Chamber Advantage
March 6th, 2022
This month, we honor women who inspire and motivate us. Those who paved the way for us, those who shaped us and made us who we are today. Those who broke the glass ceiling. Those who stood for those who couldn’t. Those who were strong for those too weak. Those who shined their light so that we could see. Those who are survivors, the warriors among us. 

This month we celebrate Women’s History Month. Who is your shero? We want to know her story so we can honor her. For she is extraordinary, remarkable, resilient, un-breakable and phenomenal. All. Year. Long.
Real Estate Broker
&
Administrative Liaison
Executive Administrator
The Intergovernmental Body of the Village of Oak Park (IGOV)
#chamberLOVE
Women in Business

Why should YOU join us each month?
Want to meet business women in your community who are committed to growing and strengthening their connections, celebrating and supporting each other? Learn what has worked for other women in their businesses.

WIB is continuing our monthly series this Friday, March 11, 9-10:30am by honoring Women's History Month. This month, we will be meeting at The Sheridan at River Forest. In lieu of a guest speaker, we are inviting you to be our speakers. Every woman 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!
Plan Your Week!

What is coming up this week?
Check out the events we have put together for you this week.
We look forward to seeing you there!

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.  
Thursday March 10 , 5:30-7pm - Design, Construction and Real Estate at Cross Function
Come join your fellow Chamber professionals in Design, Construction and Real Estate for an evening in the historic Boulevard Arcade building, looking at adaptive reuse as this beautiful edifice is in a new form of use! 
Food and drink will be provided by DCRE affinity group co-chairs Deborah Wess, Realtor with Coldwell Banker, and Phil Gould, owner of Property Guidance Inspection, providing building inspection and radon testing services. 
Thursday March 10 , 5-7pm - Ribbon Cutting at West Suburban Medical Center's Outpatient Center for Behavioral Health
Come join us to celebrate the opening of the West Suburban Medical Center's Outpatient Center for Behavioral Health! We'll kick off the evening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, then the open house will continue until 7 pm with beverages and hors d'oeuvres. 
This new center will be a resource for the mental health needs of the community, featuring both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP). 
Come on by for a little networking, a little fun, some food and drink, and the photo op!
Plan Your Month!

Want to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up this month.
Join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and
continue to grow your business!

Friday March 18 , 12-12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at Mora Asian Kitchen
Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at Mora Asian Kitchen! 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. Lunch is a flat $16 including tax and tip. 
Check out our website for menu options!
Monday March 21 , 12:15-12:45pm - Meditation Mondays at CrossFunction
We know that life can be busy, and it can be stressful juggling family and work. We are guessing that you could use some TLC!
Join us each month for our 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.
We will be meeting at The Boulevard Arcade in Oak Park, the home of CrossFunction Flexible Workspace.
Member Benefits Series

New to the Chamber?
Meet other new Chamber members, staff and Board Members!

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!
The 6th Annual Community Health & Wellness Fair on SUNDAY, MAY 15, from 11A-2P at the FFC Gym in Oak Park, IL. This event is a showcase of outstanding health & wellness services available throughout the western suburbs and attracts hundreds of area residents who interact with 50+ exhibitors, receive complimentary screenings, enjoy family activities & appreciate excellent giveaways. 
Register now to be a Vendor or Sponsor for the event!
Exclusive Presenting Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Take-out Stake-out

Would you like to host a Take-out Stake-out?
Every two weeks there is an opportunity for a new restaurant to host a Take-out Stake-out. Show off what you are able to do! Bring groups of business owners to your location to network and then enjoy your food! We don't see a downside here.
We love food and we love to connect members together, so we decided to combine both in a bi-weekly lunch date where our member businesses get to show off their food while we get to network outside in the fresh air!
The Take-out Stake-out is a packed half an hour of meeting friends and grabbing your lunch to go.

Hosting a Take-out Stake-out is one of the many benefits of being a member of the Chamber. To learn more about becoming a member, or the benefits of membership, click on the image below.
Speed Networking

Reconnect with Your Network!
We will be holding a Speed Networking event on Tuesday, April 12th at Concordia University. Keep an eye on the website and future newsletters for more information and how you can get involved!

Workforce Development

What do you need?
Complete this two minute survey, created by our Workforce Development team, Brian Dubina & Jake Bucher, to let us know what we can do to help.
Consistent with past announcements, Governor Pritzker and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) has lifted the indoor mask requirement as of, Monday, February 28, 2022. The updated mandate also makes changes to proof of vaccination requirements. To view the complete press releases, please visit the CCDPH and State of IllinoisRiver Forest is under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Department of Public Health and will be subject to these reduced measures. 
Per the CCDPH, the changes include the following:
  • Masks will no longer be required in all indoor public places for the general public.
  • Masks will continue to be required in those settings as required by federal or State Order or CDC guidelines (healthcare settings, public transportation and transportation hubs, congregate care settings).
  • In the settings covered by Order 2021-11 (those where food or drink are served for on-premises consumption and health and fitness centers):
  • Proof of vaccination for patrons in businesses that are covered by the order will no longer be required.
  • Proof of vaccination or weekly testing for employees covered by the Order will no longer be required.
The Oak Park Department of Public Health is taking its mobile response van into the community to provide convenient COVID-19 vaccinations and rapid testing.
If you have an upcoming community event such as a block party, picnic or any other public gathering and would like the mobile response van to stop by, complete the online request form:
Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce

143 S Oak Park Avenue

708.613.0550


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.

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