Communicator
February 2012 • Freeport, IL
Kent Bank’s Investment In Technology Takes Banking Convenience To A New Level Jolene Bohnsack Kent Bank Vice President Freeport, IL
For several decades, banking has depended on ‘location, location, location’ as the primary delivery channel for deposit services. Branch banking, drive-up tellers, ATMs, were all part of bank managers short and long-range plans to make it easy for clients to access the bank and their accounts. Since Kent Bank’s founding in 1923, we have participated in all of the ‘location’ campaigns and have grown along with our customers. In fact, our offices in Freeport and Kent, with our drive-up tellers and 24-Hour ATM is a direct consequence of our desire to make sure that our clients have easier access to us. However to make access easier, our current financial and intellectual investments in technology overshadow almost anything we’ve previously done. It’s crystal clear to us that our clients are embracing new habits in the way they do business, manage money, shop, and search for information. Kent Bank is in the forefront of Community Banks to adapt these new technologies. Online Banking Kent Bank offers a robust internet banking service used by clients who routinely do
their banking using a secure website using our ‘virtual bank’ - without ever driving to one of our branches. Online Bill Paying Many Kent Bank clients pay their bills from home and office computers - transforming a check-writing routine that takes a lot of time to one that takes literally minutes. Our Online Bill Pay system sends money out of your bank account to whoever you wish. Once the company to be paid is setup within our bill-pay system, Kent Bank simply transfers money electronically from client accounts to the company being paid. Utilities, mortgage payments, loans, brokerages, credit cards and insurance payments are very typical payments. Add to the convenience of paying your bills with e-bills. Within Online Bill pay, you can receive your bills in an electronic version delivered to you free of charge. E-bills are available to you from hundreds of companies with the same information as your paper bills while eliminating the clutter. All from one convenient location and a few clicks. In March of this year, we’re enhancing our Online Bill Pay service with advances that make transferring money electronically even more convenient.
First, our clients will be able to ‘log-on’ using a single sign-on to access Online Banking and Online Bill Pay. We’ve eliminated the need for multiple screens in favor of a much simpler process. Kent Bank is also introducing Online Bill Pay for mobile phones. Our clients will pay bills wherever they are without the need to be on the internet or on a computer. ZashPay® Haven’t heard about it yet? ZashPay® is a personal payment service that connects consumers with a new way to send and receive money quickly and securely. Whether paying for concert tickets, dinner with friends, fundraisers, dues, allowances or even the babysitter, ZashPay® allows our customers to pay people they know whenever they desire. Money is sent directly and securely from your Kent Bank checking account to the recipient’s account (and vice-versa) using the recipient’s name and email address or mobile phone number. ZashPay® notifies the recipient that money has been transferred to their account along with simple instructions to retrieve the funds. Contact us for details.
Mobile Banking Mobile Banking, in a very short time, has moved from a ‘nice-to-have’ service to a ‘must-have’ service. Virtually any cell phone can now be used to access Kent Bank accounts. From flip-phones to the latest Droid® and iPhone®, our customers check account balances, transfer funds, get account alerts and track deposits no matter where they are. Remote Deposit Capture Remote Deposit Capture allows Kent Bank Business clients to scan checks and transmit the scanned images to Kent Bank for posting and clearing. Using a PC, an internet connection and a check scanner, checks received at your store or business can be scanned to create a digital deposit. The digital deposit is then transmitted over an encrypted internet connection and posts the deposit to their SEE
BANK ON PAGE
In s i d e . . .
AFTER 2 BUSINESS HOURS
3 RISE ‘N SHINE
& 8-9 HEALTH WELLNESS FAIR
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RIBBON CUTTING
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 27 W. Stephenson St, Freeport IL 61032 www.freeportilchamber.com Phone: 815.233.1350 Fax: 815.235.4038 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Kim Grimes kim.grimes@freeportilchamber.com
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COORDINATOR: Tiffany King tiffany.king@freeportilchamber.com
RECEPTIONIST: Julie Huber COMMUNICATION EDITOR: Tony Carton The Chamber of Commerce Communicator is published on a monthly basis with the partnership of The Journal-Standard paper. We thank them for their continual effort to keep this publication in print!
