thank you to all who participated! - geneva march soundings 2016.… · verbal consultation;...

Volume 107, Issue 3

March 2016

Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

www.genevachamber.com

RESTAURANT WEEK A trEAT for all

Thank you to the following restaurants for serving up excellent dining offerings for our second Geneva Restaurant Week Jan 25 – 31. Continuing with the first year’s success, we were able to garner exposure with print, radio, digital and social media with our media partners Kane County Chronicle, Daily Herald, Chicago Tribune, Fox Valley eValues & Deals and Money Mailer of Fox River Valley (including gratitude for Fox Valley eValues & Deals, Chicago Tribune and Money Mailer’s in-kind marketing donations). In addition, the Geneva Restaurant Week web page created by The Mar-keting Group and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram exposure generated lots of buzz.

318 Coffeehouse

Atwater’s in The Herrington

Aurelio’s Pizza Geneva

Bien Trucha

Chianti’s

El Molcajete on 3rd

EvenFlow Music & Spirits

FoxFire Restaurant

Houlihan’s

Kernel’s Gourmet Popcorn & More

The Little Traveler Atrium Café

Nobel House

Oscar Swan Country Inn

Preservation Bread & Wine

Rascal’s Tavern & Grill

Sergio’s Cantina

Stockholm’s

Sweet Natalie’s Gluten-Free Bakery

Our business in the Atrium Cafe was up 23% last week over the same week last year, pri-marily due to the Restaurant Week promo-tion.

Last year we got very few responses to Res-taurant Week, but this year it seemed that the majority of customers knew about it, and many of them took advantage of the special we offered. I don’t know what, if anything, you did differently in promoting Restaurant Week, but it certainly worked for us.

Thanks to you and your wonderful team!

Mike SimonThe Little Traveler Atrium Café

We had an awesome week with our “special” tin offer, our regular customers as well as some “new” customers loved the great deal. We are eager to be involved for many years to come.

Dann & Cathy VillwockKernel’s Gourmet Popcorn & More

With awesome menus offered by Geneva’s Res-taurants and great weather, Restaurant Week was a huge success. Stockholm’s sales were up 11% over last year’s Restaurant Week. Best part is, we had a number of first time Guests. Several of whom were from Naperville. Many commented that they heard about Geneva’s Restaurant Week and then checked out the menu offerings on the Chamber’s web-site.

The great partnership between the Chamber and the Restaurants made this week a success.

Michael OlesenStockholm’s

Restaurant Week was a great way to get our new menu in the hands of new and old cus-tomers alike! It was great to see familiar faces come back just for the experience. We are always excited when this event is coming up, and can’t wait to be in it next year.

K.C. GulbroFoxFire

Thank you to all who participated!

March ina month of luck!

Attend one of the many Member Events listed.

2 SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Area Code is 630 unless noted otherwise.

Building Better Relationships Through Networking


3 Ways to MakeLuncheon Reservations

• Go to www.genevachamber.com, click “Calendar of Events”, then GWIB event

• Call the Chamber at 232-6060• Email [email protected]• Reservations required. Walk-ins seated if

room. Cancel via email/fax by prior Thursday at 4 pm. If not canceled, you will be billed.

• Request vegetarian meal in advance.• Members: $30 w/reserv; $35 if invoiced• Nonmembers: $35 w/reserv.

New Member ProfilesWe welcome new members and encourage you to familiarize yourselves with them

and make valuable connections. Profiles are supplied by new members.

February LuncheonThank you to Fiora’s for hosting our network-ing event and providing a lovely luncheon. GWIB’ers also enjoyed this opportunity to net-work with each other!

The Chance for Charity for February wasTriCity Family Services. For nearly 50 years, TriCity Family Services (TCFS) has been Kane County’s leading provider of counseling and other mental health services to clients of all ages and all income levels. TCFS is committed to helping their clients strengthen themselves, their families, and their communities.

March LuncheonOur March luncheon will be held March 15 at Riverside Receptions, 35 N. River Lane, Gene-va. Our guest is Life Coach and Speaker Debbie Leoni, who will present “Living Fearlessly to Get Results.”

She will discuss how to identify thoughts and beliefs to create opportunity, and ways to make new choices which result in new actions.

The March Chance for Charity is Fox Valley Food for Health. The organization’s mission is to build a network of adult and teen volunteers committed to supporting people and families in need who are dealing with a serious illness by providing nutrient rich meals, nutrition edu-cation and personal caring support. Visit their website at foxvalleyfoodforhealth.org.

Did You Know?Geneva Women in Business is on Facebook. Visit www.facebook.com/GenevaWomeninBusi-ness/ and keep up with the latest GWIB news!

Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center 115 Campbell St., Ste. 201 • 847-966-9343 ext. 3 • www.ChicagoCBTCenter.comThe Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center is excited to announce our satellite of-fice in Geneva! Our practice specializes in CBT and treating clients with anxiety and mood disorders. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for methods that share a focus on thoughts and behaviors that maintain symptoms, willingness to try new behaviors, and patterns of relating to our experiences. The treatments we utilize have been shown to be most effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life among patients with anxiety, depression, OCD and related disorders. In short, we focus on what works. The spirit of our approach is active and genuine. We embrace imperfection as a natural state of being and view mistakes as portals for learning. We regard humor and humility as invaluable tools and use them to lighten and reposition our perspectives. We work hard with you to go to those frightening places, internal and external, to develop tolerance, courage, equanimity.

