decatur chamber

May 2010

Chamber NewsA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER DECATUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“Decatur, Illinois – The City that Made aLake” is the title of a pamphlet producedby theAssociation of Commerce around1930 to entice “anyone seeking a desirablelocation for a factory, warehouse, districtoffice, distribution center, or for a home” toconsider Decatur as an ideal location tolive, work, and play.TheAssociation of Commerce— a

forerunner to today’s Greater DecaturChamber of Commerce— originallyperformed the duties of three organizations:economicdevelopment,tourism, andsupport for localbusinesses. Thecreation of theEconomicDevelopment Corp.of Decatur-MaconCounty and theDecaturAreaConvention andVisitors Bureauallowed theChamber to focus onits core mission ofproviding service,political advocacy,and leadership tostrengthen localbusinesses.But throughout its history, the Chamber

has remained dedicated to enhancing thequality of life in Decatur. Lake Decatur is a

valuable asset to local businesses and ourcommunity’s quality of life — and an assetthe Chamber strives hard to preserve.

A community investmentDecatur experienced water supply issues

as early as 1874, when the citybuilt its first reservoir. Sincethen, it has been a constantstruggle to expand andmaintain the city’s watersupply to meet the demandsof industry and its citizens.

In 1919, the IllinoisDepartments of Public Healthand Public Works grantedpermission for the city to damthe Sangamon River to createa lake. But before the damcould be constructed, theA.E.Staley ManufacturingCompany’s need for waterbecame so great that it offeredto construct a dam at its ownexpense. Staley was thenconsuming an amount ofwater equal to the demand of

the entire city and was projected to soondouble that need.The city nixed this idea since the project

required competitivebidding, but the bids couldnot go out until a bond issuewas approved to securefinancing for the project.Staley then offered to build atemporary dam near what isnow the bridge carrying U.S.36 over the lake near NelsonPark.When this plan ran into

trouble because of difficultycompleting land purchases,theAssociation of Commercestepped in to rescue the dealand speed up the process ofbuilding both the temporary and permanentdams. TheAssociation of Commerceorganized a corporation to front the city the$1 million it needed for the purchase andclearing of river bottom lands, thus allowingconstruction of the lake to move forward.

Central Illinois’ PlaygroundA1927 brochure produced by the

Association of Commerce to extol Decatur’svirtues to visitors and investors capitalizedon the latest addition to the community’slandscape. The pamphlet’s cover featuredan idyllic day at the beach and proclaimed

Lake Decatur “The Playground of CentralIllinois.”The Chamber proposed the Chamber of

Commerce Sangamon River RestorationPlan in 1991 and continues to be an activecommunity partner to encourage thehighest use of our manmade resource.Today, in conjunction with the city, theDecatur Park District, labor, and theCoalition of Neighborhood Organizations,the Chamber is once again working to makeLake Decatur a tourist attraction. See what isbeing proposed atwww.decaturslakefront.com.

The Citythat Made a Lake

A re-enactment of the meeting to discuss the construction of a damon the Sangamon River was part of the 1923 Lake DecaturCelebration pageant.

The cover of a 1927 Association ofCommerce brochure promoting thequality of life in Decatur.

May 2010

Decatur is, andalways has been, a“pull-yourself-up-from-the-bootstraps”kind of town.As E.E. Lindsay,

an executive of theDecatur Herald &Review, so eloquentlyobserved at the 1944Decatur Associationof Commerce AnnualDinner: “There are nopeople in Decaturwhose forebears camehere with great namesor great fortunes. Theaccomplishments wesee about us are ourown — built herefrom the ground up.”People with vision

and determination helped shape Decaturinto the community we have today — andare continuing to position it for a bettertomorrow.Many of these hometown “movers and

shakers” have been bolstered with supportfrom the Greater Decatur Chamber ofCommerce and its forerunner organizations.More than just a business association,

the Chamber has long hadthe interests of the entirecommunity at heart. In 1938,outgoing board President J.J.Maloney stated, “(TheAssociation of Commerce) isnot a manufacturers’association; it is not amerchants’ association; it isan organization that isconcerned with the welfareof Decatur, so broadly basedthat nothing that is for thegood of Decatur can beforeign to it.”This quarter’s “Through

the Years” installment offersmore examples of how theChamber of Commerce hasbeen involved in improvingDecatur for the benefit of thewhole community.

Infrastructure• Collected funds to oil the first north-

south road from Decatur to Pana in 1915.• Pushed to secure state commitment to

widen U.S. 51 to a 4-lane highway.• Supported the airport from its infancy

(funding the oiling of runways) to present(lobbied for increased air service to/from

Decatur).• Working to obtain high-speed

passenger rail service to Decatur.• Worked to secure adequate water

supply by organizing funding for purchaseof lake bed, by financing silt studies, and bypromoting CCC Camp for soil conservationwork.• Provided, in 1920, the first plan for

orderly development of the city and urgedrevision of the city plan in 1937; encouragedparticipation of all public bodies in aplanning commission.

Education• Founding partner of the Decatur Area

Education Coalition.• Collaborated with community groups

to initiate the Drop Out Prevention TaskForce and Partners in Education.• The Decatur Leadership Institute.

Health, housing, and human services• Worked to alleviate housing shortages

and to improve housing conditionsfollowing the Great Depression.• Pushed to locate Veterans

Administration hospital in Decatur.• Promoted study in the 1960s on the

plight of senior citizens.

CommunityThe Chamber played a key role in

founding the following nonprofitorganizations for the community’s benefit:• The Decatur Area Convention and

Visitors Bureau• The Economic Development

Corporation of Decatur and Macon County• The Decatur Area Labor-Management

Committee• Macon County Juvenile Justice

Committee• The 501 Club for young professionalsThese initiatives and others have spun

off a multitude of other committees thathave brought about positive changes in thegreater Decatur area, such as Weed andSeed and CrimeStoppers.Rarely do good things just happen by

chance. Decatur needs people with thevision to dream big things for ourcommunity, the ability to motivate people tochange these dreams into plans, and hard-working people that will strive to transformtheses plans into reality.The Chamber has proven to be an

incubator for dreams, a platform formotivating the community, and a trainingground for leaders and volunteers who willcarry out visions that will advance ourcommunity well into the future.

A continuing look at how the Chamber hascontributed to the development of Macon CountyThrough the Years

Chamber Executive Vice PresidentJames C. Patrick outlines the “KeepPace With Tomorrow” program in 1968.

MEETthe leaders and staff

DIRECTORSChamber Board Chair ...................................Beth Stringer

publisher, Decatur Magazine

Chamber Board Vice Chair ............................Keith Casteelattorney, Samuels, MillerSchroeder, Jackson & Sly

Second Vice Chair ............................................Pete Paulinpresident, 300 Below

Treasurer ..........................................................Randy Earlvice president,

Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home

Secretary ..............................................Christine Pinckardsenior vice president,

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer ..........................Kevin Kastchief executive officer,

St. Mary’s Hospital

At Large...................................................Mirinda Rothrockmanager of community engagement,

Archer Daniels Midland Company

President .......................................................Randy Princepresident,

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce

Honorary Past Chair ....................................Jeff Hendrickspartner, Hendricks & Carr Marketing

BOARDWole Adeoye, owner, Victory Pharmacy of Decatur, Inc.Mark Avery, publisher, Grain JournalGary Birschbach, owner, Decatur Area McDonald’sErik Brechnitz, senior vice president, Brechnitz Group of

Raymond JamesCarla Brinkoetter, president, Brinkoetter & AssociatesCraig Coil, president, Economic Development Corp.Cathy Coulter, president, Swartz PropertiesGloria Davis, superintendent, Decatur School DistrictCindy Deadrick, owner, Shop on MainPatrick Dienslake, market president-Greater Illinois,

Regions BankJ. Richard L. Dunsworth, vice president for enrollment,

Millikin UniversityJim Gresham, manager, Lock, Stock and BarrelPhil Hazenfield, partner, Homer L. Chastain & AssociatesSteve Horve Sr., president, Horve BuildersWalt Hupe, general manager, Caterpillar, Inc.George Justice, manager-Division III, AmerenDave Moran, general manager, Refreshment Services

PepsiGretchen Murphy, senior vice president, Soy Capital Bank

& TrustTodd Nelson, publisher, Herald & ReviewChris Olsen, director community and government

relations, Tate & LyleRon Pulera, vice president and general manager, WAND TVDarren Reynolds, J.D., senior vice president and general

manager, Consociate-DansigDr. Gayle Saunders, president, Richland Community

CollegeDave Weber, president, Macon-Shelby Market, Busey Bank

STAFFRandy Prince, presidentChristine Pinckard, senior vice presidentJan Mohr, executive assistantDavid D. Fishel Jr., director of marketing and

communicationsLaura Jones, director of developmentShellie Klink, director of membershipKaralee Rotz, media and marketing coordinatorStephanie Irby, events coordinator

CHAMBER MISSION STATEMENTThe Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce is a pro-business networkproviding service, political advocacy, and leadership to strengtheneducation, community image, and local businesses.

Alltech Electric, Inc.Bronze Level

Brett S. McClelland,president

5790 Macon St.Decatur, IL 62522

963-1001alltechmail@comcast.netElectrical contractor

ArendovichInvestments, Inc.

Silver LevelXenon Arendovich3990 N. Water St.Decatur, IL 62526

877-4000arendovichinvestments@gmail.com

Real estate

Billingsley BP ServiceCenter & Towing

Gold LevelAmber Voges Billingsley1725 S. Franklin St.Decatur, IL 62521

428-5421beibp1@aol.comAutomotive service

The Center PeaceBronze Level

Chris Henneberry, owner1150 E. Curtis Ave.Decatur, IL 62526

425-4924chrishenneberry@warpnet.netLicensed massage therapy

Cherie MeyerBronze Level

2480 W. Olive St., Decatur,IL 62526422-5402

cwoodmeyer@aol.comIndividual with affiliation

Collette VacationsBronze LevelLora Carlson,

district sales manager180 Middle St.

