Table of Contents

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

Committee Reports

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

No report.

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

No report.

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

Next week Chuck will discuss covenants not to compete.  He will specifically address a common problem today, intentional interference with contractual agreements.

• 08/27/04     Charles Hultstrand

• 09/03/04     Labor Day - No Meeting
• 09/10/04     Guest Speaker
• 10/08/04     Keith Miller

Treasurer Report

No report.

Leads Report

39-46, 46-28, 16-19, 20-06, 20-10, 44-40, 17-16, 23-41, 42-13, 12-26, 12-02, 12-18, 12-42, 12-20, 26-32, 28-45, 28-44, 28-40, 24-41, 10-34, 10-32, 07-13, 30-41, 15-41, 21-31, 21-34, 21-06, 13-06, 13-26, 06-32, 06-20, 04-24, 04-41, 04-32, 04-03, 04-45, 31-29, 31-41, 40-06, 40-28, 40-42, 25-10, 25-28, 25-26, 25-35, 25-40.

Notable Mentions

Dean & Catherine Synan welcomed a baby boy into the world on Friday.  Dillan is doing great and so is mom.

The personal roster was sent around for the final time.  If you did not get a chance to make updates, you can do it online.

Randy Clark is cleaning up a lot of messes created by water damage.  He encourages members to shut off the main water to the house when they go on vacation (unless you have an apparatus that needs that water).  But don't turn off  your outside irrigation system or you will come home to a dead landscape.  Better yet, take things one step further and have Dave Crissman come out and do a thorough check of your plumbing and make any necessary upgrades or repairs.

There will be a board meeting next Friday immediately after the regular meeting. 

Roman Okonowski handed out copies of his company's cover letter that addresses the new "No Fax" laws that go into affect January 1st.  If you would like a copy, please contact Roman.

Question of the Day

Lisa Schnaidt wants to know what this Overtime things is and when it goes into affect.

The new rules take effect 08/23/2004.  If you want more information, visit the www.dol.gov/fairpay.

Robert Busch brought back the Mighty Minute today by introducing the group to the latest fad in reading glasses.  They come in all different colors, 2 shapes (rectangular or oval) and a convenient, compact case.  They are a steal at $19.95!  Visit his store today and ask about the ready-made Visualites Readers.

Mike Whalen
NEWLINE Products Inc.

Mike Whalen is a 3rd generation native of Phoenix.  He has watched this place grow by leaps and bounds.  He loved growing up here.  He has fond memories of forts, water balloons, bon fires and time capsules that he enjoyed with his two closest friends.  He still keeps in touch with them to this day.  He enjoys watching his own sons forge friendships and make memories of their own.

Mike is married to his soul mate, Kristie.  They have 3 children: Kyle is 11, Ryan is 8 and Emma is 2.  Mike passed around pictures of his family as he told us about their latest adventure...learning to surf.

Mike started his own business fresh out of high school in 1986.  Back then he focused primarily on sports trophies and awards.  But he soon learned that there was more money to be made in corporate awards.  With a focus on quality and customer service, he expanded his business and began doing things that his competitors were not equipped to do.  This gave him the edge.

It did not take too long to outgrow his small location.  He moved his shop to a 6000-square foot facility off of Broadway and expanded his business again to include sportswear along with the team trophies, corporate awards and promotional advertising products.

Mike is currently in negotiations with one of his employees, Scott, to sell him the sportswear division of the company.  Mike is frustrated with it.  He no longer has time to deal with the constant revolving door of employees and disappointing quality of their work.   Mike will probably still offer to do the artwork for the sportswear but job out the printing to Scott.

The internet has done well for Mike.  He spent a lot of money on a website that has really taken off.  He originally created it to ease the ordering process for corporate accounts.  But it is the team moms that are really making good use of it.   Mike is also starting a mailing campaign with Dean Synan's help that will target these moms.  He is interested to see how well it works in smaller markets like Casa Grande.  If it takes off, he will expand his campaign to include the entire state.

The promotional side of the business is also doing well.  He is a little frustrated with the big companies stretching out their payment terms to 60 days.  He is willing to take a 2-point hit and accept credit cards instead of carrying these large balances.   Those long terms can make cash flow a problem.  But it all works out.

The nice thing about Mike's company is that he offers a wide range of services.  He can be the one go-to guy for event organizers that need sportswear, promotional items and trophies.  They like the convenience and ease of the process.  And Mike can help anyone on a budget develop ideas to help market their event, product or service.  Just let him know who the target customer is and he can usually help you create a successful campaign.

Mike is president of his rotary club this year.  He really enjoys it and has made good friends there.  Kristie is involved with the PTA this year and the boys are involved in sports.  It a busy life but Mike is enjoying every minute of it.  That's his story anyway, and his is sticking to it!

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