In this issue: Happy New Year 1 Would you like to help? 8. New Member Spotlight 2 Member News 9. Member Spotlight 3 Chamber Member Meeting 10

Transcription

1 Flora Chamber of Commerce January Newsletter In this issue: Happy New Year 1 Would you like to help? 8 New Member Spotlight 2 Member News 9 Member Spotlight 3 Chamber Member Meeting 10 Business After Hours 4 Community Events 10 Lunch & Learn 5 New Officers 10 Awards Banquet 6 Contact Us 11 Murder Mystery Dinner 7

2 PAGE 2 New Chamber Member Spotlight Holland Travel, a Full Service Travel Agency, located at 600 N. Sycamore is owned by Michael Holland and the local Manager is Debbie Holland Hodges. Holland Travel is a family owned business and have been in operation as a travel company since They currently employ 4 people. Debbie provides travel consultant services, Natalie Holland, Debbie s sister in law is also working with Holland Travel. Owners, Michael Holland and Ray Careme, who worked abroad various Royal Caribbean Cruise line ships, operated Puerto Vallarta Villas, a division of Holland Travel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The goal of Holland Travel is to assist travelers from all parts of the world on their travel needs, whether it be a vacation or work. Current and past staff have been involved in the Shriners, Flora Elks, Clay County Hospital Auxiliary, Boy Scouts and local youth groups. A little Holland history includes Bill and Martha Holland came to town in 1956 to assist Dewey with Holland Travel and Truck Stop. After 50 years of flying in the blue skies, Holland Flying Service ventured into the blue seas by creating a Cruise Only travel agency. The original staff in their former company Holland Cruise Staff showcased travel experts to include former cruise ship officers, Michael & Ray, combining 19 + years of international cruise ship work experience that includes Chief Purser, Cruise Staff, and Maitre d. That privileged situation enabled their sales staff to become highly trained as experts and grow strongly along continued expansion of cruise travel. Holland Travel also added a niche travel division offering luxury cruises, Villas, Yachts Charters, European Waterway Barge Charters, International Concierge Service, food and wine tours, complimented by their ability to customize your trip. Villa rental specialties include some of the finer homes in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In April 2009, Michael and Ray officially launched their new division Puerto Vallarta Villas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; a property rental, sales and management company. Holland Travel is looking forward to serving this area and they would love to show you the world by embarking on your dream vacation! Thank you Holland Travel for your support of the Chamber and your involvement. We are happy to have you as part of the Flora Chamber of Commerce.

3 PAGE 3 Chamber Member Spotlight US Bank, located at 101 E. North Avenue, downtown Flora. It has changed names several times before it was bought by US Bank. They are committed to guiding you through the financial decisions that may help and support your success. They are there to serve all of your banking needs personal, business, and retirement accounts. They have several lending options for whatever life brings. US Bank is known for serving those who SERVE THEIR COUNTRY. They are proud to say they honor all current and former members of the Armed Forces by offering special rates and maintenance free accounts. US Bank believes in putting people first. Dedication to making ethical decisions and doing the right thing are the heart of what they do. Those efforts haven t gone unnoticed. For the second year in a row, they are the largest U.S. based bank to be named a World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute. You can check that out by going to Even though the US Bank may have the corporate label, the staff at the Flora branch strive to make it feel like your Family Bank. Making all of this possible locally is the fairly new staff, with most of them being employed less than 2 years with the exception of Lori McAllister, who has been with the bank on the corner for 28 years! Lori is a Dedicated banker, providing excellent customer care and having great product knowledge. Lori books loans and opens all accounts, including specialized accounts. Along with Lori, the staff includes: Robin Brooks-Branch Manager, Julie Winterrowd- Teller Coordinator. Julie supervises all of the tellers as well as being the Compliance coordinator. She is Robin s right hand man, and helps to keep her organized. Joshua Yates-Flex Banker. Joshua provides customer service by doing what his title says...he is their all around banker. He books loans and opens new accounts and is flexible and works on the teller line as well when needed. Wilson Flexter-full time drive thru teller and ATM teller. Ashley Henson-full time drive thru teller and marketing. And Mason Spitzner-part time teller and customer service, or jack of all trades. Thank you US Bank for your community and Chamber involvement. We are happy to have you as part of the Flora Chamber of Commerce.

