Former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welsh, once shared this business philosophy:
"Where should we be 20 years from now? What are our priorities for the next 90 days? The Middle doesn't matter."
finis
I'm outta here.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Outside Looking In
Local celebrations are a wonderful way for area communities and ethnic groups to showcase their heritage and culture. For those of us who are not 2nd or 3rd generation residents, we'll forever be outsiders to an area rich in history, and cultural nuances. And, to be able to attend these celebrations is a great chance to fully understand and appreciate these unique perspectives.
For those of you who don't have roots deep into the region, please find time to attend and enjoy these vibrant community events.
In the business world as well, newcomers to a community or corporate culture often find themselves on the outside looking in. The real challenge is the ability for folks to adopt to local customs and practices and for the locals to allow the newcomer some time to adjust to local norms. The lines occasionally blur as individuals and organizations try to determine which moves first, the mountain or the person.
It's a delicate dance.
For those of you who don't have roots deep into the region, please find time to attend and enjoy these vibrant community events.
In the business world as well, newcomers to a community or corporate culture often find themselves on the outside looking in. The real challenge is the ability for folks to adopt to local customs and practices and for the locals to allow the newcomer some time to adjust to local norms. The lines occasionally blur as individuals and organizations try to determine which moves first, the mountain or the person.
It's a delicate dance.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Keys Gone Bad
Not sure what was happening with the keys in my world, but 3 of them failed to work last week and I don't know why.
The first incident was on a hot afternoon (at least it was hot inside my truck). The key slipped into the ignition, but that's as far as it went. The ignition seemed jammed and the key wasn't going to work. After about 5 minutes of wiggling the key around, in and out, and upside down, the ignition unfroze and and I was off to more business visits.
Maybe an hour later at the post office, I was trying to insert the key into my PO Box and it too wasn't going to work. The key flat out wouldn't fit. After several attempts to make it work by postal employees and me, Carol our post mistress was kind enough to give me the "backup" key to that box and I was on my way.
Did I mention that my ATM card didn't work that day either?
Just this past Saturday, it was my turn to take the Marshall Float and drive it in the parade in Tyler for Aebleskiver Days. Had made arrangements ahead of time to get the key to the brand new pickup attached to the float as the dealership would be closed by the time that I was planning to leave for Tyler. It was going to be great! A wonderful way to spend a Saturday evening.
After climbing into the new pickup to head down the road, I inserted the key into the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened! The truck would not start. After a couple of minutes, I noticed the dash board showed an error message: "damaged key."
Sorry Tyler! Sorry Aebleskiver Days Committee. Sorry Marshall. It seems that I was just having a bad key week.
The first incident was on a hot afternoon (at least it was hot inside my truck). The key slipped into the ignition, but that's as far as it went. The ignition seemed jammed and the key wasn't going to work. After about 5 minutes of wiggling the key around, in and out, and upside down, the ignition unfroze and and I was off to more business visits.
Maybe an hour later at the post office, I was trying to insert the key into my PO Box and it too wasn't going to work. The key flat out wouldn't fit. After several attempts to make it work by postal employees and me, Carol our post mistress was kind enough to give me the "backup" key to that box and I was on my way.
Did I mention that my ATM card didn't work that day either?
Just this past Saturday, it was my turn to take the Marshall Float and drive it in the parade in Tyler for Aebleskiver Days. Had made arrangements ahead of time to get the key to the brand new pickup attached to the float as the dealership would be closed by the time that I was planning to leave for Tyler. It was going to be great! A wonderful way to spend a Saturday evening.
After climbing into the new pickup to head down the road, I inserted the key into the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened! The truck would not start. After a couple of minutes, I noticed the dash board showed an error message: "damaged key."
Sorry Tyler! Sorry Aebleskiver Days Committee. Sorry Marshall. It seems that I was just having a bad key week.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
No Elephant Ears in Marshall
Back in the early 90's the Ambassadors at the Lewiston (Idaho) chamber of commerce were famous for the Elephant Ears that they prepared during the community's largest event: The Dogwood Festival, an event welcoming in the blooming of the numerous dogwood trees around town.
Sweet dough was prepared well in advance by a local grocery store using a very secret recipe. Hundreds of pounds of dough was prepared each year for the two day arts and food event outside on the College Commons.
The ambassadors would set up a tent on the college lawn (the center point of the Dogwood Festival) and sell Elephant Ears to the public. The deep fat fried sweet dough was covered with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and sold faster than they could be made. Oil was heated in metal pans on top of backyard bar-b-ques. The only thing that sold faster were the hand dipped in batter and fried asparagus spears sold by the local advertising club. They were using tongs, tupperware and electric skillets from home to prepare these delicious delights!
Unfortunately, Elephant Ears and Asparagus spears prepared in that manner will never be sold in Marshall, much less Minnesota as a fund raising activity for local community organizations.
Our chamber sponsored a workshop on Monday in response to concerns by community event organizers and local health officials: Cooking Safely for a Crowd. The workshop featured health inspectors from the Minnesota Department of Health and a food specialist from the U of M Extension Office. They clearly demonstrated that unless proper licensing is obtained and that food is prepared in a commercial kitchen setting, "food-based" fundraisers ever so popular at community celebrations and festivals will soon go the way of the dinosaur.
The workshop was an excellent educational program that outlined the need for proper food preparation based on public safety and health concerns. Thanks to the good folks at SMSU for providing us space and to the Health Department and the U of M Extension office for providing knowledgeable and professional staff to share their expertise.
More than one person after their presentation wondered aloud, "gee, makes you ask how we all survived as long as we have."
That's my opinion, what about yours?
Sweet dough was prepared well in advance by a local grocery store using a very secret recipe. Hundreds of pounds of dough was prepared each year for the two day arts and food event outside on the College Commons.
The ambassadors would set up a tent on the college lawn (the center point of the Dogwood Festival) and sell Elephant Ears to the public. The deep fat fried sweet dough was covered with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and sold faster than they could be made. Oil was heated in metal pans on top of backyard bar-b-ques. The only thing that sold faster were the hand dipped in batter and fried asparagus spears sold by the local advertising club. They were using tongs, tupperware and electric skillets from home to prepare these delicious delights!
Unfortunately, Elephant Ears and Asparagus spears prepared in that manner will never be sold in Marshall, much less Minnesota as a fund raising activity for local community organizations.
Our chamber sponsored a workshop on Monday in response to concerns by community event organizers and local health officials: Cooking Safely for a Crowd. The workshop featured health inspectors from the Minnesota Department of Health and a food specialist from the U of M Extension Office. They clearly demonstrated that unless proper licensing is obtained and that food is prepared in a commercial kitchen setting, "food-based" fundraisers ever so popular at community celebrations and festivals will soon go the way of the dinosaur.
The workshop was an excellent educational program that outlined the need for proper food preparation based on public safety and health concerns. Thanks to the good folks at SMSU for providing us space and to the Health Department and the U of M Extension office for providing knowledgeable and professional staff to share their expertise.
More than one person after their presentation wondered aloud, "gee, makes you ask how we all survived as long as we have."
That's my opinion, what about yours?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Transparent Open and Upfront
Earlier this week we sent letters to our entire membership letting them know about the current "cash-flow challenges" being experienced by our chamber of commerce. Businesses large and small around the world are being challenged by the economy. The Marshall Area Chamber is no different.
It's never an easy thing to share the challenge, but the chamber's board made the right decision to be as transparent as we can with our members and community.
Does this mean we're in trouble? No. While the money-situation is very tight we have no intention to close the office doors, nor do we foresee a reduction in services to our members and the community.
What we do expect is a continued "tightening of our belt" and greater efforts from staff and leadership to reach out to our members to let them know of the many great programs and services that we will continue to offer.
