October Thrive by Lacey Chamber of Commerce

Lace y Cha mber of Commerce

thrive!

October 2012 / Vol. 13, No. 10

Left: Red Lion staff in nautical attire hosted the August 5:01 Surge. See page 6. Below: Missi Pacheco of Quandrant Homes with Jerry Farmer, ROXY 94.5, at the September Forum. See page 10.

Inside this issue Calendar of Events

President’s Message

Thrive!

Long-Term Care: Dont’s Underestimate

August 5:01 Surge—Red Lion

No Need to Beg

Business is Booming!

Kidwilder Thank Yous

Foresigh is 20/20 Vision

September Forum in Review

September 5:01 Surge—SPSCC HP

Avoid Craigslist Scams

Look at Life Long Learning

Ambassador’s Corner

Design and layout of the Thrive newsletter is performed by Essential Business Support.

Left: September 5:01 Surge. South Puget Sound Community College Associate Dean for Enterprise, Noel Rubadue, explains the class schedule for the night to attendees. See page 11.

T HChamber I N K First Where can I go to watch the Seahawks?

Native New Yorker Dirty Dave’s Pizza Parlor Hawks Prairie Restaurant

O’Blarney’s The RAM Lucky Eagle Casino Nisqually Red Wind Casino

October Chamber Events 2

Tuesday—Military Affairs Council 7:30 a.m. Hawks Prairie Restaurant 8306 Quinault Drive NE

Wednesday—Forum Topic: Thurston County Power Speaker: Representatives from Puget Sound Energy and Thurston Public Power Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at noon Saint Martin’s Worthington Center Cost: members prepaid online $18/at the door $25 Please prepay at www.laceychamber.com/register-overview/ Thank you to our Forum & Media Sponsors: Colonial Inn

11 12

Frontstream Payments

Thursday—Member Orientation 10:30 a.m.-noon and 5:30-7:00 p.m. Chamber Conference Room RSVP to Tony Salas, 491-4141 Friday—Government Affairs Council 11:30 a.m. Panorama—Chambers House Restaurant 1751 Circle Lane SE

Sponsors Forum Sponsor

Colonial Inn 3730 14th Ave. SE Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 438-2345 www.colonialinnolympia.com

Tuesday—5:01 Surge! Precisely Right Accounting 203 E 4th Ave, Suite 505, Olympia (360) 584-6820 5:01-7:00 p.m.

Wednesday—Education Council 12:00 p.m. (noon) Brandman University 1445 Galaxy Drive NE, Suite 201

Wednesday—Board Meetings Executive 8:30 a.m. Complete Board 9:30 a.m. Chamber Conference Room

Tuesday—Ambassador’s Committee 12:00 p.m. (noon) Dirty Dave’s Pizza 3939 Martin Way

Weekly

Lacey B.A.N.G. (Business and Networking Group) Tuesdays, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Copper Creek Coffee Company 4120 Martin Way E

Wednesdays, 7:15-8:45 a.m.

Best Western Suites in Lacey 8326 Quinault Dr. NE

Space is limited in both groups, contact Tony Salas 491-4141 to reserve your spot. Free to attend, just the cost of your meal.

Board of Directors Executive Board Felix Peguero, President, Edward Jones Investments, 438-0341 Lowell Gordon, President Elect, The Creative Office, 754-1732 Angelique Wilson, Vice President, Professional Temp Staffing Agency, 786-8443 Mike Harris, Treasurer & Board Member, Columbia Bank, 459-3344 Karen Schade, Secretary, Edward Jones Investments

Media Sponsor Frontstream Payments 673 Woodland Square Loop SE, Suite 401 Lacey, WA 98513 (360) 357-1400 www.frontstreampayments.com

5:01 Surge Precisely Right Accounting 203 E 4th Ave, Suite 505, Olympia (360) 584-6820 www.preciselyrightonline.com October 16, 2012 5:01-7:00 p.m.

