Table of Contents

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

Committee Reports

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

We have two pending membership applications.  If there are no objections, the applicant(s) will be invited to a meeting as a guest (not member) and asked to complete part 2 of the membership application.  If there are no objections a week after part 2 is posted, the applicant(s) will be invited to join the group.

Lin Schmeizer
Designlin
Sponsoring Member: Ralph Cunningham
Part 1 of Application: Completed
Visited Group:  
Part 2 of Application:  
Status: IN PROGRESS

Don Loving
Hi Fi Sales
Sponsoring Member: Don Ellis
Part 1 of Application: Completed
Visited Group:  
Part 2 of Application:  
Status: IN PROGRESS
 

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

Lisa Wolfe is taking suggestions for dates to view the Bodyworlds 3 Exhibit.  

Bodyworlds 3 Exhibit at the Arizona Science Center

Minimum group number:  20

Rate:  $16.50 per adult

Children over 12:  $12.00

Tour dates:  January 26, 2007 - May 28, 2007

Website:  http://www.azscience.org

Jim Bache mentioned that some members may prefer to see Rembrandt.  It was suggested that the two groups meet afterwards at a local wine bar. 
 

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

Program Schedule

Next week's speaker is Nick Mawrenko.
 

Treasurer Report

A handful of members still owe their quarterly dues.  Statements have been mailed out.

Leads Report

07-45, 07-42, 07-30 (x2), 49-50, 38-32, 38-26, 09-07, 41-26, 26-41, 48-46, 52-21, 28-23, 16-31, 37-53, 54-47, 47-24, 47-05, 21-13.

This week's leads focus...

• Phil Passante

• Phyllis Prater

• Guy Sawyer

Notable Mentions

Board elections are coming up in February.  If you have not been on the board for a while or have never been on the board, please consider it.

This week...

Mike Tanner wants to know your thoughts on creating an internet presence.  He is in the process of doing this and welcomes your comments.

• Several members thought he should use his full business name.  It helps with web searches.
• He was encouraged to consider search engine optimization when designing the site.
• There are places you can go to get your website built and hosted at very reasonable rates.
• To drive potential and existing clients to your site, put the web address on everything (business cards, letterhead, ads, etc).
• Take advantage of reciprocal links when possible.

For next week...

If you could ask the world's smartest person one question about business what would it be?

[directory/old/lalonde.htm]

Bill LaLonde was today's main speaker.   

Background
Bill was born in Michigan.  He did not attend college.  Like many others at that time, he went to work for General Motors.   He worked there for 25 years before taking early retirement. 

Bill and his wife have two sons. They worked hard to build a life in Michigan.  But both sons eventually moved to Arizona so Bill and his wife followed.   After deciding to retire and move to Arizona, they sold there home and moved into a condo for a year.  Right after his last day of work they hopped in the moving truck and headed west.  It was 1986.  The billboard on the way out read "Would the last person to leave Michigan please turn out the lights?"

The Business
Bill and his wife purchased a small pool business after moving here.  They then merged with their son's existing pool service business.  Their other son also joined the newly formed business.

Bill was never recorded as an owner of the business because of his retirement agreement with General Motor.  His wife was actually named as owner.  But they have recently changed that.

The business has grown and changed.  They have moved from mostly service to mostly installation.  Gross sales have increased every year with the exception of last year.  Unfortunately expenses keep increasing.  Pool installations have slowed along with the slowing of new home construction.  But their remodel business keeps them going right now.  Many companies don't do remodels.

Bill will continue to represent True Blue Pools at MABE for as long as he can.  (He can't retire...See Corvettes!)

The pool industry still has fly-by-night companies.  At True Blue Pools they recommend to everyone that they give estimates to that they check the records of pool companies before making a final decision.

Corvettes!
At the young age of 12 a neighbor let Bill ride in his brand new 55 Corvette.   It changed Bill's life!  The neighbor later told Bill that he considered the car the worst piece of junk!  But he used it as a daily driving car. His comment didn't affect Bill.  He still dreamed of owning a Corvette and that dream came true in 82.  Bill ended up selling his first Corvette when he moved here.

He bought a new Corvette from Texas.  He and his wife drove their to get it.  She still holds that "quick trip" over his head.  He worked off-and-on on that car for twelve years.  He finally decided in 2000 that it would be nice to own a car that he could drive and not just sit in the garage and work on.  So he sold his second Corvette...And ended up buying a new one!  He now owns two Corvettes and has put off retiring so he can afford this passion.

Bill joined a local Corvette club in December of 2000.  He has served on the board.  Last year he was president.  This club has anywhere from 180-300 members at any given time.  You would think it would be easy to be president of a social club. Not true.  Last year they distributed over $9,000 to charities.  The Corvette club is similar to MABE in that they are like his extended family.