Latest / WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio / Talk Line with Sam Kersey, President of the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce

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Talk Line with Sam Kersey, President of the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce · WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio

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  Speaker 1: Good morning, Sock Valley. You've joined the Waking crew here
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  Speaker 1: on FM ninety five one and AM fourteen sixty wix N.
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  Speaker 1: And now it is time for our talk line segment
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  Speaker 1: where I am joined by our good friends from the
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  Speaker 1: Rock Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Today I'm getting to
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  Speaker 1: speak with President Sam Cercy. Sam, how are you this morning?
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  Speaker 2: It's a little chilly, but we are making the best
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  Speaker 2: of it here in.
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  Speaker 1: Rockball spoken like a true Midwesterner, well as I understand it, Sam,
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  Speaker 1: you guys had a you know, quite a twenty twenty
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  Speaker 1: five that you'd like to, you know, recap a little
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  Speaker 1: for us.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely in twenty twenty five, the Rock Falls continued to
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  Speaker 2: advance our mission and supporting our local businesses, strengthening our leaders,
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  Speaker 2: and enriching our community all the way around. Nothing showcased
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  Speaker 2: that holiday spirit and that hometown feel better than our
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  Speaker 2: hometown Holiday celebration that took place November twentieth through the
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  Speaker 2: twenty second. It was absolutely phenomenal. We always do our
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  Speaker 2: big hometown Holidays festivities the week before Thanksgiving to kick
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  Speaker 2: off that holiday season for Thanksgiving and for Christmas as well,
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  Speaker 2: just welcoming families home in that Christmas Spirit in that
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  Speaker 2: hometown magic. On the twentieth of November, our holiday Bingo
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  Speaker 2: night completely sold out at the McCormick Event Center. It
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  Speaker 2: was the biggest bingo that we've had yet. At six
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  Speaker 2: hundred and ten players, the mcormick Center completely sold out.
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  Speaker 2: They were phenomenal to work with, so if you ever
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  Speaker 2: have a big event coming up or looking for a
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  Speaker 2: new place just to host your next gathering, we definitely
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  Speaker 2: recommend that McCormick Evet Center. Their staff is so professional,
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  Speaker 2: easy to work with, and it was a great all
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  Speaker 2: around venue. Our event went great. The costume contest had
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  Speaker 2: the room completely buzzing with excitement. Everybody had new outfits
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  Speaker 2: and got extra creative. It was the Bingo Grannies that one.
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  Speaker 2: It was a couple younger women that were dressed up
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  Speaker 2: as granny's with their little walkers. It went so well.
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  Speaker 2: We hid golden tickets throughout the venue underneath a chair,
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  Speaker 2: so at the end of the night people were flipping
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  Speaker 2: chairs and laughing having so much fun looking for those
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  Speaker 2: special golden tickets for that twenty twenty sixth series. But
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  Speaker 2: we're really grateful from the support, not only from the
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  Speaker 2: McCormick event Center. But from all of our local businesses.
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  Speaker 2: We couldn't have done it without PC Tech. To you especially,
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  Speaker 2: they came in and did a whole new setup with
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  Speaker 2: the equipment. They were on site all day. They're also
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  Speaker 2: the ones that do our security cameras here at the
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  Speaker 2: building for the community center and our phones. So PC
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  Speaker 2: Tech is very, very useful in our community. Definitely give
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  Speaker 2: them a call. They're great local business. But we also
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  Speaker 2: were joined by other great local businesses. Harold Furniture sent
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  Speaker 2: people to set up help set up the venue with us,
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  Speaker 2: SOCALC Bellley Banks sent the most volunteers to help that day,
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  Speaker 2: Coloma Township Park District came in. It was volunteering and
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  Speaker 2: so many more. So it was a great night. But
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  Speaker 2: again a lot of these events couldn't be possible without
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  Speaker 2: all these local businesses coming together and really making this
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  Speaker 2: possible for our community.
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  Speaker 1: I mean absolutely, this was truly a community event. With
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  Speaker 1: all of that love and help and support that you
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  Speaker 1: folks had coming to you, you know for these events
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  Speaker 1: that that's.