Jerry Farmer, Past President, 94.5 ROXY, 236-1010 Board of Directors Andrew Barkis, Hometown Property Management, 456-7368 Marny Bright, Business Examiner, 878-2158 Tom Carroll, Network Communications International, 701-1532 Al Eckroth, Virgil Adams Real Estate, 701-3307 Grace Kendall, FASTSIGNS, 438-3800 Mike Thompson, Capitol City Press, 943-3556 Brent Walz, OBee Credit Union, 528-5361 Madelin White, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Wigs & Day Spa, 491-4911

October 2012

Message from the President By Felix Peguero, Edward Jones Investments

ummer is officially over and what a summer it was. As usual, the sun began to shine after July 4th, but lasted much longer than I expected. September was a fabulous month with lots of sun and little to no rain. Now that fall is here, the mornings are cool and crisp so I get to knock the dust off of my old sweaters and start layering clothes to keep warm. With kids back to school, summer vacations over, and as we slowly return to the “normal” routines of life, there are several things to look forward to. We now have a new Lacey Chamber of Commerce Community Resource Guide. If you did not get one at our last Chamber Forum, make sure to pass by our office and pick one up. We will also have them available at all our Chamber events and 5:01 Surges.

board members and volunteers, as well as pass on the Presidential duties to Lowell Gordon of the Creative Office and your current President Elect. We also have the Lacey Chamber Dinner and Auction taking place Saturday, November 17th at the Thurston County Fair Grounds Expo Center. The theme for the Auction is “Shipwreck Island,” and it’s going to cost you some money to get off this island. We will also be having reality TV star and two-time Survivor Champion, Sandra Diaz-Twine joining us for the festivities. Make sure you register your table and invite your friends and family! This will be one event you don’t want to miss! Enjoy your fall, work smart, and I’ll see you at our next forum! At your SERVICE, Felix Peguero Lacey Chamber President

Lacey Chamber ballots with nominees for the upcoming Vice President and Board Member positions have been mailed out and tallied. You will hear the results at the November Forum. Also during that forum, I have to opportunity to give out some awards to outgoing

November 17, 2012—Shipwreck Island Auction The theme of the 2012 Auction is Shipwreck Island and the Auction Committee is going full steam ahead. To compliment the theme there will be a variety of island and shipwreck fun & games including an opportunity to see if your message in a bottle can win you some extra cash. On hand will be Sandra Diaz-Twine, the only two-time winner of the Survivor TV series. She will be available for autographs and photos. There will even be a “Big Kahuna” table where three lucky couples have the opportunity to dine with her and be up close & personal with Sandra and two other survivor contestants. Don’t get caught on a deserted island, join us on our special Shipwreck Island. Donations, sponsorships and reservations are all available right now! Contact the Chamber office 360-491-4141.

October 2012

Thrive! By Tony Salas, Executive Director, Lacey Chamber of Commerce

he Lacey Chamber of Commerce has a variety of ways that we communicate with our members, and we always strive to have the information you need when and how you want it. One of the vehicles I am very proud of is this publication which the Chamber puts out every month. We have valuable tips and articles submitted by our members to help you in your business and in your life on a variety of topics. The Thrive!, in keeping with our culture of Think Chamber First, is produced by Peggy DeGregory of Essential Business Support and printed by Capitol City Press. They are great partners to have for design and printing and I am thrilled to have them as partners. The articles that are submitted show that we have the quality of work and level of service to compete with business around the state and around the nation. I hope you know that submitting articles for the Thrive! is included in your membership and there is no additional cost. What a great way to showcase your expertise and help drive members to your business. When considering an article for the Thrive! please be aware that these articles are to inform, educate, and enlighten our members about issues or topics. These are not ads for your business, but we do make sure that you and your business are given credit for the article. An example of a correct article would be…Your desk, chair, and keyboard all work together to insure that your body is in correct alignment to prevent a variety of body stresses that lead to health issues…but it should not read…Tony’s Furniture has a great selection of office furniture and rock bottom pricing to fill all your needs!

One of the concerns about a monthly printed publication is the cost involved. Many chambers around the nation have reduced the frequency or eliminated their printed publications to fight the rising costs of production and mailing. Some have decided that an electronic version satisfies the communication responsibility to their members, and I am looking for your feedback. Is this a publication that you find value in? Do you prefer that this continue in its current format or would you would like it delivered in some other way? In our circumstances, the production and mailing costs total about $650 per issue. If you find value in the Thrive! with its current format then advertising is a great way to promote your business and we have kept the costs low to encourage our members to advertise. The following rates for advertising in the Thrive! are on a per month basis: Business card ads $100 ¼ Page ads $150 ½ Page ads $200 Full page ads only $300 As you are developing your budgets for the next year consider advertising to the most loyal group of prospects you will find. In order to continue publishing this very impressive magazine advertising is very important as the Thrive! needs to generate enough income to pay for itself. We have good space available for both articles and ads, and there is an audience waiting to beat a path to your doorway. Think Chamber First

October 2012

Long-Term Care: Don’t Underestimate Your Need For Coverage Submitted by Mike Wolfe, Mutual of Omaha

ging baby boomers and new medical technology that prolongs life have increased the need for long-term care. Long-term care is something Americans of any age should be thinking about, but most people are not aware of or prepared for the cost. Long-term care refers to a wide range of medical and nonmedical services—I including custodial help with daily activities, nursing care, and skilled nursing services—for people who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. Home health care, adult day care, respite care, assisted living, and nursing home care all fall into the category of long-term care.

Long-Term Care Insurance Critical for Any Age A long-term care insurance policy can help cover the expenses incurred for long-term care. Many people mistakenly assume that long-term care insurance is only for the elderly, but a third of all individual long-term care policies are purchased by people younger than 65. The coverage is critical for a person of any age; plus, it can be more economical to purchase such coverage when younger. Anything can happen to anyone at any time resulting in the need for some sort of care. It is not uncommon to find a person in their 30s in a nursing home because of a debilitating accident.

Other Coverages Inadequate Other types of insurance or government programs don’t provide the amount of coverage available in a long-term care policy. • Health insurance policies typically do not cover long-term care costs such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Also, most policies don’t pay for adaptive equipment, special transportation needs, or home modifications. • Many Americans assume that Medicare will cover these costs. However, coverage is limited and may still require large out-of-pocket expenses. Also, Medicare pays for skilled nursing facility care only after a discharge from a three-day hospitalization. It does not pay for custodial or intermediate care, and the majority of care provided in nursing homes is custodial, which includes assistance with dressing, eating, and moving around. • After an individual has exhausted all of their assets, they may qualify for coverage under Medicaid. However, with Medicaid

October 2012

an individual and their family members lose choice over the care received. A long-term care policy can save you from having to deplete your assets for care and can prevent you from being at the mercy of the state. In some sense, it’s lifestyle preservation to ensure you have a choice in your care. At the same time, it’s asset preservation—it allows you to pass something to your heirs.

It Pays to Shop Around Here are some things to look for when shopping for a long-term care policy: 1. Purchase a policy from a company that is financially strong. Be sure they will be there when you have a claim. 2. Select an agent who is experienced with long-term care and with whom you feel comfortable. 3. Consider purchasing compound inflation protection because the cost of care is expected to increase considerably over the next 10-20 years. 4. Weigh the difference between a lifetime policy and a limited-benefit policy. In many cases, the premium difference between a five-year policy and a lifetime policy is minor. Mike Wolfe, Mutual of Omaha mvwolfe@hotmail.com 360-491-7593

August 5:01 Surge—Red Lion

n a beautiful Wednesday evening the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia opened their doors, pool, and surrounding outdoor area to the Lacey Chamber of Commerce board, staff, and members. The pool deck location and views of Capitol Lake inspired the Red Lion to create a nauticalthemed event. Guests were given colorful leis as they entered and were offered blue margaritas served in mini sand pails. The catering department created a delightful spread of food served out of an ice-filled boat complete with a captain’s wheel. The guests snacked on shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, ceviche, and barbequed chicken, and steak skewers. The Red Lion staff fully participated in the theme of the evening by dressing in sailor costumes, and the manager of the hotel, Dennis Williams, wore a captain’s outfit. The 5:01 Surge was full of networking, fun, and a lot of great nautical costumes. A Red Lion stay-cation was awarded to Laura Lee, ABC Printing, for wearing the best outfit of the night. This outdoor event was the perfect way to spend the August 5:01 Surge!

2012 Business Awards The Lacey Chamber of Commerce is requesting business nominations from the membership for our annual business awards. Businesses nominated should demonstrate a positive impact on the local economy and be a strong advocate for the Lacey Chamber through their partnerships, contributions, and commitment. The categories are: New Business, Small Business, Medium Business, and Corporate Business. A nomination form is included in this month’s newsletter. Please fill it out and return it by October 17 via e-mail to tsalas@laceychamber.com or fax 491-9403. Thank you and we look forward to your input. Winners will be announced at the November 2 Forum.

