Welcome to National Small Business Week where we are told by the "Hallmark" powers that be that we should celebrate you and your business for a whole week... Well, at this Chamber, we like to party year-round and in our humble opinion, seven days just won't do it! So join me as we continue to celebrate your survival, your resilience in the face of adversity and all that you do to bring the best to this community. Let's face it, we wouldn't be the same without you!
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Liz Holt
Executive Director
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Promote Your Business
Help us help you!
When was the last time you checked out all the different ways you can utilize the Chamber website or offerings to promote your business? Have you sent out an eBlast lately? What about adding any special events you are hosting to the Chamber calendar? Do you have a Press Release you'd like to get out to the community?
We offer all of these services (and more) through our website! Check it out!
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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!
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Wednesday May 4, 5:30-6pm - Ribbon Cutting at Kettlestrings Grove
Come join us to celebrate the opening of Kettlestrings Grove! We'll kick off the evening with a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome this exciting new locale in the heart of the Pleasant District. The Chamber is pleased to highlight this new nightspot with a ribbon cutting, our traditional way of honoring new investment in our community.
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Thursday May 5, 1-2pm - Nonprofit Affinity Group via Zoom
This month guest experts Monnette Bariel and Sarah Abboreno Corbin of Beyond Hunger, on "Creating Success in Volunteer Recruitment and Management." The staff at Beyond Hunger recruit and manage dozens of volunteers every year, harnessing more than 20,000 hours of volunteer time to carry out their mission. Join us this month to learn from the pros!
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Plan Your Month!
Want to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up over the next month.
Join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and
continue to grow your business!
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Tuesday May 10, 5-7pm - Business After Hours at Madison Street Theatre
Our May Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Madison Street Theatre, one of Oak Park's primary destinations for the performing arts. Madison Street Theatre is a performing arts center that produces, supports, and hosts exceptional arts programming through maintaining a quality and affordable space to create, teach, and collaborate.
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Friday May 13, 9-10am - Women in Business at the Community Fridge
Join us for our May gathering where we will be meeting at the Community Fridge in Oak Park. Bring a donation of menstrual products or diapers, grab a coffee and something yummy to eat - courtesy of Carnival Grocery.
Unable to join us? You can still make a monetary donation through the website that will then be used to stock the Community Fridge throughout the year!
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Friday May 13, 12-12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at Jerusalem Cafe
Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at Jerusalem Cafe! 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 fun social meetup.
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Sunday May 15, 11am - 2pm - Community Health & Wellness Fair at FFC Oak Park
Join us as a sponsor or vendor for the largest Health Fair in the western suburbs! We are so excited to announce the return of the Community Health and Wellness Fair this year at FFC Oak Park, with Exclusive Presenting Sponsor, Rush Oak Park. Register now and reconnect with your health network!
You can also register to attend or volunteer!
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Monday May 16, 12:15 - 12:45pm - Meditation Mondays at CrossFunction Flexible Workspace
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.
We will be meeting at The Boulevard Arcade in Oak Park, the home of CrossFunction Flexible Workspace.
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Chamber Blog
Have you seen our blog lately?
We have been adding helpful tips and regular updates to our blog to keep you informed. Need tips on email sign-off etiquette? How about where you can make donations for this year's tampon & pad drive? Or, are you unsure where to start looking for interns? We've got your back!
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Member Benefits Series
New to the Chamber?
Join us at our New Member Breakfast to tell us all about your business, to meet Chamber staff and board leadership, learn about all of your benefits, and find opportunities to get involved. Board members and staff are on hand to meet new members and answer any questions!
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Secretary of State Forum
Please join the SBAC and IACCE for a Candidate Forum for the Illinois Secretary of State’s primary race. While all candidates have been invited, SBAC has confirmed that Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, Alderman David Moore, and State Representative Dan Brady will participate in this important discussion.
The Secretary of State plays a prominent and essential role in Illinois. The Secretary of State’s office provides vital business services to businesses in Illinois. The office handles an array of additional services that significantly impact the public. Our forum will explore each candidate’s ideas for making improvements to the Secretary of State’s office, increasing efficiencies, and supporting small businesses.
Please feel free to invite your members to this Zoom forum on May 3rd from 10:00-11:15am.
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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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