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)

Please extend a warm welcome to our newest member, Lin Schmelzer .

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

Lisa Wolfe is still working out the details of the Bodyworlds/Rembrandt social event.  A signup sheet was passed around.  There were some conflicts with the date of February 24th.  Another date may be chosen depending on the response she gets from the signup sheet.  The Rembrandt rates are $18 for adults and $8 for children.

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

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

Next week's speaker is Carole Weishaar.  She will have two guests with her.  Her associate Liz Manning and Kathleen Francois of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Treasurer Report

Only one members still owes quarterly dues!

Leads Report

12-37, 12-35, 37-28, 37-26, 48-34, 48-26, 47-24, 49-38, 29-40, 04-41, 38-22, 16-28, 52-22, 15-48, 40-18, 40-32, 40-06, 40-41, 40-40-12, 40-20, 03-22, 13-21, 13-28, 11-17, 11-33, 11-22, 11-40, 31-41 (Sorry...I did miss a few due to noise level issues.)

This week's leads focus...

• Fred Vandervort
• Bob Uber
• Mike Tanner

Notable Mentions

Board Elections...
Nominations were held today to fill two positions that will be opening up at the end of the month.  Both Greg Stewart and Barbara Kollman accepted their nominations.  Robert Busch was nominated but not in attendance this morning.  Joe Hesch accepted on his behalf.   Nominees were reminded that this is an 18-month commitment.

Anderson/Witt Insurance Agency will soon be history. Roman Okonowski and his staff are joining the Arizona Group in Gilbert.   Through this move he will gain access to more markets and high-end  technology.  They are currently in the transition phase.  Roman will not be an owner but the MABE board has approved his continuing on as a member representing the same insurance markets - property and casualty.

Mike Whalen has requested a paid leave of absence for 8-12 weeks.

Denver Johnson passed on some advice for those concerned about the frost damage to their landscape.  Don't give up.  Your trees may come back.  Just leave them alone.  If they haven't shown signs of life by mid-March than you can worry.

Steve Chilton wants to know...
Are there any legal requirements to collecting from late payers?

• Is it written in your contract?

• Do you do preliens?

• The legal statutory rate is 10% on 16th day.  Anything beyond this needs to be in your agreement.

• What you charge doesn't have to be the same across the board.  The other clients do not matter.  It is your relationship with that client.

• You should put your terms and late fee policy in your proposal.

• Turn it over to a factoring company.  There is a fee but it works for some people.

• With us, doing new pools, it is the law that we get paid prior to the last application.  The clients have legal recourse.  We don't so this law helps us.

• Give them a discount if they pay upfront in cash.

• Doing the paper work makes you look professional.

• There is nothing more important to a small business than cash flow and collections.

Your ECO WATER Dealer 1430 West Warner Road #138  Gilbert, AZ 85233-7039 Phone: (480) 892-7556 Fax:  (480) 892-2176 E-Mail:  jeff@ecowateraz.com   MAP	Dave Crissman
As Eco Water Dealers we can offer a complete line of world class drinking water and whole house water refining products ranging from softeners to whole house reverse osmosis and filtration.  We Dare You To Compare!  FULL SERVICE PLUMBER

Dave Crissman lead today's discussion. 

"Ain't business fun?"

Especially, when it comes to hiring issues.  The supply of skilled or skill-able personnel is non-existent.  Of the 19 people we have on staff at Eco Water, 16 were networked in.  The classifieds just didn't work.  We are surprised when people show up for an interview.  When we hire them we work to keep them.  We don't have turnover unless they just don't fit in.   They have potential if they have a brain.  But most of all they have to have heart.  They also need to look presentable and be able to communicate.

Randy Clark learned in a seminar how to hire people.  One recommendation is to include an employment section on your website.  You have all the space you need to detail the job requirements and also to sell the company. 

Mark Dreher's firm pays a nice bounty for referral that works out.

When Joe Zingale worked in the industrial waste industry they would go through a temp agency for clerical staff.  You pay a premium but it works.  You keep sending back the ones that don't work until they finally send you the right person.  Then you can hire them full-time.

Gus Dekavallas has found that many applicants look for the hidden paycheck...the benefits.

Roman Okonowski added to the temp agency discussion.  There are different ways to make a temp convert that is affordable and works for you.  The important thing is to find a temp agency in your industry/area.

Lisa Wolfe has seen both sides of the temp agency scenario.  You do pay a premium for temps but you pay it one way or the other in turnovers. 

Joe Zingale has even considered advertising in John Gruber's newspapers back East to encourage people tired of bad weather and looking for a way out to come to sunny Arizona where he will have a job waiting for them.