MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 24, 2009
Volume 16; Issue 16

Instructions for your small group:

Part 1
Please spend the first 10-15 minutes eating breakfast and getting related/connected to the people in your group. Have each member share about one of these topics:

-If you had unlimited time and money, what part of the world would you visit and what would you want to do there?

-What is the most entertaining thing that you have done in the last 12 months? Please describe it in great detail to give the other group members a vivid picture of it. Spare no detail!

-Brag a little. Share something with the group that you are really good at. See if you can surprise them with something that they may not already know about you.

Part 2
Please discuss the topic in this envelope while you play pool, play whatever game you want, it’s not about the pool.

Narrow your conversation and agree upon 3-5 speaking points, work to get agreement from members of your group. Be willing to really listen and consider others view points and ideas.

Appoint someone to take notes to be turned into Melissa, please capture the spirit of the conversation and highlight your speaking points. If you exhaust your assigned topic, pick another topic that interests your group.

Be prepared to have 1 person from your group share for about 3 minutes about your conversation this morning

Please stop your game no later than 8:10am

Topics

Group 1 - Stuart Schindler, Leader
What are discussion topics/guest speakers that you would most like to see covered in MABE the next 6 months? List no more than 5. Please explain why you picked these topics/speakers, why do you think they are important?

Police Detective

IRS Agent

Financial Expert/CPA covering weathering, explaining economy, bail outs

Cardinals Cheerleaders...from a business standpoint

Group 2 - Carole Weishaar, Leader
What, if any, are the most important elements that should be covered every meeting? Feel free to think of elements that we may not be doing at all.

End meetings on time

Reinforce the fact that here to reinforce our businesses

Bring back Member Spotlight

More breakout in groups, small groups each week or every other week (so we can help each other)

Extend presidency to 12 months and give VP bigger role

Reinforce team concept vs. individual

Group 3 - Dave Crissman, Leader
What are the most important things that MABE provides to its members (location, breakfast, discussions, etc)? What are we currently not providing that you see as important?

Opportunity to come together, like today, is good

Need to promote the organization more

We are good at using each others businesses but not successful enough going beyond that.

Group 4 - Roman Okonowski, Leader
How can MABE evolve to meet business needs of members in this market and in the future? List 3-5 actions that we are not currently doing with/for our members

Reach out program to existing members

Reach out to members struggling, give support

Small focus groups - common interests - outside the MABE environment

Developing membership

Have committees to visit perspective members and adopt them

Take a look at current member stores/facilities, see what they do on daily basis

Group 5 - Jana Greene, Leader
What are the 3-5 types of businesses (currently open business categories) that would most benefit from becoming a member (not currently members) and why? No more than five!

Painter

Dry Cleaner

Hair Dresser

Personal Trainer

Auto Glass

Group 6 - Jim Bache, Leader
What qualities make a great MABE Member? List no more than 10 qualities, if it is not obvious, explain why you selected the qualities you that did.

Honesty

Sincerity

Loyalty

Perseverance

Kindliness

Empathy

Trustworthy

Experience

Integrity

Group 7 - Erin La Grassa, Leader
What would you recommend be included in a marketing piece to given to someone you would like to have join MABE? What are 5-10 speaking points that would sway someone to join?

Leave behind advertisement (pens)

List of recent discussions

Business cards with line for personal names

On website "join our newsletter" and send every month

Topics of discussion

Open networking, bring guests

More social events

Today's Pool Shark: Bob Becker

Other Business

Nick Mawrenko has sales tax information to pass along to members that are buying or bought a new vehicle.

Mark Dreher announced that today was his last meeting. He has other areas that need his focus. He will stay in touch with members. He also invited members to attend a forum on May 19th put on by the East Valley Partnership. He will pass along the information as soon as it is completed. This panel discussion/trade show is $35 and will be held at Fiesta Inn. He will also share with the group his podcast for Business Week.