I’ve been thinking about Business EXPO 2007 By Fred Cederholm

Column for on/after Feb 13th

I’ve been thinking about Business EXPO 2007. Actually I’ve been thinking about the greater Rochelle area, the Chamber of Commerce, socializing, food, the League of Women Voters, Rochelle Municipal Utilities/ Rochelle Net, and community awareness. Once again our community has the opportunity to find out first hand what is going on, what is new, and what is coming to our area in a face-to-face setting. Trust me when I tell you that there is plenty happening in our area with many more (good) things coming on the horizon.

You see, the 2007 Business EXPO begins this Friday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Rochelle Middle School located at 111 School Avenue. It continues this Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Almost 50 area businesses, service organizations, and not-for-profit groups will participate this year. The theme for the 2007 event is “Home, Health, and Family.” North West and North Central Illinois are major bright spots in the Illinois economy in 2007, and South East Ogle County is one of the hottest spots in the region. Henry Ford once said, “The Business of America is business.” The Real Estate mogul Arthur Rubloff said, “The three most important things are location, location, and location.” Both of these quotes are relevant to us with the greater Rochelle area clearly at the “Hub” of things.

The EXPO is sponsored by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and is a great place to bring your family and spend an hour or two. Parking is free, admission is free, and you will be amazed what you can find out – for free. Free is good; free is very good! Many participants will even offer “Business EXPO Specials” for the visitors to their exhibits/booths. This will be the fourth year that I’ve attended and have participated at some of the exhibit sites. I have a great time and I learn so much about the services and products available right here in our own community. I always get chance to touch base with a lot of old friends, and I make some new ones as well.

Community awareness and community dialogue benefits everyone. We are blessed with an excellent information network via the forums provided by our local newspaper and radio station as well as the coverage of local events they provide. But… there is something to be said for the added opportunity of the instantaneous face-to-face contact, and dialogue of the EXPO. Many of the people who have the answers (or can get them and get back to you) will be working at their various booths. And then… there is the food!

Several service and not-for-profit organizations will offer their culinary specialties in the Middle School’s cafeteria. Be sure to check out the Golden K’s Sloppy Joe’s and the Middle School PTO’s Pizza. Hot dogs, baked beans, bakery goods, and cookies will also be available for sale as well. Local Boy Scout troops will be collecting non-perishable food items for later distribution to the area Christian Food Pantry as part of their annual “Scouting for Food Drive.” Any contributions you can bring will be greatly appreciated. The pantry served a record number of households/ families in 2006.

The Rochelle Area Chapter of the League of Women Voters will once again be part of the Chamber of Commerce booth and will provide the opportunity to register to vote for those new to the area (or for anyone who is not currently registered for that matter). By completing your registration at this event, you can save yourself a trip to Becky Huntley’s (the County Clerk) Office in Oregon, AND you will meet the cut-off for the all important Consolidated Elections soon coming at us on April 17th.

The Rochelle Community Hospital and Ogle County-wide health care organizations will be there to provide you and your family with information about the services – new and upgraded – that are now available thru them. Representatives from Rochelle Municipal Utilities/ Rochelle Net will be there to provide you with energy saving tips and suggestions. They will also provide you with information regarding the changes/ upgrades which have occurred on the internet/ web /information highway front.

I hope you and your household will stop by and spend some time at the EXPO. I’m personally looking forward to seeing you there. I’ll be more than happy to help get you registered to vote if you need to get that done. Or… I’d LOVE to talk to you about my columns – what you liked, what you didn’t like, and what you want to hear about in the future? It’s so important to me that I’ve gotten you TH*NK*NG - one way or another. The 2007 Business Expo is about learning, it is about what is going on in our community, it is about what is coming in our community, and it is about what is available to us here locally. I’m Fred Cederholm and I’ve been thinking. You should be thinking, too.

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