Collins Construction Group, Inc.931 First St., Batavia • 406-8434 • www.ccghome.comYour home is one of your most valuable assets, and not only financially. It is a place where families and friends gather, where memories are made. At Collins Construction Group, our focus is creating a home that you can enjoy for decades to come. Whether through a room addition, kitchen remodel, or a completely custom home, our designers and builders use years of experience to make your vision a reality and a success. Contact us today to learn how at Collins Construction Group, the difference is in the details.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory840-3351 • [email protected] is one of the world’s premier particle physics laboratories, and it’s right in your backyard. Fermilab is a world leader in scientific research geared toward unraveling the big-gest and most puzzling mysteries about the universe and how it works. Fermilab’s 1,800 em-ployees live mostly in the Fox Valley and western DuPage County, and the laboratory works with (and brings in visitors from) 44 different countries. The lab is open to the public every day – you only need a photo ID to enter – and we offer free public tours every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Our Arts and Lecture Series brings speakers and performers from all over the world. Learn more about us and sign up to our free monthly email newsletter at www.fnal.gov.

Guaranteed Rate, Inc.716 W. State St., Unit E • 315-7743 • [email protected] Rate, The Home Purchase Experts®, is the 8th largest mortgage lender in the U.S. Our Geneva mortgage brokers live in the Fox Valley and have worked with its realtors and borrowers for over 30 years. We shop rates so you don’t have to, providing low rate & low fee mortgages. We fund Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo and state assisted loans nationwide. We fund loans in as little as 2 weeks! Borrowers love the personal attention they receive from our team and our award winning technology. Guaranteed Rate created the World’s First Digital Mortgage, allowing borrowers to apply online 24/7, obtain a free credit report, securely upload & digitally sign documents, and receive a real online approval. Whether you want to purchase a home in the Fox Valley, or refinance, call us for the best rates and service!

The Joshua Tree Community320 Franklin St. • 485-1064 • joshuatreecommunity.comThe Joshua Tree Community (JTC) is a Geneva-based non-profit organization started in the spring of 2014 that serves mildly intellectually delayed persons ages 22 and older. A struc-tured, day program, open five days a week year-round. The Joshua Tree has one paid staff member and a cadre of dedicated volunteers.

One of the core values of JTC is continued learning in Community based enrichment pro-grams on a daily basis in a safe and compassionate environment. The Joshua Tree Commu-nity is located in beautiful downtown Geneva in St. Mark’s Church. To find out more about The Joshua Tree Community, please visit joshuatreecommunity.com.

Continued on Page 3

SOUNDINGS…The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 3



New Member Profiles (cont.)

Guaranteed Rate, Inc.716 W. State Street

March 2Noon

Ribbon Cuttings

Kreative KathleenGeneva • 706-825-2185 • [email protected] • www.kreativekathleen.comRedefining homes is my passion, and that is why I guarantee great service and results.I believe that if people are happy doing what they do, you will get their absolute best! I promise to provide magazine-ready spaces on time and on budget.

I offer the following services:Verbal Consultation; Occupied Home Staging; Vacant Home Staging; Home Makeovers (Restyling) Projects; Staging Offices, Reception Areas & Waiting Rooms; Shopping Ser-vice; Gift Certificates and Downsizing Assistance.

Land Home Financial Services, Inc.507 S. Third St., Suite A • 463-6260We are excited to be part of the Fox Valley community. Our mortgage lending and servic-ing expertise comes from over 28 years as a Community Lender. At Land Home Financial we are committed to being involved in the community and assisting our referral partners and clients.

As a lender we are able to provide a wide variety of specialized loan programs featuring Conventional, FHA, VA, Reverse Mortgage, USDA, Jumbo Loans Commercial Lending and Builder Programs. We are an Approved FHA Direct Lender, Fannie/Freddie seller servicer currently licensed in 49 states and DC. We have our own In house underwriting, process-ing and funding staffs to ensure a smooth loan transaction.

Feel free to stop in and say hello and meet our staff with over 76 years of mortgage experience.

Dave Marquardt, Branch Manager; Ed Pawelski, Manager of Reverse Mortgages; Jan Dimmig Olson, Senior Loan Officer; Mary Pat Legler, Senior Loan Officer

Preservation Partners of the Fox ValleyP.O. Box 903, St. Charles • 377-6424 • [email protected] • www.ppfv.orgThe mission of Preservation Partners is to offer heritage education and to promote the ap-preciation and preservation of the Fox Valley’s rich architectural and historical resources.

Preservation Partners operates three house museums in central Kane County: Fabyan Villa/Japanese Garden in Geneva, 1843 Durant House Museum in St. Charles at LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve, and the 1850 Beith House Museum in St. Charles. All three mu-seums are filled with a multitude of treasures and special exhibits awaiting discovery. In addition to site tours at these museums and the Fabyan Japanese Garden, we offer many opportunities to protect our shared heritage, through programs and tours focusing on his-toric preservation and grass roots advocacy. Watch for our many special events including Treasures of the Tri-Cities.

