Morton Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council
Morton Matters Newsletter

April 2016
In This Issue
Early Bird Pricing Ends
Chamber 101
LEAP Session
Forecast Breakfast
Golf Outing
Women in Business
Parade Entries Open
Business Briefs
Golden Pumpkin Award
Plaza Groundbreaking
Save at Web Services
Spring into Free Event
Save the Date
Chamber Calendar
Business After Hours
105 E. Jefferson St.

April 28
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Chamber Board Members
Bill Aupperle
Brian Cross
Jamie Durdel
Nick Esser
Nick Graff
Lindsay Hall
Barbara Heer
Shelly Hunt, Treas.
Mary Jane Johnson, Past Pres.
Darren Martin, Pres.
Aaron Miller
David Mills
Tim Mueller
Alissa Williams
David Zern, Vice Pres.
150% Club 
Aaron Miller, Real Estate Broker
Ackerman Farms
Alltrust Financial Management
Apostolic Christian Counseling & Family Services
Apostolic Christian Restmor
Barbara Heer, Broker
Benckendorf & Benckendorf PC
Billy Daniel Excavating 
Blain's Farm & Fleet
Brandon Wood Retirement Center
Carius Dairy Queen
Childers Door Service of Central IL
China Dragon
ClearPath IT Solutions
CMFS Group
Colby Natural Health 
Coldwell Banker Commercial
CORE Construction
Country Financial
Craig H. Barley
Crossroads Concrete
Culver's of Morton
David Mills CPA LLC
David W. Kinsinger DDS
Deputy Duct, Div. ATC Insulators
DSM-H LLC
Elevate Church
Firehouse Pizza
Grimm Bros. Trucking
Heartland Bank & Trust
Heartland Veterinary Clinic
Hometown Title Inc.
Illinois Business Financial Services
IRON-A-WAY
JA ROECKER Architecture/Structures
Jim Maloof Realtor
Jim Yordy 
Keach Architectural Design
Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
Kmart
Knapp Johnson Funeral Home
Kuhl Insurance
Lennie's Quality Meat Shop 
Libby's Pumpkin
Lighthouse Buick GMC
Liquor Station
Marie Fisk, Realtor
Marion Manufacturing
Markley's Pest Elimination
Massage with Pauline
McDonald's of Morton
Menold Construction & Restoration
Merlin Birky 
Midstate College
Mike Murphy Ford 
Mike Yordy Excavating & Land Improvement
Millennia Prof. Services 
Mohr & Kerr Engineering
Morton Audiology & Hearing Aid Center
Morton Buildings
Morton Collision Repair
Morton Dental Center
Morton Financial Services
Morton Knights of Columbus
Morton Rentals LLC
Morton Unit School Dist. 709
Morton Villa Healthcare & Rehab Centre
Oak Lawn Mobile Estates
Old Smokey's BBQ 
PC Doctor Computer Consulting
PAAR
Quinn Johnston Henderson Pretorius & Cerulo
Ranson & Ranson Dental
Reading, Rhyming & Romping Preschool
Relax Inn
Reliant Auto Glass
Renewal by Anderson of Central IL
Riverview Senior Living Community
RMH Foods
Robert Schnarr
Rocke's Meats Ltd
Schooner's of Morton
Stephens Electric 
TCRC
The Iona Group 
The Prassas Co./Morton
Town Centre
The Whisler Agency 
Thomas E. Davies PC
Tri County Cleaning Systems
Unity Point Clinic Proctor First Care
Until He Return Prophetic Bible Ministries
Village of Morton
Walmart of Morton 
Web Services 
W. Central IL Bldg. & Construction Trades Council 
Witzig Financial Services 
Wm. Aupperle & Sons 
Yinlun USA
Yogi's Super Liquors
Early Bird Pricing Ends April 30
We are now taking reservations for ads in the 2016 Morton Pumpkin Festival Official Guide Booklet. Advertisers not only receive recognition in the guide, but those who purchase an ad that is a quarter page or more will also get recognition during the festival on the television screen in the Pumpkin Grille and the Pumpkin Business Expo. Early bird pricing is good through April 30. Ads range in price from $100 to $2,000.
Put Your Membership to Work!
chamber101
April 5
Noon - 1:00 pm
Morton Chamber of Commerce

Make the most of your Chamber Membership. This one hour, informal get together includes a review of free member services, promotional opportunities, and our events and programs.  We encourage all new Members, new managers, and current Members who would like a quick reminder of their Member benefits to join us! This is also an opportunity for those considering joining the Chamber to learn more about the advantages of being a member. 