Top: Dan Phillips from 4th Dimension Computers participated in the Best Nautical Attire competition with authentic yacht club captain attire. Above: Grace Kendall, FASTSIGNS poses with Best Nautical Attire winner, Laura Lee, ABC Printing.

October 2012

No Need to Beg Submitted by Dan and Shelley Nicholson at D Zines: Creative Solutions & Graphic Designs

here is no need to beg for referrals from your existing customers. With these three tips they will gladly give them to you.

1) Start an Incentive Program. Begin by mailing your customers a postcard, sharing with them about a new referral incentive program. You need to decide ahead of time if it is for each referral or closed business referral they send to you, this choice will be based on the type of business you run. Communicate details of your referral program to your best customers through a blog, online newsletter, your website and/ or Facebook. There are one of two ways to approach your incentive program:

•• Make it an incentive that has a limited-time offer, such as a quarterly gift incentive program. Some people just love being “in the know,” so make it fun for them and send out hints to what the new incentive gift is a few weeks before you launch each new gift. Twitter and Facebook are great mediums for sending out hints; it will encourage comments from “likers” of your page and may persuade them to “Share” your page with their “Friends.”

•• Offer an incentive building program. For each

qualified referral offer different gifts, discounts, or cash. Allow it to increase in value. Example: one referral is $10 off, two referrals is $20, three referrals is $30. If you are giving gifts, one referral is a tote bag, two referrals a travel mug, three referrals a fleece jacket (all with your logo, thus still promoting your business).

•• Keep in mind the type of incentive

you offer must fit with the kind of business you run. It could be a discount, service credits, an upgrade, a free item, or some other trigger that will entice existing customers to provide referrals.

2) Just Ask. If you are in the habit of delighting customers, you’ll find that people are only too happy to tell others about you. When the transaction is complete, and you know your customer is pleased about their experience with you, that is the time to ASK for customer, family, and friend referrals. Assure

October 2012

them that you will take excellent care of anyone they refer. Remember, as word spreads about your products and/or services, your business will naturally propel to new heights.

•• Help support your customers in referring business to you. Send them a message on FaceBook or an e-mail with a link to a Specials Page on your website. Don’t forget it helps to be specific about what type of customers you are looking for.

◊ An example of this is: If I am a supplemental

insurance agent, I would ask for a referral to any new business with five or more employees that has opened within the last six months.

◊ Another example: If I owned a coffee shop with a large amount of space, a great referral would be someone starting a networking group or in need of a weekly meeting space.

•• An alternative is to provide them with newsletters,

brochures, or business cards to pass along to their customers, friends, and family. Be careful with this approach, and use it sparingly, as you don’t want to be known as a spammer.

3) Throw a party! Having an annual party that is exclusive to customers that sent you referrals in the past calendar year. Make it an event to remember. Have at least one high-end gift, such as a weekend getaway. Also, if possible, buy some of the giveaways from your customers; they will appreciate the business and loyalty to them just as you do. And last but not least, make sure no one leaves empty handed, have a gift for everyone that attends. A well-planned-out gift would also have your logo on it to remind them, after the event, of all the fun they had. Whatever approach you choose, make sure you and your customers are having fun, your business is growing, and you keep your incentive promotion creative and exciting. Dan and Shelley Nicholson are the proud owners of D Zines: Creative Solutions & Graphic Designs. Their passion, knowledge, and experience in the promotional products industry is unsurpassed. For questions or help with your incentive program, contact them at(253) 307-4903, info@dzinesallday.com, or visit their website at www.dzinesallday.com. 7

Business is Booming! New Members Renewals Pacific Air, Inc 2727 Martin Way E Olympia, WA 98506 Contact: Jim Brewer (360) 357-4328 Website: www.pacaircomfort.com Category: Heating and Air Conditioning

1-2 Years: Hand and Stone Massage Spa Owens Davies Fristoe Taylor & Shultz, P.S. 3-4 Years

Audio Northwest 4708 Pacific Ave, Suite A Lacey, WA 98503 Contact: Jesse (360) 786-9512 Website: www.audionorthwest.com Category: Car Audio

City Life – Spark! Judy Wilson

10-14 Years Bliss and Skeen, Certified Public Accounts Moss Orthodontics 15-19 Years Mike’s Auto Electric Olympia Federal Savings— Ignite! Prime Locations, Inc.

