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Register Now
for the Legislative Summit! |
E-mail Mary Taylor
at mtaylor@ilchamber.org with your name, chamber,
position (i.e., President, Board Member, and
Government Affairs Committee Chair) and e-mail
address/contact information to register for the
Legislative Summit! On January 23, 2006, the Illinois
Chamber and IACCE will host the 2006 Legislative
Summit in Springfield, IL at the Sangamo Club from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost for the day will be $10.
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The 2006 U.S.
Chamber Small Business of the Year Award |
The U.S. Chamber
of Commerce is proud to pay special tribute to some of
its most valued constituents: America’s 23 million
small business owners.
The 2006 U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award
will be presented to the top small business owner in
the nation on May 11, 2006, at
ACCESS 2006: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small
Business Summit.
Small businesses are the backbone of America’s
economy, representing more than 99% of all employers,
creating three-fourths of all new jobs, and accounting
for more than one-half of the nation’s gross domestic
product. Now, the Chamber will have the opportunity to
recognize one exceptional small business owner for his
or her tireless work and embodiment of the spirit of
enterprise.
If your small business meets the
eligibility requirements or you want to nominate
another deserving company, apply online or
download an application. Then submit it by January
12, 2006, to see how you stack up against the rest of
America’s entrepreneurs!
Click here for more information.
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Illinois
Chamber 2006 Holiday Survey Preliminary Results |
The Illinois
Chamber is again conducting its annual survey of
Illinois businesses and organizations to determine
which days they will be offering as paid holidays in
the coming year. We need your help to make the survey
a success again this year. You can take the survey
online in minutes or download a faxback copy. Click
here to
view the preliminary results or take the survey.
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MACE Announces
Conference |
The 2006 MACE
Conference will be held from April 24 - 26, 2006 at
the Hilton Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport - Mall of
America. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the
33rd Annual MACE Conference. Join Chamber Executives
and staff from seven states, as they discuss important
issues facing today's chambers.
IACCE is a member of MACE and offers scholarships for
IACCE members to attend this conference. Applications
will be available for the 2006 scholarships by
January. To learn more about MACE, visit
www.iacce.org/mace.php. |
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Salary Surveys
Available for Chambers of Commerce |
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Institute
Scholarships Offered |
Many chamber
executives across Illinois attend the U.S. Chamber
Institute for Organization Management annually and
other often struggle to fine the funds to attend.
Consider applying for a scholarship through multiple
sources. Both the U.S. Chamber and the Illinois
Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives offer
scholarships for Institute. To learn more about the
U.S. Chamber scholarship options, visit http://www.uschamber.com/institute/general/scholarships.htm.
To learn more about IACCE’s available scholarships,
visit
http://www.iacce.org/scholarships.php. IACCE
scholarship forms for 2006 will be posted in January.
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ACCE’s 22nd
Annual Awards for Communication Excellence |
We are pleased to
announce this year’s call for entries for the 22nd
Annual Awards for Communication Excellence (ACE). Each
year the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
honors chambers of commerce whose communications and
marketing strategies demonstrate the important roles
chambers play in leading the businesses and building
the communities they serve.
Over the past several years, the ACE program has
evolved with your input. We’ve streamlined the
application, enhanced the educational quality of
feedback, and offered better assistance to you in
preparing your entry. This year, we are again
enhancing the quality of feedback.
When you receive your awards notification packets and
completed score sheets in early June, you’ll notice
even more detailed insights covering the finer points
of each communications medium from the panel of
experienced communications professionals who evaluated
your entry.
Last year, more than 100 chambers of commerce were
honored for their outstanding communications and
marketing efforts. Don’t miss your chance to highlight
your chamber’s outstanding accomplishments and the
steps you took to achieve them. All top award winners
will be honored during the ACCE Annual Convention in
Cleveland, Ohio and in ACCE publications.
Click here for more information.
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U.S. Chamber
Promotes Melanie Bassett in November 2005 |
Melanie Bassett
has been promoted to Executive Director of
Congressional and Public Affairs at the Great Lakes
Regional Office for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce based
in Chicago, IL. Bassett worked with the previous
executive director, Sean Heather, until his promotion
to the Congressional Public Affairs office in
Washington, D.C. earlier this year. Bassett has held
the interim director position since Heather’s
departure. Melanie can be reached by e-mail at
MBassett@USChamber.com.
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Best Places to
Work in Illinois Extends Registration Deadline |
The Best Places to
Work in Illinois awards program is open to all
for-profit and non-profit companies in the state and
has now extended registration for the program until
January 27, 2006! This statewide program is designed
to honor companies in Illinois that show a dedication
to their employees’ growth and quality of life.
Click here for more information.
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Please note each
of the following events are either sponsored by the
Illinois Chamber or has a staff member of the Illinois
Chamber participating. For more information on any of
these events, please visit the Illinois Chamber's
Calendar of Events at
www.ilchamber.org.
• January 3-7, 2006: Winter Institute (Tucson, AZ)-
www.uschamber.com/institute/
• January 23, 2006: Legislative Summit
(Springfield, IL)
• June 4-8, 2006: Midwest Institute (Madison, WI)-
www.uschamber.com/institute/
• June 18-22, 2006: Southeast Institute (Athens,
GA)-
www.uschamber.com/institute/
• July 9-13, 2006: West Institute (Los Angeles,
CA)-
www.uschamber.com/institute/
• August 17 – 19, 2006: ACCE Convention (Cleveland,
OH)
• September 11 – 15, 2006: Chamber of Commerce Week
in Illinois
• November 1 – 3, 2006: 2006 Fall Conference
(Lincolnshire, IL)
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Additional News
of Interest |
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States OK
stopper for the Great Lakes; Pact would outlaw
increased diversion |
The governors of
the Great Lakes states and Ontario officials have
agreed to all but ban pumping water out of the Great
Lakes basin, home to a fifth of the world's fresh
water, a resource expected to grow more precious in
coming decades.
Read Full Story.
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Report being
issued: Water Needs in Illinois |
On January 9,
2006, a report will be released on the increasing
crisis of water supply in Illinois, prepared by the
Campaign for Sensible Growth, Metropolitan Planning
Council and Openlands Project and funded by The Joyce
Foundation. For more information, visit
www.growingsensibly.org.
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Is one of your
members a 2005 Franchise 500? |
Interested in
seeing if one of your members are one of the top 500
franchises in 2005 as announced by Entrepenuer
Magazine?
Read Full Story.
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Lisa Madigan’s
Consumer Corner: Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act
(MPCA) |
Methamphetamine (meth)
is a highly addictive and destructive drug made in
toxic labs that endanger communities across Illinois.
A new law Lisa Madigan proposed this year, the
Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act (MPCA), will cut
off meth makers’ access to certain cold medicines
containing meth’s key ingredients, ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine (PSE). This month’s column explains
why the new law is necessary and how it will affect
the way you buy cold medicine.
Read Full Story.
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ESGR: Do You
Know the Facts? |
Programs conducted
by ESGR include: Unit Liaison and Ombudsman Services.
Unit Liaison places an ESGR volunteer in each National
Guard and Reserve training center or armory. This
program provides a direct link between the local ESGR
Committee and each National Guard and Reserve member
to provide information and assistance should
employment problems develop.
Unit Liaison: Volunteers visit assigned training sites
at least once annually to provide the unit senior
leaders with the following information:
What ESGR is and how it can help with unit retention.
Information about the ESGR Employer Recognition
and Awards program.
Information on employment and reemployment rights.
Information on ESGR programs and services.
The Chamber urges all Illinois employers to recognize
their Guard and Reserve employees by signing and
displaying the ESGR Statement of Support. To get
yours, simply
complete an online form and you will receive a
personalized certificate that demonstrates your
support. Also visit the SBA Veteran's Business
Development web site for assistance to small business
owners that have employees activated in the Guard or
Reserves. Click
MORE
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