Chamber Committees
Ambassadors

     This energetic group of people maintain contact with other Chamber members, serve as mentors for new Chamber members, and promote the Chamber of Commerce and its purpose.  Ambassadors attend Chamber functions and serve as the "meeters and greeters" at Chamber events such as the monthly Business After Hours, Puttin' On Pekin breakfasts, the Annual Meeting, business grand openings and ribbon cuttings, and Chamber forums.  Many times, the Ambassadors are the first contact a new members will have upon joining the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Strategic Plan Responsibility

Goal 4:  Create promotional opportunities for our members

Strategy:  Networking Events  Provide networking opportunities for our members, allowing them to build business contacts and relationships.

Strategy:  New Member Promotions  Provide our new members with immediate promotional opportunities.

Committee Focus:  Maintain contact with the Chamber membership, through personal contacts.  Also, provide manpower and attendance at Chamber events and projects.

Examples of Activities

• Serve as mentors to new members, ensuring they get the maximum value from their membership
• Attend Business After Hours
• Attend Ribbon Cutting and Groundbreaking Ceremonies
• Volunteer at July 4th Celebration
• Work as an usher at the Annual Meeting
• Plan the Chamber Challenge Trivia Nite event

Authority:  Makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.  Can develop additional activities to support the above strategies.  Can develop additional sub-committees or ad hoc committees to address specific committee activities.

Budget:  The 2008 budget includes a break-even line item for the Ambassadors and any events or projects they might take on, and an $5,457 profit for the Trivia Nite.  

Schedule:  The ambassadors meet on the first Tuesday of each month.  They generally meet at for social time at 7:30am followed by the meeting at 8:00am.  The location varies.

Committee Members

• John Abel, Preston-Hanely Funeral Homes
• Pamela Anderson, City of Pekin
• Vicki Bass, City of Pekin
• Marilyn Burrell, CEFCU
• Daryl Dagit, Smith Barney
• Arlene Heine-Meyer, World Wide Travel
• Joel Jackson, Chair, Pekin Insurance
• Karen Lewis, Gallatin River Communications
• Cathy Lusch, Vice Chair, Herget Bank
• Rose Melz, Illinois Collections Unlimited
• Denise Novotny, CEFCU
• Lisa Pendragon, Pekin Community Bank
• Christie Perry, Pekin Hospital
• Denise Rogers, Busey Bank
• Paul Scherer, Heartland Bank
• Bill Shock, Unland Companies
• Bob Short, AFLAC
• Diane Steiner, Pekin Insurance
• Barb Strand, Board Liaison, Tazewell County Children's Advocacy Center
• Kelly Vanderheydt, Heartland Bank
• Milissa Welborn, Busey Bank

Measurements of Success:  Ensuring that the Strategic Plan is a living, breathing document, the Executive Committee will continually evaluate the appropriateness of the Plan's goals. The Executive Committee will also evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and activities. On at least an annual basis, this committee will be evaluated on:

• Quality and Quantity of contacts with membership
• Membership participation in the activities