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  Speaker 2: Amazing, absolutely, And it didn't stop there. That was only
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  Speaker 2: that first day on a three day event. So the
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  Speaker 2: next day we went into the twenty first of November
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  Speaker 2: with the Hometown Holiday's Christmas Walk. Everybody came together. The
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  Speaker 2: top sponsors for that night were Johnson Johnson Oil, Shell,
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  Speaker 2: CGH Medical Center, Rock Falls Tourism, and of course our
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  Speaker 2: Rock Falls Chamber. Those were the top sponsors this year,
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  Speaker 2: but there were so many more aspects that went into
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  Speaker 2: that great night, such as the Rock Falls High School
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  Speaker 2: Center Junior op Toimis team. They came in and played
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  Speaker 2: different Christmas trees and characters and brought magic alive just
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  Speaker 2: through the atmosphere of the event. The United Methodist Church
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  Speaker 2: opened their doors and hosted the most beautiful candlelit ceremony
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  Speaker 2: I think I've ever seen. For the Love Light Ceremony.
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  Speaker 2: They really showcased how magical and how sentimental that that
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  Speaker 2: really is. Wicker Insurance was able to do the thousand
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  Speaker 2: dollars giveaway, so Mercedes of the Soft Valley area one
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  Speaker 2: that thousand dollars were hoping, she'll spend it here in
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  Speaker 2: our community with our great local businesses this holiday season,
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  Speaker 2: supporting those ones that support these events and support our
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  Speaker 2: community all the way around. Vendors filled the foundry, which
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  Speaker 2: was the Old Caps Banquet Hall. They were really awesome
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  Speaker 2: to open their doors and bring the holiday magic in
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  Speaker 2: their carriage. Rides by Soft Valley Bank was added as well.
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  Speaker 2: The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was packed
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  Speaker 2: down there, so we really think not only businesses, but
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  Speaker 2: the community as well for coming down, having a wonderful
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  Speaker 2: night with us and supporting these events.
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  Speaker 1: You know, Christmas walks are some of my most favorite
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  Speaker 1: events of the year. It's just a magical time and
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  Speaker 1: a reason truly to get out even when it's not
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  Speaker 1: the warmest and you know, you sip a little hot cocoa,
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  Speaker 1: start getting in on some of these activities and you
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  Speaker 1: forget about the weather. You really do, you do.
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  Speaker 2: Those Christmas walks are one of those nostalgic things that
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  Speaker 2: you remember as a kid growing up, making those core memories,
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  Speaker 2: and our team here always kind of remembers that as well.
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  Speaker 2: The Rock Falls Chamber is a nonprofit where staff of two.
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  Speaker 2: There's only one in two of us, and we know
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  Speaker 2: that the families will never remember who put the event on,
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  Speaker 2: or they'll never remember Sam and Marissa, but they're going
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  Speaker 2: to remember that feeling of having fun in that hometown
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  Speaker 2: atmosphere and that warm Christmas magic. They're going to remember
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  Speaker 2: that growing up for years to come.
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  Speaker 1: Absolutely, absolutely, one hundred percent. You know, my son, my
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  Speaker 1: oldest boys going on twenty two now, and every year
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  Speaker 1: still he still hits Christmas walks and it's it's part
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  Speaker 1: of his tradition and it's absolutely like you said, it
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  Speaker 1: was one of those core memories that stays with him
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  Speaker 1: and it's something he'll be doing, you know, far into
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  Speaker 1: when he has children and grandchildren. I'm absolutely certain of it.
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  Speaker 2: I love that and that's our goals definitely for our
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  Speaker 2: community and lots of communities as well. And that three
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  Speaker 2: day event kept going, so we had so much fun
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  Speaker 2: at Grinch Dodgeball the next day too. We added in
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  Speaker 2: that a few years ago where the Grinch comes out
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  Speaker 2: and the kids of our community can take out the Grinch.
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  Speaker 2: Santa is the referee that night. But the Grinch was
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  Speaker 2: fairly naughty this year. We had not one, but two
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  Speaker 2: problems with him. The Grinch actually stole the thousand dollars
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  Speaker 2: check at the Christmas Walk that night, right as we
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  Speaker 2: were going to hand it to our wonderful winner. Out
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  Speaker 2: of nowhere, Grinch came stole that check and started running.
