Table of Contents

• COMMITTEE REPORTS
  • MEMBERSHIP REPORT
  • SOCIAL REPORT
  • SPEAKER COORDINATOR REPORT
  • TREASURER REPORT
• LEADS
• NOTABLE MENTIONS
• MIGHTY MINUTE
• QUESTION OF THE DAY
• MAIN SPEAKER

Committee Reports

Membership Report
(Click here to go to the Membership page)

Bill LaLonde brought Amy Ahrensdorf as a guest today.  Part I of her membership application was submitted two weeks ago.  Amy offers personal chef services.  She is an honorary graduate of culinary arts.  She does not do catering or parties.  She enjoys the flexibility that comes with being a personal chef.

Social Report
(Click here to go to the Social Event page)

Althea Bussert has started working on this year's holiday party.  She is looking into booking a 15-piece big band so we can enjoy dinner and dancing.  But something like this requires advance planning.  It also means that the fees per person may be somewhat higher than in past years.  The party is tentatively scheduled for December 3rd.

Speaker Coordinator Report
(Click here to go to the Speaker Schedule)

• 05/21/04     Gus Dekavallas (Employee Benefits)
• 05/28/04     No Meeting

We have open speaker slots.  Please contact Wayne Unruh to get on the schedule.

Treasurer Report

We have 3.5 people that have not yet paid their dues for this quarter.  3rd quarter dues are going out in just a few weeks.  Statements have been mailed.  Please get your dues paid immediately.

Leads Report

16-32, 16-13, 20-10, 20-21, 37-26, 37-11, 42-13, 42-19, 41-24, 12-34 (x2), 12-48, 18-28, 26-19, 10-29, 21-34, 22-13, 03-13 (x2), 04-25, 04-21, 04-41, 04-42, 40-28, 40-41, 25-27, 25-11, 25-30, 25-10, 25-16, 19-26.

Notable Mentions

Robert Busch passed around the brochure from the Special Olympics he worked at recently.  He also thanked Dave Crissman for his generous donation of water for the event.

Mark Dreher announced an upcoming meeting that may be of interest to members.  It is May 26th at the Arizona Golf Resort.  It is a forum on land planning and growth in the East Valley.  Reservations are required.  If you go through Mark, the cost is $50/per person.

But if you would rather party!...Gary Nelson invited everyone to his world famouse "Tequila Seminar" at his house on the 24th.  He is celebrating the end of one UofA Wildcat career and the beginning of another.

There will be no meetings on May 28th (Memorial Day weekend) or July 2nd (Fourth of July weekend).

Mighty Minute

None.

Question of the Day

None.

Positive Solutions for Changing Times
Panel Discussion

Introduction
In this group there are business that are doing well, some that are doing so-so and some that are really struggling.  Those that are struggling may be reluctant to say so but they are encouraged to do just that.  There are many business minds in this group that have a lot of experience and advice to offer. 

How have times and market conditions CHANGED in America, in Arizona, and in Phoenix?

• Mike Whalen - 1998 was my best year.  Up to that year I had a 6-year growth trend of 30%.  Then the large companies started pulling back.  But I was still doing strong with small businesses.  But we still had to cut down on how we spent  (the trickle down affect).  The large companies must have incredible financial indicators to be able to see the economic downturn so far in advance.  I fell like it is getting better.  We were fortunate enough to stay even and this year we are up 15%.  Competitors are closing and we are picking up their clients. 
• Greg Stewart - We offer a discretionary product.  We get hit hard in recessions but not always right away.  2000 was our best year.  We took our commercial clients for granted.  After 9-11, this group fell away and has not come back.  The high tech market was hit hardest.  The East Valley is considered the Silicon Valley of the desert.  The customers we haven't seen in a while are probably those that were laid off.  We are seeing some residential customers come back but not middle class America. 
• Robert Busch - I know several of the businesses in my complex well.  I know that about 10 of them are not renewing their leases.  They just aren't making it.  People used to come into my store and buy 2 or 3 pairs of glasses.  Now they are coming in with 6-month old prescriptions and just wanting lenses to go into the frames they already have. 
• Gus Dekavallas - You have to market yourself.  You need to get in front of people.  They need to know who you are.  Marketing is so key in my business. 
• Greg Stewart - We own three stores and are considering selling one.  We can't be at three places at once.  And no matter how good your employees are, they are not owners.  When you move a business you lose a substantial portion of your business according to our franchise.  So be cautious when moving or opening a second location. 
• George Booth - We have considered a third location for our Subway franchise but would have no owner there to oversee things.  One thing to remember is that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.  We are probably a little too passive.
• Mark Dreher - Regardless of 9-11, people saw signs of a declining economy as early as the second quarter of 2001.  The smarter businesses started being cautious; they reacted quicker.  I had one client that saw a decline coming in his main line so he spent money to diversify and it paid off in the long run.
• Dave Lathrop - The issue is that times are changing and people resist change.  The question is "How can I keep up with the changes?"
• Sandro Menasci - Where you are located can make a difference.  You need to determine where your neighborhood his is going, the cost of staying there and the cost of relocating.  We also need to do what big corporations do and analyze the situation on paper.  Each individual business is different in how they are affected and what works.
• Dave Crissman - We all started our businesses by micro-managing.  I have had to teach myself how to move away from this.  It is difficult to do when you have had so much success doing things this way.  But I get bored and need to be challenged.  I set goals.  I don't care about the economy.
• Mike Whalen - This is definitely the time to clean house because we won't be able to in a few years.  Replacing one person made a huge difference for me and probably sparked our 15% increase this year.
• Mark Dreher - There is a book called Moneyball by Michael Lewis.  It is about the general manager of the Oakland A's.  He has taken one of the lowest budgets in baseball and gone to the playoffs each year.  It is more than a book about baseball.  It provides great insight into how to deal with people and motivate them.
• Chris Curran - When you think about all the things we spend money on...cable tv, cell phones, ISP, Starbucks...  My parents never had these things and yet we consider them necessities.  When I grew up we always sat down for dinner at home.  Today we frequently eat out.  Our values and levels of expectation have changed.
• George Booth - Need is defined as an advanced case of want.
• Greg Stewart - My mother would say "You chose to have the big house and  two cars."  In order to have more we depend on two incomes. 
• Chris Curran - As business owners we have to figure out how to get into Intel or Yahoo's pockets instead of spending our money at Starbucks.
• Sandro Menasci - Firestone makes each of their manager's part owner.  Their income is tied to profits of their store. 
• Gus Dekavallas - I took a big chance leaving New York Life for MetLife.  But making a change can benefit you even if it hurts at first.