DATES TO REMEMBER... February 23 Chamber Ambassador Meeting Stephenson Co. Farm Bureau 7:30 am February 23 Business after Hours Eagles Club 5 – 7 pm
Kim’s Korner W
e want to thank everyone who attended our recent Health and Wellness Fair at the Eagles Club. We also acknowledge the many businesses and sponsors that participated in the Fair. We had a variety of health and wellness businesses on display and it was important to showcase these important companies that provide expertise in health and wellness. The Eagles Club were great host’s and we thank Big Radio for broadcasting at our event. I recently attended the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Summit in Springfield attended by 100 Chamber Executives from around the state. The Keynote Speaker was Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford. We also heard from the Illinois Chamber’s Vice President of Political Affairs Todd Maisch. As has been the case the past few years at this summit the financial news coming out of Springfield is very depressing. The State Treasurer reporting some staggering statistics including: Illinois tax payer’s debt from borrowing - $44.3 billion (was only $12 Billion in 2002), Illinois taxpayer’s unpaid bills – 8.5 billion, Illinois unfunded pension and retiree health care liabilities - $140 billion. Each Illinois family shoulders this debt –
over $40,000 per household. These numbers are shocking but real. Hopefully our elected officials can see the need to not continue to spend money the state does not have. Stay tuned and we will see how this turns out for the sake of our children and grand children. On a more positive note we want to thank Fifth-Third Bank for hosting January’s Business after Hours. We had a great turn out and we witnessed a lot of great networking. We look forward to this month’s Business after Hours next Thursday at the Eagles Club. We also want to thank the Baymont Inn & Suites for hosting this months Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast and we look forward to our next Breakfast at Kent Bank. Our next large event is the Chamber’s Annual Dinner March 22nd featuring Rick Dickinson from Dubuque and we are very excited to hear his message on the many positive things that have been going on in Dubuque.
after H BUSINESS
URS
March 7 Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast Kent Bank 7:30 – 8:30 am March 8 Finance Committee Meeting Chamber Conference Room #2 7:30 am
Our First Business after Hours in 2012 was hosted by Fifth Third Bank. A great group of people attended to network and enjoy some delicious food! We would like to say Thank you to Fifth Third Bank for all their hospitality to the Chamber family!
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBERnews Malcolm Eaton Enterprises Executive Director to retire After leading MALCOLM EATON Enterprises 14 years, Sue Swanson is retiring as executive director. Her last day at MALCOLM EATON will be February 29. “On behalf the Board of Directors and everyone at MALCOLM EATON Enterprises, we wish Sue well in her future endeavors. We appreciate all that she has accomplished during her leadership to move MALCOLM EATON Enterprises forward and know that she will be missed,” said Bobbi Dykstra, MALCOLM EATON Enterprises Board of Directors president At Swanson’s request, no formal public farewell celebration is planned. With Swanson’s departure approaching, the Board of Directors has named an interim executive director to handle day-to-day operations. Tom Klemm, a current board member and former board president, will serve in this capacity.
To help provide a smooth transition, Klemm has already started and will remain in the role until a new director has started. The director search will formally begin later this month. A search committee has been selected. “The search committee understands that MALCOLM EATON Enterprises is a strong, consumer-focused organization because of its staff, consumers, families, volunteers and partners. We are seeking an individual who will help guide the organization to the same great levels of achievement that we have come to expect. Our goal will be for MALCOLM EATON Enterprises to continue to prosper for many years to come,” Dykstra
Highland Business Institute to host small business startup seminar The Highland Community
Rise’n’Shine
College Business Institute will be offering the free seminar, "1st Steps to Starting a Small Business," from 6 to 8 p.m. March 8 in the HCC Student/Conference Center, H201. The program is for those thinking of starting a business or in the early growth stages of their new business. Presenter Gary M. Smith is a business counselor and director for Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. During his presentation, future entrepreneurs will learn about the various resources available to assist them in preparing a small business plan, legal structures, permits and financing options. Attendees are encouraged to bring specific questions about their own businesses. A majority of the allotted time will be spent discussing business plans – the structure, the content expectations and financial analysis – and how to continually improve upon them. Those interested in reserving a space for the seminar should contact Kathleen Weber at 815.291.6981.
Highland Community College offers: Managing Conflict for Better ResultsWe all have disagreements with coworkers, customers, and suppliers— family and even with ourselves! When disagreement moves to confrontation and conflict, it often becomes destructive. Learn to shift to a process that allows satisfaction of everyone’s
needs. April 29, 9:00 a.m.12:00p.m., HCC Freeport, $65
In-Office Tubal Ligation at FHN Celebrates a One-Year Milestone FHN recently celebrated an anniversary of their implementation of the in-office Tubal Ligation procedure, known as Essure. This is a simple office procedure allows a physician to perform permanent sterilization by blocking a woman’s Fallopian tubes using a specialized instrument that leaves no scars. Introduced to the office setting at FHN in late 2010, the Essure procedure offers women the option of having her tubes tied and then returning to full activity in two or three days. Essure has been FDAapproved since 2002, and has been proven to be a safe and effective method of permanent sterilization. Following the procedure, the patient returns in 90 days for an X-ray confirmation test. “In the past, patients who wanted to get their ‘tubes tied’ faced surgery, up to 2 weeks off from regular activities, and an incision scar,” said Nicolai Hinds, MD. “The Essure method allows us to block the Fallopian tubes in a simple office procedure, resulting in no scar, no hospital stay, and very little recovery time.” For more information or to schedule an appointment, call toll-free 1-877-6000-FHN (1-877-600-0346) ext. 969.
