The Brentwood Clarion
Page
The Brentwood Voice of Business AUGUST 2008
Vol. 44, No.8
Your Chamber Announces Two New Member Programs To better serve you, the Chamber member, the Chamber has purchased a brand-new membership software program, and starting in September we will kick off our first Good Morning Brentwood. The Chamber's new software will allow the staff to track all of the members in one database, track all member activities including events, track all membership financials, and do all of the membership mailings. The mailing option will allow us to e-mail, fax or “Snail Mail” to the membership or even do any combination of mail. Starting this month we will start to e-mail the Chamber membership of upcoming events and other timely messages. This e-mail will be a much quicker and more cost-effective method of the Chamber to connect with its members and others. In August we will also be redoing the Chamber web-site Membership Directory. Good Morning Brentwood the Chamber's new networking program will start September 25. This program will allow those in attendance to do one-on-one networking at their table, to do a 10 second introduction before all of those in attendance, and there will be a speaker on a timely, pertinent subject. This first program will be held at Cortona Park on September 25th at 7:30 a.m. Our first program will be on how to successfully network. Those attending will be able to bring business handout materials for distribution to all those in attendance. This good morning program will give all Chamber members another effective opportunity to make business connections to build their business. Your Chamber is always working to provide more and better benefits.
Member Benefits paying off. Karen Spann of the Monthly Grapevine said she saved $110 on her first order from Office Depot using the Chamber’s new discount program. “The Chamber said there would be a saving, but I had no idea it would be so big.” “I saved money on my first order and the order was delivered to my front door the next day,” exclaimed Amy Alvis the owner of Living Trusts My Amy. “This is a great program. I even get the discounts at the store.” See the sign up form inserted in the newsletter.
Harry York, CEO Brentwood Chamber
TEAR OUT THE CENTER SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND GET INVOIVED!
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 2
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE by Joe Trebino To begin, I would like to congratulate all of the people who helped with this year’s CornFest. It was a job well done and the CornFest had another successful year due to everyone of the volunteers who (to use an overused, but appropriate cliché) gave 110%. I believe that the only area where we fell short was in sponsor contributions which could be expected due to the present economy. photo by Generations are some Photography
This brings me to the second thing I would like to comment on “today’s economy”. There businesses in Brentwood that are probably not affected by the slow down in the housing market and all that is associated with it. This is good for you. But those of us who are affected by this slow market, are finding that it has affected our business. The Chamber has even felt the downturn. There has been a definite drop in membership. So what can we do about this? I don’t think that the economy will get better for the next year or two. In the meantime every owner or manager should first look to see which expenses can be eliminated. Probably the biggest expense that a business has is payroll. This is a hard one to deal with because you have employees that you count on, as they count on you. Don’t be afraid to explain your situation to your employees. Maybe instead of eliminating one of your employees, they would be willing to cut their hours so that they would be helping each other as well as helping you. You, as the owner or manager, will have to take up the slack until there is a turn around in this economy.
Your next biggest expense is probably your rent. You might be able to renegotiate your lease. The landlord would rather get some rent rather than no rent. Next you need to look at all your other expenses and eliminate anything that you don’t absolutely need to operate your business on a daily basis. When times are good we tend to spend money on questionable expenses that really don’t help your successful operation but look good at the time. Maybe you can no longer made a contribution to every group or charity that comes into your place of business. I have been in business in Brentwood for 33 years. This is the third or fourth slowdown-recession that has occurred during that time. So far we have always come out of them, this one seems to be a little tougher and lasting a little longer. You can learn from this experience so that you are better prepared for the next one. Some of the things you can do are: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Save some of your profits to get you by in the slow times. Know that good times will not last forever. Keep an eye on your expenses. Try to stay out of debt. Don’t over-extend yourself.
Mission Statement: The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization dedicated to the promotion of the civic and commercial progress of the community. We will continuously strive to maintain and foster a healthy business climate for Chamber members and the entire community.
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 3 The Brentwood Chamber office is now able to provide you with all your Human Resource materials. We have copies of the 2008 California and Federal Posters, 2008 California Labor Law Digest, California Labor Law Administration, and the 2008 Employee Handbook software.
