The complimentary annual Champaign County magazine, CommunityLink, is now available. Featuring stories on local restaurants, banks, businesses, things to see and do, and much more, CommunityLink is your tenants’ one-stop guide to all Champaign County has to offer. This is a great way for you, the property manager, to give back to your tenants and help your local community. CommunityLink gives your tenants an opportunity to pick and choose from a wide variety of events, restaurants and night spots for their entertainment. Call the Chamber office at 359-1791 to secure your copies.

Voting, that is. It seems as if there’s no shortage of political issues to discuss or concerns to be voiced. So why is it, when offered the chance to hire or fire our elected officials, so few people actually vote? There are many answers but few reasons. Voting is the most important requirement of US citizens. You’re going to vote but how do you encourage your residents to do the same?

Inform

Consider providing your residents with information on the How of voting in Champaign County.

• Provide the location and hours of their polling place
• Remind them they can vote absentee
• Send them the link to the County Clerk’s election page <http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/voters.html>

Encourage

While you never want to suggest what they do once they get into the booth, you can responsibly encourage your residents to vote.

• You might share the You Tube video of Craig Ferguson’s monologue on voting entitled “If You Don’t Vote, You’re a Moron”
• Consider providing some incentive for voting and/or sharing information about local businesses that are providing incentives. Last election, Café Kopi was on the list.
• Fly the American flag at your property on election day

Whatever you decide to do, take a moment to appreciate the fact that you can vote and then go to the polls.

Champaign County is home to residents from 120 different countries representing a wide range of religious and cultural differences. The holidays we celebrate are one way of honoring our culture. Certainly acknowledging a residents’ preferred holiday is a way of showing them respect..

May The Light Of The Season Be With You All Year

Most winter holidays revolve around the importance of light. The bright lights on a Christmas tree, the nine candles on a Hanukkah menorah, the seven candles on a Kwanzaa kinara and the sun during the Winter Solstice are a few examples.

Cultures celebrate their holidays with special foods and drinks. Some cultures begin the season with a fast and end with a feast. Others, simply nibble their way through the entire season. Gifts are also standard fare. Those celebrating Christmas and Boxing Day receive their gifts on one day while others may receive gifts each day of the holiday season.

November

Nov 26, 2009 Thanksgiving (Harvest Festival)

The First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God and the Native Americans for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. Although half of the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower died; many more would have had it not been for the Native Americans teaching the pilgrims to harvest foods. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians. How many will you feed this year?

November 28, 2009 Eid-Ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)

Muslims commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God.. This festival lasts three days or more and is incorporated in the great pilgrimage to Mecca. The underlying importance of this festival is the spirit of sacrifice (qurbani) and is one of two festivals whose basis comes from the Quran.

Learn about December’s Holidays in our next issue!

Is your company’s web site designed for you or your customer?

Many property management web sites are designed to attract new customers. However, there’s little or nothing on the site for residents. Consider adding a Residents link where your existing customers can obtain useful information on the property and community. Within your Residents section, you can include links to local theaters, bus routes, community calendars and special deals. Here is a list of links you might consider adding:

• Smile Politely <http://www.smilepolitely.com/>
• Champaign Downtown Association <www.downtownchampaign.com>
• Urbana Business Association <www.urbanabusiness.com>
• Eat CU <http://www.eatcu.com/>
• Movie Times.com <http://www.mrmovietimes.com/>
• Illinois Homepage.net <http://illinoishomepage.net/>

Remember, the more welcome and at home your residents feel, the better they’ll treat you and your property.