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IGNITE
Founding Partners
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Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C.
KMK Media Group
Williams McCarthy, LLP
Coyle-Varland Insurance Co., INC
RSM McGladrey
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
GrahamSpencer
Rockford Area Realtors
Rockford Area Economic Development Council
Williams-Manny, INC
Rock River Valley Blood Center
Rockford Park District
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
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The Ignition Switch
| July 1, 2010
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Catch Fireworks in the following locations in the Rockford Region:
Rockford: July 4th, Davis Park, Skyconcert at 9:30p.m., Gates open at 5:00p.m.
Cherry Valley: July 4th, Baumann Park, Fireworks start at Dusk
Byron: July 4th, Byron Dragway, Fireworks start at Dusk
Winnebago: July 4th, Winnebago High School, Fireworks start at Dusk
Beloit: July 4th, Riverside Park, Fireworks start at Dusk
Rochelle: July 4th, Atwood Park, Fireworks start at Dusk
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 Calling All Leaders!!
IGNITE members this Chamber event is made for you!!
40 Leaders Under 40 honors the region's best and brightest YPs who make a difference in their community and are seen as tomorrow's leaders. Nominate IGNITE members you find to be worthy of such distinction!!
To be named one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 really is an honor.
Those chosen will be honored in a special 40 Leaders Under 40 article in the October issue of The Voice as well as at the reception on September 30 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Questions? Let Caitlin know!
Start nominating!! Nominations are due by 5:00p.m. on July 16th!
Nomination forms available HERE!
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IGNITE... A Home Run!
Join IGNITE as we root for the home team: The Rockford Riverhawks! Join us for the game at Road Ranger Stadium on Saturday, July 17! The game begins at 6:05p.m! Looking for something to do before the game? Hang out with friends at RBI - right down the road from the Riverhawks' stadium!
Tickets can be purchased for the game only for $10 or with an RBI food and drink package for $18 which includes your game ticket as well as a burger and draft beer (or Ursus Vodka drink) of your choice at RBI! Meet at RBI at 4:00p.m. and we'll head to the game before 6:00p.m.!
Tickets are available from any Leadership Team member or online here!
A portion of proceeds benefits IGNITE and our mission to attract and retain YPs to the Rockford Region!
Perhaps you can't make the game but you'd still like to show your support of IGNITE and the Riverhawks Fundraiser? Purchase tickets in support!
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Perhaps you're looking for a unique set of benefits from your employer? Maybe you're looking for more work/life balance? Want to save a dime (or two!) on benefits for your employees? We've got an article for you!!
3 Ways to Customize Your Rewards Package (and Save a Pretty
Penny, too!)
By Margaret Leaf, Next Generation Consulting
(Blog Post, Monday, June 28, 2010)
Would a coach outfit a winning basketball team with the same-size
sneakers and jerseys?
Would a top chef serve the same meal to all her restaurant patrons,
regardless of what they ordered?
Heck no!
Even fast food chains encourage you to "have it your way," so why is it
that most employers -- even some of the best and brightest -- provide
the same rewards packages and perks to all their employees?
We went on a mission to investigate this question, with support from a WorldatWorkresearch grant (check out the full report, "Beyond Compensation: How Employees Prioritize Total Rewards at Various Life Stages,"and look for an upcoming article in the WorldatWork
Journal).
What did we find? Unsurprisingly, different rewards packages are
appropriate for different employees. The critical factor? Employees'
life stage.
So, here are a few ways to customize your rewards package for your
employees. The added benefit is that by customizing your rewards rather
than going with the "one size fits all" approach, you can save a pretty
penny, too.
1. Offer flexible work arrangements, and use them as a retention
tool for high-potential employees who are new parents.
Our survey of nearly 700 employees (working 30+ hours per week) showed
that life-work balance was significantly more important for parents with
young children compared to all other groups. Specifically, this finding
holds true for parents whose children are under the age of 6, or not
yet in school full-time. These parents are balancing 30+ hours of work
outside the home with the 24/7 job of parenting, and trying to negotiate
childcare arrangements. Flexibility is a must, and is important for
both moms and dads.
However, moms of young children (under 6) in particular place life-work
balance above all other employee perks: compensation, benefits,
development, and recognition.
Even though flexible work arrangements are most appealing to parents
with young children, we know from our database of over 40,000
respondents that life-work balance is the most important aspect of
engagement for under-40 year olds, and second most important for
employees who are 40 and over.
In other words, almost every employee can appreciate a little flex time,
and it may be a key factor to retaining your best and brightest who
have just entered parenthood.
Now, what can you do about it?
- Start by modeling and promoting a healthy life-work balance. If
managers are handcuffed to the desk 60+ hours per week, employees feel
they must follow suit, regardless of workplace policy.
