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14 | January 3, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts
mokenamessenger.com
Year in Review 2018
Mokena Chamber continues work to promote local businesses
Skye Bergeson
Chamber of Commerce President
This past year marked
57 years that the Mokena
Chamber of Commerce has
been in existence to promote
both business and community
relationships. As 2018
Board President, I would
like to start by thanking everyone
in the community for
their continued support of
the chamber. The Board of
Directors, chamber member
volunteers and staff work
hard each day to keep our
local businesses moving forward,
and we could not run
this organization without the
group effort of everyone.
We would like to thank the
39 businesses that decided to
join the chamber in 2018,
and applaud the nearly 350
members that renewed their
annual dues. The Mokena
Chamber of Commerce held
24 ribbon cutting ceremonies
this year to welcome
new businesses to Mokena.
A significant goal of the
Mokena Chamber in 2018
was to connect Chamber to
community. This year was
another great year of giving
back to the community
by means of donations and
volunteer efforts through
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fundraisers, scholarships,
sponsorships, and hosting
community special events.
And as our chamber motto
states, our goal is to, “Create
community connections.”
We also once again presented
scholarships to deserving
students at Lincoln-
Way Central High School
who live in Mokena. We are
pleased to also have been
able to sponsor various nonprofit
community organizations
in their fundraising
goals, as well.
We make every effort for
residents to recognize our
chamber member businesses.
One way in which we do
this is with the production
of the blue banners that you
have seen displayed along
light poles on both Wolf
Road and West 191st Street.
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We are able to bring attention
to not only our members’
businesses, but also our
community through hosting
annual community events.
New this year was the inaugural
Mokena Mud Turtle
Race held on May 5 outdoors
in front of The Oaks
Recreation and Fitness Center.
These numbered, rubber
turtles were purchased
by businesses and the community,
and “raced” down
a giant rubber track, pushed
along by a fire hose. We also
had vendor booths, games
and music to round out the
morning.
Our annual Chamber Golf
Outing was held in June at
The Sanctuary Golf Course.
The event attracted 85 golfers
who were able to enjoy
a great day of fun and networking
on the green.
The Fourth of July Parade
once again saw a huge community
turnout, with approximately
5,000 in attendance
faith
From Page 12
Worship
9 a.m. Sundays.
God’s Kids Club
10:15 a.m. Sundays in
Sept.-May.
Adult Bible Study
10:15 a.m. Sundays in
Sept.-May.
and 80 entries in the parade.
The Community Business
Expo, held in September at
The Mokena Park District’s
The Oaks Recreation and
Fitness Center, had 50 businesses
participate and drew a
large community turnout.
Christmas Fest, held every
November on the Saturday
before Thanksgiving, once
again didn’t disappoint with
a morning of crafts, cookies
and pictures with Santa
and Mrs. Claus. Following
the morning events was the
Lighted Parade that made
its way down Front Street
through downtown Mokena
and showcased local businesses
and civic groups.
Following the parade was
the annual lighting of the
tree and the Family Dance at
the Mokena VFW complete
with a DJ and pizza party.
Through the generosity of
our chamber members, all
of these events are planned,
sponsored and staffed by
Parker Road Bible Church (18512 Parker
Road, Mokena)
Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Sundays. Be
sure to arrive early for our
Sunday Worship Service to
enjoy a hot, complimentary
cup of coffee every week at
the church. Following the
Christian Education Hour
(9:15-10:15 a.m.), all beverages
can be found just outside
the sanctuary.
our chamber member volunteers.
If you attended any of our
community events this year,
we would like to extend our
sincere thanks to you. The
Mokena Chamber of Commerce
is a 501 c 6, non-profit
organization that operates
solely on membership dues,
sponsorships, donations and
revenue from our community
events. We receive no
state or federal tax dollars to
operate our organization.
At this time we would like
to reach out to you and ask
you to please invest in our
chamber members first, as
our members do so much to
invest in your community.
And looking forward to
the new year, we are happy
to welcome Michelle De-
Paolis of LincolnWay Bank
as Board President for 2019.
On behalf of the Board of
Directors, we wish everyone
a healthy and prosperous
new year.
For more information, call
(708) 479 -0300.
Spanish Mass
12:30 p.m. Sundays.
Worship Service
10 a.m. Sundays. All are
welcome.
Women’s Bible Study
8:45-9:45 a.m. Sundays
and 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays.
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Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th
St., Mokena)
Sunday Services
11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For
more information, call (312)
350-2279.
Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Sundays. Mokena
Baptist offers Sunday
School classes for all ages.
For more information, call
(312) 350-2279.
Grace Fellowship Church (11049 LaPorte
Road, Mokena)
Seniors Coffee
8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14.
McDonalds, 21011 South La
Grange Road, Frankfort.
Narcotics Anonymous
7-9 p.m. Mondays. All
those struggling or who have
struggled with a narcotics
addiction are welcome. All
meetings are confidential.
Victory Baptist Church (13550 US Route
6, Mokena)
Morning Worship
10:45 a.m. Sundays.
Have something for Faith
Briefs? Contact Assistant
Editor Megan Schuller at
m.schuller@22ndcm.com or
call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34.
Deadline is noon Thursday one
week prior to publication.