​​Being a member of the DeKalb Chamber provides members with many opportunities to gain valuable information and connections. In an effort to provide an avenue to more easily access the vast array of the knowledge and expertise that our members possess, we are offering a section to our weekly newsletter, the Chamber E-Connection. A Guest Columnist article will be added to allow our members to share their wealth of knowledge about topics that could benefit our membership. By participating, members have the chance to better inform, educate and aid in the development of other members. ​

Guest Columnist Guidelines

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Past Guest Columnist Articles

Coping with COVID-19 (Mindset Matters) (3/31/20)
by Heidi M. Morgan
Hello Friend, how are you doing?  I hope you are doing the best you can do during these crazy times that we are living in.  Honestly, I am trying to stay focused on my family, my work and myself, which is what I usually stay focused on anyways.  However today seemed to drag on forever.  I had so much to do, but almost felt like doing nothing.  Does that feeling sound familiar?  Almost like we are waiting for something to end so that we can begin ... I had to snap myself out of that feeling and I was able to do that by writing to you today.  

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Guidance for Businesses and Employers for Preventing Coronavirus Spread (3/2/20)
by Lisa Gonzalez
The DeKalb County Health Department (DCHD) is notifying local businesses about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interim guidance for planning and responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). CDC will update the interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. We encourage you to contact DCHD should you have questions and use the IDPH hotline created for COVID-19 (1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov). 

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Silence is Golden: Reaching Your Audience with the Sound Off (1/27/20)
by Brian Oster
During a recent internet surf session, we came across a startling statistic: 85% or Facebook videos are watched without sound (Renderforest). Say what?! That’s a lot. And with its accompanying statistic that 1200% more shares are generated by video than by text or images combined, we absolutely can’t ignore the fact that most Facebook videos contain content that gets completely missed. But can you blame people for not wanting to engage with sound? Especially unexpected, loud, autoplaying sounds?

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You Have the Right To Choose Where To Go For Physical Therapy (3/16/20)
by Melissa Rhoades Beck
You just finished packing and carrying that last box of Holiday decorations down to the basement when, “uh-oh” back pain. What do you do now? Research shows that early intervention results in quicker return to function rather than waiting to see if your pain will disappear on its own. Physical therapy has proven to be a good option for relieving aches and pains that may be the result of an injury, surgery, or just plain overuse.  

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Video Length vs. Cost: What's the Real Question? (2/24/20)
by Brian Oster
We get lots of questions from clients about the specifics of video production, but the most common question we get is whether shorter videos are less expensive, and if the length affects the effectiveness of a video. At its root, this is a question about cost-effectiveness. Can you spend less and still get a great video? The answer to that is a little more complicated than a “yes” or a “no.” Let’s look at length first, then examine the cost.

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Opioid Crisis - Choose Physical Therapy First (1/20/20)
by Brandon Clement
​Since the mid-1990’s, health care providers have employed a more pharmacological approach to managing pain rather than treating the actual causes of the pain.  This strategy has resulted in a dramatic increase in opioid prescriptions as well as an increase in opioid misuse/addiction.  This increase has quadrupled the number of opioid deaths in the last 15 years and over 47,000 people died in 2017 alone.  In an effort to reverse this epidemic, a collaborative approach needs to be made by physicians, pharmacists, insurance companies, and health care systems to find alternative ways to treat pain without opioids.

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