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WHY A BRONZEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE?
Given
the staggering growth in new housing units and the subsequent
rising affluence of the community, this area is ripe for commercial
growth. As Bronzeville continues to become more diverse, it
is increasingly important to have an institution for bringing
together these disparate voices to shape a common vision for
future development. The Bronzeville Chamber of Commerce (BVCC)
is a galvanizing force for building human capital, business
stability and community capacity to stem the leakage of resident
and business dollars by providing opportunities to contain
the buying power of residents and businesses, which is an
essential measure of community health and attractiveness.
Soon
the major corridors of our area will display a new commercial
facelift, requiring that residents and businesses that want
to benefit from this resurgence prepare themselves before
the commercial revival moves into full bloom. The BVCC provides
a forum by which its members can influence the direction
that development takes in this community. As an institution,
the BVCC is a community builder. In a sense, BVCC is engaged
in community organizing with the goal of developing and
maintaining a sense of authenticity and progressiveness.
The Bronzeville Chamber of Commerce serves existing, entering
and emerging businesses in Bronzeville to ensure that it
becomes a stable and diverse community, welcome to all individuals
and business leaders who want to build something positive.
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A High Five in Oh Five!
February
is Black History Month. Our Membership Committee chair,
Deveda Francois, is leading the charge to kick the membership
drive into high gear during this celebratory period. In
addition to management's stepped up activities to meet with
every major institution in the community, we are asking
new applicants to sign up and join the President's "Me Two"
Club by bringing two or more new members into the Chamber
within two months after joining. For your convenience, you
may sign up online www.bronzevillechamber.com.
You
may also pay via our secure website after completing the
online application. Welcome to the world of the Bronzeville
Chamber of Commerce where we all bring a building block
to make our mark in the new community of Bronzeville today!
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BENEFITS
OF JOINING THE CHAMBER
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- Networking
Opportunties
- Member
Referrals
- Community
Involvement
- Image
Enhancement
- Politcal
Advocacy
- Information
Access
- Heightened
Credibility
- Member
to Member Discounts
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SAVE
THE DATES
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Bulls
Tickets! March 31 Bulls game. The Chamber has received
discounted tickets to the March 31, Bulls Vs LeBron James
and the Cleveland Cavaliers. We need a minimum of 25
participants to purchase the $36.00 tickets for $25.00 each.
We would like to have an estimate by Friday, if possible,
as the tickets are going fast for this game! Contact the
Chamber at BrvlChamber@aol.com or 773-268-1800 to reserve
your tickets today. Limited Tickets!
Please
note on your calendars that General Membership Meetings
are the last Thursday of each month, unless otherwise acknowledged.
Until further notice, meetings will be held at the Ramada
Inn at 4900 S. Lake Shore Drive. 6:30 PM, Meet & Greet;
7:00 pm., Dine. The meeting will start promptly at 7:30
pm and end at 8:30. The next two meetings are February 24
and March 24th. Look Out for more details soon and Save
the February 24th Date!
FYI:
Online registration and credit card payments 5 days prior
to the General Membership Meetings are strongly encouraged
and preferred. Checks will be accepted only up to 10 days
before the event.
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MANAGEMENT
TEAM
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During
the organization's development period, the Bronzeville Chamber
of Commerce is operated administratively by the President
and Vice President.
John
Blair, President and Founder of the Bronzeville Chamber
of Commerce, is former president of the South Shore Chamber
of Commerce, Chicago's oldest chamber. Mr. Blair, a retired
insurance executive with over 30 years of business experience,
operated a full line insurance brokerage firm for 25 years.
During his insurance career, his firm contracted and represented
many major insurance carriers. He was also president of
the Professional Insurance Agents and Brokers Association
during this period. Mr. Blair was a member of the Chicago
Police Department, where he served for 10 years, working
exclusively in the Bronzeville community's Prairie Avenue
and 51st and Wentworth Districts. An avid achiever in many
areas, Mr. Blair is the owner of eblockconnects (eBC), a
business development and design consultant service that
services businesses and homeowners in creative interior
design and business development services.
Kim
L. Hunt, Vice President, has a 20-year career in community
development and urban planning and policy, particularly
transportation planning in the Chicago area. She is currently
president of KLH Consulting Services, which she founded
in 2001. KLH Consulting Services specializes in building
strong community institutions through program design, policy
development and analysis, grantwriting, public participation
strategies, and other services for non- profit and for profit
organizations. Prior to returning to school for a second
master's degree, Ms. Hunt had a nearly 15-year career as
a transportation planner with the Chicago Transit Authority
(CTA).
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