October 30th, 2022

Whether you are all about All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Day of the Dead or Guy Fawkes - I wish you all a happy celebration! And don't forget that next week we "fall back" with Daylight Savings Time. That means an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morn. Now that is something to celebrate!

Liz Holt

Executive Director

Advocacy Committee Update

What is the Chamber doing for you?

Every month, the Executive Director, Liz Holt, along with the Advocacy Committee, Sam Yousif, Rob Guenthner, Carly Grant and other Chamber Board Members are working tirelessly to make sure that your voice is heard. Check out some of the accomplishments so far this month!

Village of Oak Park Proposed Parking Changes Response from the Chamber of Commerce

This month the OPRF Chamber of Commerce has been working to give the business owners of Oak Park a voice at the Village level. There have been proposals to change the parking fees in Oak Park. Below is the response from the Advocacy Committee of the Chamber. 

Wednesday November 2, 5:30 - 7:00pm - DCRE Affinity Group Meeting at Mood - The Shoppe

Local interior designer Candy Scott opened Mood - The Shoppe just this year as a unique store in Oak Park, including furniture of her own design, her Recover line of rehabbed furniture, and decor elements from her native South Africa. She welcomes our group to come talk design and enjoy refreshments! 

Plus, get to know the new co-chairs of the Chamber's Design, Construction and Real Estate Affinity Group! Ray Sahm is a home inspector and owner of Sahm Home Services. Matt Johnston is a broker agent in the Oak Park and River Forest areas.

Thursday November 3, 1:00 - 2:00pm - Nonprofit Affinity Group Meeting at Byline Bank

Join the Chamber's Nonprofit Affinity Group in the boardroom of Byline Bank for our monthly gathering, and learn from executive coach Robert Demaree. Robert is the founder of Next Step Leadership Coaching, and has spent more than 20 years helping business owners and leaders as a consultant with Accenture and others. His topic will be "Overcoming Your Immunity to Change." 

Friday November 4, 12:00 - 12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout & Ribbon Cutting at Khyber Pass

Join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at Khyber Pass! In this event, we convene at a designated restaurant to pick up our takeout lunch choices, and make and build connections with our colleagues outside for half an hour before we take our lunches back to work.

Plus, we are celebrating their 25th anniversary! (a couple of years late, because... pandemic!)

Tuesday November 8, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Business After Hours at Byline Bank

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 November Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Byline Bank at their Oak Park location at 1001 Lake Street. Come check out their beautiful location!

Friday November 11, 9:00 - 10:30am - Women in Business Affinity Group Meeting at The Sheridan at River Forest

We are thrilled you will be joining us! WIB is continuing our monthly series with Laura Barnard and Lindsay Gaskins of BREAKTHRU Brands. Laura and Lindsay will be sharing their expertise on empowering women to lead people, ideas, and movements with clarity and confidence. We cannot wait! 

Thursday November 17, 8:00 - 9:30am - New Member Breakfast at Oak Park Arms

Join us at our New Member Breakfast at Oak Park Arms to tell us all about your business, 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!

This is a very popular event each quarter and seating is limited, so be sure to register now. 

Friday November 18, 11:30 - 1:00pm - Sit Down Lunch at Papaspiros

You asked, we answered. Join us for a Chamber sit-down luncheon at Papaspiros! A business lunch in a casual setting, with little group networking. Come enjoy the food while you connect and get to know Chamber members.

We'll get to meet the owner and get to know other local businesspeople at Papaspiros - a classic Oak Park destination. 

Monday November 21, 12:15 - 12:45pm - Meditation Mondays at CrossFunction Flexible Workspace

Join us for the 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 are thrilled to partner with the Kadampa Meditation Center in Oak Park to bring you this monthly meditation.

Host a Business After Hours!

Would you like to invite the business community into your space?

Each month we hold a Business After Hours (BAH) in a different location. This is a great opportunity to invite the business community into your space & tell them what you do. If you haven't joined us at a BAH yet, you will have an opportunity in November & December to check one out!

Want to learn more or host one of these events? Reach out to our Program Manager, Mark Walden at [email protected] or click on the button below to learn more!

Together with the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township and OPRF High School, la week we were thrilled to host a Lunch and Learn program: “Hiring and Supporting Employees with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.”

Special thanks to the speakers from UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, Trader Joe's Oak Park, Play It Again Sports - Forest Park, IL and Classic Cinemas - Lake, and also to the community members in attendance whose thoughtful questions and discussion helped make it a success! Thanks also to Cucina Paradiso for such a warm welcome and delicious spread.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and learn about this very important aspect of the workforce!