We believe national healthcare reform is necessary. However, we believe that the healthcare reform legislation that is pending in Congress is missing some important elements that should be part of the solution.
We asked Dr. Samuel Clovis, Chair and Professor, Department of Business Administration and Economics at Morningside College, to present some potential solutions to the rising cost of healthcare. He has reviewed the pending federal legislation and studied them in depth. He then developed several ideas for healthcare reform that would have a positive impact.
Attached you will find his PowerPoint presentation on potential solutions for national healthcare reform.
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.
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
Have passion for your business
Believe and have an understanding you can be the best in the world at what you do
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”
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.
I have lived in the Siouxland area all of my life. My grandparents farmed this area, and both sides of the family trace back to the beginnings of Hancock Township near present-day Hornick, Iowa. It always brings a smile to my face to meet business owners who have their roots planted firmly in Siouxland soil.
Bob Lawler started Lawler Fixture Company, a food and beverage service supplier, back in 1961. He was the fifth of nine children, and was raised on a farm near Wall Lake, Iowa. He married Jackie Joseph in 1956 and had six children. All six of them attended Heelan Catholic High School.
Lawler Fixture Company can do it all: design, layout, installations. They also sell all types of refrigeration units, cooking equipment, booths, tables, chairs, popcorn machines, ice machines, broilers, griddles, and much more.
As an English major, I will find any excuse to curl up with a good book. I have my favorites: Animal Farm, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and anything written by Kurt Vonnegut. The novel chosen for this year’s One Book, One Siouxland is definitely on my ever growing list of books to read. The Book Theif by Markus Zusak came in first at the Sioux City, South Sioux City, and North Sioux City Public libraries. The synopsis of the story is as follows:
Liesel Meminger is only 9 years old when she is taken to live with the Hubermanns, a foster family, in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book she stole from her brother’s burial place. During the years that Liesel lives with the Hubermanns, Hitler becomes more powerful, life on Himmel Street becomes more fearful, and Liesel becomes a full-fledged book thief. She rescues books from Nazi book-burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief. This is Liesel’s life on Himmel (Heaven) Street, told from Death’s point of view.
If you have read the book or are interested in reading the book there are still One Book, One Siouxland events going on over the next few weeks. There is one more book discussion on Tuesday, February 16th at the North Sioux City Senior Center, and a lecture at the Sioux City public library on Saturday, February 27th. For more information visit the One Book, One Siouxland website. Happy Reading!
Take Flight Cheer is a Christian non-profit Cheerleading organization here in Sioux City. As a team they have participated in the Younkers Community Day Event Sales for the past four years. In those four years their teams have raised over $5000. The leader of their organization said “I would encourage, strongly encourage, other non-profit agencies in the area to participate in this sale. This is such a wonderful and easy opportunity to raise money. I also would like to encourage other businesses in the area to help sponsor non-profits, to adopt them, to help them in their goal to reach those with needs in the city.”
Younkers would also like to extend an invitation to all Siouxland businesses to join them by adopting Take Flight Cheer or any other non-profit agency of your choice. Please support Sioux City Younkers and partner with them in this great fundraiser. Contact Younkers for all the details.
Spring Community Day at Younkers is February 27th. They are offering all area non-profit organizations to join them to earn much needed funds. Younkers will donate coupon booklets to your non-profit, and then you can sell them for $5. Your organization keeps all of the $5. If you sell at least 75 coupon booklets and meet qualifying criteria you are eligible to receive additional monies generated by Younkers associate coupon sales. Be in the top 25% of selling agencies and meet qualifying criteria to be invited to sell additional coupons on Community Day.
Governor Chet Culver and his “Moving Iowa Forward” campaign were a hot item for discussion today in Siouxland as he spoke at the Convention Center. He discussed his budget and legislative priorities for 2010, providing emphasis on creating and retaining Iowa jobs, investing in our children with the Iowa education reform and keeping the state’s budget balanced for the future. Faces in the audience for his speech included Sioux City Mayor, Mike Hobart, Sioux City Community School administrators and members of the school board, as well as representatives from area colleges and news outlets. For more information about the Governor’s “Moving Iowa Forward” campaign and more details about budget and legislative priorities for 2010 visit www.governor.iowa.gov.
Main Street Theaters, the parent company of The Promenade Cinema in Sioux City announces that it has recently signed a new multi-year lease for the current location of the Promenade Cinema in Sioux City. The new lease, signed in September, will continue for the next 15 years and will afford the opportunity for The Promenade Cinema to continue to provide the highest quality movie viewing experience for the people of Siouxland at its current location in Downtown Sioux City.
Recent issues regarding a conflict between California based Civic Partners, owners of the 4th Street Retail Complex where Main Street Theaters leases space, First National Bank of Sioux City and the City of Sioux City has caused a significant amount of confusion for Sioux City customers.
Bill Barstow, President of Main Street Theaters confirmed, “We would like to state unequivocally that the Promenade Cinema 14 has a valid long term lease in the 4th Street Retail Complex and assurances have been provided from all parties involved that whatever the resolution of the dispute between those entities the lease will be honored in its entirety.”
First National Bank of Sioux City is the mortgage holder on the property. “Whatever may be the resolution of the issues between the bank and Civic Partners it will not affect the theatre’s lease status.” Added Ron Adams, speaking for First National Bank of Sioux City.
The Promenade Cinema 14 has been a driving force in bringing a significant number of customers into the 4th Street Historic District each and every year since its opening in November of 2004. Barstow acknowledged, “The Promenade Cinema draws well in excess of 300,000 visitors each year and passed the 1.5 million mark earlier this year. Industry statistics show that the theatre also commands a dominating market share of 65-70% each and every week.”
Barstow added, “In addition to providing the Siouxland area with the finest in customer amenities including stadium seating, expanded concession selections, Digital projection with Dolby 3D technology and a host of others, Main Street Theatres and the Promenade Cinema 14 also takes seriously its role as a community asset.”
Many people take for granted that as a community, it is important to have someone out there “selling” the Sioux City Metro area. There is no one better to do just that than Chris McGowan, VP of The Siouxland Initiative (economic development arm of the chamber).
“Chris McGowan gave a great speech, about the successes of Siouxland Initiative, at the annual MAEDC (Mid America Economic Development Council) Competitive Conference in Chicago, Illinois last week. As a member of the MAEDC board, it made me very proud to live in Siouxland and be associated with the Siouxland Initiative. Keep up the good work, Chris!” -Brad Howard, Economic Development Consultant,MidAmerican Energy
Most of the time recruiting businesses and negotiations are kept highly confidential. Here is a sneak peak at what Chris does and how the Initiative has managed to be successful.
Sat. marked the first day of a new season. There is still a chance to celebrate Spring with Frankie Valli and The... http://bit.ly/ddzWLb30 minutes ago
"Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while." -Kin Hubbard 2 days ago
Today's blog is from Chamber Vice President of Government Relations and Transportation, Barbara M. Sloniker. She... http://bit.ly/95k6vx2 days ago
Our Chamber Ambassadors sure had fun last night filming a promotional spot for RAGBRAI. They were Rockin' and... http://bit.ly/czS8HR3 days ago
Ribbon Cutting at Senior Care Home Instead. Come check out their new space (across from the Tire Man in Sioux City) 3 days ago
