The Great Outdoors: A Group Exhibition

The Great Outdoors: A Group Exhibition Monday, October 6–Saturday, November 8, 2025 Reception: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5:30 – 7:00pm Gallery Talk by Amanda Smith at 6:15pm Artist Lectures: Amanda Smith, Thursday, October 9, at 1:15 PM in the William Staerkel Planetar......More

The Great Outdoors: A Group Exhibition Monday, October 6–Saturday, November 8, 2025 Reception: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5:30 – 7:00pm Gallery Talk by Amanda Smith at 6:15pm Artist Lectures: Amanda Smith, Thursday, October 9, at 1:15 PM in the William Staerkel Planetarium “The Great Outdoors” exhibition showcases an array of ceramics, printmaking, mixed media, watercolors, and oil paintings created by five distinguished artists from the United States. This exhibition will open on Monday, October 6, at Giertz Gallery, located within Parkland College. The exhibit will be open for viewing until November 8. We invite you to attend the reception on Thursday, October 9, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, which will feature a gallery talk by Amanda Smith, a participating artist and Senior Lecturer in Painting at Indiana University. As with all Giertz Gallery programs, admission to the exhibition, reception, and lectures is free and open to the public. For updates and further information regarding additional programming, please visit our website at parkland.edu/gallery. The exhibit participants include Hannah Buchanan, residing in Rockville, IN; Pattie Chalmers, residing in Carbondale, IL; Travis Head, residing in Blacksburg, VA, Beth Shadur, residing in Highland Park, IL; and Amanda Smith, residing in Bloomington, IN. The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College serves as a platform for the exhibition of contemporary art. It functions as an educational resource that promotes critical thought and dialogue through the visual arts, while also acting as a cultural center for our community. Our serene campus location encourages meaningful engagement between the artwork and its viewers, facilitating a deeper understanding and appreciation of the arts. Furthermore, our diverse programming, which includes workshops and lectures, allows participants to experience the artwork firsthand and engage with artists about their creative processes, career paths, and artistic journeys. “The Great Outdoors” includes ceramics, printmaking, mixed media, watercolors, and oil paintings. This exhibition features five artists who examine the relationship between humans and the natural world, with an emphasis on the outdoor environment as a space for enjoyment, recreation, and study, in contrast to more developed areas. The artists capture the essence of wilderness and sites at the periphery of human development, highlighting places where individuals engage with nature, such as parks, campgrounds, and rural landscapes. Their works depict activities including camping, fishing, travel, and even leisure in one’s own backyard. Through these representations, the artists invite viewers to consider the cultural history of these landscapes, promoting a deeper understanding of our interactions with the environment. An artist lecture by Amanda Smith is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, at 1 PM in the William Staerkel Planetarium. Amanda Smith holds an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and creates work that investigates human interpretations and experiences within landscapes. She has exhibited and lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally, at notable venues such as the SPRING/BREAK Art Show in New York, the Rochester Art Center in Minnesota, the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in Kansas City, Box 13 Art Space in Houston, the International Quilt Museum, and Biblioteca Viva Egana in Santiago, Chile. Currently, she serves as a Senior Lecturer in Painting at Indiana University. Image: Amanda Smith,?Unless we close our eyes, we can’t see where we used to be anywhere (detail), oil on canvas, 64 x 48 inches, 2024 Giertz Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 7 pm on Thursday, and noon to 3 pm on Saturday. To find the gallery when classes are in session, we suggest using the M6 parking lot on the north side of campus. Enter through Door X-7, turn left, and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point of the first floor, where the gallery is located.? Giertz Gallery?acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.?All events in the accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Parkland is a Section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/353-2338 or email [email protected].?

Giertz Gallery at Parkland College 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821, USA

Board Game Demo Day!

Saturdays in November are Demo Days!  We’ll have a game set up at the end of our bar and we’ll take you through a quick demo to get a feel for how to play.  All demo day games are available for sale and available in our library, so if you like the demo, you can buy a c......More

Saturdays in November are Demo Days!  We’ll have a game set up at the end of our bar and we’ll take you through a quick demo to get a feel for how to play.  All demo day games are available for sale and available in our library, so if you like the demo, you can buy a copy for yourself or purchase a game pass to play our library copy. 20% of the profits from the sales of our food, drinks and merch are donated back to our partner rescues, so buying a game from us levels up your good vibes.  November Demo Games Schedule Saturday, November 1 – Knitting Circle Saturday, November 8 – Hibachi Saturday, November 15 – Nature Saturday, November 22 – Cat Blues: The Big Gig Saturday, November 29 – Boop the Halls!

