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[JULY 24, 2001]  At a recent Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce luncheon, members were reminded of the chamber’s purpose. The chamber of commerce is a catalyst for community progress, bringing business and professional people together to work for the common good of Lincoln and Logan County.

The program emcee was Nick Stokes of Union Planters Bank, who is chairman of the chamber Membership Committee. Board President Todd Lowman of Garland Gehrke Trucking presented the keynote address. Lowman apprised the gathering of old and new business members that this year’s emphasis is on economic development for the community. This year the chamber has set forth a goal of working with businesses through education. "The most challenging issue facing employers is finding reliable employees," Lowman stated. With this in mind the chamber has initiated a new program that works through education to develop potential good employees.

Bobbie Abbott says that the first step in this process was taken earlier this year through a business breakfast meeting. They surveyed businesses, asking what is right and working for them and what their needs are. Using the information generated from those questionnaires, the chamber recognized the potential of working with educators to meet those needs. The next step is already in process to meet those needs.

Lowman explained that the chamber is working with Lincoln Community High School, with what is called the Chamber Academy, to bring together the needs of businesses and education. The chamber is coordinating with vocational-technical and work preparatory training programs to communicate business needs and find job internships. Internships not only provide experience for the student and supply local businesses with needed employees at lower training costs but also often result in businesses gaining good long-term employees.

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[Pictured in front are Nettie Bates, WLLM; Carol Howe, Community Living Options; Sandy Adkins and Mitzie Welsh, Dairy Queen; Marcia Greenslate, Lincoln Park District; Linda Skeadas, American Red Cross; Ed Stanfield, Glenn Brunk Stationers; and Shawn Taylor, Logan Lanes. In back are Randy Belsley, Diversified Buildings; Patrick Doolin, Integrity Data; Jim Ash, WMNW; Celeste Rogers, Precision Products; Jim Newsome, Team Express; and Annette Schishler, Pepsi Cola Bottlers. Big Oak Hunting Paradise and A. Lincoln General Store & Bakery were also recognized for their new membership status.]

After the program is developed, the intention is to take it to the other schools in the county.

Thirty-five veteran members of the chamber attended the luncheon to welcome the new members into the organization. Fifteen new businesses were inducted at the end of the luncheon at the Restaurant at the Depot. The ceremony recognized businesses that have joined the chamber since the beginning of the year.

[LDN]

[JULY 23, 2001]  Representatives from Lincoln businesses had the opportunity to listen and learn about additional training to keep their workforce current with today’s rapidly changing technologies. State grants are available for financial assistance with that training,

"State tax dollars, in the form of grants, are there to be used," Heartland Community College representative Melinda Harper told the gathering. "We have about $75,000 available for workforce training over the next year. The grants can provide financial assistance, in the form of refunds for up to 50 percent of the training, to an employer."

During a Chamber of Commerce mixer Thursday evening at the local branch of the community college, about 30 people from a wide variety of Lincoln companies listened to three speakers from HCC Corporate Education talk about a number of programs available to all businesses interested in additional training of their workforce.

HCC Corporate Education provides employee training for both individual and company needs. They also facilitate the state grants available to the region stretching from Lincoln to Pontiac.

Representatives Melinda Harper and Scot Smigel explained how the program works: Companies interested in providing additional training for their employees contact Heartland. Heartland Corporate Education and the employer meet to discuss general and specific training needs. They jointly develop a training program, based on types of training needed, when and where the training is to be done, and how long it should take. HCC Corporate Education calculates the cost of the desired program and identifies which grants are available for financial assistance. Heartland also develops and executes the training, providing expert instructors and required training materials. After the successful completion of the program, Heartland will give the employer a check for the agreed upon financial assistance from the chosen grant.

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The types of training include computer skills, industrial and technical skills, and leadership and management training.

During an informal question-and-answer session afterward, Bob Jeckel of Frontier Mutual Insurance asked, "What types of training are there? We wonder if some of our employees have skills that could be used better in other areas."

Smigel responded, "There are all types of training available, based on the employers’ desires. HCC Corporate Education can do an assessment and evaluation of employee skills."

Later, he explained welding training and certifications to Don Bode of Bode Welding.

The attendees also listened to a brief presentation by Sara Baker on the internship program at Heartland. Ms. Baker explained benefits there are for employers using interns — the ability to plug in employees with focused, specific skills where needed. Some companies hire their interns full-time, thus reducing the training curve normally associated with new employees. None in attendance had any interns currently at their companies.

Local companies interested in taking advantage of the training programs and grant monies should contact Kari Oetzel, HCC Corporate Education program assistant, at (309) 268-8803. With any questions about the internship program, contact Sara Baker at (309) 268-8035. Additional information can be found at the Heartland website: http://www.hcc.cc.il.us.

