You can take the girl out of Chicago, but you cant take the Chicago out of the

girl. Meet Rhonda Slafer. The saying is typical, but Rhonda certainly is NOT. Ask anyone who knows Rhonda and they will tell you she is all Chicagoan! Her friends know her as Bears Grrrrl. She is a ferocious fan dedicated to her Bears. An Illinois State University graduate, Rhonda had gotten married and moved to Warrenville, Illinois. Nothing against Warrenville, it just wasnt the city. By 2008 Rhonda divorced. Still in Warrennville, she was looking for new friends. She found Meetup.com and began going to bears events. But she longed to move back into the city and began looking at rental units. Boy was I surprised! Rentals in our former city are so high, I just could not afford to live there. she said. So like all strong Chicago raised women, she pulled herself up, made a decision never to pick up a shovel again and headed for Las Vegas. Once here, she found a condo and thrived in her career. But there was something missing. She was alone during football season. Once again, she turned to meetup.com and created Chicago Sports Fans meetup group. The 2010 preseason game was the first meetup. It was held at Bootleg Bennys with 10 former Chicagoans in attendance including her parents who were in town visiting. The rest is history. With over 103 past meetups under her belt, these days you can find Rhonda, our Bears Grrrl at the helm of a meetup on any given Sunday cheering her beloved home team Bears on to victory. Thank you Rhonda for all you do to promote Chicagoans In The Desert, LLC and our business members.

A FORMER CHICAGOAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

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A recipe for success? You betcha! Mix one part Bears Monday Night Football, one part Chicagoans In The Desert, one part Chicago Sports Fan meet up, throw in a few raffle items, add one part pizza at Taste A Chi-Town Eatery, and a dash of charitable donations for Las Vegas Rescue Mission, mix till smooth, and you have...a dynamic former Chicagoan presence in Las Vegas! So much so, that the event was featured in the View section of the LVRJ for Centennial and North Las Vegas communities. So much so, that we did it again on December 6th and added to the recipe Las Vegas Pizza Posse meet up group. Together we collected over 4 large bins of sundry items for the Mission. There were new business contacts made along with new social friendships made. Friendly smiles, warm neighborly hugs, laughter, discussions of memories from home (some people grew up in the same neighborhood). Thank you to all who attended and donated. We are former Chicagoans embracing our adopted home of Las Vegas.

FORMER CHICAGOANS DOIN WHAT WE DO

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May.... You live in Chicago. If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they dont work there, you live in Chicago. If youve worn shorts and a parka at the same time.... you live in Chicago. If youve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number.... you live in Chicago. If Vacation means going anywhere south of I-80 for the weekend....you live in Chicago. If you measure distance in hours.... you live in Chicago. If you have switched from heat to A/C in the same day and back again....you live in Chicago. If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.... you live in Chicago.

JEFF FOXWORTHYS, YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO...

Cell: (702) 491-9585 - www.GBFenceLasVegas.com Cont. Lic. #32452 Lic # 59593 Bonded Insured

Our 2012 Business of the Year award was presented to Tim Korney, owner, operator of Windy City Beef and Dogs. Congratulations Tim! Our 2012 Chicago Roots award was presented to Amore! Taste of Chicago for their Italian/American/Chicagoan menu. Our 2012 Social Member of the year was awarded to Lynda Pratscher who attends our events faithfully, assists in introducing & participates on our Facebook page. Thank you Lynda.
Wishing all our members a Healthy New Year. Thank you all for your particiption in our chamber. Whether it be in person, on FaceBook or Meetup WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR SHOP CHICAGOAN LOYALTY

2012 CHICAGOANS IN THE DESERT AWARDS

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them....you live in Chicago. If you design your kids Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit....you live in Chicago. If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph & youre going 80 and everybody is passing you.... you live in Chicago. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,....you live in Chicago. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction....you live in Chicago. If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car....you live in Chicago . If you find 10 degrees a little chilly.... you live in Chicago. If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Chicago friends & others,.... you live or have lived in Chicago.

SHOP CHICAGOAN
3900 W. Charleston Blvd 89102 702-307-2177 3945 S. Duramge Dr 89147 702-562-9000 7500 W. Lake Mead Blvd 89128 702-410-5016

8826 S. Eastern Ave 89123 702-778-5115

2968 Marco St 89115 702-651-0105

702-795-7707 http://BloomLoyalty.com

Newsletter 3
IN THIS ISSUE
New Openning Bears Grrrl Charity Mixer New Business Members Jeff Foxworthy 2012 Awards Our Sponsors Our Social Members

January/February 2013
Yes, you heard it right! Our business member, Tim Korney owner of WINDY CITY BEEF & DOGS is opening his second restaurant. Introducing WINDY CITY BEEF & PIZZA located at 9711 S. Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas. This new 2,577 square foot restaurant will seat up to 75 people, will have four 40 HD televisions and incorporating into Windy Citys already amazing menu will be Chicago Style pizza, thin and deep dish along with beer and wine. Tim has spent the past four months gearing up for the Official Opening which is January 2, 2013. The Official Grand Opening will be held on Friday January 25, 2013. We have so many amazing loyal customers at our Lake Mead location some of which drive in from the Henderson area just to have our beefs, said Tim. It was a natural fit when we choose this location for our 2nd restaurant. He added, we are proud to bring Chicago style of food into the southeast part of the valley. Windy Citys signature beef and their homemade giardiniera is a 35 year old family recipe. Congratulations to Tim and his staff at both locations and thank you for giving us a little piece of home.

WINDY CITY BEEF & PIZZA OPENS IN LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Towing

Offers Road Side Assistance 24/7 Phone: 702-651-0105

6050 Sky Point Dr 89130 702-476-0177

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OUR SOCIAL MEMBERS

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