Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Hosts 2nd Annual "Office Party" To Promote Tips for Safe and Healthy Celebrations

CHICAGO, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 100 Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce members and associates attended the Chamber's 2^nd Annual Office Party yesterday, learning tips for hosting safe and healthy celebrations and connecting with Chamber staff, Chamber Plus+ program representatives, and Workplace Well-Being Committee members.

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"Our annual Office Party events provide opportunities for Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce members to network while learning helpful tips for hosting safe and healthy events of their own," said Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Workplace Well-Being Committee Chair and Health Care Service Corporation Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Handel.  "At the event, attendees experienced first-hand how they can create exceptional, safe events with interesting food and non-alcoholic beverage options."

The Chicagoland Chamber's 2^nd Annual Office Party featured a beverage station that served alcohol-removed wines, non-alcohol beers, sparkling waters, exotic teas, and sodas.  In addition, a self-service beverage station featured aqua frescas made from local seasonal fruits.  1^st & Fresh Catering by Aramark provided food stations that were strategically placed in each room so guests could enjoy healthy finger foods, including Mediterranean mezze platters, vegetable crudites, kabobs, and sweets of fruits and yogurts. 

To demonstrate tips for safe and healthy celebrations at the Office Party, the Chamber's lobby and conference rooms were transformed from their everyday look and feel through the use of festive decor, linens, and accents sprinkled with glitter.  "In addition to demonstrating healthy and safe food and beverage options, we also emphasized that guests work to transform their everyday spaces to reflect the ambience of their special occasion," said Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Education and Workforce Development Peggy Luce.  "We also promoted that guests 'dress for their day,' showing how allowing attendees to 'come as they are' – either in power suits or business casual – may help facilitate a stress-free event.  The message is to enjoy events with safe and healthy refreshments, leaving ready for your evening activities after the party."

To also help facilitate discussion amongst guests at the Chicagoland Chamber's 2^nd Annual Office Party, attendees were asked to casually share announcements and news from their organizations, and representatives from the Chamber's Chamber Plus+ program (including AEP Energy, Comcast, Office Depot, SafeGuard, Ubistor, UPS, Virgin Airlines, Webb Mason, and Zipcar) were in attendance to provide more information about exclusive member discount programs.  Members of the Chicagoland Chamber's Workplace Well-Being Committee were also available and were clearly identifiable with blue "Committee" ribbons on their name badges.  Committee members included experts from well-being related fields of behavioral health, medicine, social work, employee assistance, background screening, and drug testing.

"The mission of the Chicagoland Chamber's Workplace Well-Being Committee is to support a workplace culture without stigmas and to promote an integrated approach to the delivery of health benefits and wellness programs," said Handel.  "Yesterday's Office Party enabled us to share our mission with many Chicago area companies who can implement the safe and healthy examples that were demonstrated."

About the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Workplace Well-Being Committee
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Workplace Well-Being Committee is partially supported by funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services Substance Abuse Prevention Program.  The Committee encourages Chicago area companies to take positive action toward workforce substance abuse prevention by supporting a workplace culture without stigmas about behavioral health issues; providing employee education, awareness, and resources regarding substance misuse, abuse, and addiction; and adopting an integrated approach to the delivery of healthcare benefits, wellness programs, health risk assessments (HRAs), disability coverage, workers compensation, and employee assistance programs.  Visit www.chicagolandchamber.org/wdk_cc/connections/committee_pages/workplace_well-being_committee.jsp

About the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America by enhancing our members' success through aggressive programs in advocacy, member benefits and services, and actionable information.  Serving as "The Voice of Business" since 1904, we lead aggressive public policy and business growth initiatives on behalf of our members, and we create meaningful events and programs to inform, engage, and connect our members to each other and the community.  Visit www.ChicagolandChamber.org

For More Information, Contact:
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Peggy Luce, Vice President of Education and Workforce Development
312.494.6745
[email protected]

SOURCE Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce