September 8 - 14, 2024

What chambers did in 2022:

Morton Chamber of Commerce

• Is hosting their 56^th Morton Pumpkin Festival, “Pumpkins Go 80s” celebrating the Pumpkin Capital of the World with our Gather & Give-Back mission September 14-17, 2022
• Morton Chamber of Commerce members are their vendor partners for food, product and services for their local festival impact.
• Events and activities begin Friday September 9
• https://www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org/

Canton Area Chamber of Commerce

We plan to have testimonial videos from some of our members to play on Monday and Tuesday, via our FB page. We also have written an article to put in the local papers.

On Wednesday, we will be hosting an Open House in our new office location with a ribbon cutting. We will serve desserts (from chamber members) and give out some swag.

Thursday night is our Business After Hours. The host, a local bank, will give a testimony of why they are a Chamber Member. Of course they will be preaching to the choir!

Friday, our Chamber will participate in the Homecoming parade. The theme of Homecoming this year is "There's No Place Like Homecoming", a spin off from the Wizard of Oz. I plan to decorate a UTV with a large Glinda crown and pink tulle fabric and put a sign that says "You've Had the Power All Along....to Join the Chamber! Come join our team and we will get you to where you want to be." I also plan to dress up as Glinda the good witch complete with wand!

Our focus for the week is growing our membership by describing why Chamber Membership is an amazing benefit to every business and organization. We will be offering incentives for new potential members to join during the month of September by offering $50 off their 2022 dues. 

Herrin Chamber of Commerce

We are very excited to announce our planned events for the upcoming Chamber of Commerce Week.

We will be kicking off the week with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5T's Custom Creations on September 10th. 5T's Custom Creations is located in the old Egypt Trophy location. They will have refreshments and raffles throughout the day to celebrate their Grand Opening. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is at 10 a.m. Learn more by visiting their Facebook event page.

On Monday, September 12, 2022 Mayor Frattini will be issuing an official proclamation at the Herrin City Council meeting for "Chamber of Commerce Week" here in Herrin. Join us if you can.

On Tuesday, September 13th at 5:30 p.m., bring the whole family for an ice cream social after hours event at Carmen's Cafe. The only cost to attend is the cost of your ice cream.

Throughout the week, we will be out and about visiting with members all around our community and yes, we will be bringing the big "We are Herrin" signs with us. Follow us on social media to see all of our adventures.

We will be wrapping up the week with a Citywide "Shop local. Shop Smart." Sidewalk Sale! The event will take place on Saturday, September 17th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participation is optional, but we hope you will join the fun.

2022 has been a year of great successes for our Chamber and community. We hope you will join us in the celebration. We look forward to seeing you!

Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry

What chambers did in 2021

• The Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce celebrated Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week by opening up an online apparel store. The Evergreen Park Chamber offered "EP Proud" branded T-shirts for purchase. The shirts feature a unique design created by a local Chamber member and are a wonderful way for residents and business owners alike to display their commitment to the community. The chamber also hosted a luncheon and online bingo game for members at a local restaurant on September 17.



• ​The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week through the use of a social campaign. By using a social campaign, the Naperville Area Chamber was able to honor their Chamber throughout their community, spanning across each day of Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week. View the social campaign in the slideshow below!

• To celebrate Chamber of Commerce Week, the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce will be posting trivia questions to our Facebook page every day – the first people to comment with the correct answer each day will be entered in to win a $50 gift card. For new members, application fees will be waived through the end of the month! For existing members – if they bring in a new member to sign up during Chamber week, they’ll receive a free Monday Night Football Season Pass and a business-card advertisement in our weekly Monday Night Football emails!
  To kick the week off, we posted a video to our Facebook page: Illinois Chamber Week Kickoff Video
  
  
• In celebration of Chamber of Commerce Week in Illinois, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry will sponsor a month of networking and fundraising events, offer recruitment incentives for new and reactivating members, and conduct a special sale on Elmhurst-Opoly board games. Read more here.

• The City of Geneseo has proclaimed the week of 9/14/2020- 9/18/2020 as Chamber of Commerce Week in Geneseo. The Geneseo Chamber will also be releasing a short series of 1-2 minute videos introducing the Chamber to the community, new & current members as well as hosting a new member drive. Only for the week of Chamber of Commerce Week, the Geneseo Chamber will offer a 15 month membership to new members only for the cost of a 12 month membership. They will get oct. – Dec. 2020 and all of 2021 with their membership.

• In celebration of Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week September 14-18, the Mt. Zion Chamber of Commerce wants their members to know that it always values and appreciates t and m and their community. They've shared resources to help their members as well as job postings for their employers to post openings. Thank you for supporting your local Chamber of Commerce.

• In honor of National Chamber of Commerce week the Village of Niles has also issued a proclamation that this is Chamber of Commerce Week in Niles. The Niles Chamber will host an in-person Membership Breakfast Tuesday, September 15  followed by a Member Appreciation Business After Hours on September 16. Their Women in Business Group will hold their own Business After Hours on September 17, inviting potential members to join. Also during the entire month of September, all admin fees will be waived for new members.

• The Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Chamber of Commerce Week by doing a member appreciate breakfast on Tuesday, September 15th from 8-10 AM at Bee Brother's in Romeoville. We are also offering any new member who signs up that week 3 free months of membership!

The Ottawa Area Chamber did a fun promotion titled "Where's Meg?" featuring cutouts of Assistant Director Meg Skelly placed around the town. Here's their events for the week.

Crystal Lake Chamber:
Question of the Day on Facebook
Members can log in each day to answer the Question of the Day. First correct answer will win a 30 sec. promo video about their business. All 5 winners from the week will be entered into a raffle to win a ¼ page ad in the October Edition of the Business Pathways.

New Member Appeal
Any new members that sign up Monday – Friday during Chamber Week will receive an enhanced membership web listing!

Here's what local chambers did in previous years:

Sauk Valley Area Chamber:
The Sauk Valley Area Chamber has joined the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in celebrating this special recognition of the contributions chambers of commerce make to Illinois civic and economic life.
 
To celebrate Chamber week, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Chamber of Commerce Week Celebration event for members on Thursday, September 14th at The Factory Pub-N-Grub in Sterling.  Join us for appetizers, beverages, raffle prizes, and the opportunity to network with many other Chamber members. 

Oswego Chamber:
We are celebrating the entire month with a Membership Drive which includes 2 open houses. The village president is doing a proclamation on September 5th. We have numerous events this month during which we will be promoting the chamber. We also do a full page ad in the Village newsletter about the chamber, what it does for business and the community.

​​The Jersey County Business Association:
On September 6th, Jersey County Board President signed the Proclamation of Chamber of Commerce Week, September 12-16th. A business after hours will take place on Thursday September 15th in celebrating the signing and recognizing our dedicated members. The Jersey County Business Association's Board of Directors, Elected and City Official will greet our guests.​

Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce:
​Several members of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce along with our Executive Director attended our City Council meeting last evening where our Mayor read the proclamation and declared the week of September 12 - 17 Chamber of Commerce Week. We will be hosting a Pokemon Go event on Saturday, September 17th on our public square. We hope to bring awareness to Mr. Lincoln’s Square located in our downtown area where many Looking for Lincoln Wayside Exhibits,  Murals (like Walldog), and other statues and landmarks are located, many of which are PokeStops in the Pokemon Go game. Several of the Chamber’s committees as well as members have joined with us to help make this event a success. 

Oswego Chamber of Commerce:
​We are celebrating by having the entire month be Membership Drive month where anyone who joins has the application fee waived. We will also be having an Open House for our new Young Professionals group and hopefully rolling out our new Chamber Mobile App.

Aurora Regional Chamber: 
Visit us during Chamber of Commerce Week
Thursday, September 17, 2015
7:30 am – 10 AM
 
Stop by the Chamber Office…
Refreshments will be served …
Meet the Chamber staff, Board of Directors, Ambassadors ….
Bring your business card to enter the chance to win a door prize (or two)
 
NOT a Chamber Member?
Join on that day and the processing fee will be waived.
 