Now on sale in the Chamber office is a pictorial history of Brentwood by author Carol A. Jensen
THE BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OFFICE Cell 925.813.1319
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 4
Court of Appeal Rules Employers Must Only Provide Meal and Rest Breaks (July 23, 2008) In a decision that will have an impact on the laws governing meal and rest breaks, the 4th District Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that California law requires that employers need only provide meal periods, and, as a result, as with the rest period claims, the plaintiffs’ meal period claims are not amenable to class treatment. The issue before the court in the case of Brinker Restaurant Corporation et al., v. The Superior Court of San Diego County, is did the trial court err in certifying this matter as a class action without first determining the elements of plaintiffs and real parties in interest against the defendants? The court ruled that the class certification order is erroneous and must be vacated because the lower court failed to properly consider the elements of the plaintiffs’ claims in determining if they were susceptible to class treatment. The court concluded that: Employers cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking rest periods; they need only provide, not ensure, rest periods are taken; Employers need only to authorize and permit rest periods every four hours or major fraction thereof and they need not, where impracticable, be in the middle of each work period; Employers are not required to provide a meal period for every five consecutive hours worked; While employers cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking meal periods, they need only provide them, not ensure they are taken; and While employers cannot coerce, require or compel employees to work off the clock, they can only be held liable for employees working off the clock if the employer knew or should have known the employees were doing so. Furthermore, the court concluded that because the meal and rest breaks need only be “made available” and not “ensured,” individual issues predominate and based on the evidence presented to the trial court, they are not amenable to class treatment. Finally, the court concluded the off-the-clock claims are also not amenable to class treatment as individual issues predominate on the issue of whether Brinker forced employees to work off the clock, whether Brinker changed time records, and whether Brinker knew or should have know employees were working off the clock. For more information, visit the Customer Service page at http://www.calbizcentral.com/Help/Pages/help.aspx.
PRO-TECH HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING Bob & Sheri Dickson - Owners P.O. Box 2001, Brentwood, CA 94513
925-978-1776
925-516-1776 925-673-3776 Fax: 925-673-3777
www.protechheating.com
email: bob@protechheating.com Lic #705148
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 5
SPECIAL THANKS TO DARIUS MAHALLATI, OWNER OF GRAZIE ITALIAN CUISINE & MARTINI BAR For stepping up to the plate and hosting the Chamber’s July Mixer. On a very short notice, when asked, Darius said not a problem, he would be happy to do it and we were happy to let him. Darius shown at right welcoming everyone to his establishment along with Chamber President Kathi Reed. The weather was perfect to stroll into the restaurant for refreshments which in true Darius’ style were excellent and then return to the patio Photo provided by Generations Photography to sit under trees and umbrellas and network with other Chamber members. Darius donated two gift cards to Grazie! For the business card drawing. These were won by Niel Ruggiero of Ruggiero’s Italian Chef for Hire and Patrick Shabram of BAEB Publishing were the lucky winners. Karen Spann of The Monthly Grapevine took the Share-the-Pot of $102.00. We would like to thank the following businesses for their contributions to our drawings:
Lois Chelini, Oak Street Boutique and Lori Knudsen of California Payroll enjoying the patio.
Brentwood Library Delta Community Services A Place for Seniors The Monthly Grapevine Brentwood Press Dreams are a Wish Your Heart Makes BAEB Publishing
Lyle Miller of BustA-Bug and Shayn Cutino of Anja Wellness telling war stories of the previous weekend-CornFest. These two were major workers and are much appreciated.
Income Tax Preparation Financial and Tax Planning Business Management Bookkeeping
8440 Brentwood Blvd., Suite H 925-240-1242 “Best of Brentwood” 2002-2007 Business of the Year, 15th Assembly District
www.reaganmanagementservices.com
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 6 The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Invites you to participate in the
14th Annual Golf Tournament (Scramble format) TEAR OUT THIS CENTER SECTION MAIL IT ALONG WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO THE CHAMBER OFFICE !
ATE: FRIDAY, September 19, 2008 TIME: CHECK IN—11:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START—12:00 P.M. NO-HOST BAR—5:30 P.M. WITH DINNER TO FOLLOW. (Additional dinners—$30.00) LOCATION:
Shadow Lakes 401 W. Country Club Drive Brentwood, CA 94513
COST:
$155.00 PER PERSON
(EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION $135.00 MUST BE IN CHAMBER OFFICE BY August 22, 2008 at 5:00 P.M.) Special Early Bird Drawing for a chance to win Free Gold Membership Initiation Fee to Shadow Lakes or Deer Ridge. The winner of this prize will only be required to pay the monthly dues fee).
