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The REALTOR ® Association of Northwestern Illinois Celebrates 100 Years of Service 12 RIBBON CUTTINGS 8-9 ANNUAL DINNER 5 MEMBER NEWS 3 MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS MARCH 2016 FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its members that will promote ethical and professional standards, in order to better serve the public in real estate transactions. “We are celebrating the 100 th anniversary of the Illinois Association of Realtors this year,” said association Executive Officer Pam Borowski. “It is the largest free trade association in the state of Illinois and the national association is the largest free trade association in the country.” The association monitors and lobbies for the licensing of private property ownership rights. “We work with the IDFPR on licensing issues, compliance, enforcing the laws and education,” she said. “We provide education for our agents on a continuing basis and provide a multiple listing service for our agents.” Simply put, the Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides a headquarters and a place to disseminate all the information for all the realtors in Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll Counties. “There was a group of gentlemen from Rockford, Danville and the East St Louis area who gathered in Chicago on April 25, 1916 and they decided to create an Illinois Board of Exchanges,” Said Boroski. “Since that time our organization has gone through several name changes and probably will continue to as the industry evolves.” Those men laid the foundation for today’s association and they elected leadership and a board of directors and after that different associations started springing up around the country and joining the already established Illinois association so that over the years it grew exponentially. “More and more laws and regulations have come into effect with time and that requires a group organized to monitor the licensing,” she said. “It’s like any other trade organization; there are people that monitor the activities and lobby and do all the things that are necessary to keep the people in compliance while at the same time, moving the industry forward.” She said they try to provide a sort of refuge for area realtors who might be struggling or have questions or just need extra training or assistance. The local association is currently pursuing a new grant program from its national association. One of the areas I’m investigating for implementation here in the Freeport area is enticing veterans to come to this area for low cost housing and getting groups involved to do rehabs on some of the existing homes that could make them available,” Borowski said. “It is very affordable to live here in Freeport; housing is very inexpensive and I do have a member who is a former Marine and we have spoken about the idea and now, it’s just a matter of us getting the program together in this area.” Another project that is in its earliest stages is finding ways to invite different industries to come to the Freeport area and look at the commercial properties whether they are listed or if the city owns them. “We are looking for ways to show off Freeport to prospective businesses and I would like to see the Chamber and the Mayor’s office and the city council and some of our area business leaders involved in getting grant monies to bring new industries to our area,” she said. “Maybe we could get something happening, particularly in the downtown where there are a number of very nice commercial properties for sale. If we are able to sell the commercial properties then those industries will have to hire people and it will result in a win/win for everybody.” She said the association has had the advantage of excellent leadership over the last hundred years. “Illinois may not be the most successful state, but we do probably have the most successful and cohesive group in the United States and when you think about it that is a pretty remarkable thing to be able to say,” Borowski said. “I attribute that to the great leadership that we’ve had. Our headquarters is in Springfield and we’ve always had a great group of realtors.” The majority of the association’s leadership is volunteer and very dedicated. “So many of them have given up selling real estate for a year just to help lead our association and make things easier and better for all the realtors, property sellers and buyers. That alone certainly speaks to the dedication of our leadership and I think we have one of the best associations in the country right here in Northwestern Illinois We have held up under some pretty dire circumstances and we’ve kept moving forward.”

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Page 1: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

The REALTOR® Association of Northwestern Illinois Celebrates 100 Years of Service

12 RIBBON CUTTINGS8-9 ANNUAL DINNER5 MEMBER NEWS3 MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorCommunicatorCCCommunicatorCommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorommunicatorMARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCTony CartonCommunicator Editor

The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its members that will promote ethical and professional standards, in order to better serve the public in real estate transactions.“We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Illinois Association of Realtors this year,” said association Executive Offi cer Pam Borowski. “It is the largest free trade association in the state of Illinois and the national association is the largest free trade association in the country.” The association monitors and lobbies for the licensing of private property ownership rights.“We work with the IDFPR on licensing issues, compliance, enforcing the laws and education,” she said. “We provide education for our agents on a continuing basis and provide a multiple listing service for our agents.” Simply put, the Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides a headquarters and a place to disseminate all the information for all the realtors in Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll Counties. “There was a group of

gentlemen from Rockford, Danville and the East St Louis area who gathered in Chicago on April 25, 1916 and they decided to create an Illinois Board of Exchanges,” Said Boroski. “Since that time our organization has gone through several name changes and probably will continue to as the industry evolves.” Those men laid the foundation for today’s association and they elected leadership and a board of directors and after that different associations started springing up around the country and joining the already established Illinois association so that over the years it grew exponentially. “More and more laws and regulations have come into effect with time and that requires a group organized to monitor the licensing,” she said. “It’s like any other trade organization; there are people that monitor the activities and lobby and do all the things that are necessary to keep the people in compliance while at the same time, moving the industry forward.”She said they try to provide a sort of refuge for area realtors who might be struggling or have questions or just need extra training or assistance.The local association is currently pursuing a new grant program from

its national association.“ One of the areas I’m investigating for implementation here in the Freeport area is enticing veterans to come to this area for low cost housing and getting groups involved to do rehabs on some of the existing homes that could make them available,” Borowski said. “It is very affordable to live here in Freeport; housing is very inexpensive and I do have a member who is a former Marine and we have spoken about the idea and now, it’s just a matter of us getting the program together in this area.”Another project that is in its earliest stages is fi nding ways to invite different industries to come to the Freeport area and look at the commercial properties whether they are listed or if the city owns them.“We are looking for ways to show off Freeport to prospective businesses and I would like to see the Chamber and the Mayor’s offi ce and the city council and some of our area business leaders involved in getting grant monies to bring new industries to our area,” she said. “Maybe we could get something happening, particularly in the downtown where there are a number of very nice commercial properties for sale. If we are able to sell the commercial properties then

those industries will have to hire people and it will result in a win/win for everybody.” She said the association has had the advantage of excellent leadership over the last hundred years. “Illinois may not be the most successful state, but we do probably have the most successful and cohesive group in the United States and when you think about it that is a pretty remarkable thing to be able to say,” Borowski said. “I attribute that to the great leadership that we’ve had. Our headquarters is in Springfi eld and we’ve always had a great group of realtors.”The majority of the association’s leadership is volunteer and very dedicated. “So many of them have given up selling real estate for a year just to help lead our association and make things easier and better for all the realtors, property sellers and buyers. That alone certainly speaks to the dedication of our leadership and I think we have one of the best associations in the country right here in Northwestern Illinois We have held up under some pretty dire circumstances and we’ve kept moving forward.”