Solar Plus USA902 S. Randall Rd. , Ste. C #276, St. Charles • 800-530-8615Solarplususa.com • [email protected] Plus USA has had a long history in the home improvement and roofing industries. For over 15 years we have served the state of Illinois; bringing only top quality craftsman-ship to the greater area. Our roots are deeply embedded in our American pride and we are privileged to say that we employ current and former military service members from all branches. From putting thousands of roofs over Illinois resident’s heads, to helping power the state with our solar installations, we here at Solar Plus USA believe in a cleaner, more affordable, renewable energy for Illinois. Contact us for a free estimate! 2016 Bookmarks are in!

Stop by our office and pick them up for your shop or restaurant. Use them as a bag stuffer. We are always handing them out in our office, in mailings and at festivals. Working together, promoting Geneva is a great partnership.




Continued on Page 5

Welcome New MembersThe Burger Local

Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center

DayOne Reliance, Inc.

Guaranteed Rate, Inc.

The Home Depot

In the 6, LLC

The Joshua Tree Community

Kreative Kathleen

Preservation Partnersof the Fox Valley

Member NewsIf you have news to be considered for Soundings, email Laura ([email protected])

by the 10th of the preceding month. See website for double month issues.

Savant Capital Management has received the Service Provider Certification for adhering to the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) standard of excellence for Employee Re-tirement Income Security Act (ERISA) 3(16) Plan Administrators. Savant is among one of the first organizations in the nation to be independently certified in this role.

Carlson’s Flooring has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 49-year-old, family owned company was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Peacock Engineering Co. announced it is changing its name, logo and management structure to redefine and reshape the company for the future. The name of the company has been changed to Peacock Foods LLC. In addition, their new website is peacockfoods.com.

Concierge Med Spa has changed their business name to Concierge Luxury Day and Medical Spa.

Geneva Family Dental is offering a $1000 Scholarship to a Geneva High School graduate pur-suing the dental industry. Applications are available through GHS or at genevafamilydental.com. All applications are due by April 1 and the scholarship will be awarded in May.

The State Bank of Geneva is proud to announce the election of Christopher P. Barton to President, CEO and Director.

The Chiropractic People is now offering the FDA approved Erchonia Cold Laser for the treatment of chronic neck and back pain, shoulder pain, and heel pain from Plantar Fascitis. This new and cutting-edge approach to pain management is quick, painless and there are no side effects. Call to schedule a consultation with the Doctor to see if the Erchonia Cold Laser is the right next step for you.

TriCity Family Services is pleased to welcome Kathleen Hausmann as its new Director of Development.

Geneva Cleaners has started 2016 with launching a newsletter. Subscribe to it at genevacleaners.com.

Savant Capital Management has been recognized by Financial Planning magazine as a top 150 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. For the second year in a row, Savant has landed a spot among the top 10 largest independent financial planning firms and is now ranked as the ninth largest advisory firm in the United States. This list was created by Financial Planning magazine and captures independent fee-only planning firms that remain free of affiliations with broker-dealers, insurance firms, banks and large outside investors.

25N Coworking was featured in an article in the February 2016 issue of Workplaces. Read the full article, pages 42-49, here https://bellow.press/viewBoFissue/webView/WPM-Feb2016.

Gatherings by Design is excited to be participating in the March Wild for Fashion lun-cheon and fashion show given by Northwestern Medicine Auxiliary. They are helping with the centerpieces for this big event. Gatherings by Design can help with any of your graduation parties, bridal showers or your summer celebrations. Contact Karen or Patti for information at 880-8792 or 485-0999.

ANNIVERSARIESCongratulations to chamber members who

have celebrated business anniversariesin the last couple of months.

Geneva Bank & Trust3 years

Nosh9 years

Pirok Design, Inc.20 years

Liberty MutualInsurance-Richard Foster

32 years

R/J Recording & Sound40 years

If you have an anniversary to be sharedwith Soundings, email Laura([email protected])

Tech Tipcourtesy of The Marketing Group

Why should your website be responsive? With the majority market share,

Google now states that responsiveweb design is the industry best practice.




1st AnnualSt. Patrick’s Day

Pub Crawl Begins at 4:30

at The Patten House then…

5:30 – Fiora’s6:30 – Rascal’s Tavern & Grill and

7:30 – conclude at EvenFlow Music & Spirits for Karaoke

Your $10 participation cost includes appetizers. Cash bar, featuring RPN drink specials, is available at each lo-cation.

RSVP to Judy [email protected]

Member News (cont.)

Last month Illinois State Representative Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) presented House Resolution 840 to the Kane County Cougars in honor of the organization’s recent 25th an-niversary season in Geneva in 2015. The resolution, initiated by Representative Anders-son and approved by the 99th General Assembly House of Representatives, celebrates the Cougars’ history and achievements on their 25th season of baseball in Geneva.

Carol Murin, Solutions for Long Term Care, Inc. recently spoke about today’s long term care issue on AM WJOL 1340.

Half Price Is A Better Price! Switch to H&R Block and pay half what you paid someone last year to do your taxes. Promotion runs through March 31and is open to any clients who did not receive tax preparation services from an H&R Block retail office in 2015. Stop by our office at 1772 S. Randall Road or give us a call at 262-1613.

The Geneva Garden Club is once again offering a $2000 scholarship to a qualified Geneva resident who is planning continued education in horticulture, landscaping, landscape design, environmental sustainability or other closely related fields. The application and informational flyer is available at www.genevagardenclub.com/scholarship. The applica-tion deadline is April 1. We would love to have as many qualified applicants as possible for this great scholarship! Please contact Karen Bielski with any questions…[email protected].

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Neighbors Magazines to promote Member Events Listings & Member News articles. If your event and news is in Soundings, it will be on KaneNeighbors.com.

Sweet Natalie’s Gluten Free Bakery is now offering Gluten free, vegan, Paleo, egg free, dairy free, low carb, sugar free, grain/yeast free, peanut and tree free dessert options.

“The ballpark here and the facility that the Cougars have is a great draw for the commu-nity, not to mention the outstanding baseball being played here year after year. These play-ers are the future of baseball and it is amazing

that they get their start right here in Kane County,” Andersson said. “The Kane County Cougars and Fifth Third Bank Ballpark have brought great business to the area and it is a

cornerstone in the community.”

A Chamber Member Benefit That Lasts ALL YEAR! The Geneva Chamber of Commerce Business Directory

is updated and sent to every Geneva business, resi-dence and Chamber member annually (over 13,000 copies each year). Make your business stand out all year by running an ad in this handy book!

The black & white ads are interspersed with alphabeti-cal listings to maximize your exposure and ad dollars. This premium space is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is priced to fit any budget! Ads vary in price — from $250 to $875. Payment and art due 3/31. Contact Jeanne, 232-6060, for details on this im-portant member benefit.

We have a wonderful newemployee who found out about

the sales position via theChamber’s Job Search.Many thanks for this

wonderful service - it works!

Atala ToyCrystal Life Technology




Deli Luncheons – MarchSeniors can enjoy luncheons Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 am-12:15 pm at the Geneva Township Senior Center. Reservations must be made by the prior Thursday; call 232-3602. Sug-gested donation for age 60+ is $3, $6 for under age 60.

Support and Community Programs – MarchTriCity Family Services offers many support and community programs. Please visitwww.tricityfamilyservices.org for class schedules, dates and times. You can also call 232-1070.

Lunch & Tour – Wednesdays in MarchOscar Swan Country Inn welcomes you to enjoy lunch and tour of this historic mansion. Choose your lunch from soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. Groups welcome. Call to arrange a special day - 232-0173.

Flat Bread & Wine Wednesdays at Preservation – Wednesdays in MarchEach Wednesday from 4-9 pm, Preservation Bread & Wine ovens fire up strong and friends join us for flat bread pizza night, featuring five gourmet flatbreads & four different wines at $20/bottle.

Afternoon Tea – Thursdays & Saturdays in MarchYou are formally invited to spend the day with us and stay for Afternoon Tea from 2-4 pm in Little Traveler’s legendary tea room. Please call 232-4200 for more information.

Friday Fish Fry – Fridays in MarchEach Friday from 5-9 pm Mill Creek Golf Club hosts a Fish Fry with delicious appetizer and entrée choices. Full tavern menu also available. Go to www.millcreekgolfcourse.com for full menu details. Seating is first come, first serve. To go orders also available.

Sunday Breakfast Buffet – Sundays in MarchOscar Swan Country Inn offers a Sunday buffet from 9:30-11 am. Reservations required; $15.95/person. Visit www.oscarswangeneva.com or call 232-0173.

Anniversary Party – March 1Geneva Bank & Trust is having their 3rd Year Anniversary Open House at the bank from 5-6:30 pm. Moveable Feast + Company will provide the food and refreshments.

Geneva Business Book Club – March 2Please join us for our monthly meeting for business education and masterminding. We choose a monthly business book and focus on applying the concepts and lessons to daily work culture and activities. Our meetings often include local authors. Most of our time is spent sharing our experiences in applying the principles. Please come even if you haven’t read the book. Read less, do more and share. From 6-7:30 pm at 318 Coffeehouse. Contact William Germanetti, iMPACT Business Coaching, Inc. ([email protected]) for more information.

Geneva Academic Foundation Open House – March 3Come meet current members & GAF alumni. Learn more about the foundation that supports the best schools, Geneva School District 304. We’re looking for volunteer members to join our Board or Committees, help with the various events throughout the year or to make donations to our annual fundraising activities. At this Open House learn more about GAF and how you could get involved. From 7-9 pm at Old Towne Pub & Eatery (upstairs). More info at gafgeneva.org.

Konica Minolta Innovation Showcase – March 3Come experience the madness at Konica Minolta from 10 am-2 pm. Our championship lineup includes: Production Print, 3D Printing, Data Security, IT Services, Mobility and Information Man-agement. Free lunch available from 11 am-1 pm. Top of the line technology prices will be raffled off throughout the event! Please RSVP now at downinnovation.kmbds.me.

Open Mic Nights in Downtown Geneva – March 4Have you ever wished for the opportunity to perform your favorite instrument, poem, or improv skills in front of a live audience? This is your chance to shine! The Geneva Park District is host-ing Open Mic Nights, from 7-9 pm, once a month at Playhouse 38. Admission is free but seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Open to all ages! Event is sponsored by Sounds Like Music. For more information, call 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.

Member EventsIf you have events to be considered for Soundings, email Laura ([email protected])

by the 10th of the preceding month. See website for double month issues.

Continued on Page 7

It will just last 90 minutes, but the attendees at the inaugural 90 IDEAS in 90 MINUTES event will walk away with the collective knowledge of nine forward thinking business leaders from the Tri-Cities.

These leaders will share 10 of their company’s most successful programs and initiatives-both big and small-that can be applied to any busi-ness. Attendees will receive all 90 ideas in a special exclusive supplement, complete with areas to take notes.