We’ll ... Make it Hampton!
Baymont Inn & Suites was the February site of the Chamber Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast. Along with an early morning chance to network, our hosts provided a wonderful breakfast for all the attendees. Thank you Diana Kuhlemeier and Baymont Inn & Suites for doing such a great job hosting this important networking event!
109 South Galena Ave. Freeport, IL 61032 815-232-7100
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Kent Bank account. All from the convenience of their office. Real Time Processing Complimenting the advanced technology of our Mobile Banking service, Kent Bank will soon initiate Real Time Processing. In practical terms, real-time processing is about processing bank transactions as they happen rather than many hours later, as most banks do today - a giant step for a community bank like Kent Bank. Real-time processing removes the waiting period before funds can be used. There is no question that the cashless, mobile society is upon us. We feel strongly that these new technologies will make financial services easier to use and offer greater convenience and security - thanks to the advances in cashless transactions. Why wait? Contact Kent Bank today or visit us at www.kentbnk.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
You grow. We grow. Together.
Special Education Workshop: Ask Dr. Erin Wade, the Behavioral Specialist RAMP and the Parent Mentor Project with Freeport School District 145 and Extra Steps Support Group, present a Special Education Workshop “Asking the Behavioral Specialist, Dr. Erin Wade” on February 28, 2012 from 6:30-8:30pm at the First United Methodist Church, 530 Lily Creek Rd in Freeport. This workshop is open to everyone. Two CPDU’s will be offered and Certificates of Completion are available. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited so please RSVP to Parent Mentor Connie Kraft at ckraft@rampcil.org or 815-233-1128.
Park Hills Evangelical Church located at 2525 W. Stephenson St., Freeport. The Highland Concert Band, directed by Scott Stich, will be featuring chamber music and will highlight a multitude of small groups. The groups include a woodwind trio and quintet, a clarinet choir, a flute choir, a saxophone choir, and a woodwind choir. The brass will be represented by a brass choir, a double brass quartet, and a brass quintet. A percussion quintet will perform as well. Homemade desserts and coffee will be available for purchase. This concert is free and open to the public.
Highland Concert Band to perform spring chamber music concert The HCC instrumental music department will present the Spring Chamber Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 26, at
KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING Stroll-A-Thon to Benefit Senior Resource Center’s Bus Transportation Now in its fifth year, the 2012 Stroll-A-Thon is a community fundraising event
Does Your Banker Work as Hard as You Do?
designed for Senior Citizen participants, but adults and children of all ages are welcome. People using canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are especially encouraged to attend, as are owners with their therapy dogs and other well-behaved pets. Participants can come as a team or as individual walkers. The 2012 Stroll-A-Thon is on Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and held indoors at Oakley Courts Assisted Living located at 3117 Kunkle Boulevard in Freeport. All proceeds will be donated to the Senior Resource Center (SRC) to help fund their bus transportation service for seniors in Stephenson County which has been operating for some 29 years. The funding need has never been greater. Last year there were some 100 walkers and $12,000 was raised, however, the Senior Transportation Program still had a net loss of $38,000. In fact, funding reductions from grants and increased costs have forced the SRC to reduce their service. As CONTINUED
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2012 PREFERRED MEMBERS We would like to give special recognition to the following businesses that provide extra support to the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce.
Law Offices of Ralph E. Elliott Rock River Valley Blood Center Berner Food & Beverage John H. Vogt Country Insurance & Financial Services - Rick Wilson Spherion Staffing Group Freeport Insurance Center Alwayz Cookies Rite-Way Furniture & Appliance Fishburn, Whiton, Thruman, LTD
Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens Jack Myers Consulting QBE the Americas Fruth-Simmer Insurance Agency Freeport Massage Center Twice As Nice Consignments Floor Covering Plus Hulsebus-Gehlsen Chiropractic Culligan Water Conditioning Union Savings Bank Bill George Plumbing & Heating
GOLD MEMBERS Freeport Community Foundation Bomar Heating & Cooling Stout Insurance Agency Freidag Associates CPAs Altman Automotive Inc. Integrity Investments Swift Hospitality Group, Inc. Behr Iron & Metal Tri-State Seamless Gutters Liberty Village of Freeport Above and Beyond Associates Carlson Canine Camp
SILVER MEMBERS Iron-T Junction Brown’s Shoes Family Affair Café
BRONZE MEMBERS
AquaLand Baymont Inn and Suites Dental Connections Family Health Quest Newby Design Works Citizens State Bank Farmers Insurance Group-Lynn Kempel Midtown Center Schofield Plumbing
Furst Staffing Cathy’s Custom Cakery Columbia College Winter & Associates Ultrasonic Power Corp. Freeport Park District Eagles Club Monroe Clinic Downing Remodeling General Contractors, Inc Flachtemeier Monuments
LeBaron & Miller Interiors Winter Construction Inc. Fehr-Graham & Associates State Farm Insurance – Jon Spachman C. J. Vitner Co., Inc. Saxer Accounting Services, LLC Tender Loving Care State Farm Insurance – Steve Johnson Skate Station Sanitary Cleaners Provena St. Joseph Campus
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of February 1 of this year, the times rides are offered have been cut to 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Previously the bus service was available until 3 p.m. In addition, passengers must make their medical appointments before 11:30 a.m. and rides will be available on a first-comefirst-service basis with priority given to medical appointments. The phone number to schedule a ride remains to same: 815-233-5678. Additionally, the SRC is increasing volunteer involvement in the dispatching of the bus as well as assisting with driving. Riders are also being asked to help offset expenses through voluntary donations. The suggested amount is $3.00 per trip, the same rate currently charged for public transportation in Freeport. “Riders will be receiving monthly summaries of the transportation services they have received,” says Kelly
Hillan, Executive Director of SRC, “and we welcome their cooperation in helping by donating as much as they are able, to offset the financial strain.” When asked to describe Senior Transportation at the SRC. Hillan explains “What we provide is specialized transportation for seniors age 60 and older that enhances the City’s public transportation and more readily meets a senior’s unique needs by providing doorthrough-door assistance vs. door-to-door escorting riders to and from the bus and up the sidewalks carrying packages up the stairs and setting them inside the door.” The pubic is also invited to lend support – as a Stroll-AThon walker, donor, exhibitor, or event sponsor. Sponsorships are available ranging from $75 to $750 and up. Exhibitors are invited to
display their information at the event for a fee of $30, and pledges are sought from individuals as well as teams. Sponsors to date include: Able Home Health, Big Radio, Family Health Quest, Freeport Home Medical Equipment, Freeport Lincoln Mall, Freeport Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Freeport Shopping News, Journal Standard. Liberty Village, Met Life Auto and Home, Oakley Courts Assisted Living, Parkview, Prairie Ridge and Meadow Ridge Apartments, Provena St. Joseph Campus, Reed’s Auto Repair, and State Bank. Exhibitors to date include Able Home Health, Comfort Keepers, Community Care Systems, Meadow Ridge, Oakley Courts and Prairie Ridge. Donations of any amount are welcome and may be made out to: Senior Resource Center, Attention Stroll-A-Thon 2012 and sent to 1237 West Galena Avenue in the Lincoln Mall. For more information, contact Bob Cable at the Senior Center at 815-235-9777 or Lisa Lobdell at Oakley
Courts Assisted Living at 815-233-5129. Cindy Rackow, RAMP Youth Education Advocate presents IEP Goals & Objectives for Parents of Children with Disabilities RAMP Youth Education Advocate, Cindy Rackow will present IEP Goals and Objectives, a Parent Informational Workshop for Parents of Children with Disabilities. The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 1:00-3:00pm at the Orangeville United Methodist Church, 111 S. East Street in Orangeville. The workshop is free. Please bring a copy of your child’s IEP to the workshop. Please contact Cindy Rackow at RAMP (815)233-1128 or crackow@rampcil.org for questions, more information or to request accommodations/ accessible formats for workshop. CONTINUED
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&Wellness FAIR
1st annual
Health
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
January 28, 2012
Gold Sponsors
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
VENDORS
FHN Freeport Family Chiropractic & Acupuncture Hulsebus-Gehlsen Chiropractic Chiro-Works Lena Living Center Monroe Clinic Unity Hospice of Western Illinois LLC
Silver Sponsors
VENDORS
Curves Family Health Quest Highland Community College Highland Business Institute Parkview Provena St. Joseph Campus Stephenson Nursing Center University of Illinois Extension, Stephenson County
VENDORS
