Chairman's Circle Members
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Happenings in and around the Chamber!
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Happy Memorial Day to our members and community!
Although Memorial Day is widely considered a kick-off to summer fun, there is a different ‘feel’ to this day in 2020. But perhaps it is an opportunity to think about the true reason for the holiday – to honor and mourn the military personnel who died protecting our freedom while serving in our armed forces. Take a moment to reflect.
Late last week, we learned that we are on track to move to Phase 3 on May 29 in the
Restore Illinois Plan
. Governor Pritzker altered Phase 3, allowing for restaurants to open for outdoor seating only, following prescribed protocols and safety measures. On Sunday, May 24, he released industry-specific guidelines for businesses and workplaces to open safely during Phase 3. The guidelines are available
here
, with a Phase 3 business toolkit available
here
.
We have been working with the restaurants, the City of Batavia and Batavia MainStreet to plan how this will work here. The Mayor signed
Executive Order 20-04
on Friday, May 22 City establishing a temporary permit process to allow expansion of outdoor seating areas for restaurants. Access the permit application
here
. In the order, private property and public spaces will be allowed to hold seating arrangements. For Batavia, this may include River Street, the lot planned for the development of One Washington Place, Peg Pond Center, and private property alleys adjacent to some restaurants. This will be discussed during Tuesday's Committee of the Whole remote meeting. Download the agenda
here
. Wonderful developments for the hard-hit restaurants and bars!
Moving to Phase 3 involves excitement, but offers challenges, too. It isn’t easy to operate any business while following the required safety mandates to help stop the spread of COVID-19. So, we ask that you reflect on what is being required of the business and their employees, and please be kind while you enjoy more freedoms in this pandemic world.
For businesses, some new links you may find useful were posted late last week to our website:
Many of you have been viewing Mayor Schielke’s weekly videos. You can access the May 22 video by clicking this
link
. Please scroll down for new events, videos and other content; including the announcement of our Inspire Scholarship winners for 2020. If you have news to share – send it to us!
As always, we encourage you to keep checking our home page,
bataviachamber.org
for resources and updates. Also, check our
calendars
, for new events from us and the community. We reiterate - we are here for you. Stay safe and healthy and enjoy your Memorial Day. (On a side note, today is National Wine Day – so cheers!)
Most sincerely,
Margaret, Patti and Shirley
Your Batavia Chamber of Commerce Staff
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We are currently on-track for this to happen!
Monitor our region's status according to Restore Illinois metrics
here
.
View industry-specific guidelines
here
.
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The Batavia Chamber knows that difficult times like this require our organization to do more. To continue to provide the advocacy, educational programs and services that you desperately need, we compiled this survey to target your concerns.
This information will help us plan our next steps in business recovery tactics.
You can take the survey by
clicking this link
. Thank you for helping us learn more about Batavia business during COVID -19.
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Chamber Bucks are here!
Please add your business to our list of those participating.
Please contact us now to be added to the participating businesses spreadsheet. Call 630-879-7134 or email
margaret@bataviachamber.org
to learn more and sign up!
There is no cost for businesses to accept Batavia Chamber Bucks. Help us get the word out to all Batavia businesses by sharing this information. Thank you for joining the program and/or sharing this news. We are excited to get this started!
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Sandler Training is sharing best practices for remote selling.
Please register for this important webinar
here
.
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It's New! It's Hot! It's a Mega Mixer!
We're partnering with other Fox Valley Chambers for a June virtual networking event. Members only can sign up to attend.
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Thank you to our guests Tim McNally of Wiedner & McAuliffe, Chicago, and Ryan Theriault of Meyers & Flowers, St. Charles, for their informative presentation last Thursday. They provided a good overview of current workers' compensation law, especially how it may apply to COVID-19 cases. As they said, their information may be subject to change as the Illinois legislature is considering altering burden of proof requirements for essential worker COVID-19 claims.
You are welcome to view the presentation
here
. PowerPoint slides are available
here
.
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After launching the Inspire Scholarship program in January, we are excited to name four Batavia High School seniors as our first honorees. Congratulations to Aidan Perrault, Priya Dave, Logan Bain and Haley Skupa! Each will receive a $750 award. They were 'presented' their awards virtually, view the video
here
.
Read more about the program and our winners in this
press release.
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Pictured above are Aidan Perrault and Priya Dave.
Aidan is the awardee in the Inspiring Entrepreneurship category and will attend Illinois State University as a music education major.
Priya
is the awardee in the Inspiring Women in Business category and will attend Northwestern University with a double major in business and biomedical engineering.
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Pictured above are Logan Bain and Haley Skupa.
Logan is the awardee in the Inspiring Career and Technical Achievers category and will will finish his associate degree at Waubonsee Community College before transferring to a four-year university for Fire Science. Haley is the awardee in the Inspiring Contributors to a Batavia Chamber Business category and will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham to earn a degree in nursing.
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Businesses - Print and Place in Your Window!
(Don't forget to add your maximum occupancy.)
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Sikich
offers a number of business briefings each week that you are welcomed to sign in and watch.
Visit their
website resource page
to access these videos and other resources.
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Share your business news, events and coupons with an eBlastnews!
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A sponsored eBlast is an economical way to reach business owners, representatives and community members in and around Batavia. Let people know about your new services, specials, an upcoming fundraiser - or share your expertise with them! This marketing opportunity is available only to members in good standing. Check out our flyer to learn more and then contact us to schedule.
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Are you looking for a job? Do you need to fill a job? Use our Job Board!
Although unemployment filings skyrocketed with businesses temporarily shuttered because of COVID-19 concerns, many businesses are in dire need of help. Delivery companies, food retailers, etc. are actively hiring.
To help the community, we are opening the
Job Board
for anyone who is hiring. Please post your jobs
here
. We will approve the posting and boost the Job Board via Facebook in a week or so. Temporary and volunteer job postings are fine as well!
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Add a Hot Deal today!
Share your hours and accessibility. Or, share how to purchase gift certificates. Are you offering a special deal - let the community know!
Now more than ever is the time to use your Chamber benefits - including the posting of Hot Deals. Log into your membership area and add your deal!
Questions? We are here to help! We may be working remotely, but we are happy to talk with you or answer your emails. We'll send you a link to set up a new password, too, if you have forgotten.
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Chicken finger restaurant gives back to Community with food donations, too.
CHICAGO (May 19, 2020) – Committed to being an active community partner,
Raising Cane’s
Chicken Fingers is finding new ways to give back as part of its “Cane’s In The Moment” initiative.
While the majority of its 500 restaurants are open and serving customers through its drive-thrus, some of its dine-in-only restaurants have shifted operations to support their local communities until they can once again prepare their ONE LOVE® – quality chicken finger meals.
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Foursomes are allowed, according to Governor Pritzker's directive.
Watch for more details in the future.
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Upcoming Community Events
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Batavia Chamber of Commerce | (630) 879-7134 | Shirley
@BataviaChamber.org |www.BataviaChamber.org
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