This business event is hosted by the Kane Coun-try Chronicle and supported by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

Date: Wednesday, April 20Time: Registration 11-11:30 am Luncheon: 11:30 am - 1:15 pmLocation: Q Center, 1405 N. Fifth Ave. St. CharlesTickets: $35 per person table of 8 $280

For more information contact Kelly Buchanan, the event coordinator at 319-471-1202 or at [email protected]

Back to back fun was had by Andy Hanses, Anderson Animal Shelter; Shari Ralish, Peaceful Parlour; Cynthia

Pirok, Pirok Design and Dr. Tom Skoumal, Thomas Skoumal, DDS PC at January’s Business After Hours

at The Chiropractic People.

Cody Case, Solar Plus USA networks with Paula Men-doza, Costco Wholesale at The Chiropractic People’s

newly expanded and remodeled offices at January’s Business After Hours.




Parents Night Out – March 4 & 18Enjoy a fun night away as your children play games, make crafts, watch movies, enjoy food, and more at Parents Night Out from 6-9 pm through the Geneva Park District. For children ages 3 and older who are toilet trained. Parents are required to fill out an emergency information card to keep on file. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.

Venetian Masquerade Ball – March 5CASA Kane County’s Annual Children’s Champion Celebration takes place in St. Charles. This year’s theme will be an evening to remember with an ambiance that will leave you breathless. For more information, please contact Lauren, [email protected].

Wine, Cheese & Trees – March 5The Natural Resources Committee of Geneva is hosting the 5th Annual Wine, Cheese, and Trees. The fundraiser will be at the Persinger Recreation Center, from 7-10 pm. Wine, craft beer, appetizers, silent & live auction and music. Tickets are $30/person and can be purchased at the Chamber or by contacting Jay at [email protected]. No City funds have been used to purchase alcohol for this event.

LEGO Show – March 5 & 6Geneva History Museum displays model trains show all made with LEGOs, creatively displayed with whimsy by the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club. From 11 am-4 pm. $2/members (and children 10 & under); $3/non-members.

Pit Bulls 101 – March 6DePAW University is proud to host an absolute must for pit bull advocates, bully lovers, profes-sional trainers, dog walkers, groomers, daycare & boarding businesses and pet owners who want to really understand their breed! From 9 am-5 pm, presented by professional trainer, pit bull expert and co-host of one of the most highly valued dog training podcast Jay Jack. Register by mail, fax or email ([email protected]). Registration forms can be down-loaded at depawk9campus.com. Cost is $225/working or $125/audit spot. For more questions, call 232-8663. Limited spaces; deadline is March 3.

Geneva Wedding Walk – March 6The Downtown Geneva Wedding Walk is the perfect time to see all Geneva has to offer to plan your unique wedding. You will have a chance to meet with venues, boutique shops, and visit some of the top wedding businesses in Chicagoland. Each bride that registers to attend the Ge-neva Wedding Walk will receive fabulous ideas, goodies and giveaways! For more information, visit genevabride.com.

Spring Flowers: A Painting Workshop – March 8Celebrate the beauty of spring with this hands-on workshop at Geneva Public Library from 6-7:30 pm. Christine Thornton will help you create a colorful spring flower using watercolor pencils. Be-ginners welcome, and all materials provided. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

Brown Bag Lunch Series – March 8From 12-1 pm at Geneva History Museum, presentation will be “Hats off to Geneva”. Hats have a long history as markers of status, occupation and even political affiliation. View some of the many hats in the Museum’s collection made by Geneva’s fine milliners. Reservations: $5/$3 Members. Business Book Discussion – March 8Interested in the latest books and research related to business, personality and learning and want to talk about them? Geneva Public Library hosts this event from 7-8:30 pm. Cynthia Wade, an experienced group facilitator, guides the discussion. The book will be Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel. For more information, call 232-0780 or visitwww.gpld.org.

FoxFire’s Heart Belongs to Hollywood – March 9FoxFire will be hosting a night filled with red glitz and glamour to raise heart disease awareness. We’ll treat you like a celebrity in Hollywood. Enjoy specialized dishes from chefs in California and win a prize during our raffle. All proceeds will go to Edward Elmhurst Foundation. Make your reservation now, 232-1369, to save the hearts! Event begins at 6 pm.

When 25N Coworking heard about the unexpected train delays after the fire on Metra’s UP-West Line last month, they wanted to open their doors to the commut-ers who couldn’t get downtown. That week, if the commuters brought in their Metra pass, they could co-work for the day free of charge. It was much nicer for the locals to have a comfortable space to get straight to work instead of sitting on the train for an unknown amount of time.

ABOVE& BEYONDMember Events (cont.)

Continued on Page 8

City of Geneva was one of 90 communities in the United States and Canada to be named a 2015 Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting Award winner from the Salt Institute. The City has received national recogni-

tion for the third consecutive year for excellence in environmental consciousness and effective manage-ment in the storage of winter road salt. Congratula-tions to the entire Public Works Department on this honor. (Happily this picture is not from this winter)

The Geneva office of H & R Block celebrates its very own winner in the 1000 Win $1000 Daily sweep-

stakes. Jeannie Ploegman, along with her husband, Brian, and son, Tucker, receive that wonderful

$1,000 check from Lynda Gershon, Office Manager.




