The Brentwood Voice of Business June 2011
Vol. 47, No. 6
Upcoming Events...Save the Dates! Home-Based Business Mixer August 18, 2011 - 5:00 to 8:00 pm Calling all home-based businesses! Don’t miss this great opportunity to showcase your business and network. See page 4 for details
Brentwood Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament
Vendors, Sponsors, Info Alley, Car Show And Volunteers!
September 16th, 2011 Deer Ridge Golf Club Look for more details coming soon.
Call the Chamber today! 634-3344
Page 1: Upcoming Events Page 2: June Director’s Message, Board of Directors and Staff Page 3: Chamber Events, and Ambassadors Corner Page 4: Home-Based Business Mixer coming in August
Page 5: May Mixer Page 6: New Members and Member Notes Page 7: Renewing Members Page 8: Cal Chamber: Internet Sales Tax
Page 9: Page 10: Page 11: Page 12:
May Ribbon Cutting Taste of Brentwood Taste of Brentwood General Information
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Page 2 BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joe Trebino, President Delta Pure Water Shayn Cutino, Past President Anja Wellness
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
IT’S CORNFEST TIME!
Paul Kelly, President-Elect Home One Mortgage Dirk Zeigler, Chief Financial Officer Zeigler Insurance Group Olga Vidriales, V.P. Community Programs, Travis Credit Union Brent Aasen Equus Group Amy Alvis Alvis Frantz and Associates Greg Benner Les Schwab Tires Kathy Blanton Sutter Delta Medical Center Jacqueline Hanel John Muir Health Lori Knudsen California Payroll Madelynn Krebs Speedee Oil Change & Tuneup Shelly McMahon Shelly’s Garden Robin Schiavone Raley’s Ken Seamann Discovery Professional Services ********************************
It’s that time of year again and I am thrilled to be the Chairman for what promises to be the biggest and best CornFest ever! This is a whole new CornFest: new location on a larger than life site that will be tented to produce over 25,000 square feet of shade, an extended fireworks display, a bigger carnival that will boast the world’s largest portable ferris wheel that will be visible for miles around, a heritage area that will display old farm equipment and showcase Brentwood’s agricultural roots, and a lot of new energy. Some old favorites are also back this year including the Car Show (which will NOT be on the dirt), tractor races, corn-eating and corn-shucking contests, local wineries and margaritas. Entertainment will include return guests AC/DShe and Public Eye as well as some new to CornFest: Great White and Cream of Clapton. Despite last year’s disappointing financial results, our local non-profit groups have stuck with us and will be out in full force manning ticket booths, token booths, corn booths, soda booths, beer booths, security, presale tickets and the list goes on. We have every hope that this year’s CornFest will not be a repeat of last year. We are also very fortunate to have a leadership team with years of experience on board again this year. The team includes Chairpersons for every major area including set-up, sponsors, marketing, entertainment, vendors, childrens’ area, etc. Presale admission tickets and discounted carnival books will be on sale starting June 27th at the Chamber office and local Raley’s stores. Don’t miss out on what promises to be the biggest and best CornFest yet. See you all there!
Chamber Staff Lisa Hurt, Support Services Director Jilda Fairhurst, Event Coordinator Pat Trombino, Event Coordinator Bill Putman, Volunteer
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
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Chamber Ambassadors Vicki Sexton, Chair, First Bank Amy Alvis, Alvis-Frantz and Associates Kathy Blanton, Sutter Delta Medical Center Maurice Daroy, Farmers Insurance
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Ambassador's Corner Given the current economy, we are all looking for ways to save money. So here is something to think about:
Fred Ehler, Terracare Associates Kerri Fritsch, Monogramming by Fritchy Sarah Jamar, Paychex Lori Knudsen, California Payroll Michele Lane, ReMax/Accord Kathi Regan, Maxx Worms Paul Roman, Window Innovations, Inc. Patti Schneider, The Right Choice Kurt Tomicich, KRT Services Joe Trebino, Delta Pure Water, Etc. Pat Trombino, First Bank Olga Vidriales, Travis Credit Union
UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS Chamber Mixers Thursday, June 16th East County Insurance Thursday, July 21st Arbor Ridge Apartments Thursday, August 18th Home-Based Business Mixer Trilogy at the Vineyards
Golf Tournament Friday, September 16th Deer Ridge Golf Club
Do you really need a Full Time Bookkeeper? In most cases, the answer is a resounding NO! Most small companies do not have the work load to maintain full time help. So, your full time bookkeeper spends a lot of time on personal phone calls or the internet. No need to tell you this is costing you hourly pay bucks. But what about the hidden costs? Employer payroll taxes: Cost Social Security Medicare
Percent 6.2% 1.45%
Wage/Salary Dollars of the first $106,800 of every dollar wage or salary dollar paid State Unemployment 4% of first $7,000 (based on Employers rate) Federal Unemployment 0.8% of first $7,000 Worker Compensation: is sometimes considered a payroll tax but is actually REQUIRED insurance the employer must carry on all employees (with the exception of owners). Percentages are based on experience modification and worker classification. Cost is based on actual payroll dollars. Also consider your portion of employee insurance such as health, dental, vision, life & disability. Not to mention Paid Holidays, Vacations and Sick Days. Carefully consider just what you require for your bookkeeping needs. In most cases, an experienced and talented bookkeeper/accountant (like me), can come to your office or home on a regular basis (weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly or as needed) to whip your books into shape. There is an hourly charge. However, that is all there is, no hidden costs. This solution eliminates all the hidden cost of an in-house bookkeeper. You may also consider this solution if you maintain your own accounting records. A professional can visit your location and review your work to make sure all things are as they should be. Get you ready for tax preparation and verify that all taxes (payroll, sales, property etc) are calculated and paid timely. Another money saving tip: If you are not a publicly owned company YOU DO NOT NEED A CPA. A CPA is required ONLY for audited reports, most commonly, those reports needed to be submitted to stock holders. A privately held company, which the great majority of you are, needs only a good bookkeeper/accountant (like me) and a tax accountant. So instead of spending hundreds of dollars per hour for a CPA, you can cut that cost down by half, easily, with The Right Choice of bookkeeper/accountant and tax accountant. Patti Schneider Chamber Ambassador (925) 642-6000
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The Brentwood Clarion
The Brentwood Clarion
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May Mixer at Brentwood Veterinary Hospital A terrific time was had by all at last month’s mixer held at Brentwood Veterinary Hospital on O’Hara Avenue. A wonderful array of food and desserts was served and guests were able to tour the facilities.
Brentwood Veterinary provided a wonderful spread from Raley’s.
Thank you to all those who donated raffle prizes including The Brentwood Press, Kimberly Victor of Mary Kay Cosmetics and Raley’s. Donations of raffle prizes are always appreciated. A big thank you to Brentwood Veterinary for hosting the mixer and donating a beautiful picnic gift basket for the business card drawing.
Fred Ginsler congratulated by President Joe Trebino for winning the business card drawing.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next mixer on June 16th at East County Insurance on Brentwood Blvd.
Ambassadors Patty Schneider, Kathi Regan and Sarah Jamar cheerfully greet guests at check-in. Members mixing it up in front of Brentwood Veterinary. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor mixer.
Attention Members! Kimberly Victor and Paul Kelly catching up while enjoying a bite.
Interested in hosting a mixer in 2012? Please contact Pat at the Chamber office 634-3344 or email at@brentwoodchamber.com
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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME TO THE BRENTWOOD CHAMBER! Sea Nymph Vineyards Franchesa Williams, Owner 19900 Sherman Island Crossing Road Sherman Island, CA 94571 925-778-1900 info@seanymphvineyards.com
Membership Drive Recruit a business to join the Chamber and you will receive two theatre tickets! Also, bring a guest to a mixer and if they join that night, the $25 new member admin fee is waived!
The Brentwood Clarion Join Us on Facebook! Click the Facebook picture to the left to be directed to our page. Also Look for our CornFest Page.
Also Join us on our Linked in page by clicking the link above.
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to the following members who renewed their membership in May. The Chamber appreciates your continued support. BRENTWOOD SPICE & OLIVE OIL BRENTWOOD SURGERY CENTER COMMUNITY INTEGRATED SUPPORT SERVICES DIABLO TAX PROFESSIONALS EXQUISITE SECURITY PROTECTION HOMELIFE SENIOR CARE
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Notes for Members... Chamber Lobby Display The Chamber lobby is a great place to display your business cards, flyers and brochures. This is a member benefit...only members may advertise their business here! We regularly remove items belonging to members who have not renewed. Promote your business by bringing in your current materials. The Chamber is widely visited by people new to the Brentwood area.
THE WEATHERVANE WESTERN WEAR
Brentwood’s New Business Website Place your Ad right here! Call the Chamber office today to advertise your business in the monthly Clarion!
The City of Brentwood has launched a new website specifically for business owners Log into www.businessinbrentwood.com for information about the Brentwood community, business assistance, new business incentives, city information and permits and a calendar of business-focused events.
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The Brentwood Clarion
Money & Company Tracking the market and economic trends that shape your finances.
Internet sales tax bill advances in California Legislature An all-out drive to boost state revenues by taxing all retail Internet sales picked up steam in the Assembly. On Tuesday, the lower house of the Legislature passed a bill by Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) aimed at closing a legal loophole that allows Amazon.com Inc. and other Internet retailers to avoid collecting California sales taxes on purchases made via computer. The bill is one of a trio of proposals that would put companies such as Amazon and Overstock.com Inc. under the same obligation to collect taxes as companies with bricks-and-mortar stores in California, such as Best Buy Co., WalMart Stores Inc. and Barnes & Noble Inc. The big physical retailers say they are losing business and being forced to close stores and fire employees because of unfair competition from Internet businesses. (138)
The state and local governments are losing an estimated $1.1 billion in annual revenues because of untaxed Internet sales, proponents contend. Calderon's bill, which passed on a 47-16 vote and moves to the state Senate, would address an exemption carved out by a decades-old U.S. Supreme Court ruling that frees retailers from having to collect state sales taxes on purchases as long as they do not have any physical presence in the state. The bill would reinterpret California law to consider the presence of related companies sufficient to require that sales taxes be collected. In Amazon's case, that presence would be established by counting an Amazon-affiliated company that manufactures Kindle e-book readers. Amazon, which opposes the Calderon bill and related legislation, has threatened to pull some of its business from California rather than start collecting sales taxes. But Calderon countered that passage of his bill would save thousands of California jobs. "If you oppose this bill, you support tax evasion and are anti-business and are not listening to your constituents," he said. A second bill in the Internet-sales tax package would close another loophole by requiring Internet sellers to collect sales taxes on California purchases any time they do business through so-called affiliates based in California. Affiliates earn commissions from Amazon and other e-sellers for referring business through links on their Web pages. Amazon, Overstock and other companies have threatened to fire their California affiliates if the bill becomes law. A third related bill would give California tax collection agencies greater powers to broadly interpret laws to collect more sales taxes from out-of-state electronic retailers.-- Marc Lifsher
The Brentwood Clarion
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Re/Max/Vintage Estates A Ribbon Cutting was held on May 12th to celebrate the new location of Re/Max Vintage Estates at 1120 Second Street in Brentwood. Pictured holding the big scissors is Kelly West, Realtor. The scissors are pointed at Curtis Holzer from Farmers Insurance. The ceremony was well attended by Re/Max Associates, Chamber Ambassadors and Directors. Re/Max specializes in both residential and commercial real estate. You may call their office at (925) 634-8500 or visit them on the web at www.californiavintageestates.com
Our Chamber Ambassadors Hard at Work “What do Chamber Ambassadors do?� you may ask. Well, they perform many duties on behalf of the Chamber. Ambassadors are members of the Chamber who volunteer their time to welcome new members to the Chamber, help out at mixers, recruit new members and help retain existing members, deliver new member packets, and deliver year tags to renewing members. Thank you to Fred Ehler who submitted these photos for The Clarion. Fred delivered 2011 tags to renewing members to update their Chamber plaques and thank them for their continued support of the Chamber. Bill Brandt of Bill Brandt Ford affixes his 2011 tag to his Chamber plaque.
