business monthly - december 2010

2 Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org Dec 2010/Jan 2011

On the CoverNow is the perfect time to review thepast year and gear up for an even better2011! Inside this issue, you’ll find many ideas for increasing your business’ success.

Cover photos:© Andres Rodriguez | Dreamstime.com © Bruce Parrott | Dreamstime.com

2010 Publications Committee Jason Kimes, Chairman

Linda Carlberg Jim Dorsey Bobby SpiegelPam Cunningham Stephanie Shapiro Casie Tryon

Publication StaffPublisher BrandLand MarketingAdvertising Sales Casie TryonPrinting/Mailing Advantage Mailing

Business Monthly is owned and published by the Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce, which is solely responsible for its content. It is mailedto all Chamber of Commerce members and to all non-member Corona, Norco and Eastvale businesses. Total circulation: 9,000 copies. For informationabout advertising, call the Chamber at (951) 737-3350.

Allan Borgen’s Restaurant Review 21Technology Bytes 24Financial Column 26Legal Opinions 28Calendar of Events 30Business Archive 32Referrals 32

Feature Stories

Your Greater Corona Valley Chamber of 4Commerce: Looking Back on 2010, and Moving Forward into 2011

SMART Goal Setting for Business 10

Why Use Social Media? 12

Connect Marketing & Sales Teams 14for a Stronger Link to Success

Business Expo 16

Membership Recognition Luncheon 22

Payroll Update 25

Monthly ArticlesMessage from the Chairman 3Message from the President 5Legislative Update 6 Building Business Relationships 8Long-Time Chamber Member 18Anniversary Recognition 19New Chamber Members 19New in Town 20

Table of Contents

Volume 10 | Number 11

Dec 2010/Jan 2011

Page 12

Page 16

Page 22

Page 21

Join us on FacebookFollow Us on Twitter

Volume 10 | Number 11 | Dec 2010/Jan 2011 | $4

INSIDE: 2010 Vote Records | Chamber Accomplishment in 2011 | Financial Column | Business Expo Photos | MoreINSIDE: 2010 Vote Records | Chamber Accomplishment in 2011 | Financial Column | Business Expo Photos | More

Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org 3Dec 2010/Jan 2011

n business, the process of planning, adjusting, reviewing and redrafting is never a one time or one day effort. Just like an experienced car driver, a business leader mustconstantly monitor the dashboard and the traffic and road conditions to steer the business away from hazards and toward itsdestination. Planning is then akin to having aroad map that clearly shows where the targetor the objective is. Clear-cut objectives can be established any time of the year, but the dawnof a new year gives you the added benefit of starting fresh and perhaps revisiting, in wholeor part, the roadmap you established for yourbusiness or organization in the prior year.It also provides you with the opportunity to be more ambitious and to take bolder action,if the circumstances warrant it.

Now is an excellent time to review your company's 2010 results and to plan for thecoming year. At this point, it’s too late to doanything about the past, but valuable data andtremendous lessons from mistakes that wemight have made can be used to shape ourfuture direction. That is why reviewing the current year’s performance objectively shouldbe the first step toward outlining a great planfor the coming year. The quantifiable resultstell us what is most likely to happen next,unless we do something to correct or boostthe current trends. Therefore, it really pays tobe brutally honest with yourself and to ask thetough questions. What did you do right; whatshould you do more of; and what worked?What did you do wrong; what should you stopdoing; and what did not work?

A typical approach to planning is to increaseor decrease the previous period’s numbers bysome acceptable percentage. This may bebased on economic factors, industry standardsor other indexes; however, coming up with anumber and applying it across the board is notnecessarily a good idea. As business leadersyou know your business and your customersmore than anyone else. You should use that toyour advantage and customize your numbersand incorporate them into your plans for nextyear. Whatever you do, what really matters iswhat impact these goals and objectives willhave on the critical business factors withinyour business.

how it is executed and put to action. The firststep is identifying who is going to be account-able for each critical component of the plan.Departments and managers must clearlyunderstand the objectives of the plan, alongwith the benchmarks that will be establishedto help keep them on track. In the planningstage, you many not be able to determine thebest strategies and tactics that will be neededto deliver the necessary results, so you maywant to leave room for creativity and flexibility.Lastly, please don’t forget to use the variousresources that are available to you throughThe Greater Corona Valley Chamber ofCommerce. Part of implementing and executing your strategic plan should includenetworking, which provides you with theopportunity to expose your business to a largenumber of potential clients.

Here’s to your success!

- Kerry L. Pendergast, Chairman of the Board

Critical FactorsFor most businesses, at the top of any list isthe growth of revenue and profit. By taking ahard look at this year’s results, you should seta goal that can easily be embraced/committedto by the whole company. Revenue and profitare relatively easy to communicate, becausethey are usually based on quantifiable numbers. Some other factors are also as critical, but they do not lend themselves toeasy assessable measurements. For example, “customer satisfaction” is very critical inachieving the stated revenue and profit figures; therefore we have to be able to somehow quantify the level of customer satisfaction and take the necessary steps ifexpectations are not being met. The same canbe said about other vital factors such as “quality” and “productivity.”

ImplementationThe measure of any business plan should notbe based on how good it looks on paper, but

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Kerry Pendergast

Anatomy of a Successful Strategic Plan I

BECOME A GREATER CORONA VALLEY CHAMBER MEMBER TODAY!

Join our 900-plus members and see for yourselfwhy it’s the best business investment you can make to grow your business!

Call Chamber at (951) 737-3350


Your Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce:Looking Back on 2010, and Moving Forward into 2011

members. Those with upcoming events can submit their calendar entriesonline, and they can also log into a members-only portal, which allows ourmembers to add or remove representatives, update contact information, andpost job openings, social media pages, hot deals, and more, any time of the dayor night. Invoices can be paid and member records can also be managed.

September marked our first structured membership drive in over a decade,and brought 65 new members into our Chamber family. We partnered withYour Chamber Connection, a Dallas-based business whose sole focus is to growChambers of Commerce. Over 100 volunteers stepped in to make calls anddeliver membership packets, and the three-day event we hosted at the FenderCenter and Eagle Glen Golf Club proved to be a great success. The referralscontinue to come in and we welcome you to refer members to our Chamber.

Because customer service is extremely important to us, we also began a customer service program. Each of the four full-time staff members (Betty,Denea, Pam and myself) have been assigned to various member businesses.Our job is to be the point of contact should a member have questions or needassistance with anything, at any time. We are hoping to bridge any communication gap and make sure our members know that we are availablefor them. One of the new ways we’ve attempted to support our members is bylaunching the Green Band Program. This program supports the communityby encouraging local consumerism. These wristbands are available at theChamber and entitle all wearers to a 10% discount at participating businesses,and any business can sign up, Chamber member or not.

The new programs and practices put into effect in 2010 will allow us to continue to grow and serve our members and the community, and we hope that you will hold strong through these tough times and ride the wave with us.If there’s ever anything you need, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our jobis to ensure that we create a strong local economy and that business thrives inthis region, and it’s not a task we take lightly. Have a wonderful holiday season, and we will see you in 2011!

Stephanie Shapiro is the Executive Assistant at the Greater CoronaValley Chamber of Commerce, and can be reached at (951) 737-3350 or by email at [email protected].

Check out page 7 for an end of the year summary from ourLegislative Action committee, and www.MyChamber.org for a consummate end of the year review, including how we revamped standing events like Good Morning Corona.

The past few years have proven to be a trying time for business, and thosewho have been weathering the storm have seen improvements in the econo-my over the latter part of the year. While not yet back to where we started, thecurrent trend has us optimistic about where we’re headed. As your localChamber of Commerce, our goal is to lead business toward success bysetting a positive example ourselves. We have not been without our trials and

tribulations as well, and the entire staff has been working diligently to pro-mote our members and this wonderful community we all enjoy living, work-ing, and playing in.

To achieve the 2010 Key Initiatives of (1) Marketing; (2) Expansion; and(3) Membership Development set forth at the 2009 Strategic PlanningSession, we implemented many new programs to better serve our members.These are highlighted below, and are in addition to the practices already in place.

First, we launched our Social Media campaign in February with a strong presence on Facebook. This forum gave us another way to provide pertinentinformation to the public, plus allow our members to promote their businesses and events. At approximately 750 “fans,” we are 75% of the wayto our goal of 1,000, which mirrors our outlook for our membership. With the success of our Facebook page under way, we decided to expand,and sent out our first “tweet” in September. Our presence on these socialmedia sites have allowed us to reach a larger demographic, which not onlyincludes Gen Y, but also a large following of baby boomers as well. We alsopartnered with Constant Contact, which has enabled us to not only keepour members abreast of important information, but to also offer our members a discounted rate for their own email marketing uses.

In March, we held our first Job Fair, developed by the University of Phoenixand partnering with Eagle Glen Golf Club, and hosted over 30 businessesacross Southern California who were looking to hire qualified individuals indozens of different industries. Due to the overwhelming response from thepublic, we held a second Job Fair in conjunction our 11th Annual BusinessExpo in October.

At our April Quarterly Membership Meeting, the members in attendancevoted on and approved the proposed change to our bylaws, which hasexpanded our Board of Directors to include up to 30 Directors. We alsolaunched a new name and logo in July. As our footprint in the communityhasincreased, we have evolved from the Corona Chamber, to doing businessas the Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce, specifically encompassing Norco and Eastvale, and open-ing our doors to all of the cities along the I-15 corridor, from Ontario to Lake Elsinore. In expanding our reach,we also began mailing this publication to all businessesin Corona, Norco and Eastvale, and our annual BusinessDirectory will be distributed to those businesses as well.In addition, the 2011-2012 map we produced includesall three cities.

Our new name was voted on by the Board, and theChamber launched a local and online campaign forgraphic artists to submit a rendition of what they visualized the Greater Corona Valley Chamber ofCommerce’s brand to look like. We received over 40 entries, which brought us to our current look. The design represents the rich history of Corona andembodies the new message of a greater community. Thislogo has three clear images that visually represent ourarea: the letter C symbolizes the greater Corona commu-nity, the three graphic elements symbolize the valleys,and the three bold colors of green, orange, and yellowsymbolize the agricultural and citrus roots of the region.

Following the introduction of our name change andlogo, we were tasked with rebranding our Chamber. This led to the August introduction of our new, easy-to-navigate website. In addition to the change in graphics,our website now functions as a great tool for our

�

�

�

�

�

�

by Stephanie Shapiro


very day I learn something new – a goal that has been instilled in me from early childhood. Towards the holidays, when theweather turns cold at night, I learned of yetanother way to express love and comfort forcomplete strangers. I want to thank MarianneJones for enlightening me as she took me fromsite to site with new sweatshirts and socks forthe homeless. At first, when she asked me to gowith her I thought it was weird, but I went, youknow as the male companion to protect her.However it wasn’t 10 minutes into our one hourtask that I was touched beyond words. I askedher how she was taught this special giving andspecifically how she would know what to do?Her response was simple: once you are in thatsituation, it is a constant reminder when theweather turns cold. If you were ever hungry,you so appreciate a warm meal or gesture offriendship and love from other human beings.Ironically, the next day she madepeanut butterand jelly sandwiches to distribute.

This parallels Bill Riemer’s discussion (ourspeaker from the Corona-Norco RescueMission) who shared his passion at GMC thispast November. This incorporates our formershelter and will enhance and improve its program. Thank you Marianne for being so special and caring. Chairman Pendergastexpressed the need for helping and though during holidays we often do a good job, peopleare hungry all year long. Starting in January andat each Good Morning breakfast, we encourageyou to bring bags of groceries that will be givento the Corona-Norco Mission and SettlementHouse. Either bring to Good Morning CoronaValley or the Chamber office. For anyone wishing to assist, contact the Chamber for a list of opportunities.

During December, the Chamber will hostBonnie Reiss, the Secretary of Education for theState of California at the QuarterlyMembership Meeting on December 3.Having heard her speak previously, I know firsthand that she too has a passion for improvededucation and I encourage you to attend ourluncheon to hear from her first-hand. Ticketsare available by logging on to our website.During this luncheon we will honor five member firms with the Award of Excellence. We will also promote the December 7 “NeverShall We Forget” event commemorating PearlHarbor. This will be at the Norconian Club andis free to attend. Again, all information is onour website.

Later in the month, we will finalize our yearwith a thank you to our members at theAnnual Holiday Mixer. It will be held nextdoor to the Chamber at the Elks Lodge onDecember 16 from 5pm until 7pm. I wantto thank all of you who have supported theChamber during this past year and prior. Each and every one of you are special in yourown way, and we invite you to join us at ourHoliday Mixer. And to end 2010 and begin2011, Eagle Glen has offered the Chamber agreat partnering opportunity. We will host theregional New Years Eve Celebration. Contactthe Chamber for details and see the ad onpage 29.

As we rapidly close 2010, I am pleased toreport the launch of a capital campaign forexpanding the corporate offices of ourChamber. If you are interested in learningmore, please contact me. Our staff has workeddiligently for our members and this expansionwill enable us to further provide our members with continual service excellence.

Our new Membership Directory will be published and distributed in January. If youare interested in advertising, please connectwith Casie Tryon prior to December 10.

Join us on January 15 as we acknowledgeour 2010 Board and welcome the 2011 Boardof Directors. We will also honor the recipientsof the 2010 Annual Awards (including Citizenof the Year; Ambassador of the Year; Award ofMerit; Non-Profit Organization). On January27 join us at the Prime Time Mixer, our firstof 2011. This has a different twist than prioryears, and features an opportunity for ourmember hosts to provide a wonderful atmosphere of real mixing. Located at EagleGlen Golf Club, you will enjoy wine pairing,food sampling and more. We encourage you tosecure your tickets prior to January 10 for adiscounted rate. See the advertisement in thisissue on page 23 for details or log on towww.MyChamber.org.

Before we close out 2010, I want to thank allof you for your dedication, commitment andsupport for our Chamber. To those of you whohave encouraged me through the weight losschallenge (again, many thanks!) I am now 38pounds lighter! But 2011 is right around thecorner, and now, at 55 years of age, I am looking for 10 people to lock arms and go onto the next challenge. For me, a pound peryear of age in 90 days! What is your challenge?Begin 2011 now, and let me know! We can doit together.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Bobby Spiegel

Looking AheadE

“This is the fifth vote record published since creating the Chamber’s Legislative ActionCommittee in 2006. Our yearly vote recordsdemonstrate our ability to hold our elected officials accountable to what is important to ourlocal business community,” stated CynthiaSchneider, Chair of the Greater Corona ValleyChamber’s Legislative Action Committee. “I toowant to thank Senator Emmerson and AssemblyMember Miller for their hard work and our collaborative relationship,” continued Schneider.

“Once again, this Chamber took the lead in 2010to educate both legislators on the local businesscommunity’s point of view,” stated Bobby Spiegel,President/CEO of the Greater Corona ValleyChamber. “We are very fortunate to have two

(continued on next page)

Greater Corona Valley Chamber Opposed/Defeated Bag Tax Bill


he Greater Corona Valley Chamber ofCommerce opposed a legislative proposal whichwould outlaw plastic grocery bags and also provide stores with the ability to place a fee onpaper bags.

Actual language of the proposed law, AB 1998,stipulated that retailers would be prohibited from providing single-use bags to customers,requiring them to provide reusable bags that met specified standards to customers, at a cost of not less than 5 cents per bag. The current law, which is set to expire on January 1, 2013,requires that large grocery and retail storesoperate an in-store recycling program for plastic bags, and prohibits the implementation of alternate recycling programs or additional fees on bags. AB 1998 would have supersededthese requirements.

bag manufacturing jobs in Southern Californiaand more throughout the state; including suppliers, venders and others. During a timewhen unemployment rates are up, this was a riskthat the Chamber and the business communitycould ill afford if AB 1998 were to pass. TheChamber will continue to seek other ways toreduce plastic bag waste, but not at the expenseof jobs.

Log on to www.CoronaAdvocacy.biz for moreinformation on issues impacting our regionalbusiness community.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed theGreater Corona Valley Chamber-opposed AB1998 during his last quarter in term.

“Imposing additional taxes and expenses on consumers and businesses in this economic climate is simply a bad idea at the wrong time,”said Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the GreaterCorona Valley Chamber’s Legislative ActionCommittee. “Businesses are mandated by statelaw to provide a recycling program for plasticbags. It is premature to eliminate the currentrecycling program; especially since this was onlyinstituted a few years ago,” continued Schneider.

The Greater Corona Valley Chamber, working with the American Chemistry Council,opposed AB 1998 because it would have eliminated an estimated 500 good-paying plastic

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

2010 VoteRecords: HoldingElected OfficialsAccountable

Senator Bill Emmersonand Assembly MemberJeff Miller Work To Create Jobs

T

PH

OTO

:asc

haef

fer

Proud to be an Executive Partnerwith the

Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Corona Valley Chamber ofCommerce and its Legislative Action Committeeworked diligently in 2010, partnering with state legislators on the 29 most important legislative proposals with potential impact to our local economy.

“The regional economy depends upon our stategovernment to support proposals that stimulatebusiness growth, and Corona-area legislatorsSenator Bill Emmerson and Assembly MemberJeff Miller are two leaders who understand the importance of job-creating proposals. Our successes during 2010 are a reflection of their commitment to improving our localeconomy,” stated Kerry Pendergast, Chairman of the Greater Corona Valley Chamber’s Board of Directors.


job-creating leaders who represent us inSacramento,” Spiegel continued.

The Greater Corona Valley Chamber lobbied during this year’s legislative session for our legislators to OPPOSE 16 legislative proposalsand SUPPORT 13. The Greater Corona Chamber’s positions on each of the 29 legislative proposals are available for viewingonline at www.CoronaAdvocacy.biz including summaries and explanations of most proposals,as well as the reasons why the Greater CoronaValley Chamber of Commerce opposed and supported each of the proposals.

To reach the “Percentage FOR pro-jobs legislation,” the Chamber tallied the number oftimes our legislators voted with the Chamber’sposition on each proposal and divided that totalby the total number of proposals in which eachlegislator voted. A legislative proposal is not figured into the vote record percentage if a legislator, for whatever reason, did not vote or ifthe proposal failed before the legislator had anopportunity to vote. The Governor’s final decisionon whether or not the legislative proposalbecomes law is also included.

Funding for the LAC program andCoronaAdvocacy.biz is generated by the Raceto Monte Carlo, held annually in early summer.

2010 Vote RecordNot voting = Elected official did not vote.N/A = Potential new law died before elected official had an opportunity to vote, or in the caseof the Governor, the potential new law did notreach his desk.

AB 212 Saldana (D) Energy: Building Standards: Zero Net Energy Buildings Corona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 482 Mendoza (D) Employment: Credit ReportsCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

AB 656 Torrico (D) Higher EducationCorporation: Oil and Gas Severance TaxCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A(continued on page 29)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Summary of Votes

FOR Pro-jobs legislation

AGAINST Pro- jobs legislation

Percentage FOR Pro-jobs legislation

State Senator Bill Emmerson* 11 2 85%Assembly Member Jeff Miller 14 2 88%Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 8 3 73%

*State Senator Bill Emmerson was elected in the June 8, 2010 special election and sworn into office the next day. He was previously the California State Assemblyman representing a district outside of Corona.He was eligible to only vote on a few bills for the remainder of the 2010 legislative session.

8 Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org Dec 2010 / Jan 2011

building business relationships

Above: The community pitches in at the groundbreaking for theCorona Community Garden, a partnership between ValenciaTerrace, Peace Lutheran Church and the City of Corona.

Right: Tim O’Brien, Vice President of Premier Service Bank, awarded funds raised fromtheir annual golf tournament to Margaret Strauser and Becky Gunnoe of the TraumaIntervention Program (TIP) of Corona, Inc. and Kara Lubin of The 100 Mile Clubfor their service to the community.