FEE INCLUDES: GREEN FEE, CART, RANGE BALLS, TEE PRIZES, LUNCH AND DINNER TEE PRIZES :LONG DRIVE FOR MEN AND WOMEN, PUTTING CONTEST TEAM MEMBERS 1. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 2. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 3. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 4. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ CONTACT PERSON:_________________________________PHONE NO:__________________ Additional Dinner:#_______________________ $30.00 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Brentwood Chamber of Commerce 240 Oak Street Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 634-3344
Payment Information Name:__________________________ M/C#___________ _______________ Visa#__________________________ Expiation Date:______________ Billing Zip Code:___________ Signature:_______________________
The Brentwood Clarion
August 28, 2008 Panama Bay Coffee Company 4431 Balfour Road, #A
TEAR OUT THIS CENTER SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE! STAY INFORMED---STAY INVOLVED!
August 7, 2008 Gooseberry Fool 622 First Street
Page 7
The Brentwood Clarion
TEAR OUT THIS CENTER SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE! STAY INFORMED---STAY INVOLVED!
Page 8
JOIN US FOR THE
August Mixer hosted by: Arbor Ridge Apartment Homes Location: 2400 Shadow Willow Brentwood, CA 94513
DATE: TIME:
Thursday, August 21, 2008 5:30-7:30 p.m.
BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS August August 7
Chamber Lounge—Gooseberry Fool
August 13
Ribbon Cutting—A Place for Seniors
August 19
Ribbon Cutting—ECC Bank, Balfour Road
August 20
Ribbon Cutting—Cortona Park
August 21
Mixer at Arbor Ridge Executive Apartments
August 28
Coffee Club—Panama Bay Coffee Company
September September 4
Chamber Lounge
September 18
Mixer
September 19
Golf Tournament—Shadow Lakes
September 25
Good Morning Brentwood
September 26
2008 East County Economic Conference
October
*Raffle Prizes *Share-the-Pot Drawing
Anyone wishing to sign-up for the Golf Tournament see Jilda Early Bird Special Ends August 22, 2008
At-Home Tastings •Premier Wine Gifts Custom-Labeled Corporate Gifts
Kathi Reed Independent Wine Consultant
925-240-8382 www.winealongwithme.com wine@kathireed.com
October 16
Mixer at Shepherd’s Gate
October 25
Hometown Halloween
November November 1
A Taste of Brentwood (restaurant tour)
November 20
Mixer TBA
Mixer Locations (or Ribbon Cuttins) can (and do) change at any time. Check the Calendar of Events on our website for updated information: www.brentwoodchamber.com
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 9
Sick Leave Mandate Passes Committee; Study Says Bill May Cost 370,000 Jobs June 27, 2008 California Chamber of Commerce-opposed legislation that could result in the loss of 370,000 jobs within five years passed the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on June 25. The bill, AB 2716 (Ma; D-San Francisco), unreasonably expands employers’ costs and liability by mandating a specific paid sick leave policy. It passed on a party-line vote of 3-2. The day before the committee hearing, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Foundation held a news conference to release a study that concluded California will lose approximately 370,000 jobs within five years if ABX 2716 becomes law. “The ever-increasing burden of costly mandates on employers can cumulatively result in lower wages, reducing available health insurance, limiting training programs and — in the worst case scenario — job loss or reduced work hours,” said Marc Burgat, CalChamber vice president of government relations, during the news conference. “Job loss translates to lower tax revenues from employers and employees, as well as increased utilization of unemployment insurance. In an already-troubled economy, California should be seeking ways to stimulate job growth and avoid forcing costly mandates on employers,” Burgat said.
Costly Mandate AB 2716 mandates that all employers provide paid sick leave to an employee after seven days of work in a calendar year to care for the employee’s own illness, or to provide care to a sick child, spouse, domestic partner or other relative. The mandate would extend to all employers and all employees, as specified. There are no exceptions. The provisions of AB 2716 will have an impact on all employers, large and small, regardless of the level of sick leave currently provided.