Anytime Fitness of Freeport Arthritis Foundation Big Radio Children’s Dyslexia Center-NW IL Cub Foods Freeport Bicycle Company Freeport Massage Center Highlandview Dental Excellence Hospice Care of America Jansen Heating and Air Conditioning Meadow Ridge/Prairie Ridge Apartments Natural Healing Express Northern Illinois Physical Therapy Services RAMP, Inc. Rock River Valley Blood Center Thin & Healthy’s Total Solution YMCA
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Page 10 Highland Community College offers: Communication Skills for Supervisors Miscommunication in the workplace often occurs because people misunderstand what is actually being said. Body language may communicate meaning more accurately than spoken words. Listening techniques discussed and modeled so participants learn to look for the meaning behind the message. March 11, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., HCC Freeport $65
SPEAKER SERIES
Highland faculty and staff receive Excellence Awards Highland Community College employees joined fellow colleagues on January 12 to honor individuals with this year’s Excellence Awards. The awards recognize employees for quality work, creativity, honesty, integrity, selfdevelopment and excellence in their professional relationships. A committee, made up of Excellence Award recipients from the previous two years, selected the winners in each category: support staff, part-
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE time faculty, full-time faculty and administrator. This year’s recipients were fine arts director Allen Redford, equine science instructor Anki Fockstedt, IT technician Brian Leahy, student advisor Heather Moore and nursing instructor Chrislyn Senneff. Allen Redford, a familiar presence at choral productions, has excelled in his position as director of fine arts. While persistently setting future goals for the fine arts department, as an instructor he continues challenging students to perform more ambitious works. He has also organized new traditions, such as the sold-out Madrigal dinners, that will continue to showcase Highland’s talent to Northwest Illinois. His ability to rally involvement both on-campus and off-campus will continue to promote the arts at Highland for years to come. Anki Fockstedt is a passionate equine science instructor that has made a significant
Your cardiovascular system is pretty busy today It’s circulating your blood 12,000 miles through over 60,000 miles of arteries, veins and capillaries. Learn more about your cardiovascular system when you join Prasad Kilaru MD, FSCAI, FACC for a free presentation Wednesday, February 22 at 5:30 p.m. In addition to reviewing the cardiovascular system, Dr. Kilaru will discuss coronary artery disease, its risks and ways to keep it at bay. He’ll also explain procedures done at FHN including stents, pacemakers and angioplasties. Free blood pressure screens will be offered. This presentation will be held at FHN Family Healthcare Center – Burchard Hills, 1010 W. Fairway Drive, Freeport. Call us toll-free at 1-877-6000-FHN (1-877-600-0346) ext. 944 or visit www.fhn.org/heart to register.
impact in a short amount of time. Most notable was her role in the addition of an associate of applied science degree in equine science and four new certificates. Fockstedt has worked well beyond her classroom duties to secure handson training sites and industry-guided curriculum. Her student reviews also illustrate her personal touch and approachability. She consistently works to strengthen relationships in the equine industry to better advise her students, as well as increase their employment opportunities. Brian Leahy is an IT technician for Highland’s Information Technology Services Department. While most people he encounters on campus are in midst of a computer crisis, he was nominated for his calm under pressure. He possesses an obvious attention-to-detail and instills confidence with his up-to-date knowledge of the field. His peers noted that his professional opinion is wellrespected, but they would also trust him with sensitive matters having seen his integrity firsthand. In addition to winning over his co-workers, he volunteers his time to pursue his passion for animals by tending to the on-campus fish tank. Advisor Heather Moore not only maintains solid relationships with campus personnel to create academic plans for students, but she’s also available as an instructor for students taking English courses. Her increased responsibilities, in addition to numerous professional development opportunities, have not gone unnoticed by her peers or advisees. Her honest, patient demeanor has gained her the trust and respect of students. She continues to find new ways of implementing Highland standards of integrity and professionalism while still promoting her passion for language. The Highland Community College Foundation also annually recognizes one employee with
the Opel Award named for a Highland founder, Don Opel. The award recognizes employees who go “above and beyond” in serving or promoting the College. This year the Foundation presented the award to nursing instructor Chrislyn Senneff received her nomination based on her tireless work as an ambassador for the nursing program throughout the community. Her knowledgeable presence when guiding tours of the facility, exhibiting a passion for nursing or offering helpful advice goes far beyond the classroom. One of Senneff’s efforts helped an international nursing student not only finish her ADN program, but also helped her research master’s degree programs in the U.S. Her cooperative attitude and genuine fondness for Highland students are evident in her work.
Prairie Wind Magazine Now Accepting Submissions for 2012 Edition Submissions are now being accepted for the Twentieth Anniversary Issue of the Prairie Wind magazine, a collection of original poetry, prose, visual art, and recorded music contributed by students, staff, alumni, and other members of the Highland Community. Submission guidelines are available at www.theprairie wind.org. The deadline is February 24, 2012. More information is available from either of the magazine’s faculty advisors: Sam Tucibat sam.tucibat@highland.edu (815) 599-3614 Bob Apolloni bob.apolloni@highland.edu (815) 599-3479 Prairie Wind has been published annually since 1992 under the auspices of Highland Community College,
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2998 West Pearl City Road, Freeport, Illinois, 61032. It is a cooperative project of the Humanities, Graphic Design, Art, and Music departments in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences. Each issue is created by an editorial board composed of students and volunteer community members who are guided by a team of faculty advisors. Find a list of the advisors at www.the prairiewind.org/advisors.htm.
Highland Business Institute now offers Ed2go online courses The Highland Business Institute is pleased to announce a program that makes it easy for individuals to take high-quality, non-credit online courses no matter where they are located. Through a partnership with Ed2go, Highland now offers hundreds of classes on a variety of topics. Highland Community College's Dean of Business and Technology Scott Anderson explained that finding enough people interested in the same topic, on the same day, at the same location has been a challenge for the Business Institute. Ed2go now offers a nice alternative for those seeking personal or professional development. "The main advantage of partnering with Ed2go is that they have a multitude of courses our clients may want," said Anderson. "Being online also means students are not tied to a certain location, and we are not worried about a minimum head count." Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction, and interaction with fellow students, students gain valuable knowledge. The courses can be conveniently accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere with an Internet connection. New sessions of each six-week online course start monthly, with two lessons released every week. Each high-quality course includes comprehensive lessons, quizzes, assignments and a discussion area. Dedicated instructors facilitate every course by pacing learners, answering questions,
giving feedback and facilitating discussions. To learn more about the upcoming February 15 session, visit them online at Ed2go or call 815.599.3604.
Highland Community College announces Service Award recipients Highland Community College employees were recognized for their years of service as part of the Opening Days activities on January 12, 2012. The 2011 Service Award Recipients included the following: FIVE YEARS: Kathy Bangasser, Director of Financial Aid; Juliet D'Souza, Instructor; Bonnie Hale, Administrative Assistant (Grant); Mark Jansen, Director of Adult Education; Janet Kaiser, Director of Upward Bound TEN YEARS: Carol Gage, Administrative Assistant; Diane Gallagher, Trustee; Beth Groshans, Coordinator of Women's Athletics; Jill Janssen, VP of Administrative Services; Jim Palmer, Instructor FIFTEEN YEARS: Corey Engel, Maintenance Mechanic; Liz Gerber, Associate VP of Student Services; Paul Giaimo, Instructor; Tony Grahame, Instructor; Chuck Graves, Maintenance Mechanic; Rhonda Perry, Executive Assistant; Mike Sleezer, Instructor; Dawn Switzer, Secretary (Grant); Tracey Williams, Student Retention Specialist TWENTY YEARS: Sherry Maves, Administrative Assistant (Grant); Allen Redford, Instructor THIRTY YEARS: Dr. Joe Kanosky, President
Ribbon
cutting
The Chamber cut the ribbon at Kintzel Chiropractic located at 888 W. Galena Avenue. It was our honor to be there to help celebrate this very special day and to welcome Lori Kintzel back home to Freeport! If you are in need of a Chiropractor stop by Kintzel Chiropractic today.
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Free Enterprise Drives Prosperity If We Let It by Tom Donohue for US Chamber Assaults on the free enterprise system have gone global. We’ve heard them in the United States for months. But a debate recently erupted at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where some critics suggested that capitalism was to blame for the European debt crisis, widespread unemployment, and the fragile state of the world’s economy. Some officials in Davos went so far as to call for a complete overhaul of the free market system. Are they right? Is capitalism broken? Is the free market system failing us? Not on your life. While not perfect, the free enterprise system remains the single most effective way to create widespread prosperity and opportunity. Those who have the freedom and incentive to put their creativity to work generate new ideas and foster
innovations. They create wealth and opportunities and improve life for everyone. What poses a threat to prosperity isn’t free enterprise, but expansive government and policies that weigh down the private sector and poison the environment for business. One NEW indicator of the health of free Creative Counseling • Mary Kay/Independent Beauty Consultant enterprise is the Heritage Lafferty Insurance Agency • Highland Business Institute Foundation’s Economic Kintzel Chiropractic • Royal Oaks Antiques & Collectables Freedom Index, which Boyd Consulting • SimPol Miracles • Freeport Moose Family Center measures the extent to which entrepreneurship can thrive in RENEWED a nation’s economy. The greater Baumgartner Furniture Services • Dakota Plumbing a nation’s economic freedom, Freeport School District #145 • State Bank Freeport the greater its prosperity. Size Christensen Home Town Realtors • Thompson & Kopp, CPA of government, openness of markets, regulatory efficiency, STAR Manufacturing Division of STAR Forge Inc. and rule of law are key factors Ross Auto Glass • Stephenson County Health Department that contribute to—or conspire Jansen Heating & Air Conditioning • Quality Auto Body, Inc. against—economic freedom. Stephenson County CVB • Williams-Manny, Inc. • Bocker Group America’s economic freedom Lemanski Heating and Air Conditioning • RAMP, Inc. has fallen in the 2012 index, Precision Drive and Control, Inc. • Carpenter's Local 790 largely due to runaway FHN • Higher Grounds Coffee • Addi Cakes • Kolb-Lena, Inc. government spending and overregulation. Meanwhile, the Elite Travel, LLC. • Stephenson Nursing Center Congressional Budget Office Fisher Excavating • Freeport Autoclinic, Inc. • Columbia College has forecast another $1 trillion Two Men And A Truck • Fox Heritage Travel • John Vogt in annual deficits this year. And Freeport Flite Center • Stephen S. Schmelzle, Attorney at Law this administration continues to ABC Advertising • Carlson Canine Camp • Duke Herrling pursue some of the costliest, Heavy Equipment Services, Inc. • Savant Capital, LLC most burdensome regulations Nexus Office Systems, Inc. • Highland Community College in history. Freeport Soft Water • Rock River Valley Blood Center Reed's Auto Repair • Dave DeMeester Landscaping • Jim Fritz Freeport Lincoln Mall • Stone's Hallmark • Wendy's Friends Forever Humane Society • Malcolm Eaton Enterprises Wal-Mart • Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois Freeport Area Church Cooperative • Deininger's Floral Shop Freeport Community Public School Fund • The Journal-Standard March of Dimes Northern Illinois Divison • Fieldstone Inn Freeport Park District • Fishburn Whiton Thruman, LTD Law Office of Ralph E. Elliott • United Way of NW Illinois Downing's Remodeling Contractors Inc. • The Cheese Market Oak Brook Trail Condominium Association • Blain's Farm & Fleet State Farm Insurance - Ted Fritz • Well Fargo Advisors Security First Title Co. • Highland Community College Foundation SPEAKER Wipfli LLP • Highland Community College Alumni Association
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE It’s no surprise that the economic freedom of European nations has also declined. The major drags on their economic freedom—unsustainable social spending and massive welfare programs—are also the source of the EU’s sovereign debt crisis. So, no, capitalism hasn’t pushed those countries to the economic brink—top heavy government has. It should serve as a sobering call to American leaders to reform our entitlement programs so that they’ll be solvent for future generations without devouring our budget. If we’re going to remain an economically free nation, driven by the ideas and innovations of our people and businesses, we’ve got to let the free markets work. We’ve got to break the shackles of debt, deficits, and over-regulation. We’ve got to clear away the impediments to prosperity and let capitalism do what it does best—grow the economy and create jobs.