Page 2: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

DATES TO REMEMBER...

APRIL 1Ribbon Cutting

Platinum Salon, 1774 Rosensteil Drive11:30 am

APRIL 6

Rise ‘N Shine BreakfastCo-Hosted by Freeport Park District

& Freeport Noon KiwanisPark Hills Golf Course

7:30 – 8:30 am

APRIL 7Chamber GasShare Program Breakfast

Co-Hosted by Rock River Energy Services & the Freeport Chamber of CommerceStephenson County Farm Bureau

7:30 – 8:30 am

APRIL 21Business after Hours

Co-Hosted by The Rafters, Lena Brewing Co., and Timber Lake Playhouse

The Rafters in Lena5 – 7 pm

2 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

  Yeah – it’s offi cially spring! We want to thank everyone who attended our Annual Dinner a few weeks ago. We had a great crowd of close to 450 in attendance and everyone seemed to have a good time. Our Annual Dinner is always a great event to network with your fellow Chamber members. We are always excited to announce and congratulate this year’s award winners. We then conclude the evening with our Keynote, and this year’s guest speaker Russell Slifer gave a real inspirational message inspired that much more being he was a Freeport Pretzel graduate who has accomplished so much in his career. We want to thank all the many sponsors who help make our dinner a very successful fundraiser.

The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee has sent a survey out to the membership asking for opinions in regards to Freeport’s system of City Government. We greatly appreciate those who have responded. We want to thank Rock River Energy Services for sponsoring a Lunch and Learn Seminar on the Chamber’s new GasShare Program that we are partnering on with Rock River Energy Services. You will see more information about the program in the upcoming weeks. Finally we would like to thank the Girl Scouts of Northern IL Freeport Service Center for sponsorhing our February Business after Hours and the Elks Club for hosting this month’s Business after Hours. Also thank you to the United Presbyterian Church and the Freeport Health Club for co-hosting this month’s Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast.

27 W. Stephenson St, Freeport IL 61032www.freeportilchamber.com

Phone: 815.233.1350 Fax: 815.235.4038

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND OPERATIONS:

Tiffany King  •  [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SALES:

Kim Grimes  •  [email protected]

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Julie Huber  •   [email protected]

COMMUNICATION EDITOR: Tony Carton

The Chamber of Commerce Communicator is published on a monthly basis with the partnership of The Journal-Standard paper. We thank

them for their continual effort to keep this publication in print!

Visit us online atfreeportilchamber.com

Kim’s Korner

Page 3: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Highland Community College is committed to shaping the future of our communities by providing quality education and learning opportunities through programs and services that encourage the personal and professional growth of the people of northwestern Illinois. “We introduced three programs this year and they are doing quite well and we have three more new programs targeted for next year,” said Highland Community College President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Hood.  Mass Communication is one of the new programs recently implemented at HCC. “Mass Communication is a combination of broadcasting, video production, marketing, public relations and there are different pathways that students can take under that umbrella, but all

have some connection with media and mass communication,” Hood said. “We’ve got some very talented students that we wouldn’t have otherwise had here, that came as a result of that program and they will help us recruit more high quality students for next year.” He said the Mass Communication students are already doing promotional work for the college and just last week Alex Jansen, a student in the Mass Communication program at Highland Community College,

was awarded first place in the Reel Illinois Community College film competition at an Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Criminal Justice is another of the new programs offered at Highland.“We have partnerships with local law enforcement groups and guest lecturers and internship opportunities with those organizations and with the corrections facilities,” Hood said. “I think a key for all of this is partnership.” Hospitality Management is the third new program recently begun at the college. “The Hospitality Management program was actually made by a partnership with Swift Hospitality from right here in Freeport,” said Hood. “Swift put up some seed money and helped us design the curriculum and the program is very well received.” The future continues to look bright at the school. “Next year we are going to launch an Environmental Science degree, a program called Mechatronics which

takes the best of electronics and mechanical maintenance,” he said. “A lot of companies cannot afford to hire a specialist for electronics and mechanical maintenance, so this program maximizes a lot of things we teach in our wind tech program and we’ve started noticing that some of our wind tech graduates are getting jobs in fields other than wind tech, so we learned from taking a closer look industry that Mechatronics gives a student a grounding in both of those areas and makes them more employable.”

There will also be expanded opportunities offered through the Highland Nursing program. “Phlebotomy or the practice of drawing blood from patients and taking the blood specimens to the laboratory to prepare for testing is another area we will be looking at next year,” said Hood. “We also see opportunities for expansion into agriculture programs where we’ve basically doubled our ag enrollment and added a new ag club and a new dairy judging team.”

The college is also looking

FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 3F

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Savant Capital Management, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor. State Bank and Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage the advisor’s services. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments offered are not deposits, obligations or guaranteed by State Bank or Savant Capital Management. They are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency. These types of investments carry risk, including the possible loss of value.

MEMBERspotlightgold

Page 4: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

existing installations or retrofitting.”The key to the Dickmans success with their Northwestern Service Company is honesty and integrity.He said it’s not always necessary to replace a malfunctioning piece of equipment.

“I don’t always shoot for a replacement,” said Dickman. “I’ve had a couple jobs this year where an owner wanted his boiler system cleaned and working right and another contractor simply wanted to replace the unit. I came in and did a very detailed clean and tune, calibrated the burner, clocked the meter and used a combustion analyzer to get the carbon monoxide to a safe level and that saved them having to install a new boiler that was going to cost thousands of dollars.”

A recent project I have completed was retro fitting an entire house with cast iron radiators that I sand blasted and put a fresh coat of paint on. It was a real treat to install radiators that were originally made in the early 1900s. I know how to convert equivalent direct radiation to the heat loss of the building.

“Folks don’t always have the money to replace faulty equipment and they need a reliable contractor who will repair and get it running safely,” he said. “They can rely on Northwestern Service Company to get the job done right the first time.”There is value in old cast iron radiators and Northwestern Service Company is always looking for them to refurbish and reinstall.

To learn more about the services available through Northwestern Service Company call (815) 801-1148

AUTO REPAIR SPECIALISTSIf we can’t fix it it’s not broke

Auto Repair Specialists can take care of all your auto repair needs, from oil changes and brakes, to computer problems and drivability issues. They work on exhaust and cooling systems, air conditioning and heating, and do engine and transmission replacements. They

have the diagnostic equipment to handle all of your automotive computer and electrical issues. They can also give you an estimate on all services.

“We provide general maintenance of all cars, foreign and domestic and light pickup trucks specializing in electronics in today’s computerized cars from anti-lock brakes to everything electronic in your car,” said Auto Repair Specialists co-owner Dave Timm who owns the company with wife Gina. “Electronics is the biggest part of what we try and get into.”Auto Repair Specialists opened almost 19 years ago and the Timms chose Freeport because they hail from Baileyville and Forreston and were always part of the greater Freeport community.

“I’ve always called Wisconsin God’s Country and I guess I was just dropped on the wrong side of the border,” said Timm, who also declares loyalty to the Packers and appears to slowly migrating north. The company has recently added some advanced tire balancing technology.

“I think we are one of only two or three places in Freeport that offers that specific balancing machine,” Timm said. “We are looking to expand some of our other equipment too. We are always keeping up with new scanners and the electronic stuff changes almost monthly, so there is always something going on there. Our guys are in as many as three or four different training classes a month depending on their levels.”Timm says the future of auto maintenance is in electronics.

“When you look at your car today, the electronics is where it’s all going,” he said. “You’re talking about cars that stop now on their own with electronic brakes and all that stuff. Obviously, if we are going

4 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCEat ways to do more of what was formerly called Community Education, but has been rebranded as Life Long Learning; that is a collection that anybody can take. Most of them are not for college credit, but are things that people want to learn about that reflect several areas including personal enrichment; hobbies or things folks might enjoy doing and want to learn more about. Other areas might include Professional Development for people that need continuing education hours or certification for advancement in their existing field. 

“We’re offering ten times as many classes in those areas as we did just two years ago and we expect those areas to be a real catalyst for new enrollments,” Hood said.There are also advances in the schools’ Fine Arts programs most notably in the theatre and visual art areas.

“We are planning a repeat of last year’s ‘What’s new for you at Highland’ open house event this spring and will feature representatives and our partners from the new programs and student services and financial aid so students and their parents can learn about new and growing opportunities here at Highland Community College.

Also, Transfer agreements signed during the past several

years between HCC and four-year institutions include the University of Illinois, Western Illinois University, Olivet Nazarene University, University of Oklahoma, and Saint Anthony College of Nursing. A new transfer agreement for engineering students is also being explored with Northern Illinois University.These agreements provide seamless transfer opportunities for students, and build upon a list of longstanding successful partnerships with Columbia College, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and recent reciprocal agreements with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and Blackhawk Technical College in Wisconsin. Hood and the faculty and staff at Highland Community College welcome their communities to take a stroll around the beautiful campus, enjoy the sounds of the many community choirs and musical groups, listen to a guest lecturer, watch an athletic event, and, perhaps, enroll in a class or two. Witness first hand some of the many wonderful things happening at Highland Community College. Highland – an institution of exceptional quality – represents a bright, shining resource for northwest Illinois.

NORTHWESTERN SERVICE COMPANY “Northwestern Service Company is a complete HVAC service/installation solution provider,” said Jason Dickman, who co-owns the company with wife Heather. I specialize in hydronics, including steam and hot water boilers and in-floor heat and tank-less water heater service,” he said. Hydronics is the use of water or another liquid heat transfer medium such as glycol as the heat-transfer medium in heating and cooling systems. The Dickmans opened

Northwestern Service Company in 2005. “We are putting more emphasis on service and maintenance to prevent future untimely and inconvenient equipment failure,” said Dickman. “I’m trying to apply the hard science of doing it correctly. At this time the vast majority of my business is servicing

MEMBERspotlights

Page 5: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5to keep up that is where we are heading.”

He said they are not necessarily looking at getting bigger, but they are always looking at ways to improve customer service.

“My techs are top notch,” said Timm. “I will put them up against anybody. We’re not perfect, but give us a chance to make right. Doctors make mistakes too, so I tell people, talk to us and give us a chance to get it right.”

Auto Repair Specialists has begun a program they call “Car Physicals.”

“Car Physicals has to do with car maintenance obviously,” Timm said. “It stems from a yearly 40 point auto checkup and then a consultation on your vehicle that determines where you are at with your car, what’s been done to it and

what needs attention.” Everything is logged and records are kept and they sit down and formulate plan for you and your car. “Maybe you need tires next fall or the front brakes are worn, but the rear brakes are still there and we try to predict some things so there are fewer if no surprises down the road,” Timm said. “It’s no different than going to the doctor. If you don’t ever go to the doctor when you have a problem it’s bad. If you look at things ahead of time it is at least manageable. It’s the same scenario.” Give Auto Repair Specialists a call today and let them help you keep your vehicle running its best! Call (815) 232-3994 for an appointment or drop by the shop at 3358 IL Rt 26 South, Freeport.

Committed to your Success!

INTEGRITY TRUSTEXPERIENCE

COMMITMENTYEARS

Stop in to seeMark

Larry Shane

Luann Laura

Pam

These have been the pillars of our Bank for over

48 years. At Midwest Community Bank we are

dedicated to serving your business.

What are the qualities you look for in your Bank?

MEMBERnewsM45 MARKETING SERVICES WINS TWO GOLD ADDY® AWARDS M45 Marketing Services recently won two gold ADDY® Awards from the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) northern Illinois branch. The awards celebration was held February 18 at Prairie Street Brewhouse in Rockford. Gold award winners Julie Beach and Peggy Drane were honored for their work on a direct mail postcard campaign completed for FHN’s Ob/Gyn team, which introduced the providers and shared details of the group’s broad capabilities. Mindy Becker and Marilyn Smit were also awarded gold for a brochure they produced for Interpro Translation Solutions, a Lisle-based company that delivers world-class language translation services to a global audience. The ADDYs are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for excellence and cultivate the highest creative standards in the

industry. The competition begins at the local level with 210 AAF member clubs nationwide, which attract over 40,000 entries. Local winners proceed to 15 regional competitions, and those winners proceed to the national finals. Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. M45 co-owner Joe Vaske is proud of his staff ’s accomplishments. “We at M45 produce quality work for our clients all over the world and it is an honor to receive such noteworthy recognition,” he says. “Two gold ADDY Awards are a great way to start off 2016.” M45 Marketing Services, which was founded in 2001, has offices in Freeport, IL and Bloomington, IL. Headquarters are located at 524 West Stephenson St., Freeport, IL. For more information on M45 Marketing Services, visit m45.com or call 815-232-2121.

