Quick!!

Dear Friend,  Software, Can't Live Without It If you want to be successful in business then you have to find those three or four monster apps or software tools that just make your job that much easier. The days of doing everything by hand went out with churning butter. Not that I ever churned butter but I did crank out a few tubs of ice cream. And a pint of Ben & Jerry's Fish Food is still the way to go. But I digress...

Accounting for Idiots I know, right, idiots should not be doing accounting. But if you have the right tools, a little bit of computer common sense, the right software and a great accounting consultant well then you can do your own books. I am living proof. QuickBooks has saved my accounting bacon. And with a few tricks up my sleeve, thanks to my friend Gina Clark, I can even knock out the bills, reconcile the check books (yes, I saidbooks), make deposits, enter the payroll, produce the board reports and even generate an invoice. And you thought I was just another pretty face.      How Did That Happen?  Start by picking the right software - we use QuickBooks but their are others, then get a good consultant to train you up, use memorized transactions, keep good notes and make it a routine. It also helps to have manual close by for quick references on those tough to remember combinations of key strokes. In no time you will be doing the books without a nervous breakdown.    We'll Help You Out This week, our Strategies for Success Seminar is Quick Tips for QuickBooks featuring Gina Clark and her magical touch. Join us to get the inside scoop on just how easy it can be to accomplish the basics of small business bookkeeping. Note the new day,Wednesday, October 28 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at the St. Albans Library on Maiden Lane. Reserve Your Spot Now - CLICK HERE. Did You Know? Before the first hapless accountant was called a 'bean counter' the phrase was also used as the name of a place where beans were sold, especially in the USA where 'pork and bean counters' were commonplace in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick

Takin' Care of Business

Dear Friend,  It Snowed! Most of you experienced a bit of your first snow this weekend, some more than others. I woke up this morning and still have a significant "dusting" on the ground. Well, I always tell folks when they ask me how long our winters are; make sure your Halloween Costume fits over your parka and that your Easter Bonnet is fleece lined. But, then again, I like winter.

Getting Ready Each change of season causes us to pause and take an inventory to make sure we are ready for the upcoming challenges. All of the summer deck furniture is put away, the pool is closed, the boat out of the water, cars are scheduled to go in and have their winter tires put on and I'm back in the gym getting in shape for the ski season. I still need to tape up a few windows and doors but for the most part we have been taking care of the business of getting ready for a new season.     Holiday Seasons  As November and December approach we start to understand that the days are getting shorter. Not just the amount of sunlight but also the fact that for many this is a busy time of the year. There don't seem to be as many hours in the day as we see in the rest of the year. A lot goes on and we need to be taking care of business to get us through these final few months.       Business Matters We need to make the same adjustments for our businesses as well. Are we prepared for the end of year rush? Are we prepared to move into 2016 with a new sense of hope and excitement? Are we in good physical and mental shape to take on the extra hours, extra calories and extra, you know, stress that goes with the territory? Are we taking care of our employees and customers and managing our businesses with the day to day joy and passion that got us to where we are today? Stop for a minute, stand tall and ask yourself, am I taking care of business?  Did You Know? Randy Bachman first wrote a song inspired by a hard working recording technician who actually took the 8:15 train into the city each day and wore a white collared shirt. Originally titled, White Collar Worker, Bachman later heard a local radio DJ exclaim; 'We're takin' care of business' and before you know it Bachman-Turner Overdrive has a smash hit on their hands becoming one of BTO's most enduring and well known songs.

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick

Fall Colors

Dear Friend, Fall For most Vermonters, it is difficult to not be impressed with the magnificent colors that adorn our trees in late September and early October. Fall in New England is a time for all of us to take a step back and stand in awe of the beauty that surrounds us. We are so fortunate.