Below: Carleen Paul (center) of Skills for Success ReadingCenter, cuts the ribbon at the official grand opening of hertutoring center in Norco. Their mission is to provide specializedinstruction for struggling readers and support for their families.Services include student assessments and one-on-one educational therapy sessions for students, as well as parentalinstructional materials to be used at home. Skills for Success is located at 1217 Sixth St. in Norco, and can be reached at (951) 858-1643 or www.skills-for-success.com.

Below: Biren and Harina Shukla of Forum Info-Tech, Inc. receive the Gold SealAward from Corona Councilmember Eugene Montanez for the expansion of

their IT solutions company.Now located at 1247 Pomona Rd., they can bereached at (951) 256-4070or www.ForumInfoTech.net,and are focused on providingtechnology solutions to complex problems faced bysmall-and medium-sizedbusinesses, mid-market and large enterprises inSouthern California.

Above: Executive Director of Valencia Terrace and Corona MayorKaren Spiegel celebrate the one-year anniversary of ValenciaTerrace. Located at 2300 S. Main St. in the heart of Corona,this senior-living community boasts both independent andassisted living, private casitas, formal dining, and more.

Right: Gwen Ford of Visterra Credit Union receives a plaque fromGreater Corona Valley Chamber Chairman of the Board Kerry Pendergast(Premier Service Bank) for their sponsorship of Good Morning Corona.

Join us for our next Good Morning Corona Valley on January 27th at EagleGlen Golf Club, sponsored by Valencia Terrace. Call the Chamber at (951)737-3350 or visit us online at www.CoronaChamber.org to register today!

Left: The Chamber-hosted Candidates Forum allowed those running for CoronaCity Council, Corona-Norco Unified School District and Riverside Community CollegeBoard of Trustees to meet voters in the community and answer the important questions. On hand were Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel, John Zickefoose,Councilmember Eugene Montanez, Grey Frandsen, Dr. Samuel Davis, Ian Davidson,Jason Fox, Virginia Blumenthal, Bill Newberry, Doug Husen, Councilmember Stan Skipworth, and Janet Green.

Phot

o by

Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Elle

n Ba

ldw

inPh

oto

by J

im D

orse

y Ph

otog

raph

y

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Pat

rick

Akes

Phot

o by

Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy

Photo by Focal Instincts Photography

Phot

o by

Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy

1. Dave Semanik, Denise Parks, Jim Clayton, Thomas Pridonoff, and Ron Zamora of AccentPlastics, Inc. receive the Award of Excellence in Manufacturing from CEO of Stater Bros. Jack Brown (center), and 2010 Chairman of the Board Kerry Pendergast (Premier Service Bank).

2. Junior Ambassador Nicole Baldwin receives the Volunteer of the Quarter award from GreaterCorona Valley Chamber Chairman Kerry Pendergast (Premier Service Bank) for her commitmentto the Chamber.

3. Quarterly Membership Meeting Keynote Speaker Jack Brown, CEO of Stater Bros., and KerryPendergast, President/CEO of Premier Service Bank and 2010 Greater Corona Valley ChamberChairman of the Board, are all smiles.

4. Corona Veterans Memorial Division President Ruben Rasso receives the Outstanding Non-Profit honor from 2010 Chairman of the Board Kerry Pendergast (Premier Service Bank),Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel, Mayor Pro Tem Stan Skipworth, and Corona Council Members Eugene Montanez and Jason Scott.

5. 2010 Chairman of the Board Kerry Pendergast (Premier Service Bank), CEO of Stater Bros. Jack Brown, and Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel award Shannon and Dean Seif (center) of All-StarCollision, Inc. with the Award of Excellence in Service.

6. Blake Usilton (center), owner of Philly’s Best, and his crew are awarded the Award ofExcellence in Retail from 2010 Greater Corona Valley Chamber Chairman Kerry Pendergast(Premier Service Bank).

building business relationships

Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org 9Dec 2010 / Jan 2011

1

2 3

4 5 6 Phot

os b

y Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy

You’re a fly on the wall at the annual goal-setting meeting of Rick’s Bowling Shoes & Aluminum Siding.Rick Dribble, the long-time president, starts the meetingwith a challenge to his department heads to come upwith the company’s goals for 2011.

He points to the vice president of sales and marketingfor her ideas. “We need to reach more people so we cansell more shoes and siding,” she says smugly. “That waywe’ll make more money.”

Next up is the vice president of manufacturing. “I saywe lower the cost of production and…”

The HR director interrupts him. “Why don’t we just getour employees to work harder?”

The vice president of finance chimes in. “Look, wemade about three thousand dollars this past year. I saywe try to make at least a million next year.”

Dribble points to his secretary, who is taking notes. “OK, you got all of that?” he asks. “Meeting adjourned. Let’s go get ‘em.”

Should those “goals” be adopted, chances are good that Rick’s BowlingShoes & Aluminum Siding will be out of business by the end of next year.People who know better say that Rick and his dysfunctional team havedone everything wrong in planning the company’s future.