Our fiscal year continues through September. This is the time of year we traditionally work on planning next year's program of work. The past year has been spent shoring up the organization's foundation and establishing some new programs. For the coming year, expect a greater emphasis and focus on member programs and services not to mention a great push towards re-emphasizing the return our members receive for their investment in our chamber of commerce.
We sincerely appreciate the continued support of our members and look forward to continue to provide them with the valuable programs and services that they've come to expect and deserve.
That's my opinion. How about yours?
It's never an easy thing to share the challenge, but the chamber's board made the right decision to be as transparent as we can with our members and community.
Does this mean we're in trouble? No. While the money-situation is very tight we have no intention to close the office doors, nor do we foresee a reduction in services to our members and the community.
What we do expect is a continued "tightening of our belt" and greater efforts from staff and leadership to reach out to our members to let them know of the many great programs and services that we will continue to offer.
Our fiscal year continues through September. This is the time of year we traditionally work on planning next year's program of work. The past year has been spent shoring up the organization's foundation and establishing some new programs. For the coming year, expect a greater emphasis and focus on member programs and services not to mention a great push towards re-emphasizing the return our members receive for their investment in our chamber of commerce.
We sincerely appreciate the continued support of our members and look forward to continue to provide them with the valuable programs and services that they've come to expect and deserve.
That's my opinion. How about yours?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Can't Drive There from Here
Just about every day, someone calls the office seeking a number for the driver's license bureau. This seemingly simple request is much more complicated than it needs to be. At least it is in Marshall.
We're now accustomed to ask the caller a couple of questions about which office or service it is that they're trying to call. For those of us who live here and have had to go through the process of getting a new drivers license, take the test, and get new license plates for our vehicles know that there are three stops that need to be made. Talk about state government efficiency!
Back to our callers. If they are looking to get a new or renew their drivers license we give them the number at the County Government Center on Main Street. If they're looking to take the driver's test, they get the number for the testing office on North Highway 59. And, if they're looking for vehicle license plate information, we send them to that office on Redwood Street.
The good news is that the folks who work at each of these offices are fantastic at what they do and are very "user friendly" when it comes to each step of the process. The bad news, is that you will need a road map to find each of these different locations around town.
Just in case you're wondering:
Vehicle License Plates: 507-532-4643
Drivers Testing Office: 507-537-7024
Drivers License Applications: 507-537-6727
We're now accustomed to ask the caller a couple of questions about which office or service it is that they're trying to call. For those of us who live here and have had to go through the process of getting a new drivers license, take the test, and get new license plates for our vehicles know that there are three stops that need to be made. Talk about state government efficiency!
Back to our callers. If they are looking to get a new or renew their drivers license we give them the number at the County Government Center on Main Street. If they're looking to take the driver's test, they get the number for the testing office on North Highway 59. And, if they're looking for vehicle license plate information, we send them to that office on Redwood Street.
The good news is that the folks who work at each of these offices are fantastic at what they do and are very "user friendly" when it comes to each step of the process. The bad news, is that you will need a road map to find each of these different locations around town.
Just in case you're wondering:
Vehicle License Plates: 507-532-4643
Drivers Testing Office: 507-537-7024
Drivers License Applications: 507-537-6727
Monday, July 6, 2009
First Class Service and Stamps too
Just back from my daily walk to pick up mail at the Post Office. Once again the window clerks greeted me by name as I walked in the front door (seems like they're able to greet everyone by name)!
It occurred to me that while they can't do much about the price of a first class stamp, they sure do make the visit a bit less stressful. In addition to postage they also offer First Class Customer Service!
Hats off to Marshall Post Mistress Carol Nobel and her excellent crew. They truly understand the value of great customer service.
It occurred to me that while they can't do much about the price of a first class stamp, they sure do make the visit a bit less stressful. In addition to postage they also offer First Class Customer Service!
Hats off to Marshall Post Mistress Carol Nobel and her excellent crew. They truly understand the value of great customer service.
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