Lori Avon of Bank of the West shows off her plaque with many years of tags affixed.
The Brentwood Clarion
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Spring Taste of Brentwood Restaurant Tour This year’s Spring Taste of Brentwood Tour was a walking tour focused on the north end of town. Ten restaurants participated including: Bagel Street Café, Brentwood Spice & Olive Oil, Digger’s Diner, Extreme Pizza, McCauley’s Brothers Olive Groves, Oodles of Noodles, Orale Orale Mexican Restaurant, Sticky Chicken and Ribs, Strings Café and Vic Stewarts. Although this tour’s ticket sales were lower than usual, participants had a great time sampling each restaurant’s fare. Many of the restaurants used the opportunity to drum up business by offering coupons to encourage a return visit to their establishment. Thank you to all the restaurants who participated and a big Thank You to the Kiwanis of Brentwood for all their effort in making the event a success. Congratulations to the winner of the $200 Drawing: James Roemmich!
Bagel Street Café served up a delicious spread of sandwiches, salad, smoothies and muffins.
Stephen Johnson of Extreme Pizza shows off the many specialty pizzas offered for sampling.
Pictured at right is Lori, Nolan and Madison Roemmich accepting the prize for their dad, James.
McCauley’s Brothers Olive Groves tasting room boasts a wonderful array of oils, nuts, candies and honey.
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Guillermo Gomez of Orale Orale Mexican Restaurant in front of their full bar.
David Navarette, right, of Brentwood Spice & Olive Oil at the wine tasting area.
cooks up & Olive Oil lends. e ic p S d o o b er, of Brentw nique spice Dawn Fisch tto using one of their u riso a delicious
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Oodles of N rice dishe oodles offers made s. to
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Roy Bristow, manager of Vic Stewart’s, welcomes tour participants to the restaurant, famous for steaks.
Vic Stewarts offered tastings of its specialty dishes as well as local wines featured on their menu.
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Page 12 IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS City of Brentwood
(925) 516-5400
Parks & Recreation
(924) 516-5444
Community Development
(925) 516-5405
Brentwood Library
(925) 516-5405
Police Non Emergency
(925) 634-6911
Fire Department
(925) 634-3400
Brentwood Aquatic Park
(925) 516-5430
Newspapers Brentwood Press
(925) 634-1441
Contra Costa Times
(925) 757-2525
Brentwood News
(925) 779-7120
Transportation Tri Delta Transit
(925) 754-4040
Hotels Hampton Inn
(925) 513-1289
Holiday Inn Express
(800) 345-8082
Medical Services Sutter Delta Medical Center
(925) 779-7200
John Muir Outpatient Center (925) 308-8100 Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center
SCORE Counselors, Counselors of Small Business Now at the Brentwood Chamber Office 1st and 3rd Monday’s: 1:30 and 2:30 pm----Call (925) 634-3344 for your appointment today.
(925) 813-6000
Theaters Delta Cinema
(925) 240-7370
Rave
(925) 809-0030
The Brentwood Clarion Brentwood Chamber of Commerce 8440 Brentwood Blvd., Suite C Phone: 925-634-3344 Fax: 925-634-3731 Email: info@brentwoodchamber.com www.brentwoodchamber.com