NEWS - October, 2004
Titles:
Well time is flying. If you blinked you missed the "Nite at the T-Bones" and the Fall Golf Outing. Both were a lot of fun, but not as well attended as we expected. Let us know if you have any ideas for improving attendance or for any new functions. I continue to see somewhat of a "soft" construction market in our area, but yet we seem to have so little time to do everything. One guy told me he doesn't even have enough time to get both his NFL weekly "pick-ems" and manage his "fantasy football team." That is quite serious. I find dart throwing to be the best method in both contests. Really though we ought to work hard to plan our schedules and not let "emergencies" plan us. With that in mind, I again ask you to work on opening your schedules for the following:
The October 29th Membership Luncheon at Arrowhead is always well attended and is a great time. Mark your calendars and don't let anything override it - I promise it will be a good time and worth the effort to be there.
Also get involved in the Industry Achievement Award nominations - it doesn't have to be the President of the organization. Nominate who you think has done a great job for our electrical industry in 2004. Let the Electric League know who you want to nominate. Also think about people you know - people in your organization and yourself who might be willing to serve on the Board of Directors and/or serve on a committee. We have been asking for volunteers all year but still have some gaps in our committees. The more people who volunteer, the fewer hours each individual must commit.
Finally in long-range planning, start requesting monies and commitments from your companies and manufacturers for the Trade Show next year. It will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center - easy accessible for many of Kansas City's engineering firms. Before I forget, the Holiday Luncheon will also be at the Overland Park Convention Center Dec. 9th. This will be a preview of the facility for all of us.
Start getting membership dues ready for next year. We would like to get that portion of the contract done early next year so we can concentrate on the Trade Show commitments, payments, booth assignments, etc. Let's get all these things addressed ASAP so we can spend the time participating and enjoying the benefits of the Electric League
John Kelble,
President
New Classes From The Electric League!
Rob Hamlin of The Coffman Group brings the experience of his 20-year sales career to the League!Rob Hamlin has been successful in all aspects of the sales process, from street-level direct sales through large corporate sales management. At companies like MapInfo, Service Systems and Everest International, he has built and managed teams from three to 100 sales people, he has built and managed distributor and OEM channels, and he has done all of this domestically and internationally.
As VP Sales for an industrial distribution company, Rob hired the Coffman Group to find some new ways to increase sales and shorten sales cycles in an increasingly competitive environment. “The materials and training literally changed my core beliefs about sales. I’d had success in my career, but The Coffman Group showed me the next level.” As a member of The Coffman Group team, serving as a salesperson, a trainer and a coach, Rob is now helping other companies achieve these same results.
These valuable classes are available this fall! They will deliver real tools that you can put into play immediately.
Sell on Value, Not on Price
This session is a fit for all sales people, regardless of whether they are manufacturers, contractors, manufacturer’s reps, or anything in between. This half-day workshop will address issues in the sales market today, and provide real solutions and tools.Building a Sales Strategy for the New Competitive World
This session is a fit for sales management and corporate management - not sales people. This half-day workshop will focus on sales management challenges and how to address them.Today the Whole Company Has to Sell
How to Build a Culture of Sales and Get the Whole Organization Headed in That One DirectionThis session is appropriate for top corporate management and owners. Some VP Sales level participation is OK, but part of the discussion will be to examine if they are in fact part of the problem. This half-day workshop will focus on business development issues at the corporate level and how to address them.
More information about these classes is available from the Electric League - contact Laura or Jane at the League headquarters - 816-561-5323.
Happy October Birthdays to: Duff Greenwood (CBM), Becky Keller (IEMCo), Terry Seyl (Western Extralite), Ida Edmisten (Crescent Missouri Valley), and Rich Jones (Western Extralite). Our very own Halloween babies are Wes Rains (Rains Electrical Sales) and Kim Swank (The Electric League).
Same faces in new places include: Izzy Rowland has moved to Kansas City Electric Supply. Paul Souder has moved to CBM and Phil Barker is now at BA Electric. And, happy retirement to Ray Hawkins of Crescent/Missouri Valley.
Electric League member, Janet Carpenter, with Crescent/Missouri Valley in purchasing, will have her art work on display at Kansas City Open Studios, 5924 Locust St. on Oct. 23-24 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
That’s all for this time, keep those e-mails coming in. This is your column, send us your news!
peoplecolumn@electricleague.org or phone them in to Kim Swank at the League office (816-561-5323).
2004 Election Issue - Social Security!
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no Congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.
Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA...ZILCH...!
You and I and other taxpayers pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds! Our Tax Dollars at Work!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) - we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley’s benefits.
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ... then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. How many people can YOU send this to? Keep this going clear up and thru the 2004 election! We need to be heard.
Source: Karen Stubbs, Coro Kansas City
Lighting Awards Banquet Set For Nov. 1
The Electric League’s longest running event - the Lighting Awards Competition has set Nov. 1 as the date for the Lighting Awards Banquet. This year the banquet will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Kan. The banquet is priced at $50 per person with cash bar at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. A narrated slide presentation highlights the winning projects.
The Electric League is looking for sponsors for this long-running event. Contact Laura Simmons at the League office, 816-561-5323, for more information about becoming a sponsor for this year’s Lighting Awards Banquet.
- Anixter Cable & Wire
- Aquila
- BA Electric
- C&O Electric Sales
- Citadel Electric Group, Inc.
- Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti, Inc.
- Crescent Electric
- Electric Corp. of America
- Federated Insurance
- French Gerleman
- GE Consumer & Industrial
- Graybar Electric
- Heartland Electric
- Lankford
- Mark One Electric
- Milbank Mfg.
- MWE
- Rains Electric
- Rensenhouse Electric Supply
- Shaw Electric
- Southwire
- Square D
- Stanion Wholesale
Citing its favorable regulatory environment and strict restrictions on lawsuits, Forbes magazine named Kansas as the best place in the country to start or expand a business. The study also examined taxes, environmental controls, welfare spending, prevailing wage laws and state budget.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
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