For starters, the goals need to be realistic and flexible. Jeff Marshburn,who managed the Costco warehouse in Corona before moving to theMontclair store, said that too many businesses set unachievable goals.“You have to stretch without going too far, and you have to constantly re-think your goals. It’s tough to set goals when you’re a new businessbecause goals are based on prior performance.” So much for turning a$3,000 profit into a million in one year.

At American Security Bank, goals are set only after extensive research.Financial and demographic data from each market it serves is gathered,explained Cynthia Schneider, executive vice president and chief administrative officer. From that data, a picture of each market emerges.

“Then, market-by-market, we perform a SWOT Analysis. What are ourcompany’s Strengths and Weaknesses in each market compared to whatthat market may need this year? What are our Opportunities in light of the economy, our business plan and our risk tolerance? Lastly, whatare the Threats (things that would keep us from capitalizing on opportunities) in each market? From that analysis, she said, come specif-ic ideas – or goals – for capitalizing on the opportunities in each market.


SMART Goal Setting for Businessby Peter Fischetti


Jeffrey Bennett, who built Nature’s Recipe Pet Foods into a multi-million-dollar business and now owns Cool Tube, said that goals aremeaningless without a strong financial structure, and that businesses —particularly start-ups — are doomed to failure unless they’re properly financed.

“You’ve got to follow a business plan and a marketing plan before setting goals,” he said. “Goals should go beyond one year, and it’s suicidal to mix personal money with a business account or use creditcards and pay 20 percent interest. Some businesses actually do that orthey use their home as collateral.”

A key element in successful goal-setting, he said, is delegation. Who isresponsible for meeting a particular goal?

A Google search for “setting goals for business” elicited thousands of articles on that subject. You could vow to read all of them, but then thatwould be an unrealistic goal. One link, from Entrepreneur magazine, is succinct and seems to cover most of the bases. It’s called the SMART system, and lists five criteria, some illustrated above, that make a lot ofsense. Your goals should be:

• Specific. Rather than “I want to make a lot of money,” quantify thegoal to increasing profits by a certain percent.

• Measurable. For example, measure quarterly results against last year’s figures.

• Achievable and Realistic. Avoid pie-in-the-sky projections• Timely. Set dates for achieving goals.

So that’s it. Have a profitable 2011, and let’s hope Rick Dribble reads this.


Remember the days when a business that hada website was viewed as being on the cuttingedge of technology? Where businesses havingelaborate websites were viewed as beingleaders in the marketing world? In 2010, thisis no longer the case. Over the past couple ofyears, technology has evolved past corporateweb sites to incorporate a phenomenonknown as Social Media. And if you’re in business, and you’re not engaging in socialmedia in one form or another, then you’remissing out on the opportunity to:• increase your presence online• promote your brand• connect with your clients • keep up with the competition.

Social media is a way for you to utilize youronline contacts to broadcast a message.Whether it’s announcing special offerings orsimply saying “good morning,” social mediaenables you to connect with other people thatare interested in hearing what you have tosay. There are numerous tools that make upthe social media world, but probably the twomost common tools are Twitter and Facebook.

a platform that was ultimately opened up tothe rest of the world. Facebook reports havingover 500 million users who spend an average700 billion minutes a month logged in. Withthese kinds of numbers, it’s no wonder thatbusinesses are finding a home on Facebookas well.

So why use either one – or both? In short,you need to because everyone else is doingit. This means that there’s a good probabilitythat your current clients, and potential clients,are already utilizing either Facebook and/orTwitter on a daily basis. If your clients are using it, then you can bet that your competition is as well. Don’t fall behind.Expand your online presence by exploring the world of Social Media and determine how your business can benefit from usingthis amazing technology.

Cladia Sheridan is the 82ndPresident of the California JuniorChamber. She can be reached by email at [email protected].

Twitter, www.twitter.com, is anonline community that allows youto make short comments or statements, known as “tweets,”and broadcasts them to your

“followers” to read. The most common usesfor Twitter vary. One type of user may be theindividual who is simply documenting his lifein 140 characters or less for all to see.Another may be a company who is trying toconvey short messages to their followersexplaining brand, company offerings, andinformational insight. With over 100 millionregistered users posting over 750 tweets persecond on an average day, Twitter becomes agreat way to get the word out.

Facebook, www.facebook.com,is an online community. Thismeans that users, or “friends”,interact by conversing online inthe form of “comments.” A friend

will make a comment and another friend canrespond with his or her own comments.Facebook was initially created to allow college students the ability to interact,

Why Use Social Media?by Claudia Sheridan


4th Annual December 7th

Remembrance Ceremonypresented by

Lake Norconian Club Foundation, City of Corona,City of Norco, Greater Corona Valley Chamber

of Commerce, US Navy, Riverside County SupervisorJohn Tavaglione

US Naval Weapons Assessment Center Seal Beach;Detachment Corona

Photos courtesy ofBrigitte Jouxtel

On Tuesday, December 7th at 10:00 a.m., come out to remember those who survived an attack we as Americanspledged we would never forget – Pearl Harbor.

It is also a day to remember all those who have served;both those who have returned and those who have not.And, it is a day to honor those who are currently in harm’s way.

The event will feature the US Navy Band, the National Cemetery All-Services Color Guard, the Marine and Air ForceJunior ROTC Rifle Teams and speakers who will talk about thatinfamous day at Pearl Harbor and a survivor of the 9/11 attack.

All veterans and their families are invited to attend this freeevent. Photo ID is required; pre-registration is needed (thoughyou will not be turned away).

For more information go to www.lakenorconianclub.org.

Come support those who gave so much andsupport our troops during this time of war.


Today’s economic challenges have causedall businesses to rethink their strategies –especially in marketing and sales. Take afresh look at some of the basics to examine where improvements can be made.

Start by answering these key questions:

1. Does our company brand image reflect who we are today? Is it outdated? Weak?Too limited?

2. When was the last time (if ever) our Marketing and Sales Teams had an opendiscussion about working together to create more effective, on-target tools?

3. Have we adapted our marketing message and sales strategies for today’s buyer?

4. Are we the preferred choice in our market space? If not, do we have a plan to get there? Who is leading this important mission?

This is a simplified list, but it illustrates thebuilding blocks needed for a solid plan.Get started by bringing your Marketing andSales teams together in regular sessions toincrease their communication. When bothsides have a voice in what is needed to produce results, everyone is equally vestedin success. In these interactive meetings,listen for differing viewpoints to learn wherethe disconnects and agreements are.

Ask the Sales Team what they need intheir “toolkit” to close more business. Whatdo they believe is missing or in need ofimprovement? What factors can they clarifyfrom the perspective of the “front line?”Brainstorm about possibilities and solutions.

Next, audit the current brand image,literature, campaigns, website, etc. Do theymatch the Sales Team’s input? Ask theMarketing Team to revisit the brand imageand message, if necessary, and set newstandards. Using the brainstorming sessioninput, have them build sample advertisingproject layouts for the group’s feedback.After any adjustments, finally build thematerials for implementation.

You have choices to make, standing at what-ever particular crossroads you face today.A new year lies before you – which directionwill your business take? In a changing marketplace, opportunities may be different,but they still exist in great number.

Connect Marketing & Sales Teams

for a Stronger Link to Success

by Linda Carlberg

Linda Carlberg is the Owner/Creative Director of BrandLandMarketing, publisher of the BusinessMonthly. She can be reached at (951) 493-6712 or by [email protected]


Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County (PCARC) is our community's designated lead agency for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

We work to promote strong families and child safetythrough advocacy, public awareness, education and community programs through our network of volunteers.

You can change the lives of childrenthrough volunteering for events,activities and trainings targetedtowards specific child abuse prevention goals and strategies.

Our Corona/Norco chapter meets regularly on the 4th Thursday of the month from 10 am to 11:30 amat the Foundation Center located at 815 Sixth St,Ste. 110 in Corona.

The National Football Leaguecomes to Corona for the Super Bowl Sunday, February 6, 2011Eagle Glen Golf Club has partnered with Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County to tackle child abuse and neglect. Meet Football greats like Kermit Alexander, Reggie Doss, Joe Sweet, Efren Herrera,Mark Seay, Dokie Williams, Craig McEwen,Cedrick Hardman, Pete Shaw, LeRoy Irving,Chris Bayne, Marv Fleming and more as they provide game-day commentary! Food, Fun and Prizes make watching the Big Game a lifetime event.Tickets go on sale at Eagle Glen Golf Club,Monday nights beginning November 29th or by calling Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County at 951-626-5581 ext. 1005.General Admission is $45 per person.

Watch the game in a cozycouch style atmosphere withwide screen viewing and all-you-can eat buffet. Lots ofprizes, contests, autographsand your chance to win aGet-A-Way-Weekend to San Francisco! For additional informationcontact Tami Alexander,Event Coordinator at 951-522-9653.You can still win tickets to our event byattending Monday NightFootball at Eagle Glenthrough December!

Hundreds of people attendedthe 11th Annual BusinessExpo on October 7th atCrossroads Church to learnabout the many services thatlocal businesses have to offerin the Greater Corona Valley.


The Career Day hosted 100+students participating in mockinterviews with professionals invarious fields, resume writing classes, and learninginterview skills.

Photos by Jim Dorsey Photography

Dec 2010/Jan 2011 Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org 17


Sondra Lind is a woman with a passion; a passion for excellence. As the owner of a thriving and well respected escrow company thatserves the Inland Empire, she is sensible, savvy,and successful at what she does. Her success hascome in no small part to her seemingly innatesense of commitment and a tremendous workethic that drives her to be the first one in theoffice and the last one to leave.

