A Different Take on Twitter

In my previous post on Twitter, I announced that I had signed up and had a few followers. I now have 19. I try to send out a tweet daily, but some days nothing really comes to mind. My blog postings now appear on Twitter, so I feel that I have made some success. But can I actually say that tweeting has provided me with any business leads or contacts? No. I haven't given up yet though.


I just read the Viewpoint in the April 24 edition of Business First written by Douglas Fruehling. He obviously isn't into Twitter, given the fact that his first sentence is: "Twitter sucks." He believes that it is just a temporary fad that will be soon forgotten. Oh great. Just when I get comfortable with something, it goes away, just like my favorite color of lipstick.


I hope that Mr. Fruehling is wrong. But I must agree with his comments about signing up and waiting:

"I tried Twitter. I signed up...Then I waited. I waited for something to enrich my life, my brain, my soul. I waited. And waited."


And like him, I am still waiting.

What Is Your Trade IQ?

In the May edition of uschamber.com, the following quiz appeared:

True or False: Trade destroys American jobs.

False. More than 57 million Americans work at companies that benefit from international trade, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. That's 40% of the private sector workforce.

___________________________

True or False: Large corporations make up the majority of U.S. exporters.

False. Some 97% of the 239,000 U.S. companies that export their products are small and medium in size. Though large companies account for the majority of export volume, their smaller counterparts produce nearly a third of all U.S. merchandise sent overseas.

___________________________

True or False: Trade has exacerbated the current recession in the United States.

False. In recent years, exports have been the one bright spot in a very gloomy economy. Strong export growth partly counted the contraction in other parts of the U.S. economy in 2007 and 2008.

___________________________

True or False: The United States remains the world's largest exporter.

True. The value of U.S. exports in goods and services approached $2 trillion in 2008, refuting claims that the United States can no longer compete against lower-cost developing countries. The United States exported $1.05 trillion worth of manufactured goods, $552 billion in services, and $115 billion in agricultural products last year.

___________________________

True or False: Free trade agreements (FTAs) have little positive impact on U.S. exports.

False. In 2008, 40% of the U.S. exports went to the 14 countries with which the United States have FTAs, even though those countries represent just 7.5% of global GDP.

Get Fit While Helping Those With Disabilities

On Saturday, May 16th you and your friends and family can participate in the 5K Spring Fitness Walk/Run on the OSU-N/COTC Campus. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. Early registration is $20.00 through May 1st; after that date the cost is $25.00 per person.

Proceeds from the 5K Walk/Run will benefit the levy campaign in Licking County for the Citizens for MRDD.

All participants will receive a race t-shirt and all finishers will receive an award. For more information, call Angie or Debbie at LICCO 740.522.8345 or you can register online at: http://www.premierraces.com/2009Races/springfitness.html

Chamber Issues an Additional Endorsement

Today the Chamber Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the Emergency Operating Levy appearing on the May 5 ballot for the Johnstown-Monroe Local School District.

Read the details here.

It Takes A Team To Build Success

I think it started out being Secretaries Day. I can remember being taken to lunch by my boss, along with his boss and his secretary. It was a day to thank secretaries for all their hard work and dedication. It then became Administrative Assistant's Day. Same idea, just politically correct title I guess. Now it is called Administrative Assistant's Week, which happens to be this week.

Moundbuilders Country Club has offered a buffet lunch to Chamber members for this "holiday" for the past three years. Today I treated my staff to lunch there. As I looked around the room at the other tables, I couldn't help but notice that many businesses were treating more than an Administrative Assistant to lunch. Just like them, I know the value of having an excellent team, which includes everyone, not just one member.

I want to publicly thank my team: Mandy Rector, Vicky Crist, Lois Ridgley and Jennifer McDonald for making the Chamber a top-notch organization. You're the best!

And by the way, I hope you are thanking your employees throughout the year for their hard work - not just during this week!