HIGHLAND AGRICULTURE CLUB HAS SUCCESS AT STATE COMPETITION

On Friday February 19, eight Highland Community College agriculture student participated in the Illinois Post-Secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) Annual Conference at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL. During the conference, participants competed in a number of  agriculture specific content areas that included general knowledge exams, real world problem solving scenarios, goal setting activities, and personal interviews.

Post-Secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) is a national student organization that provides opportunities for college agriculture students to experience individual growth, leadership, and career preparation through competition

and cooperative activities. The following Highland agriculture students competed at the annual conference:Heidi Smith (Sycamore)1st place in Career Planning-Agribusiness Management &Marketing SystemsMichaela White (Pecatonica)2nd place in Agriculture Education Career ProgramJustin Lott (Pearl City)2nd place in Career Progress-Ruminant Animal SystemsDanielle Hinshaw (Byron)participated in Career Planning-Agricultural EducationDairy Specialist Team:Ellie Lenkaitis (Winnebago), Anna Folgate (Pearl City), Hannah Hunziker (Ridott), and Jalen Holman (Freeport) 3rd place The Highland agriculture department would like to thank State Bank in Freeport for sponsoring the Highland AG Club and our participation in PAS activities. The funds contributed by State Bank were used to purchase materials in

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Page 6: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

6 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Our Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast this month was co-hosted by United Presbyterian Church and the Freeport Health Club/FHC +Plus. We would like to thank everyone who joined us and hope that you enjoyed the event. We would also like to say a special thank you Freeport Presbyterian Church and Freeport Health Club for working so hard to make this event a success. Thank you for all your hospitality!

RISE ‘N’ SHINE

Sarah Goeke, MSW, was the director of social services and activities at Wood’s Crossing Assisted Living in Brodhead, WI, and previously worked in higher education with diversity and recruitment programming with the University of Illinois College of ACES in Urbana Champaign until returning to Northwest Illinois in 2009. Goeke joined the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce board and her main focus during her tenure is to ensure that local higher education and training opportunities are well represented and utilized effectively by the business community and area residents. She said challenges that have come to the forefront include rebranding Freeport’s image and the need to spread

a positive image about the people, business and events going on in the area. “Recently, the Freeport Chamber has become a stakeholder in two major grassroots initiatives that aim to support the development of small businesses in the downtown area as well as a branding initiative to shine a brighter light on the positives that are happening locally,” Goeke said. “As with any servant organization I feel the key to the Chamber’s success lies in its strong membership base and in its ability to listen and respond to the needs of its members and its community.” Goeke lives in Monroe, WI, with husband Drew and the couple is expecting their fi rst child in July!

A Message from the Board...Sarah Goeke, MSW

2016 PREFERRED MEMBERS

We would like to give special recognition to the following businesses that provide extra support to the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Elliott & Trainor, P.C.  •  Flachtemeier MonumentsRock River Valley Blood Center  •  Heilman Properties

Carl Larson – Stephenson County State’s AttorneyRite-Way Furniture & Appliance

Fishburn, Whiton, Thruman, LTD  •  PHK BicyclesCarlson Canine Camp • United Way of NW Illinois, Inc.

Christian Supply Center • Bomar Heating & CoolingWinter & Associates  •  M45 Marketing ServicesHughes Resources  •  Stout Insurance Agency, LLCFreidag Associates CPAs  •  Altman Automotive Inc.

Swift Hospitality Group, Inc.  •  Liberty Village of  Freeport Above and Beyond Associates  •  NWIL Friends of  the NRA

Freeport Community Foundation •  Brown’s ShoesMonroe Clinic   •   Holman/Dahms Insurance AgencyNorman C. Sleezer Youth Home  •  Furst Staffi ngFirst Rate Cleaning  •  Spherion Staffi ng ServicesEagles Club  •  Fehr-Graham & Associates Highland Community College Foundation

Pearson • TB & B Accounting & Tax, Inc. Freeport Home Medical Equipment  •  Two Men and a Truck

Plager, Krug, Bauer & Rudolph, Ltd  •  Proto-CutterRAMP  •  Nate Luy Stephenson County Circuit Clerk

GOLD MEMBERS

Task Trainers  •  Stephen Spyrison DDS Tim’s Auto Care  •  Freeport Family ChiropracticBill George Plumbing & Heating  •  FS Farmtown

SILVER MEMBERS

Fruth-Simmer Insurance Agency •  Laura Welti  •  ParkviewFloor Covering Plus • Union Savings BankDental Connections • Family Health Quest

New Millenium Directories • Saxer Accounting Services, LLCState Farm Insurance – Steve Johnson  •  Family Affair Café 

Stephanie Helms – Stephenson County Treasurer

BRONZE MEMBERS

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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 7

preparation for competition as well as expenses to register and travel to the conference.

For more information about the HCC PAS organization, please contact Justin Ebert, agriculture instructor [email protected]

FAMILY YMCA OF NORTHWEST ILLINOIS WELCOMES COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Two local community leaders were elected to the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois Board of  Directors at the nonprofit’s December 17, 2015 board meeting. They attended their first board meeting Thursday, February 25.

Joining 10-member board for (2) three year terms which is responsible for leading the Y’s mission of building strong children, families, and communities across Northwest Illinois through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility are:Coral LammClient Services Administrator at1st Farm Credit Services.Graduated from Highland Community College in 1998 and Illinois State University in 1999, Major in Agri-business. Coral has20+ years of experience in the Banking/Financial Services Industry. She was previously employed as Assistant Vice President at State Bank from July 1999 to December 2015. Coral is also a Board Member for the Freeport Park District Foundation

“Being a mother of 4 active children, the YMCA has been a great outlet for them to learn many different sports activities as well as leadership and team building skills. Until recently I did not realize how much the YMCA helps and supports the local community by providing scholarships to those who may not have the means to pay for

certain activities at the YMCA. I am excited to be a part of an amazing organization committed to serving the community and hope to be able to prove as an asset to the board of directors and continue the mission of the YMCA.”