5-9 Years Washington Federal Van Dorm—Cheri Wilkins

Kidwiler Scholarship Fund Thank Yous The Lacey Chamber would like to thank these member businesses who donated raffle prizes to benefit the Kidwiler Scholarship at the September 2012 Forum: A Steve’s Professional Truck Mounted Steam Cleaning— Flowers and 30% Carpet Cleaning Annie’s Unique Gifts & Gift Baskets—Gift Basket Cabinets by Trivonna—Gold Brick of Coffee Custom Security—Fire Extinguisher D Zines: Creative Solutions & Graphic Designs—Space Pen Express Employment Professionals—Book, “The Advantage” by Patrick Lencioni Imagine Realty, Hal & Anita Yarber—Gifts from Hawaii Basket Lacey Community Market—Tote Bag & Market Tokens S. Stewart Ridgeway, CPA—Coffee South Bay Press—Framed Artwork Sterling Bank, Ray Foisy—Wine Chiller

Thank you for your continued support!

October 2012

Foresight is 20/20 Vision Submitted by Logan Reed, Reed Solutions Group

ost of us have a love-hate relationship with goal setting. We know that it is in our best interest to set goals, just as we know that we should eat our vegetables and exercise every day. So why is it that so many of us create goals, but so few of us actually reach them? One of the main breakdowns in goal setting is not creating a vision of what we are working towards, an intended future that we are actively stepping into through our actions. And, without a vision of the life that we are creating through achieving our goal, the process becomes lifeless, without energy or sustained motivation. One more item on the to-do list that is never completed, one more project that never bears fruit, one more “should do” in our life. In fact, most goal setting plans are destined to fail before they ever start simply because we are not embodying the goal, making each and every action that we take one that supports our intended future—all because we have not made the connection between the goal and a consciously created future vision that motivates and excites us. C

CMY

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October 2012

One simple, effective way to jumpstart your goal setting and bring your project plan back to a place of power and possibility is to reframe the goal as a support to your intended future, not from the viewpoint that there is an immediate problem to be solved. Consciously creating your intended future is empowering to both you and the goal setting process, whereas focusing on goal setting as a fix for a problem that is staring you in the face becomes disempowering. Using visioning as a tool shifts your thinking from an activity-based approach to an outcome-based approach, automatically making the process more creative, engaging you more deeply with your goal and providing the motivation to stay on task with working your project plan. The mind is unable to differentiate between a real memory and a created vision, believing that both are reality based, making visioning an incredibly powerful tool for focusing your energy and planning on the “what,” rather than the “how.” I recommend visioning both in the morning and the evening, for approximately 5 minutes, by closing your eyes and immersing yourself in the life you will have created when you reach your goal. Who are you with? What are you wearing? What conversations are you having? Where are you living? How do you start your day? What are you eating? What is the weather like? Where are you working? Fill in every detail that you can to make your intended future real in your mind’s eye. Writing down your intended future as a description of the day that you reach your goal also helps reinforce the mindbody connection with your goal and the life that will be made possible by achieving it. Of course, visioning is the only the first step in the goal-setting process and will not support you in achieving your goal if no solid plan is in place to keep you in action towards your goal. Use of SMART goals, identification of milestones, and the action plans that support each of them are integral to successful goal setting. So, as you either create new goals or review your current project plans, I invite you to bring visioning on your intended future into your process and breathe new life, energy, and commitment into your goal setting!

September Forum By Ambassador Kelli Hegsted, KDH Business Services

eptember’s Forum was an exciting meeting. Lowell Gordon began the meeting by announcing the nominees for the Chamber Board of Directors andthen asked for nominations from the floor. There were no additional nominations to the already full 2012 ballot.

New members were introduced. The Lacey Chamber had a great amount of growth in August and new members in attendance were Bron Lindgren with Bron’s Automotive, Pat Anderson with Cartridge World, Ron & Diane Springer with Springer Plumbing, Missi Pacheco with Quadrant Homes and Eric Cantor with Strategic Advantage.

each candidate. The candidates on the panel were Kathy Wolfe and Karen Rogers both running for the District 1 position and Sandra Romero and Andrew Barkis both running for the District 2 position. The questions ended with a quick yes or no lightening round and the final question was “Will the Seahawks make it to the Super Bowl” to which Karen Rogers consulted her Magic 8 Ball and said that Yes they would. The forum concluded with the Kidwiller Scholorship drawings and many happy attendees leaving with the items they won.