The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting

Young Professionals Resource Group (YPRG)

Purpose Statement: Young Professionals Resource Group  The Young Professionals Resource Group (YPRG) is dedicated to fostering a supportive community for early-career professionals who want to enhance their personal and professional growth. Through monthly roundtable d......More

Purpose Statement: Young Professionals Resource Group  The Young Professionals Resource Group (YPRG) is dedicated to fostering a supportive community for early-career professionals who want to enhance their personal and professional growth. Through monthly roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and occasional expert-led sessions, YPRG provides a platform for members to share experiences, develop leadership skills, and build meaningful connections. Our goal is to empower young professionals to navigate workplace challenges, expand their knowledge and contribute positively to their organizations and communities.   Age Range: Must be under the age of 38 at the time of joining the group. Employment Status: Must be currently employed or actively engaged in a professional field within the business community. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, or graduate-level interns with significant career engagement are welcome. Membership Status: Must be an employee of a Chamber member business in good standing with the business association. Professional Intent: Demonstrates a desire to grow professionally and personally through collaborative dialogue and shared experiences. Open to participating in conversations on leadership, career advancement, workplace trends, personal development and civic involvement. Participation Commitment: Strongly recommend that you commit to attending at least 8 of the 12 monthly sessions per calendar year. Expected to actively participate in discussions and uphold a respectful, peer-supportive environment. Role Expectations: Willingness to occasionally facilitate discussions or assist in planning guest speakers or special events if requested by Group Leader. Encouraged to share personal experiences and perspectives to enhance group learning. Conduct & Engagement: Adheres to the group’s code of conduct, promoting open-mindedness, confidentiality and constructive communication. *Registering for this Resource Group is not guaranteed acceptance. All registrations will be reviewed to ensure that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements. 

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, Il. 61820 Large Conference Room

Open interviews

GRIFOLS IS HIRING!  Open Interviews on-site every Monday 9am-1pm   Full and part time positions available for:  Donor Center Technician, Phlebotomist, Plasma Processor, and Center Medical Specialist (Paramedic, LPN, or RN licensure required).  We are looking for hard......More

GRIFOLS IS HIRING!  Open Interviews on-site every Monday 9am-1pm   Full and part time positions available for:  Donor Center Technician, Phlebotomist, Plasma Processor, and Center Medical Specialist (Paramedic, LPN, or RN licensure required).  We are looking for hard-working and reliable people who are eager to join an awesome team!  PTO, Medical/Dental/Vision insurance, paid holidays, 401K with match, and many more benefits for full time employees! Requirements: High School Diploma/GED Background check Drug screen Licensure only where specified   APPLY NOW Text “Grifols” to 833-233-7621 Or visit Grifols.jobs

Chamber Health Plan Information Session

Join the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and 360 Benefits Group for an exclusive webinar introducing the ECHI Health Program powered by the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. This new health insurance program gives Chamber members access to discounted level-fun......More

Join the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and 360 Benefits Group for an exclusive webinar introducing the ECHI Health Program powered by the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. This new health insurance program gives Chamber members access to discounted level-funded health plans from UnitedHealthcare – designed for employers with as few as two covered employees.  We’ll walk through how the program works, eligibility requirements, and how your business can take advantage of these savings.

Zoom link to be provided to registrants prior to the session.

Updated for 2025: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

State Compliance Made Simple. Illinois employers are required by law to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. This mandate—part of the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) and Public Act 101-0221—applies to every employer in the state, e......More

State Compliance Made Simple. Illinois employers are required by law to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. This mandate—part of the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) and Public Act 101-0221—applies to every employer in the state, every calendar year. To make compliance simple and stress-free, the Chamber is once again offering our Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinar—now refreshed for 2025 with updated content and interactive poll questions. Employers can meet state requirements by having their employees attend this training. What the Webinar Covers: This training satisfies IHRA requirements and includes: A clear explanation of what constitutes sexual harassment under Illinois law An overview of relevant state and federal protections Remedies available to those who experience harassment Employer responsibilities for preventing, investigating, and addressing issues What’s new for 2025: Refreshed, up-to-date training content Updated interactive polling to support engagement and attendance verification The Chamber will mail Certificates of Completion within two weeks of the webinar, pending employer confirmation of attendance. Note: This course does not meet the separate training requirements for employees of restaurants and bars. Meet Your Presenter: Elizabeth (Liz) Borman is an experienced human resource professional with a passion for helping organizations and individuals thrive. With over 17 years of HR experience, she has worked extensively in classification analysis, benefits administration, full-cycle recruitment and employee training and development. Liz holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute and a certification in Strategic Human Resources Leadership from Cornell University. She also earned a Master of Public Administration from Governor’s State University and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and currently serves as chapter president of the Central Illinois Human Resources Group. Disclaimer: This training is intended to fulfill the training needs for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/2-109. While presenters and the Chamber staff have done our best to thoroughly address all topics, it is not possible to include discussion of every possible instance needed to keep your work environment free of any and all sexual harassment in a presentation of this nature. It is understood this information is a tool to help workplace standards, rather than an exhaustive list of rules, statutes, regulations, and standards. As such the Presenters, the Chamber and other affiliated parties are not liable for any action of a company's employees, customers, management, or other affiliated parties. The Chamber of Commerce will take good faith virtual attendance, but it is each employer's responsibility to ensure and verify their registered participant attends the entire training.   