Already a Chamber Member?
Bring in a potential NEW member and also be entered into a door prize drawing
(Potential member must join on Thursday, September 16, 2015)

Elmhurst Chamber:
In celebration of Chamber of Commerce Week in Illinois, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry is sponsoring a month of networking, educational and special events, as well as staging our annual new member recruitment campaign.

​The Chamber’s new member campaign, which runs through September, features a 16-month membership (good through 2016) at the annual investment level. Chamber membership starts at $300 per year for businesses with one or two employees, plus a $25 registration fee. New members can pay their Chamber dues via a monthly direct debit program.

Galesburg Chamber:
The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting former members and future members to join during this week. In return, businesses can deduct $50.00 from their annual dues if paid in full. For example, a business joining at the standard dues of $250.00 will only pay $200.00, and a non-profit’s amount will be reduced from $150.00 to only $100.00. At the time of their renewal next year, the dues will return to their regular amount.
Galesburg Press Release


Oak Park - River Forest Chamber:
​On Tuesday, September 15, we are co-hosting a "Multi-Chamber Business After Hours." Chambers from Oak Park-River Forest, Berwyn, Forest Park, Austin (Chicago) and Grand Corridor (Elmwood Park / Chicago) have united to throw a fabulous block party-style event with music, refreshments, prizes, featured members and more! We very much appreciate our sponsor and host, Everett Wealth Solutions in Forest Park for helping us celebrate Illinois Chamber of Commerce Week in grand style!

Oswego Chamber:
Upcoming events celebrating Chamber of Commerce Week
Sept. 9th – Coffee with the Chamber & IWO Legislative Lunch
Sept. 14th – Sept. 18th – IL Chamber Week
Sept. 15th – “Chamber Hop” – watch for details
Sept. 17th – Business after Business at Byline Bank
Sept. 28th – Ribbon Cutting for Center Fit
October 1st – New Member Dinner
October 25th – Healthy Driven Fraidycat 5k, Ghost Run 10k & Meow Mile
November 12th – IWO Awards Dinner – Featured Speaker – John Coyle
Oswego activities

Saline County Chamber:
​The Saline County Chamber, along with Chambers from Carbondale, Carterville, DuQuoin, Herrin, Jefferson County, Marion, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Union County, and West Frankfort is holding a Southern Illinois Regional Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday, September 23rd at 11:30 AM in Carterville. While it won't be held during the time of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce week, we are holding it during the National Chambers of Commerce Week, and using it as a kick-off for the 2nd year of the Shop Southern Illinois campaign that will take place during the remaining months of the year.

How to Celebrate?
Here are some activities IACCE suggests that your chamber of commerce can hold to bring attention to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce week. Have another idea? Contact us today!

• Have a recruitment Contest to see how many members your members can sign up that week.
• Invite other Chambers in your area or county to a dual breakfast, lunch or dinner to celebrate with your fellow chambers.
• Ask your Mayor for a local proclamation similar to that of the Governor's proclamation.
• Ask your state representatives and senators to a meet and greet with your members.
• Host a regional local chamber executives and staff breakfast or lunch allowing everyone to network.
• Invite a member of the State Chamber or US Chamber to speak to your membership during this week.
• Host a golf outing this week... it's still nice out in September!!
• Host a dinner with the chamber exec. Invite members to meet you at member restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner (eat somewhere different each time!) to talk to you about their chamber experiences. You'll not only promote your member restaurants but also have an intimate meal with a handful of members. (This idea came from a local chamber from 2006.)
• Hold an open House at Chamber offices to show the community what the Chamber does.
• Special section or feature in newspaper
• Radio/TV interviews with chamber leaders
• Honor past and present chamber leaders
• Contest for school kids
• Have your Ambassadors' and Board members visit potential members with a surprise. Invite them to one of your business after hours next month with the personal invitation from a board member. Ask them what they want and what would encourage them to join the chamber. Offer a special rate for people who sign up during Chamber of Commerce week... For example, $50 off their membership if you sign up during this one week if you're a first time member!
• Economic education programs
• Chamber members speak at the schools
• Recognition at " Business After Hours" or other special events
• Ambassadors' visits to all chamber member firms
• Advertisement in newspaper recognizing chamber members

Illinois' Chamber of Commerce Week is always the week following Labor Day.