Scott A. WinterVice President of Design-Build Services, Winter Construction, Inc.Principal Architect, and Winter Design Inc.Graduated from University of Illinois, with a Bachelors of architecture, Masters of architecture, and Masters of civil engineering construction management. Winter is a licensed architect in Illinois & Wisconsin. Winter is on the Freeport Area Chamber Of Commerce Board Of Directors – Membership & Committee Chair/Exec. Committee. He is also a member of Freeport Noon Kiwanis, American institute of Architects, and American Society of Healthcare Engineers.  He has 13 years combined experience in architecture & construction; previously worked for an architecture firm in Portland, OR. before returning to Freeport to work with the family construction company and expand services to include in-house Design-Build/Architecture. “The Freeport YMCA has been an important part of my life for over thirty years. From my adolescent years playing youth soccer, to summers back from college in the gym, to now bringing my own children to swim, play, and enjoy a myriad of activities, the Y has always provided me with opportunities for physical and personal development. I am excited to be a part of the leadership team to help guide the Y in serving its mission to nurture and support our community, to provide healthy and engaging opportunities for our youth, and to encourage us all to lead socially responsible lives.” “The Y is a volunteer-led organization, and effective board leadership is vital to helping us accomplish what we do in our community every day,” said

Rich Haight, Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have a board with strong leadership and a diversity of experience.” For more information about the Family YMCA of NW IL call at 815-235-9622 or visit  freeportymca.org.

KIWANIS PANCAKE DAY SETS RECORD FOR ATTENDANCE The Golden K and Freeport Noon Kiwanis Pancake Day has been a well-attended long standing Freeport tradition since its inception in 1953.  Held March 5th at the Freeport Senior High School cafeteria, Pancake Day 2016 was no different, drawing huge crowds.  Kiwanis officials report that over 2,020 people attended the event with a record number 454 using the drive-thru carryout option along Empire St during the five hour long event. “We see the same families come through every year, telling stories about how they’ve been supporting the event for generations.” said volunteer Scott Winter of Noon Kiwanis. It is conservatively estimated that over 6,000 pancakes and 1,260 half pints of milk were served along with applesauce and sausage from Harbach Meats. Proceeds from the event support the Kiwanis clubs and other youth services in the Freeport area.

SWIFT HOSPITALITY GROUP MANAGED HOTEL, NAMED HOTEL OF THE YEAR A Swift Hospitality Group, Inc. (SHG) managed hotel, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, in Springfield, Illinois, was named the “2015 Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Hotel of the Year” at Carlson

Rezidor Hotel Group’s recent Annual Business Conference held in February 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hotel, opened in November 2013, was the brand’s first Generation 4 prototype hotel and has been a star performer, raising the bar each year with great results. The hotel holds the No. 1 TripAdvisor ranking out of 40 hotels in its market. “This hotel truly knows the meaning of excellent customer service and has achieved outstanding performance scores,” said Jeffrey Freund, senior vice president, midscale brands, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson. Pam Thrasher, SHG President, and Sam King, the Springfield hotel’s General Manager, accepted the award at the ceremony. “We are proud to manage an award-winning hotel in our state’s capitol. From the day this hotel opened in late 2013, it has consistently exceeded performance goals with a team-focused approach on providing exceptional customer service combined with a strong work ethic. We look forward to continuing the exemplary example Sam and his team has established at this property, and using its best practices at the many other properties we own/manage across the nation,” said SHG’s President, Pam Thrasher.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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2016 Business of the Year The Helm Group

2016 Rising Star Award Winner

Bridget TrainorElliott & Trainor, P.C.

2016 Not-for-Profi t of the Year Freeport Public School FundThe Award was accepted by Cindy Fishburn

AnnualAnnualAnnual2016

AnnualAnnualChamber2016 Ambassador of the Year

Kim BoldtWinter & Associates

2016 Dale LeBaron Award Winner Brian Borger

Freeport Home Medical Equipment

8 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Keynote Speaker

Russell SliferDeputy Under Secretary ofCommerce

for Intellectual Property and

Deputy Director of the USPTO

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DinnerFREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 9

DESSERT TRAY SPONSORSAnthony Coon-Attorney at Law, Bocker Auto Group, Carl Larson—Stephenson County State’s Attorney, Cherry Signs, Citizens State Bank, Columbia College, Country Inn & Suites, Dimond Bros Insurance Agency, Inc., Dog House Salon,

Edward Jones—Bradley Kolowski Financial Advisor, Elliott & Trainor, P.C., Floor to Ceiling Store, Forreston State Bank, Freeport Shopping News, Freidag Associates,

Fruth –Simmer Insurance Agency, Gitz-Meier Remodeling Contractors, Inc., Heritage Woods of Freeport, Hughes Resources, Inertia Machine, Loescher Heating and Air

Conditioning, New Millenium Directories, Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois, Slumberland, State Bank Freeport, State Farm Insurance—Ted Frits, Stephenson

Service Company, The Bridge Church, Tim’s Auto Care, U.S. Cellular, Union Dairy, WIFR-23, Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Willowglen Academy, Winter and Associates Property Management and Realty, Winter Construction and Wipfl i

SILENT AUCTION SPONSORS

4 Seasons Bowling Center, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, Cannova’s, Cub Foods, Deininger’s Floral Shop, Fitness Lifestyles, Flack Sewing Center, Frank Jewelers, Freeport Club, Freeport Industrial Roofi ng, FS Fast Stop, Gemorifi cs, GNC, Hampton Inn, Higher Grounds Coffee, Highland Community College Athletic Department, Highland

Community College Bookstore, Imperial Palace, Lena Brewing Co., Midland State Bank, Monroe Clinic, Northwestern Service Co., Pizza Hut, Rite-Way Furniture &

Appliance, Sawicki Motors Sales, Slumberland, The Rafters/The Red Barn, Verizon, Wagner’s Business Products, Walmart, Winter Construction and the YMCA

Special thanks to The Cheese Market.

PLATINUM SPONSORSBerner Food & Beverage

Fairway Ford LincolnFHN

Furst-McNess Company

GOLD SPONSORSFehr-Graham & Associates

Fishburn Whiton Thruman, LTDThe Journal-Standard

SILVER SPONSORSBocker Auto GroupFreidag Associates

Inertia MachineSlumberland

State Bank FreeportWinter Construction

Wipfl i LLP

BRONZE SPONSORSCarl Larson-Stephenson County

State’s AttorneyColumbia College

Country Inn & SuitesElliott & Trainor, P.C.

Forreston State BankFreeport Shopping News

Gitz-Meier Remodeling Contractors, Inc.Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning

New Millenium DirectoriesStephenson Service Co.

The Morse Group, Inc.WIFR-23

Williams-MannyInsurance Group

SOCIAL HOUR SPONSORSAnthony Coon, Attorney at Law

Floor to Ceiling StoreUnion Savings Bank

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10 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Securities services are not FDIC insured. NOT GUARANTEED by the financial institution or any Federal Government Agency. Subject to risk and may lose value. Not a deposit of a bank.