Zoom Webinar A link will be sent to registrants ahead of the webinar.

Ribbon Cutting - AmericInn by Wyndham Urbana Champaign

Please join us on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 4:00 pm for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new business of AmericInn by Wyndham Urbana Champaign, 1908 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.   We hope to see you there to help welcome this new business to the commun......More

Please join us on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 4:00 pm for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new business of AmericInn by Wyndham Urbana Champaign, 1908 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.   We hope to see you there to help welcome this new business to the community!    About the AmericInn by Wyndham or Champaign Urbana:   Following extensive remodeling and rebranding to AmericInn, one of Wyndham’s top hotel brands, the property now offers a completely modernized stay with refreshed guest rooms and updated public spaces. The transformation highlights contemporary furnishings, updated bathrooms, and sleek amenities that ensure both comfort and convenience. Guests can enjoy free WiFi, a complimentary hot breakfast, and ample parking, along with leisure features such as a 24/7 fitness center and a heated indoor pool. Each room is designed with style and function in mind, featuring smart TVs, microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and spacious work areas, making AmericInn Urbana a welcoming and modern home away from home.    

AmericInn by Wyndham Urbana Champaign 1908 N. Lincoln Ave. Urbana, IL 61801

Chamber First Friday Coffee 2025

Kick off the month with First Friday Coffee hosted by C-U Under Construction! Start your day with a cup of coffee and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Whether you're looking to grow your network, share ideas o......More

Kick off the month with First Friday Coffee hosted by C-U Under Construction! Start your day with a cup of coffee and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Whether you're looking to grow your network, share ideas or just meet some new faces, First Friday Coffee is the perfect place to start.   The Chamber is dedicated to bringing businesses and the community together, strengthening local connections and supporting professional growth. Meet the team and enjoy delicious drinks and tasty bites while you mingle!   Make sure to bring your business cards to receive a full contact list!   Got questions or want to learn more about hosting a future event? Reach out to Director of Communications & Events: Kaylie Malenius

C-U Under Construction

The Fur Ball for CCHS

The Annual Fur Ball to support the Champaign County Humane Society returns on Friday, November 7. Everyone will enjoy dinner and drinks to support cats, dogs, and critters. Join us to celebrate a year of finding pets families and help build the foundation for the year a......More

The Annual Fur Ball to support the Champaign County Humane Society returns on Friday, November 7. Everyone will enjoy dinner and drinks to support cats, dogs, and critters. Join us to celebrate a year of finding pets families and help build the foundation for the year ahead.

I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center 111 St. Mary's Road Champaign, IL 61820

Guided Meditation Hour with Cats

What You Get End your work week with a guided meditation hour in our cat lounge surrounded by 20+ adoptable cats.  Your guide, Persephone Lovell, will ease you through every step.  No experience necessary.  Bring your yoga mat or use one of our cozy chairs or area r......More

What You Get End your work week with a guided meditation hour in our cat lounge surrounded by 20+ adoptable cats.  Your guide, Persephone Lovell, will ease you through every step.  No experience necessary.  Bring your yoga mat or use one of our cozy chairs or area rugs.  After meditation you can can remain in the lounge to enjoy time with the cats until 10pm. Reserve your spot here!

The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting

Board Game Demo Day!

Saturdays in November are Demo Days!  We’ll have a game set up at the end of our bar and we’ll take you through a quick demo to get a feel for how to play.  All demo day games are available for sale and available in our library, so if you like the demo, you can buy a c......More

Saturdays in November are Demo Days!  We’ll have a game set up at the end of our bar and we’ll take you through a quick demo to get a feel for how to play.  All demo day games are available for sale and available in our library, so if you like the demo, you can buy a copy for yourself or purchase a game pass to play our library copy. 20% of the profits from the sales of our food, drinks and merch are donated back to our partner rescues, so buying a game from us levels up your good vibes.  November Demo Games Schedule Saturday, November 1 – Knitting Circle Saturday, November 8 – Hibachi Saturday, November 15 – Nature Saturday, November 22 – Cat Blues: The Big Gig Saturday, November 29 – Boop the Halls!

The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting