SYCAMORE – Rose Treml made it to her magic number in 2012.

After years of closing in on 500 businesses, Treml, executive director of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, celebrated surpassing the milestone with those members Thursday at the St. Mary’s Activity Center in Sycamore.

The annual chamber meeting, titled Strength in Numbers, recognized outstanding local businesses and the chamber’s march toward 502 members in 2012. The large membership already has paid dividends, especially in advocacy efforts, Treml said.