- Explore flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or
compressed work weeks. Remember that one arrangement does not suit all
employees; flexible arrangements must be tailored to the position, the
employee, and the company, so that all can reap the benefits.
- Check in with employees about their schedule, and whether it's
working for them. Some new parents might be interested in scaling back
to a 35-hour work week, even if it means a decrease in salary or
benefits.
2. Rethink and retool your benefits packages.
Our research found that benefits were significantly more important for
employees whose partners/spouses do not work full-time. The trend was
particularly significant for female breadwinners ages 30 and over.
Because their partners are unlikely to be eligible for benefits --
either because they do not work outside the home, or because they work
part-time -- these breadwinners see benefits as critical to their
rewards package. In many cases, they carry benefits for the entire
family.
What benefits packages do you offer to employees? Is it the same across
the board? Should it be? It may be time to rethink your benefits packages.
For example, if you're not currently offering insurance to employees
because of cost, consider offering some coverage to only those employees
who are not insured through their spouse/partner's employer. It might
seem unfair to offer different things to different employees, but
remember that not all employees need -- or want -- the same benefits.
Check in with employees to find out which benefits are most important to
them, and -- when possible -- negotiate their benefits packages
accordingly. For instance, some employees might favor more time off,
even if it means a reduced salary.
3. Attract and retain your "rising stars" with development
opportunities.
Younger employees with less experience tend to value development
opportunities more than older, more experienced employees, according to
our research. In particular, employees under 40 who do not yet have
supervisory experience place significantly more importance on
development. These employees may be looking for opportunities to learn
and grow precisely because they hope to "climb the ladder" and advance
in their careers.
Because young employees represent the biggest turnover risks, it is
especially important to keep these employees engaged. Moreover, Deloitte
found that lack of career progress was the number one factor that could
push Gen X employees to switch jobs, and the number three factor for
Millennials (find the 2009 report, "Keeping your team intact," here).
What are some cost-effective ways to provide development opportunities
to your young talent?
- Offer your rising stars the opportunity to assume leadership roles
on projects or in their work group.
- Create a personalized training plan with your employees to help
them grow in their current roles, while also acquiring new skills.
Remember that young employees need assistance in developing their
learning plans.
- Explore mentoring and job shadowing programs, to give young
employees opportunities to connect with and learn from employees who are
more experienced.
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Rockford Area Realtors is a regionally based profesional association, whose Members are
governed by the National Association of REALTOR Code of Ethics,
dedicated to fulfilling the member needs by providing public advocacy,
technology, education and knowledge to enchance performance.
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Rockford Rocks!!
At Ignite, we know that Rockford Rocks but we want to share what we know! Submit events, happenings, cool things to do, things you love about Rockford and we'll share with our members. Let us know what you think makes Rockford Rock!  Rockford City Market - Water Street (between E. State & Jefferson Streets) - July 2 - 3:00-7:00p.m. - Enjoy local produce and goods as well as live entertainment! For more information on the market, click here! Support downtown as well as local vendors by shopping the Rockford City Market! Plus... it's fun!! Pirate Nin ja Print Shop Open House - July 2 - 6-11p.m. - 400 E. State Street - The ink is dry. These Limited Edition Screenprints by Fatherless need new homes. Come chill with Pirate Ninja Print show and maybe, just maybe, there will be more LIVE printing! Check out their website! Pirate Ninja Print Shop is run by two IGNITE Members!!
Rockford Symphony Orchestra - Independence Day Spectacular - Starlight Theatre, Rock Valley College - July 2 - BBQ at 6:00p.m., Concert at 8:00p.m. - Enjoy an evening under the stars
with a concert of  patriotic favorites including the Armed Forces Salute.
Following the overwhelming response to the April 24th concert, the RSO
will also
present a special encore performance of "Pictures at an Exhibition"
featuring
the Rockford
region photo-choreography! A Fireworks display will complete this
holiday
tradition. An "All-American Barbeque" on the grounds of the RVC campus
begins at
6pm. Concert: Adults $27, Students $26 - BBQ: Adults $15, Children $8.  July 4th Classic 8K Run, 2 Mile Run and Mile fun Walk - July 4th, Madison Street - MELD's July 4th Classic 8K Run, 2 Mile Run and Mile Fun Walk is flat and
fast. Start and finish on N. Madison St. in front of the Trolley
Station. Money prizes for the top 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and
female finishers in 8K and 2 Mile runs. Medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
place finishers in all age categories in 8K and 2 Mile runs. Ribbons for
all walkers and goody bags for all kids. Lots of water and snacks.
Prizes will be drawn for entries received by July 2nd. Late registration
and packet pick up is July 3rd. T-shirts to the 1st 400 entrants. New
this year: Post Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at Lombardi Club. More info here! |
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