[Jim Stone]

[JULY 21, 2001] The 2001-2002 executive board for the Lincoln Rotary Club was recently installed at a regular Wednesday meeting.

[Front row: Dr. Sandra Jones of Drake Eyecare Center, director of vocational service; Joyce Hubbard of Lincoln Community High School, director of club service; Marty Ahrends of Academic Development Institute, president;  Back row: Dale Meier of Meier Tax and Accounting, treasurer; Dr. Phil Gillen of Lincoln Animal Hospital, secretary; Robert Jeckel of Frontier Mutual Insurance, president-elect; Nick Stokes of Union Planters Bank, director of international service; and Joe Runyon of Habitat for Humanity; director of community service.]

Rotary meets every Wednesday at noon at the Restaurant at the Depot.

[JULY 19, 2001]  A downtown Lincoln business, Camel’s Hair’em, has changed owners and has a new name. Paula Landess, a Lincoln native, has purchased the hair styling business and changed the name to Cape Landing Salon. The telephone number, 735-4247, remains the same.

Jackie Camel opened her salon in 1989 and moved it downtown to its current location at 528 Broadway St. nearly three years ago. The change in ownership provides opportunities for both Landess and Camel to pursue their interests.

Landess has been a licensed hairdresser for 23 years, working at Jane’s Fashion Kurl in Lincoln for the last nine. Still working at the salon are Camel, Linda Fisher, Rochelle Struck, Gloria Quiles, Rochelle Johnson, Denise Costello and Julie Newsome King.

Cape Landing will continue to be a full-service salon for families. In addition to hair styling services it offers waxing, manicures, pedicures, facials, body massage, and cosmetic consultation and application. It is an Aveda Concept Salon, providing a full line of Aveda hair, skin, body care and makeup products made from pure flower and plant essences.

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Elaborating on the new name, Landess noted that a cape provides a place to relax and a landing is where one stops. "The salon provides a time of relaxation and renewing," she explained. "Our clients will continue to be pampered."

Landess plans to keep the business downtown. "Being right on the square at an intersection with traffic lights gives us great visibility," she said. The facility is being remodeled to allow greater privacy at the hair styling stations.

Cape Landing is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability.

[News release]

Announcements

The Chamber Report

[JULY 23, 2001]   

Through Aug. 5 — Logan County Fair

Aug. 2 — Chamber board meeting, Chamber office, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Aug. 3 — Grand opening ribbon-cutting, Logan Lanes, 1700 Fifth St., noon

Aug. 6 — Economic Development Council, Chamber office, 5 p.m.

Aug. 9 — Government/Education Committee, Al’s Main Event, 7:30 a.m.

Aug. 10-19 — Illinois State Fair

Aug. 14 — Marketing Committee, Grapes and Grounds, 8:30 a.m.

Aug. 17 — Membership Committee, Restaurant at the Depot, 4 p.m.

Aug. 23 — Chamber mixer and festival kickoff party, Maple Ridge Care Centre

Aug. 24-26 — Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival

Aug. 28 — Tourism board meeting, 5 p.m.

Aug. 29 — Economic Development Council, City Hall, 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 — Executive Committee, Blue Dog Inn, noon-1 p.m.

July 24 — Ag Committee Meeting, Chamber office, 7:30 p.m.

July 24 — Abraham Lincoln Tourism board meeting, 303 S. Kickapoo St., 5 p.m.

July 25 — Economic Development Council, 303 S. Kickapoo St.

July 26 — Technology Committee, Chamber office, 8 a.m.

July 26 — Chamber Executive Committee, Blue Dog Inn, noon

July 31 through Aug. 5 — Logan County Fair

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The Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst for community progress, bringing business and professional people together to work for the common good of Lincoln and Logan County.

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

303 S. Kickapoo St., Lincoln

(217) 735-2385

Fax (217) 735-9205

www.lincolnillinois.com

chamber@lincolnillinois.com

[Provided by Bobbi Abbott, executive director of Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce]

Honors & Awards

Main Street Corner News

Main Street Lincoln July calendar

July 25 — Annual program review, Union Planters Conference Room, 5:30 p.m.

July 29 — Concert in the Park, Paul and Win Grace, 7 p.m.

Main Street Lincoln, 303 S. Kickapoo, Lincoln

Phone: (217) 732-2929

Fax: (217) 735-9205

E-mail: manager@mainstreetlincoln.com

Website: www.mainstreetlincoln.com

Job Hunt

Now Lincolndailynews.com makes it easy to look for a job in the Logan County area
with our new Job Hunt feature in the Business section.

Employers, you can list available jobs by e-mailing ldn@lincolndailynews.com. Each job listing costs $10 the first week, $20 for eight days to three months. There is a limit of 75 words per announcement.

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