MEETING MINUTES
Friday, November 7, 2008
Volume 15; Issue 39

Let's start with an "Attitude of Gratitude"...What are you grateful for? 

• Stu Schindler - My customers.  Some have been with me 20 years.
• Roman Okonowski - The relationships I have been able to develop in my life including the ones in this room.
• Althea Bussert - Family, faith and friends and, this week, our son-in-law's Humanities dissertation won a top award.
• Guy Sawyer - My oldest son got married recently and it went off without a hitch.  I had a lot of free time to prepare and get things done.  Always looking for the positive side.  And the IPod which makes me happy.
• Mark Howard - Friends and family and good business opportunities.  Business has been hectic so its actually nice to have things slow down so there is time to reflect on what I have to be thankful for.
• Don Ellis - I'm pretty lucky health-wise and I have family.
• Joe Zingale - My whole life has been a blessing.  Mostly I am thankful I have a job right now and that the elections are over.
• Andy Jensen - To be here!  And that I have a job and clients continue to trust what we do.
• Steve Chilton - I am thankful for good health. 
• Bob Busch - My health above all.  And I am going to be a grandpa of twins.
• Mark Dreher - I have great, great people working for me.  It is very motivating. 
• Mike Whalen - I am thankful that my mom's cancer is completely gone...its a miracle.
• Bob Becker - My granddaughter...the light of my life.
• Nick Mawrenko - Family...and after that, friends.
• Lin Schmelzer - The clients that I've had for so many years.  And also for new clients.  But mostly, for my health.
• Sandro Menasci - My sons still call me for advise...so I'm not senile yet.
• Fred Vandervort - To have my son take over my business and take that load off of me.
• Dan Sleezer - Bill LaLonde
• Erin La Grassa - My family and friends and to be in business and to be in this group.
• Chuck Hultstrand - I'm very thankful for all the friends I've made in MABE.  And my son also got married recently.
• Jim Bache - Highest on my list would be my life.  I'm adopted so this issue of abortion is very pertinent to me and I am very glad to be here.
• David Lathrop - I am extremely thankful to be a US citizen.
• Denver Johnson - My family is coping well with a loss and we welcomed twins into our family recently.
• Ralph Cunningham - I am very grateful for my life, friends and family.
• Chris Curran - I've got a really bad day ahead of me today, doing something I don't want to do.  It is helpful to step back and think about all the helpful ways people have stepped into my life. 

Speaker Update
November 14th - Roger Hurni (Click here for guest speaker information)
November 21st - Thanksgiving Break *No Meeting*

Treasurer Report
The quarterly dues billing went out 9/1.  They are now VERY past due.  Please contact Melissa Matthews if you did not receive your e-invoice.

Leads
56-10

Main Speaker - Mike Whalen
Mike showed pictures of his kids.  He was fortunate to be able to buy a home recently.  His divorce is final.  Divorce is probably the worst thing you can go through.  Having kids makes it more difficult. He is fortunate to have his kids with him a good portion of the time.  His kids are great.  They are interested in sports and grades.  They are very respectful.  

He mentioned his mother's cancer scare earlier in the meeting.  She was diagnosed with stage four cancer.  They were fortunate in that it was throughout her bones but had not yet spread to her organs.  They were able to completely wipe it out with chemotherapy. 

Mike is still taking a lot of trophy orders but the corporate business has declined.  Corporations are being more careful about their purchases so the profit margins are lower.  He has started to look at his budget and cut where he could.  He had to cut hours, but this was in lieu of letting staff go.  He is negotiating his lease - trying to extend it at a lower monthly rate.  This could hopefully save about $500 a month.  He is even asking employees to use one paper towel vs. three.  Every little bit helps.

One of his long-time employees had purchased a machine and was doing work out of his garage,  This employee was contacting his customers for work.  One of them brought it to Mike's attention.  It was a hurtful situation.

While going through his divorce, Mike launched a new website.  This is a third generation of what he started 10 years ago.  With the new site he is capable of changing any piece of text on the backend.  It even downloads into his QuickBooks.  He demonstrated to the group how clients can build trophies online. He has had an online presence for 10 years but is hoping to see it expand more with these new innovations.  One way he hopes to accomplish this is through Google advertising, which Mike also demonstrated. 

Holiday Party Roster
The holiday party is on December 13th.  A room at the Landmark has been reserved for those that wish to dine before the Holiday Party.  Space is limited so it will be available on first come first, first serve.  Meals will be off the menu and dinners are responsible for their own bills.

A bus will be available to take members to the Holiday Party later that evening (more details to come). 

Please check the list below.  Contact Melissa at melissa@mabe-online.org with any updates (add or cancel attendance, dinner, bus ride).