Intro to Instagram – March 9Learn all the steps you need to create an account and become an active user at Geneva Public Library from 7-8:30 pm. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

Frontline Training – March 9Join the City of Geneva Economic Development Department and the Business Improvement and Retention Committee for our annual Frontline Training program. This is a free program for downtown merchants to hear about best practices in customer service, learn some Geneva history, and get the tools to become a Geneva Concierge. This year’s program will feature local experts Martha San-chez, State Street Jewelers; Eric Ott, Geneva Running Outfitters and Tom Konopacki, Anastazia who are known in the community for their superior customer service. Come learn from your peers, enjoy a continental breakfast, and take home an Ask Me About Geneva book. RSVP by March 4 at http://www.geneva.il.us/FormCenter/Economic-Development-6/Frontline-Training-2016-53.

Pipeworks Beer Dinner – March 96 pm doors open/6:30 pm dinner begins with 5 courses/5 beers - $80 per person at Niche. Res-ervations are required and a credit card is needed to hold the reservation. Call the restaurant at 262-1000.

Winter Cooking Classes – March 10Chez Moi Café & Catering offers these classes for $45/person. In March’s class, we will bake a variety of breads and rolls, including Brioche Loaves, Hot Cross Buns, Cinnamon Rolls, and Whole Wheat No-Knead Bread.

Myths and History of the Great Highland Bagpipes – March 10J. Kevin Chapman, an experienced and competitive bagpiper with nearly 30 years of experience, offers an interactive program in which he’ll play the pipes and display the regalia. This program will be held at Geneva Public Library from 7-8 pm. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

Geneva Film Festival – March 10 – 12The Geneva Film Festival is in its ninth year of bringing high-quality independent films to Geneva and the Fox Valley community. Ticket cost is $10 per block and each block can include multiple films within the time slot. This year, ticket sales have been limited to ensure good seating for every-one. In 2015, there were sellout crowds so buy tickets in advance if possible. Plan your viewing schedule in advance at http://www.genevafilmfestival.org/. Show times, descrip-tions and ratings are provided. There is something for everyone at the Geneva Film Festival. This year, thirty-seven films from 12 countries were accepted from more than 100 submissions across 20 countries.

Member Events (cont.)

TM

Continued on Page 9

Continued on Page 9

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce will be host-ing a city-wide garage sale in Geneva the week-end of April 22 and 23, 2016 from 8 am – 4 pm both days.

Clean out your Geneva Attics, Basements and Closets for the Geneva City-Wide ABC Garage Sale.

Participants will have their address and key items listed on a map to be distributed to key locations in town and posted on our website. Participants will also receive a garage sale sign to post near their home.

Geneva Chamber will do all the advertising, marketing, printing and distributing of material; including receiving special permission from the City of Geneva to post garage sale signs at key locations in Geneva.

YOU keep all the profits! In order to participate in the Citywide Garage Sale and have your Geneva location listed on the map please register online at http://genevacham-ber.com/city_wide_geneva_garage_sale.php.

You may also print out a registration form at that same web address or pick one up at our office if you wish to pay by cash/check (made payable to Geneva Chamber of Commerce). Please re-turn it, along with payment to Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 8 S. Third St. Register by April 12 to ensure your sale is on the printed and online map, for early bird cost of only $25, after April 12 cost to register is $30.

Why participate?

Community involvement. A portion of your reg-istration fees will help in the cost of the 67th Grand Parade held the last day of Swedish Days supported by Northwestern Medicine.

It’s good for your wallet. Everyone appreciates a little extra cash. Put the money generated from your garage sale towards a special activ-ity or entertainment - an unexpected treat you didn’t realize you could afford.



Tourism Thrives,Visitor Brochures

are Alive*Key findings include:

• 84% of tourists pick up brochures

• Brochures are the #1 source for visitor information above all other media outlets

• 4% of millennials are influenced by brochures

• 77% of all visitors surveyed are influenced by brochures.

Need brochures?Stop by our office to stock up.

*The Center for Marketing Technology at Bent-ley University in Massachusetts in conjunction with the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors has conducted an interna-tional study on the influences on travel purchasing behavior. The survey was conducted biennial in the summers of 2010, 2012 and 2014. In sum, over 5,975 surveys were collected, with the larg-est study conducted most recently with over 2,700 participants.


Western Avenue Clothing Sale – March 11 & 12The Western Avenue School PTO has been hosting their semiannual gently used spring and sum-mer clothing sale since 1981. Held on Friday 6-9 pm and Saturday 8-11 am. No strollers or chil-dren under 10 are allowed on Friday night. White tags are half priced on Saturday only. Admission is free. Call 463-3500 for more information.

Mothers of the Wedding Trunk Show – March 11 & 12Come to The Crystal Bride from 11 am-6 pm for a trunk show for mothers of the bride/groom. The event is featuring Mon Cheri designer samples of their Spring 2016 collections from Mon-tage, Cameron Blake and the Ivonne D collection. Order times will vary, but can take up to four to five months. A great opportunity to see our already vast selection as well as some exclusive pieces we do not always carry. Please call 457-5459 to make an appointment!

Mom & Son Night – March 12Share a special night with your little guy at Geneva Park District’s annual Mom & Son Night, from 6-8 pm at Geneva High School. Boys and their mothers will enjoy entertainment, activi-ties and snacks. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for check-in and pictures. Cost is $10 per person ($15 non-resident). Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Brahms & Ives: No Limits – March 12 & 13Alexander Schimpf’s incredible technique and emotional depth show no limit in Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Charles Ives, who was known for breaking musical boundaries, stays within the classical music limits in his Symphony No 2…mostly. At The Hemmens Cultural Center 3/12 (7:30 pm); 3/13 (2:30).

Breakfast with the Bunny – March 13Bring the whole family and enjoy breakfast while getting your pictures with the Easter Bunny at Mill Creek Golf Club. There are seating times at 9, 10 and 11 am. Adults are $15.95, kids ages 5-12 are $9.95 and 4 and under are FREE. There will be a fantastic breakfast buffet and omelet station. Reservations required. Call 208-7272 to reserve your spot.

Pitch and Catch – March 15Open to the public! Pitch and Catch offers 25N members an opportunity to present their busi-ness plan, new idea, or sales pitch to an audience of mentors, advisers, entrepreneurs, and you! Pitchers prepare a 5 minute presentation and engage in 20 minutes of feedback and question-ing. 25N members gain insight into possible ways they can improve their businesses and gather real time feedback. The audience learns a great deal from the presentations. There is much to learn every month from these dynamic and diverse entrepreneurs. We need you in our audi-ence! Takes place at 25N Coworking from 4-6 pm.

Maple Syrup – March 15Roger Taylor will share his knowledge of maple syrup production history, tools of the trade, tree identification, and the process from sap to syrup at Geneva Public Library from 7-8:30 pm. You will also taste the finished product! Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

OSHA Safety Day – March 16Waubonsee Community College’s Workforce Development, working in partnership with the North Aurora office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), presents Safety Day, an all-day from 8 am-3 pm workers’ safety seminar. This seminar, held every other year in March, features more than 20 OSHA speakers presenting information on safety issues, including OSHA’s Top 10 Violations and Workplace Investigations and Risk Fundamentals. Reg-ister at www.waubonseetickets.com.

How to Use Facebook – March 17Learn about one of the largest social media platforms at Geneva Public Library from 10-11:30 am. Topics include understanding the newsfeed, timeline, and how to post, share, and like your own content. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

Free Friday – March 18Curious about 25N Coworking? Come try our Flex space free for a day! Email [email protected] for details.


Continued on Page 11

One person’s garbage is another person’s trea-sure. Many people really have fun finding unex-pected items at a much reduced cost. That old disco ball you bought in a moment of madness in 1979 and kept in your garage for 30+ years? It’s now a piece of garden art in my backyard!

Get rid of clutter. Back to the disco ball in your garage - think about all the items you’ve pur-chased over the years that have been taking up space and collecting dust. Free up that valu-able real estate for other uses.

It’s good for the environment. Remember the three R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. By hold-ing a garage sale, you’re diverting goods from landfills.

This is a great opportunity to do some spring cleaning. Even if your home doesn’t partici-pate, thousands of shoppers will be coming to Geneva and may find their way to your shop or restaurant.

For more information, please call the Chamber at 232.6060.

Geneva Garage Sale (cont.)




The Egg-mazing Race – March 18Starting promptly at 5:30 pm at Wheeler Park, teams (ages 10-14) will need to solve a series of clues and challenges scattered around Wheeler Park in order to find the bunny hiding in the dark. The top ten teams will win a variety of prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants. Don’t wait, pre-registration is recommended! Register by March 11.

Wrap up the night with a good old-fashioned egg hunt, where you will scramble through the dark to collect as many eggs as you can! Eggs are filled with a variety of prizes and candy. Please note: participants must bring their own flashlight. This event is held rain or shine, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Teams are selected at random at the event. For more information call Geneva Park District at 232-4542.

Breakfast with the Bunny – March 19Geneva Park District invites you to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny. before the Egg Hunt from 8:15 - 9:45 am or after from 10:15-11:45 am. Inside the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center. Pictures will be available during breakfast, so don’t forget to bring a camera. Cost is $5 per per-son/residents ($8 non-resident). Advance registration is required. Early registration is recommended as space is limited. Children under one are free, but must register. High chairs are not available. For more information, call 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.

Hop into Fun! Easter Egg Hunt – March 19 FREE! Over 5,000 eggs will be dispersed in the soccer fields at Geneva Park District’s Stephen Persinger Rec Center. There will be two designated egg hunt areas: one for children ages 4 & younger, and one for ages 5 & older. Please arrive early as parking is limited. Event held rain or shine. Remember to dress ap-propriately for the weather. Starts at 10 am.

Bee-witched – March 19Fox Valley Literacy’s annual trivia bee will be held 9 am-12 pm at Piper’s Banquets in Aurora. Assemble your three person team and get ready to answer three rounds of magical questions about entertainment, arts, literature, geography, history, science and sports. $400/team; to register contact Peg at 584-4428 or [email protected].

Shamrock Shootout – March 19Kick off the golf season with the Shamrock Shootout at Mill Creek Golf course. $55 per person includes 18 holes with cart, range balls, on course competitions, prizes, breakfast, lunch and drinks. 10 am shotgun start with 9 am registration and breakfast. Go to www.millcreekgolfcourse.com for more information. Call 208-7272 to register your group.

“The Clean House” – through March 20Steel Beam Theatre presents this play Fri & Sat (8 pm); Sun (3 pm). Please visit steelbeamtheatre.com or call 587-8521 for tickets and more information.