Fall Visitors For many Vermonters, Fall represents that time of the year when our shops, restaurants and attractions are filled to the brim with our annual "leaf peeper" visitors. Long lines, slow traffic, crowded markets are all welcomed signs that our economy is bursting in color as well. Guests mean business and in a state known for its diverse beauty and ever changing scenery, guests have plenty of reasons to visit time and time again.     Fall Hosts  Members of this vibrant community, have the opportunity to share the warm and spectacular spirit that defines the true heart and soul of a visit to Vermont. A smile, a wave, or a simple nod of the head all send a welcoming message to a traveler looking for a simple reassurance that they have come to the right spot. Any visitors who feels they have connected with the "locals" is sure to make a return trip in the not too distant future.     Fall Family Fall visitors may help keep our economy alive, but the turn of the season also fuels the closeness we feel with our friends and family. Students returning for Fall Break, hunters taking to the woods with old friends and families bringing in the crops in preparation for colder weather all remind us that it is the value of these deep relationships that keeps Vermont, well, Vermont. Happy Fall! Did You Know? According to some sources, Vermont attracts 3.5 million visitors and $460 million in spending a year during foliage season, which reaches its peak around Columbus Day. I saw a few of them this past weekend.

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick

Businesses as Educators

Dear Friend,  The Mandate The state of Vermont has mandated that every high school student have a Personalized Learning Plan (PLPs) and an increased access to some form of a Work-Based Learning Experience. They call it Act 77, codename: Flexible Pathways. Read more...

Time To Teach The long and the short of it is that the Education Gurus are acknowledging the power and wisdom in having our students see what the business world has to offer beforethey get out of high school. Why not get a real sense of just what skill sets a future employee will need while it is still possible to influence their personal education path? I like it. But, and there is always a but, that means that businesses in Franklin County have to expand the process of opening their doors and letting the students peek inside. And since we have a lot of students and they all need to take a peek, that means that all businesses, small and large will have to start allowing access. And this is a good thing. The more our students know about the employment opportunities that surround them in their home towns, the more likely they will want to do internships here and return here for their full time employment. And you are going to want them to do just that.       Let's Get Started: Op #1 On October 21st, the Franklin County Business and Professional Women along with the BFA Student Council and Business Department are hosting a Financial Literacy Day. Students from the Personal Finance and Career Exploration classes will visit 17 booths, manned by the business community - that's where you come in! Topics will cover Statistics, Banking, Housing, Utilities, Furniture, Groceries, Child Care, Transportation, Insurance, Life's Unexpected, Medical/Dental/Optical, Legal, Clothing, Pet & Vet, Charitable Donations, Entertainment, Travel and Financial Counseling. THEY NEED YOU - contact Barbara Fraser bfraser@fcsuvt.org, Marilyn Grunewald mlg1@aol.com or Jacqui Hood jacquih@comcast.net. Do it right now and do not make me beg. OK, PLEASE!   Let's Get Started: Op #2 Starting in November, the Chamber will be joining the NWTC to offer a series of Conversation Cafe' Breakfasts. This is similar to our Community Matters Breakfasts only these will include students and will focus on a single business type for each meeting. Think restaurants, then retail, then medical, then lodging, then manufacturing, then service, then who knows. Four or five reps from each business community will join a group of students and faculty for a lively discussion, open forum and food. Check these guys out for more insight: http://www.conversationcafe.org/. We will be introducing the dates and topics within the next week or so. In the meantime, sharpen up your round table meets speed dating techniques. These kids are going to love you. Contact me if you are interested in being part of a group.   Did You Know? At a matchmaking event he organized in 1998, Rabbi Yaacov Deyo brought along a gragger, the noisemaker Jews use during Purim. That night, in a Peet's Coffee & Tea in Beverly Hills, the Orthodox rabbi twirled his gragger to signal when it was time for the single men and women present to switch partners and spark up a conversation with the next stranger. "We thought 10 minutes for each date, because that was just an easier number to use in a busy coffeehouse," Deyo says. This entirely practical measure would inspire matchmakers all around the world.

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick