Due to Ohio Senate Bill 221, changes are on the way for the energy sector. AEP Ohio filed its ESP (Electric Security Plan) with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on July 31, 2008. By the end of this year, the PUCO will approve or disapprove this filing. But we are being told that a rate increase of approximately 15% annually for all AEP Ohio customers is likely for the next three years beginning January 1, 2009.
Also included in their filing are provisions that address distribution services, economic development, alternative energy resources and energy efficiency.
To find out more about their filing and proposed rate structure visit: http://www.aepohio.com/news/2008RateFiling/
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Happiness Is...
Get Rich Slowly has a great post today on The Psychology of Happiness. It provides 13 steps to a better life. Check it out.
STRESS
According to Anthem, stress is linked to the six leading causes of death in the U.S. It hurts your ability to heal, remember things, and fight off sickness. It can make you age faster and make your hair fall out. It can even give you bad breath. Below are seven proven stress busters recommended by Anthem:
- Focus on one thing at a time. You can't do everything at once. Pick out your most important task, put the rest aside and realize you're doing all you can (see my post on multitasking)
- Take time to relax. Everyone needs some time to reset and regroup. Build time into your schedule to feel peaceful and make it a priority. Read a book, listen to music, take a hot bath or revisit a hobby.
- Ask for help. It may be time to share or delegate some responsibilities; people are usually willing to help if you ask. No awards are given for doing everything yourself.
- Be flexible. Accept that plans will change, people will disagree and life is sometimes less than perfect. Be prepared to compromise.
- Talk to someone. You're surrounded by people who want you to do and be well. Sometimes just talking about worries and aggravations is a big relief.
- Take a break. Rejuvenation. Renewal. Rekindling. Whatever you call it, a short break from your normal day can restore your energy and give you a fresh perspective.
- Lighten up. Laughter has real benefits for your body and mind. Spend time with people who make you laugh, watch a funny movie and plan fun activities.
Happy 100th Birthday!
The Licking County Chamber of Commerce would like to wish Park National Bank and the Newark Public Library a very Happy 100th Birthday! Both institutions began in 1908 and are vital assets to our community today.
Thank you for time and investment in Licking County!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Quote of the Day
"If there is nothing very special about your work, no matter how hard you apply yourself you won't get noticed, and that increasingly means you won't get paid much either."
- Michael Goldhaber
- Michael Goldhaber
Saturday, August 23, 2008
How Are You Wired?
I was recently given a task to read a book "in the next few days" by one of my Board members. I love to read. The problem is that I don't have enough time to read everything that I would like to in a day or even in a week. But I knew this was important, so I began reading the book - Community Capitalism. It is a fairly short book, 111 pages in all. I have found the book to be very interesting and am grateful that he gave me a copy. (You will be hearing more about this book and how our community can benefit from it in the weeks ahead)
One of the chapters is on Talent. It used a quote from one of my favorite books - Good to Great: "People are not our most important asset. The right people are." - Jim Collins. In summary, the chapter focuses on how to build a "talent-driven organization", stating that what really mattered when hiring a person isn't necessarily what is on his or her resume, but how the person is "wired." The author, Ron Kitchens, suggests using these type of questions during the interview process:
- What are you passionate about in your work?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being high, how would you and others know you well, rate your level of performance against your peers?
- In your work, what are you a "pro" at?
- Define and give me an example of how you go "above and beyond" in your work.
- How are you driven to meet and exceed customer expectations?
Another great quote in this book is this:
Talent is the product. With the right people, given the correct incentives, encouraged and driven to their highest individual accomplishments...you will adapt to most competitive challenges. You will weather more rain delays, bad ump calls, flat beers in the concession
stands and all routine disasters of the zero sum standings most organizations are facing. Talent is the product. - Jeff Angus
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Is Multitasking a Myth?
I always thought that being good at multitasking was a talent of mine. But after reading this post from Get Rich Slowly, I am now questioning myself. Check it out.
Governor and Lt. Governor Oppose Issue 4
Strickland won't support sick days mandate
Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said minutes ago they will not back the sick days mandate that has been pushed to the November ballot by one of their major union supporters, the SEIU. “We cannot support the paid sick-day ballot initiative,” they said in a joint statement. “While we would hope that all Ohio businesses would make paid sick days available to their employees whenever possible, we believe that this initiative is unworkable, unwieldy and would be detrimental to Ohio's economy, and we will be opposing it and asking Ohioans to oppose it as a result.”