Native Peoples of Illinois – March 23The Geneva Library Foundation is pleased to welcome Meg Bero, who will journey to the past for a look at the history and culture of Native Americans in our state from 7-8:30 pm in the Meeting Room at theGeneva Public Library. This is a free event. Reservations are not required, but suggested. You can reg-ister at www.genevalibraryfoundation.org.

Coworking in Geneva – March 24Come meet and network with local professionals in the area from 5-7 pm. Open sign up at the 25N Coworking Community Manager’s desk or online at: http://www.meetup.com/Geneva-Coworking-Meetup/events/222236428/. Cash bar by Nobel House.

Easter Brunch – March 27Join Oscar Swan Country Inn at noon or 2:30 pm for brunch with musical stylings of Tony Marconi on the Violin. $35/person. Reservations please at 232-0173.

Easter Brunch – March 27Mill Creek Golf Club will host an Easter Brunch with seating times at 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm and 1 pm. Reservations are required. Please call 208-7272 to secure your spot. Full menu listed at www. millcreekgolfcourse.com. $29.95 for adults, $10.95 for kids ages 5-12, 4 and under are free.

Photos App for iMac – March 28Learn about the key elements of photo editing and organization with the Photos app for Mac. This program will be held at Geneva Public Library from 7-8:30 pm. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.

Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher – March 30Avid Cubs fan Bruce Bohrer spent nine seasons working as an usher at Wrigley Field. Learn about the joys and tribulations he experienced on the job in this program at Geneva Public Library from 7-8 pm. Call 232-0780 X251 or visit www.gpld.org to register.




BOARD OF DIRECTORSChairman

Scott Lebin ........................ Lebin Financial PlanningVice Chairman

Mark Spero............ Money Mailer of Fox River ValleyTreasurer

Susan Huang.................. Fox Valley eValues & DealsPast Chairman

Gordie Hard........................Valley Insurance AgencySecretary

Lisa Nelson......................................Carlson’s Floors

BOARD MEMBERSSteve Burnham........................ The Paper Merchant Jamie Daniel.................................. Member EmeritaGeorge Havlicek ................... Geneva ACE HardwareNeil Johnson ..................................Sperry Van NessRobert Langeness .......................Yurs Funeral HomeMichael Olesen ..................................... Stockholm’s Tim Riley .................................................Riley DrugMartha Sanchez ...................... State Street JewelersMike Simon ..................................The Little TravelerDarla Yhost ............................. Geneva Bank & Trust

STAFFJean Gaines.............................................. President

[email protected]

Judy Carroll .........Membership/Sponsorship [email protected]

Mary Miller ...................................... Office [email protected]

Laura Rush......................Communications [email protected]

Jeanne Sawtell...........................Member Services & Events Coord, [email protected]

Krista Andersen

.........................Member Services &

Volunteer Coord, [email protected]

MISSION STATEMENTThe primary mission of the Geneva Chamber of

Commerce is to be the voice of its members and the business community on matters of economic, social and cultural concerns, and to develop, maintain and monitor selective programs of action which identify

issues, provide support in areas of concern and foster community pride and recognition.

SOUNDINGS IS PUBLISHED BY THE

GENEVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HOURS ........................................ Weekdays 9-4:30EDITOR ................................................. Laura RushPHONE (630) 232-6060 .......... FAX (630) 232-6083WEBSITE .........................www.genevachamber.comEMAIL [email protected]


3N497 N. 17th Street, St. Charles377-8420 • Fax 377-8584

Layout and Graphic Design Printing

March to Your Own Beat!What better time to think about marching then during the month of March. The Swedish Days Grand Parade commences on June 26, 2016 and your business or organization should be represented in our community parade.

March with the over 100 units or Ride on your own decorated float. This is tremendous public-ity for your business. No fee to enter – just a creative idea to present your message.

The parade application can be downloaded at http://www.genevachamber.com/swedish_days.php under Get Involved. Application must be signed and turned in to the Chamber by May 13.

A few businesses that joined in on the parade fun last year…

Fox Valley Ice Arena

Olympus Fitness & Jiu-Jitsu

The State Bank of Geneva

State Farm-Bill Nelson, Agent

State Street Jewelers

PRSRT FIRST CLASSUS POSTAGE

PAIDST CHARLES, ILPERMIT #663

Geneva Chamber of Commerce 8 South Third StreetPO Box 481 Geneva, IL 60134-0481


12 SOUNDINGS


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Geneva, IL – Chamber ofCommerce & Tourism

BUS NESSafter hours

New Member ReceptionGeneva Public Library

127 James StreetMarch 225-7 pm

The Library celebrates the business community at this annual reception. Discover new products and services as well as partnering and referral opportunities, and enjoy great food from Nobel House!

Did you know the Library offers Geneva business owners free, 24/7 access to online databases? Learn new skills through Lynda.com, build mailing lists, conduct mar-ket research, and more. All you need is your business Library card! This is one of many ways the Library can help you achieve your goals. Questions? Contact Digital Services Librarian Ellen Anderson at [email protected].

Business After Hours is a popular monthly event and an important facet of Geneva Chamber of Commerce networking. Who better to promote your business than you? Please come and take this opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members while you enjoy good food and drink. Reservations are not necessary. We hope to see you there!

thank you to all who participated! - geneva march soundings 2016.… · verbal consultation;...

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