SEPTEMBER 2012 - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day Holiday! It seems like labor day marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall with students going back to school, and the cooler weather slowly settling in on us. However, with the temperatures still in the 80's, it looks like we can hold onto summer for a few more weeks. We sure hope the weather stays nice because we have several outdoor actives coming up!

BIKE THE 25TH WARD

The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce is proud to co-host the 3rd annual "Bike the 25th Ward' event this year. Join Alderman Danny Solis and the 25th Ward on this FREE event. Get on your bike, enjoy the weather and ride through our 25th Ward communities!

BANK OF AMERICA - CHICAGO MARATHON 2012 COMES TO CHINATOWN

The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce is partnering again with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to marshal mile 22 as runners dash their way through Chinatown. This is a special year as our very own Executive Director, Jessica Lee is running this race in her first marathon! Come support the runners and cheer them on as they pass through Chinatown's scenic Wentworth Avenue! (Here she is at this year's Chinatown 5K in June 2012)

VOLUNTEER - COURSE MARSHALLS WANTED!!!

The entire course spans 26.2 miles and Course Marshals play a vital role supporting the participants, spectators and community on race day. Community partners and neighborhood supporters living on or near the course are invited to volunteer with us and play this critical role. Preference will be given to Course Marshal Applicants who are adults and live in the neighborhood in which they are volunteering. We encourage you all to volunteer in CHINATOWN! Apply today by emailing coursemarshal@chicagomarathon.com.

Pictures courtesy of Chicago Marathon

LITTLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, SEPTEMBER 9, 12PM 

The Little Village Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Mexican Independence Day parade and festivities this weekend! Join the fun in the heart of little village as residents, business, families and friends celebrate with a three day block party with food, games and prizes! Then on Sunday, there will be a parade that runs along 26th Street from Albany to Kostner Avenue. 

For more information visit:: www.littlevillagechamber.org

Fiestas Patrias Festival: Date / Time: September 7, 8 & 9, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Location: 26th Street & Kostner Avenue

Mexican Independence Day Parade: Date / Time: September 9, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. Location: 26th Street from Albany Avenue to Kostner Avenue

30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA & GAME NIGHT FUNDRAISER

Don't forget that we are hosting our 30th Anniversary Gala and Game Night Fundraiser on Monday, October 29th 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel. The contribution forms can be found here on our website. You can now also register online. Be sure to reserve your dinner tickets and enter into our raffle for a chance to win over 50 prizes! Our grand prizes include 2 Economy Class tickets to Asia, courtesy of American Airlines, over $500 in gift certificates to popular Chinatown restaurants, collector's items and much more!

This year we are featuring a game night where guests can enjoy playing games like blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and spin-the-wheel, all while mingling with others and earn tickets for their chances to win raffle prizes!

We also still need volunteers for event registration, selling raffle tickets, game dealers, etc. Please email irene@chicagochinatown.org

CHICAGO SINFONIETTA PRESENTS IT 2012-2013 SEASON!

Maestro Mei-Ann Chen has put together another exciting and spectacular program for the upcoming season which kicks off with two concerts:

Saturday, September 29, 2012 at Wenz Concert Center in Naperville

Monday, October 1, 2012 at Symphony Center in Chicago. â€‹

Following her debut season just last year, Mei-Ann Chen has been recognized for several awards including her Helen M. Thompson Award for emerging music director and the Sinfonietta's First Place ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. 

The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce is honored to partner with this great organization to offer our members, family and friends with exclusive A level tickets for the Chicago show on October 1st for the REDUCED PRICE OF ONLY $40! Normally, these A level tickets are $50 for the main level and the front row balcony level! Please email jessica@chicagochinatown.org for your tickets or call at 312-326-5320. We only have a limited amount of tickets reserved so please book yours today! These are great tickets to give as gifts to your clients, business associates or simply to enjoy the beautiful harmonious music yourself. 

Watch and listen to a sample of Mei-Ann Chen conducting Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony and see her explosive movements!!

EXCLUSIVE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES for our Chamber Members

We are excited to offer you several advertising opportunities to market your business and attract and retain new clients! The Chinatown Chamber of Commerce has worked with these vendors to offer discounted special rates to our members only. 