Amy Rowley with Thurston Talk was the Media sponsor. She spoke about the services they provide, including local high school sports coverage and how they are a feel-good, local news organization. Leslie Johnson with the Squaxin Island Tribe was the Forum Sponsor. She spoke about the success of the recent canoe journey to Squaxin Island. She also spoke about the upcoming events the tribe is sponsoring, including happenings at the museum and the Little Creek Casino. Dani Anderson introduced the Government Affairs Council and Stewart Ridgeway came to the podium to introduce the candidates running for the Thurston County Council. Each candidate was asked a series of questions and everyone in the audience was given a greater understanding of the views of

Summer’s End Car Show On Saturday, September 15, Huntamer Park played host to the 11th Annual Summer’s End at Lacey. The event is held on the last Saturday in summer, and for the last few years has been a gray and rainy day—but not this year. Hundreds of people and cars came out on a sun-filled day to show off their cars, win prizes, play games, and participate in the first Summer’s End Pinewood Derby Race. A total of 283 cars participated in the show and took over the streets and parking lots surrounding Huntamer Park while 94.5 ROXY did a live broadcast from the event. There were 48 cars that walked away with awards such as “Favorite Mustang” or “Favorite Flames and Graphics.” To round out the awards, a Best in Show award was given to a 1959 Imperial owned by Dan Colies. The event raises money to purchase defibrillators for local emergency response teams and the recipient of the defibrillator this year was the Griffin Fire Department.

Panel of candidates for Thurston County Commissioner District 1 and District 2 answer questions from the Lacey Chamber.

Participants and attendees were very pleased with the event and some even reported to the Lacey Parks and Recreation department that it was the best show they have been to in the state!

Won Best in Show.

October 2012

September 5:01 Surge—SPSCC Hawks Prairie By Ambassador Shelley Nicholson, D Zines: Creative Solutions and Graphic Design

n Thursday the 13th of September if you were not at the Lacey Chamber’s 5:01 Surge hosted by South Sound Community College then you missed out. It was a fantastic evening. Upon walking in to the College you were immediately greeted by the college saff and given a list of the 34 classes offered that evening. Yes, you read that right—34 classes! How awesome is that! You were able to take up to four classes throughout the evening, and the vast variety of classes offered was remarkable. You could take a class on Conversational Spanish, Project Management, Yoga, or Excel just to name a few. There was truly something for everyone. Before attending classes we were offered an excellent array of delicious food and beverages. Everyone was actively networking and talking amongst each other on what classes they planned to attend and how business was going, there was such positive energy in the air. After being welcomed by our chamber president, Felix Peguero, and the college, everyone promptly scattered to their classes at 5:30 p.m. Each class was 20 minutes long and everyone that attended went into raffle drawings for giveaways. It was great to meet new people in each class and learn new skills at the same time. The teachers were all informative and kind and, although 20 minutes was a short period of time, you couldn’t help but walk away from each class with some new knowledge that can help you personally or in your business. I especially loved the class on setting up a remote connection from your computer. What a great tool to have available to any business big or small—and I learned how to do it in just 20 minutes! How cool is that!

and the College. I seriously doubt anyone left empty handed, because South Sound College generously raffled away three prizes in each class. So, by the end of the evening almost everyone left with a blue South Sound Community College insulated lunch bag and water bottle. After the event I asked for feedback from Lacey Chamber Ambassadors that attended the event, and the responses were overwhelmingly a big “thumbs up” to South Puget Sound Community College. One ambassador said, “The hula class was especially fun, although it reminded me of how uncoordinated I am.” She also shared, “I am even giving thought to taking a class or two now that I discovered this facility being so close.” Another Ambassador said, “I took the class on learning more about the new Windows 7 features. The instructor was wonderful, explained things really well, and I learned some fun new features that make using Windows 7 a lot more userfriendly. Also, it was fun to get to be in a classroom setting and learning again.” South Sound Community College, you are such an asset to our community. Thanks for hosting the September 5:01 Surge— we all appreciate the evening you shared with us.

