogo will lead the meditation and talk you through every step. You don't need to do anything but show up and breath!
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Come join the Chamber's nonprofit affinity group for our monthly gathering. This month: guest expert Jerry "Hutch" Hutchinson, principal of local design firm Hutchinson, on "When to do a branding refresh, and considerations in doing so."
Coming to you via Zoom Meeting! You can connect via video link on your computer using the link we'll send you, or call in via your phone.
We will be meeting on Thursday, March 3rd from 1-2pm via Zoom.
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Member Benefits Series
New to the Chamber?
Meet other new Chamber members, staff and Board Members!
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Welcome New Members! This event is perfect for new members and those who need a refresher, this fast-paced seminar will review all of your member benefits to maximize your marketing advantage.
In this seminar we will go over all of your marketing benefits that come with your membership!
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Online Job Hunt / Online Interviewing |
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Struggling to find enough employees? If you are looking for an easy way to fill those vacancies at your business, join OPRFHS in it’s inaugural online job hunt. During school lunches, students will sign up for time slots to virtually meet with you and discuss part-time employment. Use this opportunity as a screening method or jump straight to interviewing. Find employees now, for the summer, or as full time employees after graduation. |
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February 25, 3-6PM - NGLCC LGBT Sip & Pitch Fridays: Black History Month Edition
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) invites you to take advantage of what we do best: bring business leaders together and create new relationships. Even in this time of social distancing, virtual meetings allow us to be closer than ever.
Sip & Pitch is a chance to informally present your business to a panel of experts and your fellow business owners for positive, constructive feedback and new ideas.
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Funding Opportunities
Need a little help?
Check out some of these funding opportunities we have
gathered for you to help keep your business running!
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Illinois Arts Council Agency Grant Opportunity - The deadline is fast approaching for the Illinois Arts Council’s (IACA) 2023 General Operating Support (GOS) program, open to all eligible Illinois non-profit organizations for public arts programming of high artistic merit.
The FY23 GOS application deadline is Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
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Apply Today for a $25,000 Amber Grant for Women - Applying is simple. Just take a few minutes to tell them about yourself and your business dream. No long, complicated forms to fill out. Submitting one application makes you instantly eligible for all grants related to your business. They will announce the grant winners by the 23rd of the following month.
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Below is a list of many other grant opportunities you can apply for. Some of the deadlines are fast approaching. Make sure to take a look at this list and apply for any that work for your business! |
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Vaccine, mask requirement update - With COVID-19 metrics steadily improving, the Oak Park Department of Public Health is reassessing various mitigation measures currently in place to slow the spread of the virus. Based on recent trends, local health officials fully anticipate lifting the proof of vaccination requirement Feb. 28. Whether Oak Park’s indoor mask requirement will be lifted at the same time will depend on several key metrics. Click here for more information.
COVID-19 vaccine business survey - The Oak Park Department of Public Health is looking to support local businesses in ensuring their employees are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. The Health Department is seeking feedback from local business operators about possible strategies to increase vaccine uptake, including special COVID-19 vaccine and testing clinics for individuals who work in Oak Park. Click here to take the survey
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This newsletter is made possible in part from a grant from the
Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation.
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Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce
143 S Oak Park Avenue
708.613.0550
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This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member in good standing as a member benefit. For information about the event described please contact the host. For information about joining the Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
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