UNION Savings BANK is pleased to announce the addition of Cheryl Lessman to our Investment and Trust team.IIn her role as Trust Officer, Cheryl specializes in trust and estate administration, as well as financial planning for individuals and charitable organizations.CheCheryl is a lifelong Freeport resident and is an active member of Noon Kiwanis and serves as a board member for Parkview Home.

UNION Savings BANK welcomes

Cheryl Lessman

Cheryl LessmanAssistant Vice President & Trust [email protected] West Stephenson StreetFreeport, IL 61032

JobListingsThis Is It Eatery

16 N Chicago Ave.

EXPERIENCED COOK

DISHWASHERApply in person only

ListingsListingsFrank Jewelers

19 E Stephenson St.

Looking for entry level

and experienced full time

Apply on Indeed.com

For a complete job description, detailed list of skills needed and information on where to apply visit

www.freeportilchamber.com and click on Job Postings.

Elite Travel50 W Douglas Ave.

TRAVEL AGENTFull time

Apply in personFurst McNess

120 E Clark St.

ABAP DEVELOPER

WEB APPLICATION

DEVELOPERFull time

www.mcness.com/careers Hughes Resources

217 W Exchange St.

Hughes Resources is a staffi ng

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Stewart & Associates

50 W Douglas Ave.

SECURITY OFFICERS

LEASE ORDERING AGENTS

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Send resume to 50 W Douglas,

Suite 1200, Freeport, IL 61032

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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 11

WORLD ARTS FESTIVAL For one evening earlier this month, dozens of artistic masterpieces created by all ages of students were hung throughout one half of Freeport High School’s east gym. In a corner nearby, a high school student shaped clay on a potter’s wheel as spectators watched. On the other side of the room, along with down the hall in another gym, ears were tuned to the sounds of well-rehearsed voices and instruments as melodies from around the globe fi lled the school.These are scenes of the World Arts Festival, an annual event that celebrates cultural diversity by showcasing music and artwork created by Freeport School District students. The festival this year, held on March 10, was the fourteenth of its kind for FSD145 and featured over a thousand K-12 students representing every school in the district. About 3000 community members attended the festival.“Each year, this festival has grown because of the dedication and organization of our instructional leaders in art and music,” says Freeport School District Superintendent Mike Schiffman. “Through this event and throughout the school year, FSD strives to provide multicultural educational opportunities to our students while refl ecting on and celebrating the cultural diversity we have right here in Freeport.” The World Arts Festival originated with a request from administrators in the summer of

2001 to create an arts festival that would highlight the diversity of Freeport, says Bill Petersen, Head of the Music Department at Freeport High School. He and Jeff Lehman, instructional leader for music and retired choral teacher, were asked to create and organize the event. “Jeff and I believed this would be a great opportunity to incorporate the arts of the world into our curriculum,” says Petersen. The two also worked to secure the district’s support in bringing in a guest artist to work with students and provide an original example of their work to the festival each year. “Our special guest artists have ranged from musical composers and performers, to visual artists and designers, to play writers and dramatic performers,” Petersen says. “These professionals have inspired thousands of our students with their talents and lessons through classroom clinics given the weeks leading up to the festival.”The featured guest artist at this year’s festival was Andrew Craft, an award-winning photojournalist whose work has taken him around the globe. Previously on staff at the Freeport Journal-Standard, Craft has been a staff photographer at the Fayetteville Observer since 2005. His assignments vary from covering the confl icts in Iraq and Afghanistan to your typical building mug. Leading up to the festival, Craft held clinics and shared his work and experiences with students throughout the district. At the festival, he discussed his work, which was on display, and provided feedback on an exhibit of

We want to recognize the anniversaries of our long-standing members.

Thank you for your continued support!

Member Anniversaries

MARCH 2016

51 YEARSChapel Hill Memorial Gardens

36 YEARS

Brown’s Shoes

24 YEARSForreston State Bank

23 YEARS

Sojourn House

22 YEARSCivil Constructors • Sjostrom & Sons

18 YEARS

ABWA Jane Addams Chapter

16 YEARSFreeport Art Museum • American Red Cross

Twice As Nice Consignments

15 YEARSGeorge L. Walker Orthodontics

14 YEARS

Shockey & Cox LLC

13 YEARSAll American Cleaning & Restoration, Inc.

Allstate Insurance • Freeport Public Library Open Bible Day Care & Learning Center

12 YEARS

U.S. Cellular • Mt. Calvary C.O.G.I.C.

11 YEARSComfort Keepers • The Salvation Army Freeport

10 YEARSTitan Tire Corporation of Freeport • Little Cubs Field

Farmers Ins. Group/Lynn Kempel Agency LeBaron & Miller Interiors • Richard Drogosz

Page 12: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

photography by FSD students and staff.

Musically, the World Arts Festival featured a combined elementary chorus under the leadership of guest conductor Diane Dietmeier, current Music Director of Immanuel Lutheran Schools and Church, as well as a concert of the 6th grade orchestra, chorus, and band, and a concert of the 7th and 8th grade concert orchestra, symphonic orchestra, concert choir, concert band, and symphonic band. The event also featured a concert of the FHS concert band, treble choir, symphonic orchestra, concert choir, and symphonic band, which ended their program by coming together for a combined ensemble finale of  “God Bless America.”

Meanwhile, the festival also included a large showcase of artwork by district students. National Art Honor Society students served as jurors of the art exhibit and sponsored several awards. For the first time this year, a new “Superintendent’s Award” was also granted, with Supt. Schiffman choosing an artwork from each grade level to be displayed in the board office for the school year following the festival.

“The World Arts Festival is a nice chance for the district art teachers to appreciate and showcase the hard work our students do throughout the school year,” says Danelle Setterstrom, Head of the FHS Art Department. The art classes participate in several art shows throughout the year, she says, but this is the only district show they do

as a group. “For me, this event is important for the community because it’s a perfect event to bring people together and celebrate art, music, and diversity in our school and city,” she continued. “I personally enjoy watching the little ones search for their artworks and seeing their faces light up with pride when they get to show the work to their parents.” Art and creativity are tools for building a better future, says Schiffman. “The opportunity to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important life lessons we can give to our next generation of leaders,” he says. “Because of this, we are deeply grateful to all those involved in creating this outstanding festival and in developing our community’s art and music students for both today and the future.” Schiffman also expressed gratitude to the Freeport community for its support of FSD schools and programs, with special recognition of the Freeport Community Public School Fund for their generous financial support of  the World Arts Festival.