How to choose the best hosted VoIP system for your Small to Medium sized business By: Which VOIP An efficient and economical telephone communication system is necessary for any company, but even more important for a small and medium-sized business on a tight budget. VoIP telephony is the most appropriate solution for a small or medium sized
business enterprise, with a wide range of features and cost benefits. Startups especially benefit from VoIP, since they do not have the burden of existing equipment and infrastructure to deal with. VoIP stands for “Voice Over Internet Protocol”, which is a technology that allows you to make phone calls using your Broadband Internet connection instead of your regular phone service. It is also sometimes referred to as Voice over IP, Broadband phone, Internet phone service and Digital Voice. Yes, it is a marketing game by the different service providers but they all use the same core technology. You still simply pick up your regular phone, dial a number and talk. VoIP is simple and is for everyone. It does not matter if the person you are calling has VoIP or not, this is all taken care of by your VoIP service provider. The only requirement for this technology is a high speed Internet connection, such as DSL, cable, T1, etc. VoIP requires a bandwidth of up to 90Kbps depending on the voice compression algorithm chosen by the service provider. This is a higher bandwidth than dial-up Internet so a Broadband Internet connection is a basic requirement. Benefits of VoIP Technology There are numerous advantages to VoIP technology over the traditional circuit switched system. For example: • No circuit switched Private Branch eXchange (PBX) is required. This is a large and very expensive piece of equipment used by larger companies to connect their
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internal telephone lines to the PSTN. The capital expenditure and operating costs necessary for a PBX can be substantial. With business VoIP all that is required is a Broadband Internet Service and a router to route each packet based call to the Internet. The business VoIP service provider is then responsible for bridging the calls from the Internet to their destination, whether that is to another VoIP phone user or the PSTN. This is often referred to as a hosted VoIP or IP PBX solution. All of the technology for handling your calls resides at the business VoIP service provider. You can access and change your VoIP features (e.g. adding numbers, forwarding calls etc) simply by accessing a secure website run by your business VoIP service provider. • Business VoIP is a digital
packet based system. This means that numerous Internet phone calls can be made at the same time and can be sent over the same Local Area Network (LAN) that is used for your computer Internet access. This is a very cost effective way to make telephone calls. • The voice packets travel over the Internet instead of the PSTN. The Internet is not heavily regulated like the PSTN so calls are so cheap to make that many business plans simply charge a fixed monthly fee and that covers all of your calls regardless of their destination. • Many larger businesses have multiple locations some of which may be in another state and some of which could be on the other side of the world. Usually these locations are connected to a company wide data network (Wide Area Network for example). With a business VoIP system,
Page 14 extension dialing is such that the location is irrelevant. An employee in Seattle can call a colleague in London through a simple 4 digit extension and at no additional cost. This is because the call is sent over the company’s network on the Internet rather than through traditional long distance calling. This feature alone can be very attractive to businesses wishing to save money on their phone bills. • Business VoIP provides a vast array of features. Receive your faxes and voicemail via email or with a web browser. Conference calling, Caller ID, Call forwarding, Going away on business - take your IP phone or Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) with you and your number goes with you or configure your phone to callforward. Many more features are thrown in as standard. • All telephone and data administration can be handled by one Information Services (IS) department. This can save a business a
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE considerable amount of money. However as most small businesses do not have anyone dedicated to anything related to IT, there is a very large value add by having a hosted VoIP solution that is offpremise and managed by a VoIP provider. There is also the benefit of no more costly onsite maintenance due to fees to do something as simple as adding another extension. • Business VoIP dramatically simplifies portability and installation. Assuming your IP telephone or ATA is configured for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), you can move your phone anywhere and still keep the same phone number since it will receive an IP address dynamically. This is like moving your laptop and still being able to log in to your network. It is estimated that it can cost hundreds of dollars to move a telephone in a regular circuit switched network due to labor costs and the cost of reconfiguring the PBX. These costs are not incurred in a
business VoIP phone system since the IP network does not care about your location. • Toll free number cost savings. Many small businesses are still paying per minute fees for these numbers. With a VoIP solution, the toll free numbers can be provided at a fixed monthly fee. This keeps costs under control and many businesses have realized large cost savings through this feature alone.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank or the beltline Valentine’s Day brings to mind fancy dinner, boxes of chocolate and heart-shaped candies—but you can avoid busting your diet while celebrating with your sweetheart. Try these suggestions: • Go out for lunch instead of dinner to take advantage of smaller portions. • Or, get romantic and share a meal at dinner to cut the calories • Choose flowers or another gift rather than chocolate or candy • Make your own healthy meal at home • For a romantic dessert, make dark chocolate fondue with lots of fruit
We would like to than everyone who attended the Chamber Annual Legislative Luncheon at the Freeport Country Club. The Chamber would like to say a special thank you to our Guest Speakers State Representative Jim Sacia and State Senator Tim Bivens for taking time out of their busy schedules to give us this important update.
A hat tip to KMBoyd and all the folks at the Boyd Consulting Group for these great tips.
WASH YOUR HANDS! Noroviruses are a group of related viruses that affect the intestinal tract causing gastroenteritis illness. Many of the noroviruses cause similar symptoms that usually occur between 24 hours and 48 hours after exposure. They include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, body aches, headache, tiredness and low-grade fever. Symptoms typically last 24 hours to 60 hours and subside on their own. These viruses do not multiply outside the human body. The viruses are present in the feces of infected persons and can be transmitted to others when hands are not thoroughly washed after having a bowel movement Q: If I have had a norovirus infection in the past, can I get it again? A: YES Wash your hands. Wash your food. Wash possibly infected clothing and bedding. Wash, wash and WASH! and use soap Learn more at Norwalk Virus http://bit.ly/xu1rRI And a hat tip to the Illinois Department of Health.
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