As you may know, every year Rep. Fritchey works in collaboration with community groups, libraries, local businesses, and chambers of commerce to collect new or lightly used goods for those who are in need through our Helping Hands Campaign (see campaign flyer).  In addition to maintaining several drop locations, he will once again be collecting goods in his district office. 

To kick-off this campaign, please join Rep. Fritchey and his staff on Wednesday, November 18th at John Barleycorn’s on Belden and Lincoln Ave from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for beer and wine.  The entrance fee for this event is $30 and the majority of the proceeds from this event will go towards the Helping Hands Campaign. 

Most importantly, you can also help the campaign by placing a Helping Hands collection box at a holiday party, winter meeting, or placing it in your office to collect NEW hats, gloves, scarves and other clothing, as well as hygiene products and household items for those who are in need this holiday season.  We’ll provide the boxes, and schedule a date and time to pick up the donated items.  In the least, if you would be so kind to put up a flyer to announce Helping Hands, it would be greatly appreciated.  

Here is how it works:

You:
-Advertise the opportunities to your membership (via e-mail, a meeting notice, event invitation, etc.)
-make the collection box available at your office/holiday event/meeting

The Helping Hands Campaign:
-Provide flyers and signs
-Drop off a decorated holiday collection box for you
-Pick up the box of items at a designated date and time
-Bring the goods to local service organizations, who will then distribute items directly to those who need it most in our community

Please let Rep. Fritchey's office know if you would like to participate, and they will take it from there.  You can contact Dave Kornecki - Rep. Fritchey's Chief of Staff - at the district office 773-871-4000, or simply respond to this e-mail, so that we may prepare your collection box and begin helping those who are in need.

State Senate President John Cullerton Joins Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce for Legislative Event

Legislative Event Provides Members Access to Elected Officials

CHICAGO (October 20, 2009) – As an exclusive benefit to the members of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC), the largest neighborhood chamber in Chicago, State Senate President John Cullerton joined representatives from the United States Chamber of Commerce and community anchors DePaul University and Children’s Memorial Hospital for a comprehensive Legislative Breakfast.  With an ever-changing political landscape and often uncertain economic future, one-on-one interaction with elected officials and policy makers is vital to the success of many businesses.

The LPCC is committed to providing business owners access to the resources necessary to succeed and grow.  An event offering one-on-one access with one of Illinois’ key policy makers was something the LPCC was committed to and worked hard to secure.  Tuesday’s Legislative Breakfast, part of the LPCC’s Government Affairs Committee, was open exclusively to members of the LPCC and offered free of charge.

Senate President Cullerton addressed more than 50 members of the LPCC on key issues affecting our state, our residents and our businesses.  From state pension programs, bipartisanship in government, spending transparency, the Capital Bill, education, health care and efforts to level the playing field between local shops and online businesses in regards to sales taxes, Senator Cullerton shared his vision for the state and its businesses.  Senator Cullerton also discussed key elements to ending budget crunches across all levels of state government and in the CTA and RTA.

DePaul University hosted the event. A Lincoln Park anchor for more than a century, DePaul is deepening its roots in the community with a new 10-year Strategic Planning and Community Agreement recently signed by the LPCC and the Sheffield Neighborhood, Wrightwood Neighbors and Seminary Townhouse associations. “DePaul's community efforts are designed not only to create a state-of-the art campus for our students, but contribute to making Lincoln Park a great neighborhood for everyone who lives and works here,” said the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., DePaul’s president.

“During these busy and often difficult times, we are honored that Senate President Cullerton would share his unique perspective on the current business landscape throughout Illinois and key changes that may increase growth in the future,” said Kim Schilf, LPCC President and CEO.  “Now more than ever our local businesses need to know that their elected officials hear their voice and are on their side.”

The LPCC’s Government Affairs Committee, launched in January 2008, was created to take a proactive approach to legislative issues affecting the Lincoln Park business community.  Each year, the Government Affairs Committee works with members and conducts research to create an annual Legislative Agenda, a series of four key issues and positions the LPCC holds as most important for the coming year.  In addition, the Government Affairs Committee works to share their position on new issues – from taxes and fees to parking restrictions and more – that arrive each year and have the potential to harm or assist businesses and/or the neighborhood.

Children’s Memorial Hospital, event sponsor, also is working on key changes with a move downtown to the campus of its academic partner, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, planned for 2012.  “The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce is a leader in our community, and a model organization for supporting the needs of businesses.  Senate President Cullerton has been a champion for improving the health and well-being of children for decades.  It is an honor to work with both the Chamber and Senator Cullerton, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them in the Lincoln Park community and beyond for many years to come,” said Patrick Magoon, President and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital.

The LPCC also announced Tuesday that they have joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Federation Partnership Program.  By joining, the LPCC is helping the U.S. Chamber’s effort to build the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy network while providing added resources to its members.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region. 

“By joining with the U.S. Chamber’s Federation Partnership, the LPCC has provided its members with the benefits of U.S. Chamber membership, including: access to members-only sections of www.uschamber.com, discounts on products and services, e-newsletters, the U.S. Chamber’s monthly publication, and timely calls to action, alerting small businesses to pressing legislation or policy initiatives,” said United States Chamber of Commerce Great Lakes Representative Ben Taylor.  “This ever-growing coalition of small businesses allows the U.S. Chamber to present a strong, unified voice for business in Washington, D.C.”

The U.S. Chamber will alert and mobilize LPCC members on national issues ranging from taxes to technology to transportation. This ever-growing coalition of small businesses allows the U.S. Chamber to present a strong, unified voice for business in Washington, D.C.  LPCC members will receive information on key legislation, tips and resources to grow their business and access to discounts at several national corporations.

More information on the U.S. Chamber is available online at www.uschamber.com.

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Set in the heart of Lincoln Park on Racine between Fullerton and Webster, the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival served as a key fundraiser for the LPCC. With additional funding available from events and festivals, the LPCC can develop and implement future programs and initiatives to support the business community, and surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood.

“As the LPCC adapts existing programs, and develops new strategies to support our local economy, funds from the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival will be reinvested in the community,” said Kim Schilf, LPCC President and CEO. “It is our driving principle to contribute to the vitality of the entire Lincoln Park community.”

For entertainment, the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival featured renowned bands such as 10,000 Maniacs, Graham Parker, Over the Rhine and local favorite 16 Candles. Lincoln Park’s cultural icons, including the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago History Museum as well as Chicago favorites The Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Contemporary Art helped round out the event’s entertainment. A children’s area was also offered to families free of charge.

In addition to music and other entertainment, some of Lincoln Park’s reknowned restaurants offered festival-goers a taste of what the neighborhood has to offer while cold beverages helped combat nearly record temperatures in Chicago. The LPCC worked together with Chicago Special Events Management to secure artists and other vendors that sold and showcased their wares to the assembled crowds.

“I would like to personally thank our volunteers – more than 175 strong – for their assistance and commitment during a very hot weekend,” Schilf continued. “Without your efforts we would not have been able to pull together a successful event. Thank you again for helping us welcome residents to our neighborhood.”