12 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Ambassadors had the honor to cut the ribbon along with Lena Living Center as celebrated the Grand Opening of the newly completed Rehabilitation Center addition for both In-Patient and Out-Patient. Thank you for allowing us to be there on this very special day and Congratulations!RIBBON CUTTING

The Ambassadors were on hand to cut the ribbon along with Freeport Health Club/FHC + Plus as they celebrated their Grand Opening located at 18 W. Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. If you are looking for a different gym or looking for extra help to get healthy why not stop by and see what they can do. Congratulations Freeport Health Club/FHC + Plus! Welcome to downtown Freeport!

RIBBON CUTTING

The Ambassadors cut the ribbon along with Monroe Clinic as they celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Urgent Care facility located  at  1301  S.  Kiwanis  Drive  in  Freeport.  Congratulations Monroe Clinic! We  look  forward  to your new Urgent Care  facility serving the community well into the future!

RIBBON CUTTING

Photos by Chris Parkinson

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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13

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The Ambassadors were on hand  to officially cut  the  ribbon along with Black Diamond Studio this past month. We would like to thank Debra Green and her entire staff  for inviting us. Thank you! If you are a musician or music enthusiast you need to come take a look at Black Diamond Music Studio & Sales. They have everything you can think including, guitars, pics, accessories, records, original records from local artists and much more! Stop by the Studio to say hello and check out this very awesome addition to Freeport. Black Diamond Music Studio & Sales is located at 1330 IL Route 20 East in Freeport.

RIBBON CUTTING

Tony CartonCommunicator Editor

Imagine if every child in Jo Daviess County entered school ready to learn and with a love of reading. The United Way of Northwest Illinois is partnering with local individuals and businesses to achieve just that by bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Jo Daviess County “United Way focuses on three major areas: education, mental stability, and health,” said United Way of Northwest Illinois Executive Director Tiffany Nieman. “The Imagination Library definitely is under the education arena. We talked to a lot of local community leaders and school professionals and we kept hearing that one of the most critical things from an

educational standpoint is preparing kids coming to kindergarten to be ready to learn and have a basic understanding of words and sounds.” United Way saw that as an impact opportunity. “The number one thing that people can do to prepare children for kindergarten is getting books in their hands,” said Nieman. “In a rural community that can be a challenge; there is not a library in everybody’s back yard. So, we felt that the Imagination

United Way of Northwest Illinois Brings New Childhood Early Development Program to Area

Tony CartonUnited Way of Northwest Illinois board chair Nicole Haas

ceremoniously cuts a ribbon marking the official beginning of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project in Jo Daviess County

Page 14: Communicator - Microsoft · Communicator MARCH 2016 • FREEPORT, ILLINOIS Tony Carton Communicator Editor The Realtor Association of Northwestern Illinois provides services to its

Library which involves the delivery of books through the mail might be a nice compliment to the other services that already exist in our communities.”  From birth until five years old, children enrolled in the program receive a new, age-appropriate book mailed to their home each month. By the time these children enter kindergarten; they have their own library of books, are more prepared to enter school, and are excited about reading. All families in Jo Daviess County with children birth to age five are eligible to enroll, and the organization is already working to expand the program. “We chose Jo Daviess County as our startup point because of its rural aspects and our plan is definitely to expand,” Nieman said.  The communities involved are stepping forward with unprecedented support. “Businesses and private individuals lent amazing support before we even launched the project,” she said. “We are so excited that its taking off so well here and we can’t wait to get the word out so families start signing up.” United Way is transitioning from doing funding for specific organizations like NICA, Tyler’s Justice Center and the Workshop to doing over-arching goals and then trying to find different partners in the community to support one specific goal all together.  “Our area has always been Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties,” said United Way of Northwest Illinois board chair Nicole Haas. “I think a lot of people forget or maybe don’t understand that since our organization currently has an office in Freeport those services still cover Jo Daviess County residents.” Cards are available through a number of agencies involved with early childhood development so that everybody can sign up for this program. There are no income level requirements. Contact United Way of Northwest Illinois for more information at (815) 232-5184 or visit them online at uwni.org “There are a lot of educational

studies that prove that reading to your child and having them ready for school by the time they reach kindergarten age is a huge milestone to continuing that progress once you reach school age, so making sure that kids have books in their hands is a priority for us,” said Haas. “If we can put books in the hands of kids and start to help them cultivate an interest in reading we all win. Plus, what kid doesn’t like to get something in the mail? Whether it’s a birthday card or something from grandma they are excited to get something in the mail. Why can’t it be a book coming in the mail that gets them excited? It’s about building a love for reading that will hopefully carry them through school and on into adulthood.” The Freeport Community Foundation provided the seed money for the project and its Executive Director, Daniel Schmitt was on hand for the ribbon cutting.“United Way came to us last fall and asked us for grant money specifically to start this program in Jo Daviess County,” said Schmitt. “They needed at least five thousand dollars to work with the Dolly Parton organization and start the Imagination Library. We reviewed the grant and decided to provide the money and that helped them to work with organizations across Jo Daviess County to get more funding.” Schmitt said the project is a great investment for the Freeport Community Foundation because education is important at all levels, but the priority is to get children involved with reading and learning before they get into school. “We work within Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll Counties and this is great exposure because we know helping early childhood learning and we’re helping a lot of residents in the area and we want to be a grant maker for projects just like the library. We feel this is a good start for us.” He said parental involvement is vital, but other resources are necessary for the project to succeed.“There has to be encouragement,” Schmitt said. “Something like a

library or a preschool or some level where they children can become involved. I believe it has to start at home and with the Imagination Library the books are sent monthly to the child’s home and that child’s excitement encourages the parents to read with the child and encourage them to read and to just sit down together for a while. It’s so much fun to see that.”Libby Miller of Illinois Bank and Trust said they had come on board as a sponsor of the Imagination Library project because they see it as an exceptional opportunity to help child develop a love for reading.“It is in all of our best interest to have children reading,” Miller said. “I think the earlier they can get a start, the better and this project is a very good way to accomplish that. The children get a book in the mail every month for five years. They only have to sign up and read. We are glad to be included in the project.” Apple River State Bank and First Community Bank of Galena CEO Joel Holland said his banks have six offices across the area and when Nieman contacted them with the idea for the Imagination Library they thought it was a perfect fit.“We feel this is a great program that will reach a wide group of people

across the county,” Holland said. “We hope this is a very successful program and we hope to be involved for the duration. We will do all we can in support of it.”Galena Children’s Librarian Rachel Lenstra said it is definitely important to get books into the hands of children of all ages. “We want children to be reading from birth with their family or care givers so, we are excited to have still another opportunity to get books into the children’s hands,” Lenstra said. “We are very excited to be involved with this project. The Imagination Library is an opportunity for kids who may live outside a library district to have access to books they might not otherwise have.” She said reading to a child and making it fun is an important part of early education. “It’s important to be an example of reading to a child,” said Lenstra. “As they get older they need to see you reading as an example of part of your daily life. Sit and read; if the child walks away, keep reading; they may wander back and sit and listen or they may start doing something else, but it is important for a child to see you read.”

