Program Teaser
Next week our newest member, Russ Perry, will give a presentation on
how to manage the online brand for all kinds of businesses.
Facebook and LinkedIn are an example of an online presence.
But Russ will take it further by talking about how to watch what
people are saying about your brand and how to leverage that to get
more business and sales.
Membership
Erin La Grassa is proposing her mother Janice Jaicks as a potential
new member. She has been in business since 1985.
She does water aerobics, fitness classes and training conferences.
Erin will get the first part of the membership application
completed.
Brochures
New brochures are in the printing process.
Buddy Lunches
Many members have had their buddy lunches and shared their
experiences. If you have had your lunch, sign up for round two
so you can get paired with another set of members.
MABE Online Networking
We have 11 members on LinkedIn and 11 on Facebook
(interestingly, not the same 11). President Dave's goal is to
double those numbers by July 4th.
Guest Speaker
Steve Stahl, Commander, Mesa Police Department
Steve
has been a police officer for 22 years. His goal as the
commander of the Mesa Police Department was to visit every business
in his district. That is not likely to happen. We have
one of the largest districts in the Valley. So coming to MABE
and meeting so many owners at once is great.
He is noticing a trend throughout the Valley...In
most every business he has visited, he asked each owner "What does
the property manager do to keep you safe?" The property
manager is supposed to keep you safe. They are supposed to
keep the shrubbery trimmed, lighting working, etc.
CPTED stands for Crime Prevention Through Environmental
Design. A
CPTEDofficer will come out and evaluate your property for free
and tell you how to make your property safer. There are very
simple things that cost you little or no money yet make you safer.
He can't emphasize enough important it is for
business owners to communicate with each other. Encourage
other businesses to take part in cell phone trees. You can
share information you hear about suspicious people or activity.
Tips
-
If you are going out of town be very selective
about who you share that information with...Don't post it
online. Bad guys tweet too.
-
You don't have to say anything on 911.
Just dial the number and 911 will find you. This
works with cell phones too.
Yes, our chief is going to San Francisco but Steve
does not see anything changing in Mesa. If the City Council
likes the way things are going, they will hire someone internal.
And things have been going well despite the fact that the budget has
hit Mesa hard. We are below 800 officers. Yet we still
have been able to reduce crime 35% over the last 3 years. The
few officers they have are doing a great job. They do a
variety of things to encourage safety. They hand out safety
prevention flyers. They will be going through a neighborhood
this weekend to encourage home owners to turn on their porch lights
because the street lights are too dim. In Steve's district,
they have reduced violent crime by 26% this year.
Accountability and communication have been the keys to their
success.
Three Key Principles of
CPTED
Natural Surveillance
This principle is based on the fact that most criminals do not
want to be observed while committing crimes. We need to create
environments where there is plenty of opportunity for the normal
users of that environment to naturally observe the space around
them. Areas both inside and out of homes and businesses can be
de-signed or retrofitted so they are more easily observed by you and
others. The concept is, if you can SEE, then you can be SEEN.
Access Control
Simply, most criminal intruders will try to find a way to enter
an area that is vulnerable, and where they will not be easily
observed. By limiting the access to a property by the use of
fencing, landscaping or other mechanical means you deny and/or deter
access to vulnerable areas while directing your normal users to
those access points where they can be easily observed and
identified.
Territoriality
It is natural behavior for all of us to take more interest in
something we own. Designing an environment which clearly outlines
our private space does two important things. First, it creates and
gives you the sense of “ownership” over that space. As the owner,
you have a vested interest and are more likely to challenge abuse,
unwanted acts, or intruders, and report them to the police.
Secondly, you identify your “territory” creating an environment
where “strangers” or “intruders” stand out and are more easily
identified. Applying these principles to your home or business can
reduce the likelihood and the fear of crime occurring.
Is your office secure? Is your business alarmed? Have access
controls, good lighting, safety training? For new hires, do you
check references, do background investigations, check educational
and criminal records? Have you been trained in recognizing
potentially violent employees? Is there a clear, written policy
spelling out the procedures in cases of violence?
Presentations, training and further information are available
FREE of charge.
http://www.mesaaz.gov/Police/literature/business.aspx