Pawtucket, RI 02860866-513-6225

lcarlson@collettevacations.comTravel agency

Events PlusBronze Level

Cindy Deadrick, owner126 W. North St., Decatur, IL

62523233-3391

cyncreate@aol.comEvent

management/promotions

Green Home Inspection& Energy Audits

Gold LevelKevin McCoy

3067 Olympia Drive,Decatur, IL 62521217-865-2210

info@greenhomeinspections.net

Energyconsultations/engineering

services

Heroic Age StudiosSilver Level

Joan Hector, director of sales1410 N. Wildwood DriveMount Zion, IL 62549

972-7880joan.hill@heroicagestudios.comVideo production services

Kids CastleLearning Center

Gold LevelKeith Brown, owner2580 N. Monroe St.Decatur, IL 62526519-1538

kbsb805@comcast.netChild care

LeahCarroll-independentScentsy consultant

Silver Level6 Sandhill DriveDecatur, IL 62521

520-5690Wickless candle products

Lincoln Square LoungeBronze Level

Kostaki and Chris Chiligiris,owners

121 N. Main St.Decatur, IL 62523

423-2180kostaki125@hotmail.comRestaurant/lounge

Living ChristianMagazineBronze LevelTed J. Smith,

owner/publisherP.O. Box 25391Decatur, IL 62525

433-0246ted@livingchristianmagazine.com

McSherry Co., Inc.Bronze Level

Kevin McSherry, presidentP.O. Box 2463

Decatur, IL 62524p233-1310

kevinjmcs@sbcglobal.netLandscaping/lawn services

Multi-Aero /dba/ AirChoice One Airlines

Bronze LevelSusan Stukins, manager910 Airport RoadDecatur, IL 62521

423-7026sstukins@airchoiceone.com

Airline

Paco’s Sol BistroSilver Level

Paco Greenwel, owner237 N. Main St.Decatur, IL 62523

330-6483solbistro@gmail.com

Restaurant

Right on Q BBQand Entertainment

Bronze LevelDoug Quintenz, owner2253 Straze CourtDecatur, IL 62526

201-0151cquintenz@yahoo.com

Catering

Shelton’sBronze Level

Pam Shelton, owner4770 Beacon

Decatur, IL 62521579-2988

Food vendor

Showroom InnovationsBronze LevelMike Wright,

managing partner15 Heritage Plaza

Bourbonnais, IL 60914815-936-1727

mikew@showroominnovations.com

Advertising consultant

The StillGold LevelRalf Pansch

2263 Straza CourtDecatur, IL 62526

454-8679sourkraut59@gmail.com

Band

Turner Video & SoundBronze Level

Stephen Turner, president284 Francis DriveDecatur, IL 62522

963-2603turnervideo@comcast.netVideo production service

Vision InvestmentsSilver Level

Nathaniel McKean, owner4671 N. MacArthur Road

Decatur, IL 62526542-1385

nmckean@gmail.comATM sales/service

Zap! ComputersBronze Level

Zephaniah Greenwell,owner

1315 Parkwood PlaceDecatur, IL 62521

330-6291zgreenwell@zapmycomputer.com

Computer networkmanagement/consulting

NEW MEMBERS

Chamber Business BreakfastMAY 5, 7-8 a.m.Decatur ClubCome hear Doug Whitley, president of the

Illinois State Chamber, as he shares informationabout steps the state Chamber is taking onbehalf of Illinois employers to shape state andfederal legislation and to serve as the unifyingvoice for business in Illinois.The Chamber Business Breakfast takes place

on the first Wednesday of each month andbrings over 100 business professionals togetherfor breakfast and the opportunity to learn aboutimportant community issues first-hand frominformative and timely speakers. Bring plentyof business cards! Meet and learn about variousbusinesses through exhibitors who will take thestage to feature their product/service.

Chamber Annual Meeting and AwardsBanquet - Silver CelebrationMAY 20, 5-8 p.m.Decatur Conference Center & HotelAt this year’s annual meeting we celebrate 25

years of community involvement through theDecatur Leadership Institute and communityawards, including the Small Business of theYear and the Mary Gladney Micro Business ofthe Year. We also honor our more distant past aswe recognize past chairmen/chairwomen of theboard and look to the future with theinstallation of our new board members andofficers. The annual meeting and awardsbanquet begins at 5:30 p.m. It will be precededby the past chairman/chairwoman reception at5 p.m.The annual meeting is sponsored by Kit and

Pete Paulin.

UptownDowntown BashMAY 22, 5 p.m to 1 a.m.Merchant Street/city parking garageKick off summer with a community-wide

block party hosted by Street Party Saturdaysand the Decatur 501 Club with food/drinkspecials from Robbies, Lincoln Lounge andKATZ on Merchant.

From 5–10:30 p.m., we block off MerchantStreet and enjoy food and drink specials andlive music from Elsinore and Rosetta Stone. Thisevent is free.Then, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., stroll on over to

the city parking garage and listen to Chicago’sown Rock Candy play the best in upbeat dance,hip hop, 80s, pop and rock music. The cost forthis event is $10 for a general admission pass.VIP and Villa packages available. For moreinformation, go to the events section of theChamber’s Web site or call 422-2200. Get yourtickets by calling or clicking on “Register Now.”

23rd Annual Chamber Golf OutingJUNE 4Hickory Point Golf CourseTake a break from the office and support the

Chamber at this annual outing featuring twolevels of play. For those with a competitivestreak, the day begins at 7 a.m. with acontinental breakfast and a 7:45 a.m. shotgunstart. Lunch is at noon and followed by a 1 p.m.shotgun start for those taking a more laid backapproach to their game.This year’s event is sponsored by Neuhoff

Media.

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