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Chamber Advantage
October 20th, 2024
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We have been LOVING the energy you've been giving us these past couple of weeks in October. Event after event, staff has been noticing new faces dropping in and great conversations on how to upgrade or how to better utilize their membership level. All I can say to that is: KEEP THEM COMING!
With this week's deal, you can enjoy a FREE ticket for Meet Me for Lunch when you join the OPRF Chamber! Best part is this ticket can be used for the month of November or December. But don't delay, this offer ends on October 27th.
This wave of enthusiasm from all of you has really inspired us all to plan even bigger and better things. Can it just be Membership Month every month?
Darien Marion-Burton
Executive Director
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Join the Chamber anytime in October and you will receive:
- Three free months of membership; You will not receive a renewal invoice until January 2026
- Discounted Membership; Check out the awesome deals we have going on for new AND existing members this month!
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Join us for a frightful night of fun and competition at the OPRF Chamber's Halloween Trivia Night, where your participation directly supports local non-profits. Non-profits that register a team receive a free Chamber membership! Enjoy dinner, a drink ticket, trivia, and a live auction.
Don't have a team? No worries—register solo, and we'll match you with a group. By attending, you help fund non-profit memberships, allowing them to thrive in our community.
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Plus, you'll have the chance to win prizes, including $125 in local gift cards for trivia winners and $25 gift cards for the best costumes.
Come dressed in your Halloween best and make it a night to remember! 🎃
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Disability Employment Awareness Month | |
This October will mark the first year the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month with a lineup of organizations who work with individuals with disabilities, joining us at chamber events. | | |
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We’re excited to highlight the importance of hiring individuals with disabilities and how it strengthens both businesses and our community.
We hope you can join us in one of our scheduled events to engage with the organizations empowering individuals with disabilities.
On Oct. 24 at 12:15 PM on Zoom, you’ll have the chance to hear from local Warriors during our Accessibility and Community Panel Discussion. In collaboration with the Oak Park Community Mental Health Board, River Forest Township, and Opportunity Knocks, this session will illuminate the existing challenges faced by customers and employees with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Help us foster a more inclusive and diverse community this October!
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We've Planned Your Week!
Here are some events we have coming up over the next week so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event!
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Wednesday Oct 23,
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for Prints & Pours, a collaborative event brought to you by LuckyPrints, Allies for Community Business, Make City, and The Chamber. This free community event is open to all, offering a fun and engaging evening
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Thursday Oct 24,
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Join us for an insightful event in collaboration with the Oak Park Community Mental Health Board, River Forest Township, Opportunity Knocks, and The Chamber. Learn about the challenges faced by customers and employees alike.
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Saturday Oct 26,
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Join us in celebrating the new Kiddie Academy location in Oak Park with a ribbon cutting and great networking opportunities! Come explore this exciting new daycare resource dedicated to caring for and educating children.
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The Source | OPRF Chamber
The Source is your go-to resource for expert advice and tailored guidance—all at no cost to you.
Don’t tackle the challenges of your business journey alone. Get the support and expertise you need from The Source today, completely free!
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Like to plan ahead? Plan Your Month!
Here are some events we have coming up over the next month so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event.
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Thursday Nov 7,
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
You asked for it, and here it is!! An evening networking event for our Nonprofit Members!!
Join us for an evening of connection, collaboration, and conversation at the Hemingway Historic Birthplace, one of Oak Park’s most iconic nonprofit treasures.
Come ready to learn, share, and make meaningful connections!
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Friday Nov 8,
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Julie Thompson, Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner
Founder of B.O.S.S.: Back Office Service Solutions
It's never too early to get ready for tax season! Join us to learn about what you can do now to set yourself up for success when the deadline arrives.
Your accountant will thank you for attending this session!
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Tuesday Nov 12,
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Our November Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by the Oak Park - River Forest Museum! We hope you can join us for our first BAH in this fascinating setting! Join us for networking, food, raffles, friends, and simply a lovely evening in excellent company.
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Friday Nov 15,
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Meet Me for Lunch, a business lunch in a casual setting, with small group networking. Come enjoy the food at Piacere Mio the area’s newest Italian go-to spot. Piacere Mio serves authentic Italian cuisine inspired by the many regions of Italy, focused on Sicilian dishes infused with Chef Jose’s creative vision.
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Thursday Nov 21,
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Join us at our quarterly New Member Breakfast at Brookdale Oak Park to introduce yourself and tell us about your business.
This is an ideal opportunity to meet fellow new members, Chamber staff and Board leadership.
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Exciting career opportunities await with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)! Join a dynamic team, enjoy competitive salaries, a state pension, and 100% tuition reimbursement. Ready to make an impact? Don’t miss our virtual recruitment presentations—offered in both English and Spanish—to discover current openings and get insider tips on how to land your dream job with the state. It’s your chance to make a difference!
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Food Vendors, we need your help to make the 8th Annual Bite Nite 2025, the most delicious event of the year!
Warm up a crowd this winter by serving unforgettable culinary delights and/or drinks. We'll take care of the rest! The Nineteenth Century Club's historic ballroom will be filled with live music and hungry guests!
We're carefully picking over 30 local eateries, caterers, and food brands for ONE NIGHT ONLY to treat food enthusiasts to an array of savory bites and sweet treats.
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Ready to take on the challenge to serve your specialties to locals?
Sign up today!
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BUSINESS SURVEY
Oak Park or River Forest Small Business Owner,
The Brennan School of Business at Dominican University is partnering with the OPRF Chamber of Commerce to find innovative solutions to help meet the needs of our local small business community.
To that end, we have created a survey to profile and assess the needs of the local small business community, and our overall goal is to have a measurable local economic
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impact by accelerating the growth potential of existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses to the community. Our ask is that you take our survey and help enable us to meet this goal. You will find the survey here.
Your response will be kept confidential, and results will only be reported in non-personally identifiable groupings to help us determine the best offerings to meet these needs. The survey will take about 10 minutes to finish.
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Sign up to be part of our Frosty Affair Holiday Market! We'll have festive shopping featuring a delightful array of local retailers showcasing their unique products and services for sale. Don't miss out on being part of where shopping becomes a magical experience for all! | | |
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The Illinois Secretary of State and NASS are seeking young Illinoisans ages 18-25 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and a strong commitment to civic engagement with the 2024 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award!
They're now accepting applications and we invite you to share this opportunity using the award information and application here: Illinois Secretary of State John Lewis Award (ilsos.gov)
The deadline to apply for the JLYLA is Monday, November 11, 2024.
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