14 FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BUSINESS AFTER HOURSBusiness after Hours this month was hosted by the Girl Scouts of Northern IL Freeport Service Center in Freeport. We hope everyone had a wonderful evening and had a chance to purchase some of those delicious Girl Scout cookies! We would also like to say a special thank you to Jennifer Camplain and the entire staff at the Girl Scouts of Northern IL Freeport Service Center for all your hard work making this event a success. Congratulations!

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Joshua LyonsMarketing Consultant

I’ve been observing and studying Facebook marketing for business since 2009. During that time I’ve discovered a HUGE mistake that many businesses often make. I believe the number one reason Facebook marketing fails is because the person managing the fan page actually trains Facebook to stop sharing their posts with their fans. This is an extremely common problem. The rest of this article explains how Facebook managers make this mistake and how you can avoid making the same blunder. The Facebook page owner gets people to like the fan page, and then he or she posts content to that page, but nobody ever clicks “like” or comments on the post. This commonly happens with pages that have hundreds or even thousands of fans. Why aren’t people engaging with the fan page? Chances are, it’s because the fans almost never see the posts that are going up. Now you say “Why don’t people see the posts? Didn’t you just say the fan page has a bunch of fans?” Good question. Keep reading!

The Estimated Calculation Lets do a quick calculation. According to Big Think, the average person has 338 friends on Facebook. Let’s say each of those friends only posts one time per day and it takes a 30 seconds on average to read that post [Could take longer for videos or shorter for text. Let’s just say it’s 30 seconds on average.]. That would mean the average person has to spend just under three hours a day to read all the posts, from all their friends. Okay, so that’s a rough calculation, but

the point is clear; Facebook has to prioritize what people see on their news feeds. It won’t show every post from every person. That’s just not practical or realistic.

Does Facebook Prioritize Who Sees What? Facebook protects you from boring people! Consider your own Facebook page for a moment. Let’s say you are great friends with Sue, from next door, and after you become Facebook friends, you start interacting on her timeline. She posts a funny picture and you make a comment. As time goes by, you continue to see her posts, and you continue to engage with them. Facebook sees this and decides to keep showing Sue’s posts on your news feed, because you obviously like what she has to say. Now, time continues to go by and you come across Joe, an old classmate of yours. You strike up a conversation and become “friends” on Facebook. Then, Joe posts something on his timeline, but it’s really boring, so you don’t click “like” or comment. After more time has passed, you keep seeing boring posts from Joe, so you never click “like” or comment. Then Facebook gets the idea and sees you have no interest in what Joe has to say. So, Facebook eventually stops showing you his posts. Facebook prioritizes what you see, based on how you interact with your friends and fan pages.

The Facebook Marketing Solution To have a successful fan page for your business, you MUST make every post as interesting as possible. If your posts aren’t interesting, your fans will lose interest and your Facebook marketing becomes a wasted drain on your time, and

possibly your marketing budget as well. I say all of this to tell you, don’t post something that people will ignore or think is boring. If you don’t truly have something your Facebook fans will find interesting, then don’t say anything at all. Just because you think it’s interesting, doesn’t mean your fans and target audience will think it’s interesting. Don’t forget that. It’s frequently better to be silent than to teach Facebook to not share your content with the people you’re trying to reach. Please take that statement to heart! Don’t just post on Facebook because you feel like you should. Rather, post to Facebook because you have something your fan base will want to see. Follow the three tips below to craft posts that your fans will be more likely to see, and engage with.

Tip 1: Don’t Use Too Much Copy This is almost a pet peeve of mine. Unless they are really good friends of yours, people don’t want to read an entire essay posted to your timeline. Through research and personal experimentation, I’ve learned you should only post one or two lines of text at the most, for your Facebook post. There are always exceptions to the rule, but most of the time, stick to only one or two lines. The longer the post, the less interested people tend to be in actually taking the time to read it. I’ve read about this through research and I’ve tested it. It’s true! If  you can fit everything in one line of text, that’s the best. People aren’t on Facebook to read stuff. They are on Facebook to see stuff.

Tip 2: Use ImagesI just said people are on Facebook to see stuff. With that being said, use images. If you’re a restaurant owner, show off your greatest creation and make people want to eat it. If you run a dance studio, let people see your dancers all having fun on the dance floor. If  you’re the administration for a zoo, show your furry residents to potential patrons. People love to see interesting things, so make sure to include great

images in your posts. If you have a good image, you shouldn’t have to use more than one or two lines of text. Also, good images are likely to result in good engagement… which is what you should be going for.

Tip 3: Don’t Use Facebook for Push Marketing Push marketing is where you’re pushing your advertisement onto someone. For example, you’re a restaurant and you post something that says “Come in today to try our latest lasagna masterpiece!” You are pushing your ad onto your fans and you are trying to push them to take action and spend money at your restaurant. Instead of using push marketing on Facebook, it would be a smarter move to use pull marketing. Pull marketing is a subtle way to get people to want what you’re promoting, without making it look like you’re pushing your product or service on them. For example, you’re that same restaurant we just talked about, but this time, you post a picture of your new lasagna entree and say “So proud of our chef ’s latest creation. Truly delicious!” That fits on one line, has a yummy looking picture and it makes people want to click “like” or comment. Use pull marketing… not push marketing. There’s plenty more to say about how to use Facebook for marketing, and what to avoid. We’ll have to save those posts for the future. However, if you have a question or want some help with your marketing, we are especially proud of the Chamber luncheon marketing and business seminars. They work!

TECHbytesFREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 15

The #1 Reason Facebook Marketing Fails

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