Please register so we know how much lunch to provide.
LEAP Session on Constant Contact
April 21
8:00 - 9:30 am
Morton Chamber of Commerce
FREE to Chamber Members

Tammy Finch of Web Services will be conducting a workshop on "Using Constant Contact to Grow Your Business." Email marketing has become a vital part of growing your business and platforms like Constant Contact helps you manage contacts and craft professional communications.  
Morton Forecast Breakfast

April 26 from 7:00 - 8:30 am
Morton School District 709 Offices
1050 S. Fourth Ave.


Speakers:
Mayor Ronald Rainson, Village of Morton
Dr. Lindsey Hall, District 709 Schools
Alissa Williams, Morton Public Library
Joel Dickerson, Morton Park District

Sponsored by:
Coldwell Banker Commercial - Justin Ferrill
Chamber Annual Golf Outing
May 6
Shotgun Start at Noon
Pine Lakes Golf Club    
$110 per golfer
 
Join us for the Morton Chamber of Commerce Annual Outing. Cost includes lunch, green fee, cart and dinner. $35 for non golfers who want to join us for dinner at approximately 5:00 pm. Proceeds go to Project Pumpkin, an endowment fund the Morton Chamber launched in 2013 in partnership with the Morton Community Foundation. The purpose of this fund is to provide access to the Morton Pumpkin Festival for families in need in our community.

Thanks to our lead sponsor AAA Northgate Heating & Air Conditioning!
Women in Business
May 10
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Kemp 208    
$30 Chamber Members
$40 Non-Members
Register Online 
 
Join us for a special lunch and speakers featuring women CEO's from our region.  Our speaker for this session will Sara O'Shea, Owner and Lead Planner of So Chic Boutique & Events.
Pumpkin Festival Parade Entries Open
September 17 at 10:30 am
$25 Chamber Members
$35 Non-Member Non-Profits 
$50 Non-Members
FREE School Bands & Military
Register Online 
 
Join us for one of the largest festival parades in Illinois! This is a great opportunity to promote your business or organization and show your Morton pride by helping us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Pumpkin Festival!
Business Briefs
Dr. Kurt Ehling Welcomes Dr. Rachel White into their office. Dr. White specializes in a technique called Torque Release, a gentle technique that releases tension on the tissue surrounding the spinal cord and nerves. www.drkurtehling.com

Hometown Community Bancorp, Inc., parent company of Morton Community Bank, announced a merger with Trivoli Bancorp, Inc., parent company of Heritage Bank of Central Illinois.  They are also acquiring the Illini Corp., parent company of he Springfield-based Illini Bank and Farmers State Bank of Camp Point.

The long-time Executive Director of the Center for Prevention of Abuse was honored for her years of dedicated service. Martha Herm was the recipient of a 2016 Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Community First Award at a luncheon at the Double Tree Hotel in Bloomington.

Over the past 11 years, Culver's of Morton has donated over $30,000 to the six local elementary schools from Family Nights held each Spring. This is just part of the Morton Culver's dedication to giving back to the community and making a difference!

A 5K race of extreme obstacles and challenging terrain to benefit Children's Hospital of Illinois will be held on April 30 at Wildlife Prairie Park. Get more information and register today.

The Morton VFW Auxiliary will hold a Craft & Vendor Fair on May 21 from 10 am to 5 pm. There will also be a car show from 2 to 7 pm. Come join the fun!
Eli's Receives Golden Pumpkin Award
The Golden Pumpkin Membership Appreciation Award was presented to Rachel Berchtold, owner of Eli's Coffee Shop! THANK YOU for 10 years of supporting the Morton Chamber of Commerce!

Memorial Plaza Groundbreaking
The long-awaited groundbreaking of the downtown Memorial Plaza took place on March 23. THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this project! Let construction begin!
Chamber Members save at Web Services
Click below for more information

Spring into FREE at Heartland Bank
 Open a TOTALLY FREE Checking Account on April 15 and get a FREE GIFT plus the following:
Entry into a drawing for $500 VISA gift card
Entry into a branch drawing for $50 VISA gift card

Open a personal account and receive:
FREE box of checks

Open a Business account and receive:
FREE self-inking stamp

In Branch Event Only
223 S. Main St. or 173 E. Courtland St.
Morton IL    309-263-8406

Morton Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council | 415 West Jefferson Street | Morton | IL | 61550