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)

Steve Taylor visiting our group today.  He does remodels and renovations.  He is trying to grow his business.  He looks forward to being able to tap the resources of MABE to learn how to run a business. If there are no further objections to this applicant he will be invited to join our group.

[membersonly/archives/applications/submitted_applications.htm]

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

Lisa Wolfe passed around the signup sheet for the OK Corral Horseback riding social scheduled for Sunday, April 22nd.  See Social Event page for details.

Dave Spiess is organizing a wine tasting event for Saturday May 19th.
 

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

Next week's speaker is Sandro Menasci.  Mike Tanner and Tim Logan will also be present to accept plaques.

Gus Dekavallas is working on a visit to the Diamondbacks.  We can go on a Friday morning and listen to a presentation by the president and meet some of the players.  April 13th was a recommended date for this event.

Treasurer Report

We have lots of money!

Leads Report

12-21, 12-37, 12-38. 37-53, 38-41, 51-22, 11-17, 32-17, 04-48, 28-23.

This week's leads focus...

• Jim Crosman
• Jeff Sobkoviak
• Ralph Cunningham

Notable Mentions

The cutoff for brochure updates was today.

What makes a good association? 

Our group was modeled after Egypt.  But their membership is dropping while ours has increased.

One member suggested that they're losing appeal because they have a lot of duplication in categories.

Lin Schmelzer was invited to join two other groups but chose us. Here we are more personable and we stress quality.   The others had too many rules, regulations and fines.  They were not "enjoyable".

Other groups have high entrance fees and quarterly dues ranging from $300-375.

Many other groups lack integrity.

There are groups inside the group.  If you grow too large you lose intimacy.

MABE has always struggled with the growth issue. Controlled growth is good. 

Some members of MABE are constantly thinking about the group and handing out brochures.  We all need to get in that habit.  The brochure reinforces your own quality - That you are substantial.

In our group, a lead should be thought of as helping somebody with a problem.  Our brochure is a resource.

The Chamber of Commerce is 90 percent sales people, not owners. 

When you are starting a new business, the Chamber is the place to go but you have to get involved.

Randy Clark reminds members to "refer yourself".   His referral system helped him when the housing market caused many loyal customers to move. 

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Main Speaker 

Gus Dekavallas Jim Bache Andrew Jensen Mark Dreher

Panel Discussion - FINANCIAL SEMINARS

We have all seen the flyers for financial seminars similar to the one Nick Mawrenko handed out. Some are great.  Some are not. Nick asked the panel of experts what they recommend to people considering attending one of these seminars.

Look for a known company sponsoring the event.  With larger known companies you be sure they are in compliance.

One should also look for a collaboration of companies.   A single person sponsoring the event could signal a mouse trap. 

If the name is pretty obscure, look for legitimate credentials.  Check their license to practice in our state.

Jim Bache compared the flyer to information found on the Social Security Administration website for accuracy.  He found several potential errors in math and facts.

Fear is really what drives these seminars.  They target the elderly.

Watch for tax opinions.  Don't relay on them.  They don't necessarily fit your particular situation.

The biggest issues facing business owners is transition planning or exit strategy. 

People don't fit into one package.  Everyone has their own profile that needs to be evaluated.  This evaluation may require several parties - attorney, financial planner, insurance agent, accountant.  So what is the first step?  Who do you go to first?  The person you feel most comfortable with.