SAUGANASH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For up to date information on the Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, visit their website at http://www.sauganashchamber.org.

Plans are well underway for the creation of the Sauganash Chamber of Commerce.  Recently, a group of local business and community leaders met to discuss the structure of the newly established Sauganash Chamber of Commerce (SCOC).  With the encouragement of Alderman Margaret Laurino, 39^th Ward, the SCOC is moving forward to seek 501(c)6 status.  In addition, a grant application is being submitted to the City of Chicago Department of Planning for funding.  Notwithstanding the outcome of the grant process, the SCOC founding directors are committed to the formation of the new Chamber. 

The Officers of the SCOC are:  President, Lynne Uhrik (George Uhrik Furs), Vice President, Mary Lou Quinn (B.Q.S. Realty), Treasurer, Bob Klairmont (Imperial Realty).  The Secretary position has not been filled.  The Directors are:  Joan Biebel, (President, Sauganash Community Association), Pat Tarpey (Tarpey’s Pharmacy), Bob Smith (Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home), Al Klairmont (Imperial Realty), Harriet Luden (Donna’s Garden), Julia Biasco (Director, Sauganash Community Association), Maureen DeRose (Sauganash Community Association), Susan Kelsey (Director, Sauganash Community Association), Ron Herbert (Polish National Alliance), L. Hamilton Kerr III (North Shore Community Bank), Kel-e Sherman (Whole Foods).

The boundaries of the SCOC will be Devon on the north, Bryn Mawr on the south, Edens Expressway on the west and Pulaski on the east. 

Although the mission statement is not yet complete, some of the objectives of the SCOC will be to attract and retain viable businesses that will enhance the quality of life in Sauganash thereby increasing home values, maintaining quality schools and achieving a low crime rate.  The Chamber will give local businesses a chance to share mutual concerns and will provide a vehicle to market the Sauganash community as an exceptional neighborhood in the city of Chicago.

For additional information contact:

Maureen DeRose
773-777-0990
312-965-2082

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Merchants announce creation of new Sauganash Chamber
by ROBERT ELFINGER from the "Reporter"

With the blessing of Alderman Margaret Laurino (39th), the newly forged Sauganash Chamber of Commerce held an inaugural meeting on May 21 at Imperial Realty, 4747 W. Peterson Ave.

The new chamber will serve the area bounded by Devon Avenue on the north, Bryn Mawr Avenue on the south, the Edens Expressway on the west and Pulaski Road on the east. Laurino estimated that there are at least 50 retail businesses within the new chamber's boundaries.

"The Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber of Commerce has done an excellent job (in the Edgebrook shopping district) and we'd like to emulate that," Laurino said. 'The new chamber and the Edgebrook Chamber should work hand in hand."

Laurino, who plans to remain an honorary member of the Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber board, said that improvements to the shopping district at Devon and Central avenues, including construction of scaping, have spurred commerce in the area. She said that she and local business owners felt that a new chamber was needed to specifically help businesses in Sauganash.

"They do such a good job and there's a lot going on in their neck of the woods, and we have a lot here," said Maureen DeRose, a member of the Sauganash Community Association and a director of the new chamber. "We'd like to specialize a bit."

"There is enough businesses in Sauganash to form a chamber, but members could be a part of both," said Sauganash Chamber vice president Mary Lou Quinn. "We thought with the opening of Whole Foods, Breadbasket and North Shore Bank that it was time to start our own."

"You look at the boundaries and there are a ton of businesses," DeRose said. "We think that we live in just a residential area, but there are a lot of businesses as well."

Four Sauganash Community Association members are members of the chamber's board. "This neighborhood association and we'll
hand with the chamber because it is in their best interest," Laurino said.

Although a mission statement is not yet complete, some of the objectives of the chamber will be to attract and retain viable businesses that will enhance the quality of life in Sauganash by increasing home values, maintaining quality schools and achieving a low crime rate. The chamber will seek to help local businesses to share mutual concerns and provide a vehicle to market the community.

The officers of the chamber are president Lynne Uhrik of George Uhrik Furs, Quinn of B.Q.S. Realty and treasurer Bob Klairmont of Imperial Realty. The secretary position is not yet filled.

Members of the Board of Directors include Pat Tarpey of Tarpey's Pharmacy, Bob Smith of Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, Al Klairmont of Imperial Realty, Harriet Luden of Donna's Garden, Ron Herbert of the Polish National Alliance, L. Hamilton Kerr III of North Shore Community Bank and Kel-e Sherman of Whole Foods.

In addition to DeRose, directors Joan Biebel, Julia Biasco and Susan Kelsey are members and Directors of the Sauganash Community Association.

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