Way To Go Patrick!

Congratulations to Board Member Patrick Guanciale for being honored with the Jerry White Award from Coldwell Banker King Thompson. Read the full story here.

Congratulations!

This week the Licking County Safety Council was presented with the 2008 Safety Council of the Year Award. It is so large, that we had to buy a table just to display it.

Campaign Promises on School Funding

The last campaign for Governor focused on school funding and how the Republicans didn't do anything to solve the problem. Governor Ted Strickland even stated that if he couldn't fix school funding, that he would have failed as a Governor. Be careful what you say Governor.

His plan to use one-time federal stimulus dollars for education has now unraveled. Read about it here.

Under the Governor's adjusted plan, schools will actually be receiving LESS money (state dollars) than in years past. Is this how the Governor defines fixing school funding?? This is the first time in at least 15 years that the state reduced its total dollar commitment to schools.

I don't think many in Ohio will forget the campaign promises made regarding school funding. I know I haven't. And so far, I don't like the proposed solutions.

Are You a Pro-Employee Company?

I attended a great HRMA meeting today regarding EFCA or "Card Check". The presenter, Nicole Monachino with Jackson Lewis LLP, did a wonderful job explaining how the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) operates in the workplace today, what the key provisions of EFCA are and addressed the importance of having positive relationships between management and employees.

If you aren't sure how to answer the title of this post, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you listen to your employees? You can do this a number of different ways. Some companies survey their workers to find out the negatives and positives of their jobs. Others place comment boxes throughout their locations so employees can make comments and or suggestions, which can be anonymous.


2. Do you encourage open dialog between you and your employees? Do they feel comfortable asking questions during an employee/management meeting?


3. Do you communicate with your employees about issues or problems the company is having prior to taking any action (wage reduction, layoffs, etc.)?


4. Do you know the names of all of your employees? I know this may seem obvious to some and to others an impossible task, but it is definitely worth your time to know who is on the payroll.


5. Do supervisors treat certain employees differently? Do they play the "favorite" game?


6. Do you know the warning signs of unhappy workers? If your employees start using different terms (legal wording) when asking questions, chances are they are listening to an outside source. Or if they scatter when you or top management walk into an area, that is definitely a bad sign.

The good news is that it is never too late to start having a positive relationship with your employees. Start today.

Some Good News In The Economy

No, this is not April Fools Day. There really is some good news regarding the U.S. economy. Jeff Thredgold, President of Thredgold Economic Associates has a great post entitled Happy Talk that lists 43 items of good news. Here are some of his points:

• The number of people who have quit smoking (46 million) now exceeds the number who still smoke (45 million). Roughly 21% of adults smoke today, versus nearly half in the early 1950s
• U.S. exports to China have risen roughly 24% per year since 2001, making China the fastest growing market for U.S. goods
• Average U.S. life expectancy has reached 78 years (men 75, women 80), the highest ever.
• Donations to charity set an all-time high in 2007, with more than $300 billion donated by individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• During the early 1960s, the five-year survival rate from cancer for Americans was one in three. Today it is two in three. . .highest in the world

And my favorite:

• Men's contribution to housework has doubled over the past 40 years, while their time spent on child care has tripled.

Maybe I'll post this statistic in every room at the Hottinger household. Eventually it has to sink in right?

Thanks Steve.

Networking Is Key When Job Searching

Today we received confirmation that Ecolab will be closing its doors by the end of October. It is such a disappointment to hear that kind of news. 131 jobs will be lost there. I have also heard about three other companies making cutbacks as well. I truly feel for those people. It reminds me of one of my favorite movies - Dave - where he gets the most satisfaction by finding people jobs. That is what I wish I could do for all the displaced workers today.

Interesting enough, I read about a woman who was working at Tommy Bahama in Naples, Florida while she was job searching. The article talked about the importance of getting out and networking and not just relying on websites to post your resume.

I wish the very best to those who are in the process of looking for employment during these tough times.

Licking County is Rated "L"

"Licking County is rated L for Livability" according to Images of Licking County magazine. I just finished proofing the 5th edition. What is so amazing is that there are so many wonderful people, places, and businesses here that it is very easy to fill each issue of the magazine.

There is a rich history here too. Some facts and figures to think about:

• The first courthouse lighting occurred in 1928 during the nationwide Jubilee of Light, which celebrated Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent lamp
• Licking County was founded in 1802 by G.W. Burnet, John Cummins and William C. Schenck
• The Busy Bee opened in 1911 and later became known as Goumas Candyland in 1952
• The Chamber was established in 1915 and is among the nation's oldest chambers
• Ye Olde Mill was built in 1817 and was bought by the Dager family in 1960 when they began Velvet Ice Cream
• The Midland Theatre turned 80 in December 2008
• The Weathervane Playhouse began in a barn back in 1969
• Newark Wildcats boy's basketball team has won the state championship in 1936, 1938, 1943 and 2008

I can't wait to unveil the 2009 edition in June. I'm sure you will be as pleased as I am. I want to thank Journal Communications for another wonderful year.

"Find the good - and praise it." - Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

12 Things To Do On My "Day Off"

The Chamber is closed today, for Good Friday, so I had the "day off". I thought that meant sleeping in and relaxing. I was wrong. Here is what I had to do today:

1. Go to work to drop something off and check messages


2. Stop at coffee shop


3. Go to bank


4. Go to New Day Spa to get a gift for my mother for Easter


5. Get oil changed in Stang


6. Go to Giant Eagle to get groceries for Easter meal


7. Go to JC Penny to get hair products for teenage daughter


8. Go to Indian Mound Mall to get gift card for teenage daughter's friend


9. Go pick up teenage daughter and take her to friend's house


10. Go pick up last minute items for Easter at Walmart


11. Go back to JC Penny Salon to get hair cut


12. Color eggs (and hands) with kids, which made me forget about the previous 11 items
    

Enjoy the Easter holiday.

Social Networking for Professionals 101 and 201

I am pleased to announce that the Chamber and C-TEC have partnered to provide some social networking seminars being held at C-TEC. The only problem, which is also a positive, is the limited seats available - only 30 per class! We are giving Chamber Members first chance to reserve your seat prior to this being released to the public. You only have until FRIDAY, APRIL 10th for this early bird registration. The instructor is Angela Siefer, founder of Shiny Door, a Columbus-based company specializing in social networking consulting.

Social Networking for Professionals 101 will be offered on April 21, May 5 and May 19 at two different times: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. or 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. This is a six hour class, two hours each session. You must attend all three days during the same time periods. It is a hands-on class easing non-users of social networking into professional use of LinkedIn and Facebook. Students will discover how to begin growing and promoting their businesses, expanding their network and promoting themselves.

Students will also learn the purpose of social networks, and the structures of LinkedIn and Facebook. They'll learn to: create a professional online business representation; generate warm leads; build a strong network and integrate online and offline networking.

Social Networking for Professionals 201 will be offered on May 1, May 15 and May 29 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. This seminar will guide current users of social networking tools into strategic use of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Plaxo.

The price for these seminars is $72.00 for the six hour course.

To register, please contact Marci Toomey at 740.364.2261 or mtoomey@c-tec.edu

Important Message

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A Successful Woman Mayor

I'm not too old to get back into politics. At least in comparison to this woman Mayor:



I want to be in a music video too. . .

R.E.M.

Flashback. Love this song. Makes me happy.

Yes and No

Have you ever said "Yes" to someone or something when deep down you really wanted to say "No"? I think we've all been guilty of this at some point in our lives. It is one of my faults; I have a hard time saying "No" to requests to help others, even when I know that I really don't have the time.

Found a very good article at Zen Habits about this very thing. Read about it here.