NEWS - June 2004
Titles:
Well summer has rolled in again - time sure does fly!
The Electric League again had a good first half of the year with success through the safety program - “the Eddies,” training with the introduction of the “3Rs Program”, and several very good monthly meetings. We have also had retention of most of our membership (could you help Jay Rains by convincing a couple of companies they should retain membership?). The Trade Show Committee has a great start on next year’s show, the golf outing was a good time this spring and the Web Site Committee is getting some changes incorporated. We definitely could use more help on each of the committees - sign up now and get ready to help in the fall.
Also, don’t forget about our “Road Show” in St. Joesph this year - September 24. It is actually our monthly meeting but it will be held in St. Joseph, MO for the purpose of spending time with existing members and prospective members who just don’t get down to Kansas City for meetings. And because it is held in a park (barbeque format) it is very informal, inexpensive and great fun. It is a chance to take the afternoon off from all your Kansas City “drudgery” travel up to St. Joseph and have some fun with people you don’t see often (as often as you should). Schedule it now so we don’t have to tell you what a great time you missed later.
John Kelble,
President
June 25, 2004, Embassy Suites Kansas City - Plaza
7:00 a.m. - Registration
7:30 a.m. - Program
"Why Sales Strategies Fail"Casey Coffman blends his own experiences with nationally proven training and evaluation tools from The Sandler Sales Institute, Objective Management Group, and TTI International, to teach a unique brand of sales training and personal development. It’s so unique - and so engaging - that Coffman closes his own prospects at a rate that would make most salespeople green with envy. To him, it’s just living proof that the techniques he teaches work.
His expertise and knowledge of why companies don’t hit their goals has also led to a rapidly growing management training package, an executive coaching component of Coffman Group’s business, where he helps CEOs and executives clarify strategies and “get out their own way.” His motto is “if you’re not growing, your company isn’t growing.”
In just seven short years, Casey Coffman has led the Coffman Group from a one-person operation serving a handful of clients, to a team of six professionals in two locations serving a “Who’s Who” of local, regional, and national clients of all sizes and industries.
Before starting The Coffman Group in 1996, Coffman spent 14 years in upper management sales and marketing positions with companies like Epson, Zenith Data Systems, and Datastorm Technologies. He was a rising star, but discovered his real passion was in understanding how and why sales teams failed, how sales processes were effective, and what it really took to create a superstar sales force.
Reserve breakfast on June 25 to spend with the Electric League and hear this dynamic speaker! Complete the enclosed registration form and send it back to the League today! See you at breakfast in June.
Happy June birthdays to: Pam Johnson (C&O Electric Sales) and our own Jane Male (Electric League) on a big one!!
Congratulations on the christening of Cindy Wade’s, (Power Equipment Sales) grandson, Xaviar Michael.
New faces at new places: Jim Talbot is the new branch leader at French-Gerleman in Lenexa, KS. Mark Hood is now with Power Equipment Sales. Sam Marsalla is a new sales person at Crescent Missouri Valley.
See you next time, keep those e-mails coming in. This is your column - send us your news!
Missouri and Kansas
Legislative Report
Information Supplied By Dale Amick and Art Brown, SouthWestern Association
Missouri
The Missouri legislature ended its 2004 regular session May 14. Here is a
brief overview of the issues of interest to League members.
Governor Bob Holden offered a tax increase package at the start of the session, saying it would help prop up a negative state revenue growth. In the end, state revenue growth was 5 percent and the tax hikes died.
Efforts to enact the model streamlined sales tax program, being pushed nationally, failed to gain any meaningful support. Legislation to allow school districts to enact income and sales taxes died.
Unemployment Compensation Reform
Reform of the state’s unemployment compensation program (HB1268) will
include a tax hike for employers to help pay off a debt owed the federal
government. Without the payout, the state would be paying six percent interest
on the federal loan. The hike is expected to cut costs in the program in the
future. The reform includes tighter eligibility requirements and higher
benefits for those who are eligible. Drug abuse and misconduct are grounds for
disqualification from the program.
Workers Compensation Revision
Even though it was a priority of the legislative leadership, workers
compensation reform failed to pass. Opposed by the governor and leading
Democrats, meaningful compromise never got off the ground.
Regulatory Fairness
The legislature passed legislation (HB 978) that creates a small business
regulatory fairness board. The board will determine whether proposed state
rules and actions affect small business.
Tort Reform
The legislature passed tort reform (HB 1304) that would reduce awards in
certain civil suits and limit venue shopping in civil cases. The governor
vetoed the bill and the legislature failed to override the veto.
Commercial Driver’s License Revision
Revision of the commercial driver’s license law was included in a
wide-ranging transportation bill (SB 1233) that cleared the legislature on the
final day. The bill creates a series of crimes when driving a commercial motor
vehicle. Applicants for a CDL also must disclose additional information -
including new language for CDL holders who have alcohol-related offenses.
Kansas
Unless otherwise noted, all of the items listed will become law on July 1,
2004.
Small Claims Cap
The cap was raised from $1,800.00 to $4,000.00.
Destination Sales Tax
House Speaker Doug Mays and Senate President Dave Kerr had long
discussions involving the language on this matter. Mays was locked into a
one-year delay and Dave Kerr said he would agree with such an arrangement.
Kerr made the proposal that the last six months would be a period in which
penalties could not be charged. In the end, Revenue Secretary Joan Wagnon was
given authority to waive penalty and interest during that period. The final
effective date was delayed until Jan. 1, 2005. After that time, the Secretary
of Revenue can forgive penalties and interest for another six months for those
who are trying to comply. Businesses will have to be in compliance by the end
of the year, or show you are making an effort to do so.
Franchise Tax
The rate was rolled back from $2.00 per $1,000.00 to $1.25 per thousand
and the maximum was raised to $20,000.00. Businesses with under $100,000.00 in
net worth are exempt completely from this tax. One catch is that a separate
$40.00 franchise fee or registration fee will have to be paid by all Kansas
businesses. This should help many of our members and several other small
business entities as well.
The following items were discussed, but no action was taken.
State OSHA Agency
Continued talk of forming a State OSHA. Reght now, the matter is totally
dead. But, it has popped up in the past three legislative sessions including
the one just concluded (although this time it never made it out of an interim
committee). No action this session, but it needs to be watched in the future.
Workers Compensation Changes
No issue had more “saber rattling” than this one during the session - with
absolutely nothing to show for it. No action was ever taken by the
legislature. Any sort of workers comp. reform or tort reform will be difficult
to get past the Governor, who was once a lobbyist for the Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association.
Spring Golf Tournament - Grand Summit Golf Course
The Electric League changed directions this year for their annual Spring Golf Tournament. The Golf Committee choose the Grand Summit Golf Course in Grandview, Mo. All golfers enjoyed the beautiful weather and the change of venue for this tournament.
Thanks To Our Golf Sponsors!
- Anixter Cable & Wire
- Aquila
- BA Electric
- C & O Electric Sales
- Citadel Electric Group, Inc.
- Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti, Inc.
- Electrical Corp. of America
- Federated Insurance
- GE Consumer & Industrial
- Graybar Electric
- Lankford & Associates
- Mark One Electric
- Midland Electric
- Milbank Mfg. Co.
- MWE, Inc.
- Rains Electrical Sales
- Rensenhouse Electric Supply
- Shaw Electric
- Southwire Company
- Square D Company
- Stanion Wholesale Electric
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