4 PAGE 4

5 PAGE 5

6 PAGE 6 Flora Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet Saturday, January 28th Social Hour: 6 pm Dinner: 7 pm Bacon Wrapped Pork Fillet or Chicken Alfredo, Catalina Vegetables, Scalloped potatoes, salad & cheesecake Anthony s Wild West Ticket prices $25.00 each Congratulations Business of the Year Sears Hometown Store New Business of the Year Johnny & June s Contact the Chamber office at for ticket info Citizen of the Year Melissa Billingsley and the late David Billingsley

7 PAGE 7 Purchase your tickets any of the following ways: (upcoming events tab, there is a link on the date) Flora Chamber Facebook page. Click on the event and there is a link Or stop by the Chamber office located at 223 W. Railroad Street.

8 PAGE 8 Would you like to help? Plans are underway for the Flora Chamber of Commerce Murder Mystery Event, which will be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at Johnny & June s. There will be a "play" in which a crime is committed and it is up to the audience to solve the crime. The audience will be seated at tables of 8 and each table is considered a Team. At the end of the evening, one Team will be victorious in solving the mystery. Each member of that Team will then receive a prize basket. We are asking that our Chamber members donate a prize with the value of $30 - $50. We need a total of 8 prizes to go to each member of the Team. The prize can be a basket of goodies, gift certificate, or something else fun that you would want to represent your business. In turn for you helping us, we will help you, by advertising who is donating the prizes with mentions in our press releases, Facebook posts, and radio time on the R&B ReVue. We will take photos of the prizes themselves and put them on Facebook. This is a great way to boost a product that you may want to showcase. We already have 2 businesses committed, so we need 6 more. Please let me know if you are interested in donating. Contact the Chamber at

9 PAGE 9 New Name..Same expert staff!

10 PAGE 10 Chamber Member Meeting will be Tuesday, January 10th 12:00 NMN Club We welcome all Chamber members to attend. January 2 Chamber minutes on WNOI at 8:32 am January 6 Flora High School Pep Band Alumni Game 6:30 January 10 Chamber Member Meeting NMN Club at noon January 10 Holistic Wellness with Dr. Agarwal, MD, MS at Clay County Hospital 6:30 to 8:30 pm January 12 Business After Hours Two Glitzy Girlz 5 to 6:30 pm January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 16 Chamber minutes on WNOI at 8:32 am January 17 Lunch & Learn Kemper CPA Group-Anthony s Banquet Room Noon to 1 pm January 18 Free Senior Breakfast at Heritage Woods of Flora 7am January 19 Senior Community Bingo at Heritage Woods at 2 pm January 21 Feuding Hillbillys with special guest Ethan Scott at Johnny & June s. 6:00 pm January 28 Sofia the First-Princess for a Day event at The Town Theater 2 pm purchase tickets at Two Glitzy Girlz January 28 Annual Awards Banquet Anthony s Banquet Room at 6 pm These events are those that we are aware of. If you want your event added to the calendar, be sure and send me your events/activities to add to our calendar! We have had a changing of the guards so to speak in our officers. Lisa Cash, who has been serving as the Vice-President, will be taking on the roll of President later this month. Lisa has been on the Chamber board for over 11 years. Lisa is a Financial Representative at Country Financial. Taking on the roll of Vice-President later this month, is Chelsea Williams. Chelsea has been on the board for just over a year and is employed as an assistant store manager at Wal-Mart. And thank you to outgoing President, Stephanie Hemphill, who will remain on the Board of Directors. Congratulations!

11 Flora Chamber of Commerce 223 W. Railroad St. Flora, IL phone/fax And check us out on Facebook! Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm The Members Creed I belong to the Chamber of Commerce because: I realize in unity there is strength; it is the best medium for serving my community as a whole; I believe in the future growth and progress of my city; it s only qualification for membership is good citizenship; I want to work with my fellow townsmen for the common interest of all; I want to benefit from their concerted planning, counsel, and action; it is a clearing house for business information, business service, and community effort; membership pays a high rate of interest in service, personal contacts, community betterment and civic pride; experience and the records of the past have conclusively demonstrated its usefulness and justified existence, not only in this community but in practically every other part of the world. President: Lisa Cash Board of Directors Vice President: Chelsea Williams Treasurer: Judy Mearns Directors Derek Bailey, Shirl Bily, Brenda Conrad, Dan Graham, Mandy Hargis, Joe Harris, Stephanie Hemphill, Jennifer Henson, Michele McGee, and Jessica Muskopf Executive Assistant Chris Thompson