Fiscal Impact According to the NFIB Foundation study: California employers will be taxed with a $4.6 billion mandate. The new regulations will cost California companies an estimated $59.3 billion in sales in the first five years of enactment. More than half of that, 36.2 percent of total sales loss, will be losses to small businesses. Major job losses will occur in retail trade, construction and professional services. The study analyzes the results of an input-output system that produces short- and long-term forecasts for detailed industry sectors when external shocks are applied. It estimates future changes in jobs, output (sales), income and productivity for California by business size and industry. Estimates are made by comparing forecasts without change to forecasts with change — in this case, proposed legislation. The full study can be viewed at www.NFIB.com/CA All Sports Trophies Advertising Specialties Custom & Corporate Awards
Phone: 925-625-0278 P.O. Box 406 Oakley, CA 94561 www.linmarkltd.logomall.com
(925) 516-8880 • Fax (925) 625-5316 Email: starawards@sbcglobal.net
Bob & Sharon Sherriff, Owners
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 10
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS! EAST BAY MUSCLE CARS High Performance Modification Steve Keefer, Owner 560 Valdry Ct., Ste. B-3 Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-516-2277 Cell: 925-550-5771 Email: fastliterbike@yahoo.com www.eastbaymusclecars.com A PLACE FOR SENIORS Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Terry Cruz, Licensee/Administrator 2664 Torrey Pines Drive Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-513-3831 Cell: 408-504-6745 Email: terrycruz94558@sbcglobal.net BIRTHRIGHT Non-Profit Organization Rose Deitz, Contact 857 Second St., Ste. D Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-634-1275 Cell: 925-286-4905 Email: hal.bray@pacbell.net
REALTY WORLD PIGATI & RUSSELL Real Estate/Realtor Melissa Hughes, Realtor 6670 Lone Tree Way, Ste. 4 Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-513-4004 Fax: 925-513-4330 Cell: 925-584-7058 Email: Melissa@mhugheshomes.com www.mhugheshomes.com HAMPTON INN BRENTWOOD Hospitality German Jimenez, Contact 7605 Brentwood Blvd. Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 925-513-1299 Fax: 925-513-1280 Email: gj@bmshotels.com & rp@bmshotels.com OFFICE DEPOT Office Supplies Toreano Norris, Store Manager 5885 Lone Tree Way Antioch, CA 94531 Phone: 925-755-8713 Fax: 925-755-8719 (new members continued)
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 11
(New members continued)
KB SECURITY KAMS CCTV Installer Kyndl S. Buzas P. O. Box 956 Oakley, CA 94561 Phone: 925-890-0790 Email: buzzcomm@sbcglobal.net www.kbsecuritykams
SPECIAL KIDS FOUNDATION,INC. Non-profit Organization Lisa McBride, President/Founder 3105 Castle Rock Loop Discovery Bay, CA 94505 Phone: 925-516-9690 Fax: 925-516-6999 Cell: 925-584-7762 Email: lisamcb5@pacbell.net www.spkids.org
BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kathi Reed, President WineShop at Home
Shelly McMahon, Ex-Officio Shelly’s Garden
Shayn Cutino, Director Anja Wellness
Bill Fee, Director
The Chamber Ambassador Team Paul Roman, Window Innovations 2007 Ambassador of the Year Amy Alvis, Living Trusts by Amy De-De Hays, Prudential California Realty Chris Krohn, The Emerging Soul Richard McDaniel, Mutual of Omaha David Mengel, Gemini Staffing Vicki Sexton, First Bank Pat Trombino, First Bank Olga Vidriales, Travis Credit Union Susanna Wahl, Edward Jones Renee Woodruff, MAP Donna Zickerman, Sarah Coventry Clarissa Perez-Pacheco, Black Sheep Design Shirley Freeman, America’s Best Choice Susan George, Ayurveda Knowledge For Life Liz Andrade, Ribbons & Roses Ed Gutierrez, Certa Pro Melina Perdom, Certa Pro
Mazzy’s Fire Protection Specialists
Toni Grimes, Director Notary Public
De-De Hays, Director Prudential California Realty
Richard Inglis, Director Reagan Management Services
Paul Kelly, Director Home One Mortgage
Richard Perez-Pacheco, Director Black Sheep Design
Ken Seamann, Director Discovery Professional Services
Karen Spann, President-Elect The Monthly Grapevine
Joe Trebino, Director Delta Pure Water, Etc.
Lyle Miller, Alternate Director Bust-A-Bug Pest Management t——————————————————
Harry York, CEO Bonnie Lucchese, Support Services Director Jilda Fairhurst, Event Coordinator Bill Putman, Volunteer CHAMBER HOURS Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone (925) 634-3344 Fax (925) 634-3731 email: info@brentwoodchamber.com
www.brentwoodchamber.com
Page 12
The Brentwood Clarion
The Brentwood Farmers’ Market is OPEN every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon Downtown Brentwood
The Brentwood Clarion Brentwood Chamber of Commerce 240 Oak Street Brentwood, CA 94513
Phone: 925-634-3344 Fax: 925-634-3731 Email: info@brentwoodchamber.com www.brentwoodchamber.com
TEAR OUT THE CENTER SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND GET INVOLVED!