Monthly Archives: March 2010

Good Sportsmanship: There is a Time and Place for Politics

Posted on March 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Over the weekend, the championship games for boys’ highs school basketball were played in Des Moines, Iowa.  There were many bright moments that Saturday, one such being the 3A championship win of our own Bishop Heelan Catholic High School over Pella.  However, divisive politics reared its ugly head and crept into a situation that was supposed to be about sportsmanship and the celebration of athleticism.  In attendance at these games was Iowa Governor Chet Culver and his two young children.  They were led out onto the court and introduced, showing their support for high school athletics in the state of Iowa.  They were met with some applause, but also met with boos from some of the people in the large crowd of spectators.

No matter what your political beliefs are, respect needs to be given to the position of Governor as well as other public service positions.  Yes, we in this country have a right to free speech and to express our opinions, but there is a time and place to voice disagreement with public officials and a basketball game is not one of them, especially when they are there in support of a non-political issue, and are accompanied by their small children.  Also, this took attention away from the basketball players and the spirit of friendly competition and put the spotlight on politics.  There are many forums to express feelings and beliefs towards political offices and those that occupy them, such as through websites like the Governor’s: www.governor.iowa.gov.  Public appearances that usually involve question and answer periods are also a good way to express your feelings directly to political figures.  Chelsey and I attended an appearance of Governor Culver’s at the Sioux City Convention Center earlier this year where those in attendance where able to ask him direct questions about their concerns.

Regardless,  when many of us in this country cannot agree on how things should be run or who should be running them, I hope we can all agree that there is a time and place for discourse and debate.  And, again I would hope, that we can all agree that the place is not at non-political forums geared towards the exhibition of youth athletics.

Lindsay Washburn/ Social Media Intern

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Facebook Official: Netiquette Includes Business Owners

Posted on March 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

We’ve all heard the stories about people getting terminated from their jobs for posting inappropriate status updates and pictures of questionable weekend behavior.  It has even been given its own term: Facebook Fired.  Well,  this can happen to small businesses and their owners as well.  Many clients and customers can be counted among the friends and fans of a company’s Facebook page, as well as other social media outlets like twitter.  It is important to watch what is posted and tweeted, because even the most innocent of comments can be misconstrued.  Click on the link below for three things you should never say online if you value your clients.

http://www.businessinsider.com/3-things-you-should-never-say-online-if-you-value-your-clients-2010-3

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KD Station Demolition News

Posted on March 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

Many of us who have grown up in Sioux City  have fond memories of the KD Station. Originally built by Swift & Company, the building operated as meat packing plant in Sioux City for nearly 60 years.  In the 70′s KD Station was turned into a shopping and entertainment center.  My personal memories of KD Station start when I was a child and frequented Picadilly Circus, a game-filled pizza place located in KD Station. Picadilly Circus was often the site for birthday parties and a popular family hang out after Saturday afternoon soccer games. In high school, the mini-golf course and bowling alley were a favorite activity for my friends and I on weekends. Although the KD station has brought many memories and stories over the years, the clean up and demolition process of the deteriorating building have been less glamorous. Here is the update from the City of  Sioux City regarding the project.

KD Station Asbestos Abatement and Demolition – Project Highlights

  • The contractor, Dore & Associates Contracting Inc, has done a great job keeping the project on schedule during one of the worst winters Sioux City has experienced in memory.  The main building is down and the asbestos and hazardous waste has been removed from the site. The out buildings have also been demolished and the basement is being filled as the demolition progresses.
  • The remaining work includes the demolition of the east building addition, filling the remainder of the basement, and grading and seeding the site. Some additional support is needed to reinforce the tunnel wall to provide adequate support for the installation of backfill. And, of course, the smoke stack needs to be removed. The demolition of the smoke stack is one of the last things Dore will do after the rest if the building is removed so a date has not been determined yet.
  • The project is on scheduled and the completion date is still targeted for June 30, 2010.
  • The KD Station demolition is one of the larger projects of its type that the city has tackled and the city is utilizing eight funding sources for this $4.2 million project.
  • After the KD Station demolition is complete the city will be moving forward with the cleanup of petroleum contaminated soil on the north end of the site. The soil contamination is the result of fuel oil leakage from the three above ground storage tanks that were located in the northeast corner of the site. This cleanup process will be conducted under the oversight of the Iowa Dept of Natural Resources’ Land Recycling Program.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the asbestos abatement and demolition of KD Station, please contact Michelle Brady with the City of Sioux City (712-279-6245) or Ryan Peterson with Howard R. Green Company (515-278-2913).

-Beth Trejo, Director of Investor Relations

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The 21st Annual Key Executive Welcome is almost underway! Sign up now!

Posted on March 10, 2010 | Leave a comment

The Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will be hosting this year’s annual Siouxland Key Executive Welcome on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Bev’s on the River, which is less than a month away! This event is a key networking function for new executives to Siouxland or those who have newly transitioned to a management position. Siouxland Chamber investors are encouraged to sponsor these key executives new to our area or if unable to sponsor, recommend a key executive. Participation is a key factor to the success of this special occasion!
The evening itinerary is as follows:
Social Hour 5:30 p.m.
Dinner 6:00 p.m.
$40.00 for members, $55.00 for non-members
Informal program following where each executive will be introduced to the Siouxland business community.

The registration form may be faxed to 712.258.7578 or register and pay online at www.siouxlandchamber.com/key-executive-welcome.html.

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Roundhouse Kicks at Next Business Roundtable: Tiger-Rock Martial Arts International to Present

Posted on March 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

The Chamber will be hosting its next Business Roundtable on March 18th, at noon.  The presenter for this meeting will be Bert Kollars, the manager and CEO of Tiger-Rock Martial Arts International.  This business has corporate offices in Pensacola, Florida as well as Dakota Dunes.  Tiger-Rock has franchised locations all across the United States and Europe.

Mr. Kollars has studied TaeKwonDo, HanMudo and other Arts for 39 years. His organizational and teaching resume began while pursuing a B.S. degree in business and agronomy at the University of Nebraska and continues as one of the founders of the ITA, now Tiger-Rock Martial Arts International

He has  had four key privileges in his career that include attending Grandmaster Won Kuk Lee’s last seminar before his death, being inducted into the U.S. Grandmaster Society in 2009, meeting key martial art leaders on Korea/Japan on a number of training tours as well as his relationship with Tiger-Rock (Ho-Am) franchisees, instructors and students.

He has enjoyed being one of the primary developers and architects of  the company’s business, marketing, operations, teaching and artistic systems.

He is dedicated to life long learning, honoring East/West cultures, family and in using Tiger-Rock Martial Arts and volunteer service to improve our communities.

 HIS TOPIC OF DISCUSSION; “BUSINESS BRANDING IS MORE THAN A LOGO AND THE ANSWER TO DRIVING SUSTAINABLE REVENUE”

 Bert will lead a discussion to identify ideas that can help any business learn to dominate their market.

 BRANDING DEFINITION

  • Everything we do, it is our recipe, it is our sauce, it is not just a logo
  • It is our product. It is how we deliver our product
  • It is not about advertising gimmicks and gizmos

 THE REASON FOR SMART BRANDING

  • Revenue
  • Retention
  • Recruiting or sales

 SUCCESS MUSTS

  1. Have passion for your business
  2. Believe and have an understanding you can be the best in the world at what you do
  3. Understand what drives your economic engine

Make sure you join us for this exciting and informative presentation.

“One Tiger-Rock MAI, One Team, One Plan, One Goal”

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Texting while driving….Iowa House approves ban, sending it to the Senate.

Posted on March 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

My generation has grown up in the era of cell phones, ipods, blue rays, etc but recently texting while driving has become a concern for many House representatives. Last week the Iowa House approved a ban to stop texting while driving with a vote of 64-31, sending the issue to the Senate. This measure would also prohibit e-mailing while driving and sending other instant messages. While the measure does prohibit these actions while the vehicle is moving, it would allow drivers to pull over to use the devices. Also, the measure does not ban talking on a phone while driving or using variations of navigation systems.
Representative Chris Rants and Representative Scott Raecker both tried to set restrictions for the measure. Rants believed that it should be narrowed to those people aged 18 years and younger because young people are generally the ones texting more. On the other hand, Raecker suggested prohibiting all hand-held devices because all activities which involve them are distractions. However, in the end both attempts were rejected by the House.
If passed by the Senate, the measure would take effect on July 1 but for the first year only warnings would be issued. However, after the first year a $30 fine would be given if caught texting while driving, and if an accident was caused because of it a hefty fine would be put in place along with possible license suspension.
While the Chamber has not officially taken a position on this issue, we are wondering how Siouxland community members feel about it. Is it a sensible measure or something that can’t be monitored? Also, what do you think are the most distracting things while driving? Does texting run a higher risk of accidents than say… changing the radio, putting on make-up or eating?

Information courtesy of the Sioux City Journal.

Chelsey Meyer/ Social Media Intern

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Local Leaders and Citzens Challenged to “Take Ten” by Census Bureau Director

Posted on March 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Are you up for the “Take 10″ challenge?

On behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau, we are asking our partners to join us in making history by helping to boost the mail back participation rates across the Nation and in your community during the 2010 Census.

During each Decennial Census, the Census Bureau undertakes the count of every person residing in the United States, as mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. To encourage everyone to take 10 minutes to answer the 10 simple questions on the 2010 Census form, we are launching the “Take 10″ campaign. Through “Take 10,” you can visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to get updates on the proportion of households that have mailed back the 2010 Census forms. You also will be able to view differences between your community’s participation rates and those of neighboring communities or other areas across the country.

The “Take 10″ Challenge – Tools to Inspire the Mail Back Participation Rates for the 2010 Census

During the 2000 Census, 72 percent of occupied households mailed back their forms. In 2010, we are challenging communities to do even better. The Census Bureau’s “Take 10″ campaign gives you a wide range of tools to inspire your community to meet our challenge. These include:

  • An interactive, map-based, “Take 10″ Web site that allows local areas to track and compare their 2010 Census mail back participation rates, which will be updated on a daily basis at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/, and to look up their 2000 Census participation rates.
  • An electronic toolkit is available which includes talking points, sample speeches, new releases, newsletter copy, event suggestions, flyers, stickers, and doorknob hanger templates, and more.
  • Suggestions on how to use friendly competition with other communities to inspire participation in the census.

The stakes are high; an accurate count of the local population helps to ensure that your community receives its fair share of federal funding. This funding includes resources for services, such as health care, education, and roads.

Constituents must complete and mail back their census forms between March 15, 2010 and April 15, 2010. The good news is that the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest in history-just 10 questions that only take about 10 minutes to complete. We hope we can count on you to encourage participatation in the 2010 Census. Visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ now to see your area’s 2000 Census mail participation rate and check the site daily for updates beginning March 22.

The 2010 Census: It’s in our Hands.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director
U.S. Census Bureau

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