Chamber News

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WELCOME BAGS

The Mont Clare-Elmwood Park Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Village of Elmwood Park provides welcome bags for new residents in Elmwood Park. The bags include a community guide, map of Elmwood Park and any other literature or promotional material our members want distributed. Since we are coming to the end of the year, we are asking all members to replenish our stock of business cards, calendars, key chains, pens, coupons, menus, informational brochures, etc. that will help to advertise your business or organization to a new resident in the community.

We ask that you provide at least twenty-five items to start and our Executive Director, Barbara Melnyk will contact you when the supply runs out. You can send them or drop off in person at 11 Conti Parkway.

As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank all of our members that have hosted our after hour’s networking events. Thank you to our members that are regulars at these events and for those members who have never attended an event, hopefully you will be able to join us in the future. It is a great opportunity to network with other area businesses as well as members of local community organizations.

We began the year in January with an event hosted by Maria and Randy Braglia owners of Maria’s Mexican Restaurant. Although the weather was blustery, we had one of our best member turnouts to date. In February we had our Installation Dinner. It was held at Elmcrest Banquets and close to two hundred members bought tickets for the event. In March the Village of Elmwood Park had a question and answer session for us with Village Manager Jay Dalicandro as moderator. The refreshments were donated by Walter Saraniecki of Royal Gardens Banquets. April was hosted by Peter Volpe and Kallie Martin of Lincoln Park Savings Bank. They not only hosted this event but also provided great food catered by Baciami. In May, Karen Fitzgibbon of Panera Catering hosted a great event. All members were even given a gift to take home. After a break for summer vacation, in September we had our “Taste of the Chamber”. Baciami, Elmcrest, New Star Restaurant, Mori Milk & Ice Cream, Elmwood Family Restaurant, Panera Catering, Royal Gardens Banquets and Maria’s Mexican Restaurant donated food. In October, Jerry Mytych of AT&T hosted our “Breakfast with Elected Officials”.

Due to the success of this event, we will be working with AT&T to host it again next year. November brings us to Binny’s for our annual wine tasting after hour’s event. The delicious cheese and fruit trays are donated each year by Mary Olszewski of MGO Financial Services. And closing out the year will be our Holiday After Hour’s at Baciami.

If you would like to host an event, please contact our Vice President of Programming,
Gabe Caporale at (708) 473-7334.

WELCOME THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

During the past year, fifty-three new members have joined the Chamber. We are happy for their support and wish to acknowledge them. In the order that they joined are:

BANNER PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING

If you have had a chance to travel down Grand Avenue, North Avenue, Harlem Avenue or Belmont Avenue, you might have noticed a new addition to the streetscape. Starting in September, Chamber member It’s A Sign began installing our chamber banners throughout the Elmwood Park community. Thirty-five banners have been installed to date. We are still taking orders and the next group will be installed around Thanksgiving. The cost is $350 for the 30’ X 72’ four-color digital print banner, hardware and installation. Each banner displays the chamber logo, the Village of Elmwood Park logo, the American flag and the name of the business or organization that purchased it. The banner will be displayed for at least three years and adds a decorative touch to the business community. It is an innovative way to advertise your business or organization in the community.

CHAMBER GOLF OUTING FAR ABOVE PAR

On June 18th the Chamber sponsored its Annual Golf Outing at Villa Olivia Country Club. This year the weather cooperated and we had a great day on the course. We want to thank the members who sponsored a hole, or golfed or came out for a delicious buffet dinner. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Leslie Andrle of the Lions Club for helping our Executive Director the day of the outing and for lending us a split-the-pot board. This year we had a split the pot raffle in addition to our regular raffle and our big winner was Al Biancalana owner of Elmcrest Banquets.

PRIZE RAFFLE SPONSORS

The prize raffle was a success, thanks to Baciami, Saro Caccamo, Charter One Bank, First Security Trust & Savings Bank, Kaiser Roofing, Lincoln Park Savings Bank, MGO Financial, Midwest Bank, Midwest Financial Services, Parkway Bank, Plaza Bank and Ray’s Mini Video.

HOLE SPONSORS

THE CHAMBER CAN HELP

The cost of doing business has gone up! Whether it is utilities, labor, health care or sales tax, small business is being bombarded by additional costs and no recourse. In times like these, you need someone to go to bat for you. Groups like our Chamber are one of your best resources to help you stem the tide. While we don’t have all the answers, we are able to provide opportunities to advertise, to network with other businesses in the area, and local connections to help you in the daily running of your business or organization. We invite you to use our services whether it be attending an after hour’s event, becoming a spotlighted member on our web site, sending an advertising message for our reader sign or providing information on your business for our new resident welcome bags. These services are free to our members.

And if we do not have the answers, we will be glad to help you find them.