A new member and an ambassador as of this year, Jason Fair of Merrill Lynch enjoys his role as ambassador for the Chamber because it allows him to connect with the business members of the community while also making him more aware of the great people that are around him. As a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch, Jason's 14 years of experience come in hand as the senior member of his team. Jason's primary responsibility is to assist clients in achieving their financial dreams through comprehensive financial planning and investment management.

            Jason currently resides in Elburn with his wife and three daughters. In his free time he enjoys bicycling and being active in his church. Last but certainly not least, Jason leaves us with a parting thought: Think about how much time we spend planning a vacation every year. Yet most people spend only a fraction of that time planning for the financial goals that are important to them. With the current volatility in the market, it is time for a second opinion on your portfolio.

  Over 100 people attended the Lisle Area Chamber Member Appreciation picnic on Thursday, August 11th.  A lot of networking took place as many members discussed business strategies and enjoyed the beautiful day and free food.

Chamber members enjoy picnic

Jessica Grutzius, MB Financial Bank brings out the popcorn machine for the picnic

 

Bruce Povalish, Rapid Funding, Tom Althoff, Lisle Chamber

 

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Lisle Area Chamber Board of Directors- 2011

Toll Hike Effective January 1, 2012. The increase means tolls will jump from between 35 and 45 cents at a majority of plazas, while most ramp costs will spike anywhere from 15 to 45 cents. The new rates have been put in place to pay for a $12 billion roads program, which includes roughly $8 billion for maintenance and improvement of the 286-mile system and $4 billion for new projects

The extra cash will allow the agency to borrow billions to repave existing roads over the next 15 years and approach some significant new construction. That includes: extending the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway east to the airport and building a western bypass around O'Hare connecting with I-90 and the Tri-State; constructing an interchange at I-57 and the Tri-State; and widening I-90 between Rockford and O'Hare.

Illinois Corporate Income Tax Rate Comparison. Did you know that the current 9.5% corporate rate gives Illinois the 4th highest rate in the United States?   And according to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, corporate income tax rates in the five border states are as follows: Indiana-8.5% (rate is being reduced by 0.5% per year, and will be 6.5% in 2015); Iowa-6% 1st $25,000, 8% next $75,000, 10% next $150,000, 12% over $250,000; Kentucky-4% 1st $50,000, 5% next $50,000, 6% over $100,000; Missouri-6.25%; and Wisconsin-7.9%.

Redistricting Lawsuits. First, it was the Illinois Republicans who filed a federal lawsuit challenging the validity of the state and federal legislative redistricting process overseen by Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative Democrats.

Now it's the League of Women Voters of Illinois who are challenging the Democrats' redistricting on constitutional grounds.

The right to draft gerrymandered political maps is viewed in Illinois as one of the spoils of victory. Democrats hold legislative majorities in the Illinois House and Senate and, historically, that status has given them the legal right to draft state and federal district boundary lines in a way guaranteed to elect the most Democrats.

It'll be a big surprise if either lawsuit enjoys any success. A politicized map-drawing process has been approved by the federal courts, despite numerous challenges. Only in the most egregious circumstances have the federal courts intervened. Some states, most notably Iowa, have a nonpartisan map-drawing process that ensures legislative district lines are drawn without political bias.

This column will keep you informed on further details as they unfold. For any further information that we have available, please e-mail Keith Tice at Envirmark@aol.com

Harvest Pow Wow

Experience Native American dancing, cultural demonstrations, children's games and crafts, special presentations and more during the Harvest Pow Wow to be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Presented by Midwest SOARRING Foundation. Tickets are $8 adults; $5 children and seniors. Visit www.midwestsoarring.org or call (773) 585-1744.

Civil War Sesquicentennial Series: Rally 'Round the Flag

Dr. Theodore Karamanski, Professor of History at Loyola University will present a lecture based on his book, "Rally 'Round the Flag: Chicago and the Civil War" from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at Naper Settlement's Century Memorial Chapel, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Dr. Karamanski will share his research on the 1860 Republican Convention, life a Camp Douglas, a Confederate prison on Chicago's South Side, and prominent Chicago residents Mary Livermore and Elmer Ellsworth. Admission is free. 

Oktoberfest

Join in the fun under a tent in the village in true Oktoberfest style from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Hear live music, including German classics and local rock favorites, enjoy German cuisine and participate in family entertainment and games at this active salute to one of Naperville's ethnic heritages. Oktoberfest is held at Naper Settlement

 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Tickets are $10 per person; $8 in advance if you purchase your tickets online at www.napersettlement.museum. Additional cost for food and drink. All ages welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with Oktoberfest including beverage servers (over 21 years old), ticket sellers, I.D. checkers and logistics support. Shifts are from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 to 7 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1. For more information about volunteering, call (630) 420-6010 or e-mail nsvolunteer@naperville.il.us. 

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