Strickland was unable to work out a compromise with business and union leaders over the ballot initiative, which would require every business with 25 or more employees to offer seven sick days to full-time employees. Business groups, particularly those representing small business, said that any proposal with even one mandated sick day was unacceptable. They and GOP leaders have called the issue a “job killer.” Dale Butland, spokesman for the coalition pushing the issue, blamed business leaders for a failure of a compromise, calling them "hypocritical ideologues who oppose allowing anyone but themselves to earn such a benefit."
Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said minutes ago they will not back the sick days mandate that has been pushed to the November ballot by one of their major union supporters, the SEIU. “We cannot support the paid sick-day ballot initiative,” they said in a joint statement. “While we would hope that all Ohio businesses would make paid sick days available to their employees whenever possible, we believe that this initiative is unworkable, unwieldy and would be detrimental to Ohio's economy, and we will be opposing it and asking Ohioans to oppose it as a result.”
Strickland was unable to work out a compromise with business and union leaders over the ballot initiative, which would require every business with 25 or more employees to offer seven sick days to full-time employees. Business groups, particularly those representing small business, said that any proposal with even one mandated sick day was unacceptable. They and GOP leaders have called the issue a “job killer.” Dale Butland, spokesman for the coalition pushing the issue, blamed business leaders for a failure of a compromise, calling them "hypocritical ideologues who oppose allowing anyone but themselves to earn such a benefit."
Editorial on Issue 4
The Columbus Dispatch had this to say today...
Draw the line
Gov. Strickland should lead the effort to defeat proposed sick-day mandate
Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:03 AM
Gov. Ted Strickland has been trying for weeks to broker a deal to derail a November ballot issue that would require Ohio employers with 25 or more workers to provide seven paid sick days to employees. The governor knows the mandate would be toxic for Ohio's moribund economy, harming existing businesses, hobbling job growth and sending a message to businesses worldwide to locate anywhere but Ohio.
But the effort has failed. Small employers see no way to compromise with an economic noose. So now the governor should declare the mandate a job-killer and announce that if proponents won't withdraw the ballot issue, he will lead a campaign to defeat it.
There is no question that the ballot measure, sprung by surprise on the governor by the Service Employees International Union, presents him with the greatest political dilemma he has faced so far.
Labor is a core constituency of the Democratic Party and was instrumental in Strickland's election. He already has begun rewarding that support, for example, by signing executive orders allowing unions, including the SEIU, to organize 15,000 independent home-health-care and child-care workers. He also is preparing a revision of state prevailing-wage policies that seems designed to expand the instances in which contractors -- perhaps even those working on primarily private projects -- will be required to pay union wages.
Saying no to labor is not something that any elected Democrat undertakes lightly. But that is precisely what Strickland should do. The sick-day mandate is one of the most serious leadership challenges he is likely to face. It poses a direct threat to his plan to turn around the state's deeply wounded economy and is likely to perpetuate or worsen Ohio's 7.2 percent jobless rate.
The governor has said that anyone who thinks he can call on the SEIU to drop the ballot issue is overestimating his power. But the governor is underestimating it. He is riding a high tide of public approval; he already has been generous to labor and has nothing more to prove. And most of all, Ohioans believe that he is serious when he says that fixing Ohio's economy is his top priority.
If he says that this mandate will hurt Ohio, the SEIU might not listen. But voters will.
The greatest test of a political leader's courage is when he is called upon to say no to his friends. For the good of Ohio, that is what the governor should do.
Draw the line
Gov. Strickland should lead the effort to defeat proposed sick-day mandate
Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:03 AM
Gov. Ted Strickland has been trying for weeks to broker a deal to derail a November ballot issue that would require Ohio employers with 25 or more workers to provide seven paid sick days to employees. The governor knows the mandate would be toxic for Ohio's moribund economy, harming existing businesses, hobbling job growth and sending a message to businesses worldwide to locate anywhere but Ohio.
But the effort has failed. Small employers see no way to compromise with an economic noose. So now the governor should declare the mandate a job-killer and announce that if proponents won't withdraw the ballot issue, he will lead a campaign to defeat it.
There is no question that the ballot measure, sprung by surprise on the governor by the Service Employees International Union, presents him with the greatest political dilemma he has faced so far.
Labor is a core constituency of the Democratic Party and was instrumental in Strickland's election. He already has begun rewarding that support, for example, by signing executive orders allowing unions, including the SEIU, to organize 15,000 independent home-health-care and child-care workers. He also is preparing a revision of state prevailing-wage policies that seems designed to expand the instances in which contractors -- perhaps even those working on primarily private projects -- will be required to pay union wages.
Saying no to labor is not something that any elected Democrat undertakes lightly. But that is precisely what Strickland should do. The sick-day mandate is one of the most serious leadership challenges he is likely to face. It poses a direct threat to his plan to turn around the state's deeply wounded economy and is likely to perpetuate or worsen Ohio's 7.2 percent jobless rate.
The governor has said that anyone who thinks he can call on the SEIU to drop the ballot issue is overestimating his power. But the governor is underestimating it. He is riding a high tide of public approval; he already has been generous to labor and has nothing more to prove. And most of all, Ohioans believe that he is serious when he says that fixing Ohio's economy is his top priority.
If he says that this mandate will hurt Ohio, the SEIU might not listen. But voters will.
The greatest test of a political leader's courage is when he is called upon to say no to his friends. For the good of Ohio, that is what the governor should do.
Vote NO on Issue 4!
On November 4th, one of the statewide issues will be Issue 4 - the paid sick leave mandate. If this issue passes, Ohio could lose thousands of jobs. We would be the only state to dictate to employers how much paid sick leave they must provide to their employees. Some neighboring states are hopeful that Issue 4 passes because they are prepared to welcome Ohio employers across the state lines with open arms.
You can find the official ballot language here. You can also find more information on this issue at http://www.saveourjobsandbenefits.com/
You can find the official ballot language here. You can also find more information on this issue at http://www.saveourjobsandbenefits.com/
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Quote of the Day
"No power of government is as formidable a force for the good as the creativity and entrepreneurial drive of the American people."
- Ronald Reagan
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Annual Dinner Award Winners
At our Annual Awards Dinner held at The Elks in downtown Newark last night, the following businesses and individual were honored:
- Small Business of the Year - Hopewell Federal Credit Union
- Medium Business of the Year - Edward Jones Investments
- Large Business of the Year - The Energy Cooperative
- Non Profit of the Year - Licking Memorial Health Systems
- Employee of the Year - Dr. Amy Coble with The Mantonya Chiropractic Centers
Congratulations!
You can read the entire story in the Newark Advocate here.
Above photograph was taken by Eric George, The Advocate.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Treehouse Anyone?
I found this interesting blog a few weeks ago. You should enjoy it. Some great lessons for Real Estate Agents. The above picture is an actual listing photo.
Friday, August 8, 2008
First Impressions
Ever have one of those weeks where all you do is run from meeting to meeting to meeting? That is how this week has been for me. Many times I thought of something I wanted to post, but just couldn't carve out the time to do it. I planned on posting some things this morning, but after working on one small task for over an hour that should have taken me 5 minutes, my creative time was gone (I actually yelled and stomped my foot today - at the computer).
So tonight I have a moment and wanted to share something that was said to me at one of my many meetings this week. I requested a meeting with a government agency, who shall remain nameless. The meeting was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Upon arriving, I had to sign in and get a Visitor badge. I arrived at 2:50 p.m. I try very hard to be early or on-time for meetings, especially ones that I have requested. The receptionist called the person to tell her I was there but couldn't reach her. She looked at me and said, "You are very early for your meeting. No one ever arrives here early. They are always late." Wow. She seemed really proud to be working there - not. She was the first person I interacted with in that office. Bad first impression.
Sometimes administrative or clerical positions get overlooked on the "importance to the organization scale." Why is it that those positions are on the low side in terms of wages when they actually could be one of the most important positions in the company? First impressions can have a direct effect on the bottom line. Make a good impression, your customers will return. Make a bad one and they are not only gone forever, but they will share their story with their friends, family and anyone who will listen.
Make sure the first person who interacts with your customers enjoys their job and believes in the company. If THEY don't, how do you expect them to convince your customers?
So tonight I have a moment and wanted to share something that was said to me at one of my many meetings this week. I requested a meeting with a government agency, who shall remain nameless. The meeting was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Upon arriving, I had to sign in and get a Visitor badge. I arrived at 2:50 p.m. I try very hard to be early or on-time for meetings, especially ones that I have requested. The receptionist called the person to tell her I was there but couldn't reach her. She looked at me and said, "You are very early for your meeting. No one ever arrives here early. They are always late." Wow. She seemed really proud to be working there - not. She was the first person I interacted with in that office. Bad first impression.
Sometimes administrative or clerical positions get overlooked on the "importance to the organization scale." Why is it that those positions are on the low side in terms of wages when they actually could be one of the most important positions in the company? First impressions can have a direct effect on the bottom line. Make a good impression, your customers will return. Make a bad one and they are not only gone forever, but they will share their story with their friends, family and anyone who will listen.
Make sure the first person who interacts with your customers enjoys their job and believes in the company. If THEY don't, how do you expect them to convince your customers?
Window to the World
The last video I shared with you which was shot from inside the Chamber looking through our Window to the World featured a wanna be traffic cop. Today, we bring you a different kind of pedestrian walking down the streets of downtown Newark.
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