After the classes were completed there was a short period of time for networking, more names were drawn for the raffle, and the evening culminated with a brief speech by Tony Salas

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October 2012

Ambassador Kelli Hegsted, KDH Business Services; Michael Brouillette, Brandman University; and Lacey Chamber Executive Director, Tony Salas, network before the event begins.

Alert: Avoid Craigslist Scams Submitted by John Bradburn, LegalShield

raigslist is a popular free listing service for everything from jobs and rental properties to used products for sale. Craigslist only minimally polices listings on the site. This makes it an easy place for scammers to set up shop.

Following these guidelines may help you avoid falling into a Craigslist scammer’s trap.

1. Craigslist is not involved in sales. Craigslist only provides a platform for sellers to list items. Unlike Amazon or similar sites it provides no guarantees on sales. It is Buyer Beware.

2. Craigslist is designed to facilitate local face-to-face sales, not long distance online sales. Many scams can be avoided by only dealing with sellers who you meet in person.

3. Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone you meet through Craigslist. 4. Do not use wire services such as Moneygram or Western Union to send money to a seller and avoid making or receiving payments via escrow services. Scammers often set up fake escrow services to entice victims.

5. Buyers can scam on Craigslist too. Buyer scammers often use fraudulent money orders and cashier’s checks to “pay” for merchandise. If you deposit the money order or cash or deposit the check, the bank will hold you responsible for the funds when it discovers the fraud. If you are a seller, carefully review the payment before delivering the product.

6. Do not buy big-ticket items until you have seen them in person, closely examined them and satisfied yourself that the Seller is the actual owner and has the right to sell the product. Stolen property is often listed for sale on Craigslist.

7. Do not rent property through Craigslist until you have visited it in person, met the owner or rental agent, confirmed their identity and confirmed their right to rent the property.

8. When applying for a job or housing through Craigslist, do not give credit or background information until you have met the interviewer in person and are satisfied that he or she is legitimate.

QuickBooks Tip of the Month Have QuickBooks Confirm Before Deleting It is not uncommon to delete an item accidentally. Fortunately, QuickBooks has an option that produces a warning when you delete a transaction or an item that has not been used in a transaction—it’s a standard message asking you to confirm a delete action. (QuickBooks doesn’t permit you to delete an item that has been used in a transaction.) When this option is enabled you must confirm that you want to delete the transaction or unused list item before QuickBooks will proceed. To turn this option on: 1. Choose Edit | Preferences from the QuickBooks menu bar. 2. Click the General icon on the left pane and then click the My Preferences tab. 3. Select the Warn When Deleting A Transaction Or Unused List Item option by clicking the corresponding check box. 4. Click OK to save the setting. Kelli Hegsted, MBA KDH Business Services, LLC www.kdhbookkeeping.com 360.754.9545

October 2012

Education Council Looks at Learning for Life Submitted by Courtney Schrieve, North Thurston Public Schools

orace Mann, education reformer, legislator, and father of the “common” school, is best known for his often repeated quote, “Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.” As a business person, take a moment to chew on this thought. Do you remember the moment when you personally benefitted from education? Maybe it was your mom reading you a book. Or perhaps it wasn’t until high school when you finally found a teacher who spoke “your language” and things started to click. For some, it could also have been that special mentor at your first job who took you under his or her wing and trained you from the ground up. You see, education is all around us, from birth to death. The Lacey Chamber Education Council is working on new ways to promote a lifetime of learning for ourselves and our community. Our mission is simple: “Building connections between business and education to promote learning opportunities in our community and future workforce. Early Childhood : K-12 : Higher Education : Workforce Development.” We hope you will join us in this extraordinary effort. Our recent Chamber survey shows that many of you care about these issues deeply and understand their interconnectedness. You also told us that you like the idea of a series of speaker seminars to promote areas of professional development, financial literacy, and public speaking—taught by you, the Chamber members! In working with you, members also said they supported the idea of a “Back to School Fair” or participating in a “Middle School Career Fair.” To help us develop these ideas and truly be successful, however, we need your help. We encourage you to join us on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at Brandman University, 1445 Galaxy Dr. NE, Ste. 201, Lacey (near Walmart). We keep the meetings to an hour and brown bag it while we brainstorm new ideas to advance our mission and help build a quality, attractive community where people want to work, live, play and, of course, do business. For more information please email Angela Grant at clubzolympia@mac.com.