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  Speaker 2: All the kids in the audience came up and started
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  Speaker 2: tackling them. They got them flow down enough for Buddy
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  Speaker 2: the Elf to come out of nowhere and steal that
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  Speaker 2: check back and bring it back to the stage. So
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  Speaker 2: the Grinch was really in some trouble mischief this year,
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  Speaker 2: but Rock Falls came together and made sure to save
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  Speaker 2: the day.
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  Speaker 1: Well that sounds about right on par for the Grinch,
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  Speaker 1: but I'm glad Buddy the Elf was there to scoop
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  Speaker 1: in the for the win and for all of those
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  Speaker 1: kids for coming to the rescue with the tackle. That
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  Speaker 1: is absolutely great. I'm going to just verbally submit my
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  Speaker 1: application for next year's Grinch now with you.
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  Speaker 2: Good to know we're always looking for another Grinch. It's
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  Speaker 2: a hard job, so I'll keep that in mind.
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  Speaker 1: You also had some news about the Ambassador's Club that
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  Speaker 1: you wanted to share with us this morning.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely, our wonderful Ambassador Club at the Rock Falls Chamber
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  Speaker 2: is a club where all of our local businesses will
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  Speaker 2: send a representative to the front lines, and they're the
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  Speaker 2: ones that are our top volunteers. They're the ones that
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  Speaker 2: help lead the Chamber and help provide our mission. This year.
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  Speaker 2: I'm really really proud to announce that the Rock Falls
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  Speaker 2: Ambassador club was able to sponsor twenty two local children
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  Speaker 2: this holiday season, so that money is one hundred percent
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  Speaker 2: through fundraisers. Our ambassadors team up together for new fundraisers,
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  Speaker 2: new ways to raise money. This year, they will award
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  Speaker 2: one thousand dollars in scholarships this April coming up, and
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  Speaker 2: then this holiday season they were able to provide for
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  Speaker 2: twenty two local children. Usually our numbers are around nineteen ish,
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  Speaker 2: but this year they definitely went above and beyond, especially
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  Speaker 2: when we got that call from the YWCA scene that
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  Speaker 2: they had over sixty kids without a Christmas this year?
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  Speaker 2: Can the Rock Falls Chamber do anything to help? Our
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  Speaker 2: ambassadors stepped up and they were able to fill twenty
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  Speaker 2: two of those lots. So we're really proud of that
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  Speaker 2: and would be over delivering all those Christmas presents today.
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  Speaker 2: But another thing I want to mention, not only has
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  Speaker 2: the Ambassador stepped up, which is all these local businesses
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  Speaker 2: Stirling Fed, Tastefully Baked Bakery, Manpower, Community, State Banks, not
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  Speaker 2: Belly Bank, but we had a savior this morning. So
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  Speaker 2: our bus is loaded up with tons and tons and
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  Speaker 2: tons of Christmas presents for these twenty two local children.
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  Speaker 2: They're due today and our bus would not start. Oh no,
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  Speaker 2: we had no way to deliver all these Christmas presents
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  Speaker 2: and we were able to contact M five Roofing. Michael
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  Speaker 2: Doyle was able to come out, he checked out the bus,
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  Speaker 2: he got the bus jumped and ready and back on
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  Speaker 2: the road. So thank you five for saving Christmas holiday
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  Speaker 2: for us. We greatly appreciate you guys too.
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  Speaker 1: Absolutely, a big shout out to M five for saving
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  Speaker 1: the day and saving Christmas for those local children. That
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  Speaker 1: that's amazing. That's the kind of story you want to
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  Speaker 1: hear first thing on a Monday morning.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely, and it was cold too, get this morning.
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  Speaker 1: Yes the roads are clear, but the wind is bitter
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  Speaker 1: and biting. So that's just some extra kudos for heroes
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  Speaker 1: willing to brave the cold. Oh wow, yes, no, absolutely
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  Speaker 1: love it. You wanted to talk a little bit about
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  Speaker 1: you know, we're wrapping up twenty twenty five, it's going
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  Speaker 1: to be over before we know it, and looking at
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  Speaker 1: the year ahead now.
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  Speaker 2: As we move into twenty twenty six, our top priority
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  Speaker 2: remains supporting our local businesses and growing our community. We
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  Speaker 2: want these great local businesses not in business today tomorrow,
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  Speaker 2: but we want them here years to come. That's really
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  Speaker 2: the goal. The Rock Falls Chamber is preparing for an
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  Speaker 2: even greater impact next year with more opportunities continue growth,
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  Speaker 2: and we really can't do it without the communities help
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  Speaker 2: and support. So next week is our official applications will open,
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  Speaker 2: so we need your help. Start thinking now. Help me
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  Speaker 2: pick business of the year rising star that businesses a
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  Speaker 2: year is really a top businesssiness that was shining throughout
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  Speaker 2: the whole year, went above and beyond. We want to
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  Speaker 2: make sure to honor them at our annual dinner in February.
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  Speaker 2: Our rising Star is a business that's been here less
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  Speaker 2: than two years, but they've made such a huge impact.
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  Speaker 2: We know that they'll continue to grow in our community
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  Speaker 2: and make this a wonderful place to call home. Our
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  Speaker 2: Shoulder to the Wheel Awards we have three categories for that,
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  Speaker 2: that's individual, use and organization. So the shoulder of the
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  Speaker 2: Wheel is somebody that's made a great impact in our community.
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  Speaker 2: We couldn't get this wheel turning and continue our growth
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  Speaker 2: and our mission without that great person, that youth in
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  Speaker 2: that organization. So please get those submitted. You don't have
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  Speaker 2: to be just a Rock Falls resident as well. Your
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  Speaker 2: business can be in Stirling or Morson or Dixon. It's
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  Speaker 2: really just supporting those ones that support our community and
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  Speaker 2: one above and beyond. We also honor and recognize the
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  Speaker 2: Meritorious Service Awards, somebody that's been in our community for
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  Speaker 2: decades and has done so much hard work. We want
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  Speaker 2: to make sure these people get recognized and get the
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  Speaker 2: credit they deserve, because a lot of times they don't
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  Speaker 2: want the credit, they don't want the glory of it.
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  Speaker 2: They just do it for the love of our community.
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  Speaker 2: But we want to make sure to give them love
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  Speaker 2: back and make sure to honor them at our award
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  Speaker 2: ceremony in the end of February. So please get those
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  Speaker 2: get those wheels turning, think about business of the year,
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  Speaker 2: think about all those great awards. Jump onto the Rock
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  Speaker 2: Falls Chamber website next week and start helping me vote,
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  Speaker 2: get those applications submitted in or give me a call.
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  Speaker 2: I'd love to have a chat with you, but I
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  Speaker 2: definitely need your help picking these great, great award winners.
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  Speaker 1: Well, there you have it, folks. I hear so much,
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  Speaker 1: you know, people talking about some of their favorite businesses
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  Speaker 1: throughout the year. Now is the time to you know,
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  Speaker 1: put those opinions into action and vote for your favorite
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  Speaker 1: business and make sure they get the love and recognition
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  Speaker 1: they deserve. Sam, I absolutely love this. We got about
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  Speaker 1: another minute left. Is there anything else you want to share?
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  Speaker 2: Just a reminder that the Rock Falls Community Building is
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  Speaker 2: open seven days a week. We are open here for meetings, parties, funerals, reception,
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  Speaker 2: anything and everything. Great, affordable rates, eighty eight compliant, handicap accessible,
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  Speaker 2: all that good stuff. So please get in here called
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  Speaker 2: the Rock Falls Chamber at eight one five sixty five hundred,
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  Speaker 2: and we're just going to keep up that great momentum
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  Speaker 2: coming out of twenty twenty five, moving into twenty twenty six,
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  Speaker 2: making more connections, growing our community even more, and shaping
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  Speaker 2: up a bigger future here in rock Balls.
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  Speaker 1: Well with all that you folks have already done, I
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  Speaker 1: have no doubt about that, Sam, So please keep up
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  Speaker 1: the good work. Thank you for all that you're doing
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  Speaker 1: out in the community, and thank you so much for
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  Speaker 1: joining me today to share this information with with our listeners.
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  Speaker 1: We certainly appreciate you, Thank you.
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  Speaker 2: So much for having me, and we hope everybody has
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  Speaker 2: a wonderful holiday season.
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  Speaker 1: Thanks Sam.