CGI COMMUNICATIONS - The Chinatown Chamber will participate in a multi-faceted promotional campaign in partnership with CGI Communications, Inc. (the parent company of Relocate.org). This will include the production of a Chamber of Commerce Video highlighting our Chamber as well as various aspects of our community. The video will be accessible for viewing on our website and www.relocate.org. Relocate.org is the largest video network in county to assist people relocating nationwide. CGI is also offering local businesses the opportunity to be included in this video as a highlighted destination of interest as well as take advantage of various digital media technologies.  This will enable add exposure, and increased communication with your clients.

WHERE PUBLISHERS (Quick Guide Chicago) -  Where Publications distributes over 500,000 copies of their annual Chicago Quick Guide across Chicago and neighboring suburbs. Our offices has negotiated a low rate of only $250 for a printed listing and $500 for an enhanced listing with a picture. Please see the sample guide from 2011. This is a great opportunity to highlight your business to visiting tourists and get your business recognized!

CHICAGO WATER TAXI-The Water Taxi service now runs more than 20 routes daily to Chinatown. Please share this fun and exciting mode of transportation with your customers and clients. There is also an opportunity for Chamber members to advertise on the tickets which are distributed to almost one thousand riders on weekends.

For more information, please contact Andrew Sargis at aws@wendellaboats.com

See the sample tickets below:

NEAR SOUTH PLANNING BOARD - The Near South Planning Board is reproducing it's printed fold-out map of the Near South area. The map will identify restaurants, shops, hotels and more. NSPB plans to distribute to approximately 5,000 of these maps to McCormick place visitor centers, hotels, museums, universities student  housing facilities, residents and visitors throughout condo sales centers and other key locations throughout the city.

Current NSPB members will be listed at no charge. Non-members can be listed for a $100 fee. 

Other opportunities include:

2 business size coupons included in the price. The cost is $600 (members) or $800 (non-members)

Company Logo on the reverse side of the map, only 12 spots available. The cost is $300 (members) or $500 (non-members)

Pinpoint on map (within boundaries: Monroe - 35th Street, Lake Michigan - Dan Ryan Expressways) or a brief description along with a panel listing. The cost is $50 (members) or $150 (non-members).

See parts of the 2011-2012 map below:

CHINATOWN COMMUNITY NEWS

ENERGY IMPACT ILLINOIS - Energy Impact Illinois, along with your local utility, is providing rebates to help lower your energy bills, make your home more comfortable and more valuable. For a limited time, home owners can save 70%, up to $1750, off the most cost effective and permanent energy efficiency improvements: air sealing and insulating your home. Over half of your total energy costs come from heating and cooling your home and almost all homes (even new ones) let too much air escape or penetrate. It’s like turning on the AC in the car with your windows rolled down. Air sealing solves this problem. The average cost before the rebates is approximately $2500. With $1750 of instant rebates, the final cost to the homeowner would be only $750. â€‹Your energy bill can be reduced by up to 30% with these upgraded installations. 

It’s easy - act now!

1)  Call to set up an appointment: 1-855-9-IMPACT. We will connect you with an energy efficiency contractor that has met our high standards.

2)  Get an energy analysis and cost estimate. The contractor will inspect your home and provide an estimate for air sealing and insulation – and other improvements that might be useful. Again, you save 70% (up to $1750) off the cost of the air sealing and insulation, and we have attractive loan options if you want to finance the rest of the cost or go beyond basic energy efficiency.

3)  The contractor completes the work. We handle all the paperwork and ensure the work was done correctly and safely. You’ll start seeing the savings and feeling the comfort. Many of our customers have reduced their bills by 30% or more. 

VISIT www.energyimpactillinois.org or call 1-855-9-IMPACT for more information

GREAT LAKES RAIL - The Great Lakes Rail and the departments of transportation for Michigan, Illinois and Indiana and the Federal Railroad Administration are holding public scoping meetings to launch an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac corridor. These meetings are being held to:

For more information on all our upcoming events, please visit
www.chicagochinatown.org

Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce | 2169B South China Place, Chicago, IL  60616
Tel:  312-326-5320 | Fax:  312-326-5668
info@chicagochinatown.org | www.chicagochinatown.org