along with a strong business community, we can all prosper and create an attractive community in which we can work, live, play, and succeed!” – Courtney Schrieve, North Thurston Public Schools “Education promotes a stronger democracy through literacy and the ability to analyze and problem solve. It also has a direct correlation to earning power—higher level of education attainment translates into higher earning power. This helps the economy and improves people’s quality of life.” – Nancy McKinney, South Puget Sound Community College “One cannot teach what one does not know. An educated populace is a prosperous people both emotionally and financially. When communities get involved in educational partnerships, it tells those students that they are of value and that our community cares about them. It is such a rewarding experience to look into the eyes of a young person and see that he or she “gets it” and to know that you had a part to play in making that moment happen!” – Michael Brouilette, Brandman University “Education is not just ‘pen in hand’ or ‘grade driven,’ but instead the forward momentum gained by learning a new skill or understanding a new idea. This rings true at every age and every stage in life—the toddler testing the boundaries of their world, the high schooler taking responsibility for their own grades, the college student venturing into a new subject that may later become their career, the business owner valuing continued professional development as an investment in their employees and their business, and the retiree taking the time to volunteer or to take up a new skill. A community is made up of all of its members and if each member is moving forward then how can the community fail to move forward as well?” – Angela Grant, Club Z

The Education Council looks forward to seeing you and getting your ideas on education in action. And while we are not Horace Mann, here are a few ideas on what education means to us, as Chamber and community members: “Education is important to citizens of all ages. A quality educational system equals a quality community. If we have strong child care providers, schools, colleges, training programs, and professional development opportunities

October 2012

T H E R E S O R T I N Y O U R B A C K YA R D

Like it or not, summer will eventually end, and we will end up wondering if our car is ready for winter weather. The truth is that any good shop will always perform a courtesy check of vital systems on your vehicle, but, if you’re not due in for service soon, here are some things to think about. Most important is tire condition. Tires that are near replacement time are OK in dry weather, but can be dangerous in rain, especially since our sometimes heavily worn freeway lanes can collect standing water. Don’t try to milk the last few miles of wear out of your tires in the winter. Next on the list is windshield wipers. Make sure your washers work and the reservoir is filled with fluid. Check the wiper blades. Even good blades can get crusted up with mold and dirt when they sit still all summer. Clean them and work the rubber back and forth to make sure it’s flexible. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced the blades, just buy new ones. Clean the inside of the windshield because a clean surface will defrost faster. Lastly, check all your lights. Most of our driving is done in the light in summer, and we might not even know if we have a bulb out. I just hope you don’t need these tips till at least November.

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Hmmm... Didn’t Know That! Among master’s degree colleges in the United States, The Evergreen State College came in 29th in the nation according to Washington Monthly’s ranking.

October 2012

The Ambassador’s Corner Ross Irwin Cabinets by Trivonna

Bio Stuff

How long have you been an Ambassador? Three years (?)

Favorite Sport?

Why did you choose to become an Ambassador? Two reasons: 1] To help events run smoothly 2] To get our business recognized in the community. What benefits does your business get from you being an Ambassador? The effectiveness of reason 2 (above) is fantastic!! People involved in the Chamber know who we are! What do you enjoy the most about being an Ambassador?

To watch, football; To play, golf Favorite Actor? Harrison Ford Favorite Movie? The Fugitive or Hunt for Red October Favorite Vacation Spot? What’s a vacation? (Disneyland)

Meeting people! Helping them connect and become active in the Chamber. What is your favorite Ambassador memory?

My bike What is the first thing you recommend someone new to Lacey to do? Buy a new kitchen, or join the Lacey Chamber!

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hem in

focus.

I forgot!!! – I do enjoy bantering with Mike and Mike in the ambassador meetings.

Favorite Childhood Toy?

p are s t n e Life’s mom

s iou c e r

O LYMPIA V ISION C

www.olympiavision.com

Olympia: 1625 Cooper Point Rd. SW • 360.357.6683 Lacey: 5210 Corporate Center Ct. SE, Ste. A • 360.459.2108

October 2012

The Lacey Chamber of Commerce 8300 Quinault Dr. NE, Suite A Lacey, WA 98516 Phone: (360) 491-4141 Fax: (360) 491-9403 E-mail: info@laceychamber.com Website: www.laceychamber.com

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