When Sondra founded New Dimensions Escrowin 1990 she had worked in the escrow industryin Orange County for thirteen years. She sawopening her own company as an opportunity to use her experience and talents in a new andgrowing community. She chose Corona for itsgrowth potential and moved not only her professional life here, but her personal life aswell. This, she thought, would be the place forher to start her business and raise her family. “I wanted to establish a company that not onlyhad an excellent reputation for top level servicebut was also established as the most professionaland efficient as well; where people in the indus-try wanted to work,” says Lind. Her employeeloyalty and dedication are a testament to thatcommitment. Eight out of ten of her employeeshave worked for New Dimensions escrow forover a decade, and one employee has been withher since she opened. “I wanted to create aworkplace that was positive,” explains Lind,

LONG-TIME CHAMBER MEMBER

Phot

o by

Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy

New Dimensions Escrow Sondra Lind, Owner

by Ariana Kimes

to balance the benefits of technology with thestrength of strong interpersonal skills.” She doesthis by practicing “offense communication” and keeping her clients posted on the status oftheir transactions. “If a miracle needs to bepulled off to close a deal, we’re going to find the way to do it!” says Lind. It is this rare commitment to service and her willingness to goabove and beyond for those she represents thatmake her company special in the industry.

Another quality which makes New DimensionsEscrow unique and special is the fact that its staffis entirely female and always has been. Lind callsher company a “generational business” since she has past employed her two daughters, her step-daughter and the daughters of three ofher employees, all in an effort to “pass on the knowledge” to a new generation. She attributestheir company success to the support and excellence of her staff, who she views as a loyaland invested family.

New Dimensions Escrow is a full service, independent escrow company, licensed with theCalifornia Department of Corporation. They servethe Inland Empire in handling standard sales,short sales, REO sales and transactions, refinances and commercial sales.

Please visit www.newdimensionsescrow.comor call (951) 734-8252 for more information.

“A work environment where employees didn’thave to choose between work and family commitments.”

One of the first things Lind did after starting hercompany was join the Chamber of Commerce. “If you are going to be involved in the communityand work here, then you need to be a member ofthe Chamber,” she says. Now, after 20 years ofmembership, Lind expresses, “The Chamber iscreating a positive environment in the communityfor small businesses to function and thrive. I appreciate all the efforts the Chamber fosters to create a place where business owners can besuccessful and involved in the community.”

As an active member of Circle City Rotary and TheInland Gateway Association of Realtors, she hasmade it a priority to cultivate relationships withrealtors and lenders. New Dimensions Escrow isset apart from its competitors by its owner’s busi-ness philosophy: “Professional service with a per-sonal touch.” Lind takes this motto to heart and itis clearly reflected in her attitude towards cus-tomers and business. Though we live in a day andage where nearly all escrow transactions andcommunications can be done via email, Lind haspurposed that her company will not do businessthat way because “it’s too impersonal.”She explains, “One-on-one communication isessential in successfully closing escrows. I like


Community ServiceYWCA of Riverside County8172 Magnolia Ave.Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 687-9922www.ywcariverside.org

Day SpaPure Life SaunasCorona, CA 92883Carlos Elizalde (888) 671-7873www.purelifesaunas.com

DentistSouth Corona Dental Group1312 E. Ontario Ave., Ste. 102 Corona, CA 92882Jackie Patino (951) 273-0370www.southcoronadental.com

R. James Richardson II, M.S. D.D.S.910 S. Washburn Ave., Ste. BCorona, CA 92882Mercedes Losada (951) 735-2011www.babyteethdoc.com

DevelopersCastle & Cooke (The Crossings)2740 Tuscany St., Ste. 104Corona, CA 92881Kay Wilson (951) 284-1050www.castlecooke.com

Engineering – ConsultantSimon Wong Engineering9968 Hibert St., 2nd FloorSan Diego, CA 92131Terri London (858) 566-3113www.simonwongeng.com

FinancialWealth Strategies Group, an Office of MetlifeCorona, CA 92881Natasha Semien (213) 928-6528www.natashasemien.com

Food IndustryMy Granny’s SecretCorona, CA 92883Karen Tanaka (951) 603-3420

Anniversary Recognition

New Members

44-YEAR MEMBERLionel Rentschler, DDS,

A Professional Corporation

33-YEAR MEMBERGlen Ivy Hot Springs Spa

25-YEAR MEMBERMCA Clay Roof Tile

23-YEAR MEMBERSDowns EnergyLakeview Professional ServiceMorton P. Israel, M.D.

16-19 YEAR MEMBERSSilver Dollar Pancake HouseUnion Bank of California - Main St.

6-10 YEAR MEMBERSRe/Max All Stars Realty - NelsonRosen Entertainment SystemsSunset Graphics Screen Printing & EmbroideryYourCoronaCPA.com

1-5 YEAR MEMBERSAllCare Medical Group of RiversideAlexander’s Salon & SpaArthritis FoundationBank of AmericaCal Draulics, Inc.Corona Art Association – Corona Heritage ParkCorona Magazines of ValuesCorona Symphony OrchestraDr. H.S. Gill, DDSEl Borrego Mexican RestaurantEZ Clipper.Net4G WirelessHealthy Families InternationalSid’s Carpet BarnJ Sushi & Grill, Inc.One Total Insurance Solution, Inc.Pilot Limousine ServiceSanderson Associates RealtySpringHill Suites by MarriottSugar / Tart DesserterieThe Jacklaw GroupThe Seif Real Estate Group, Inc.West Coast Aire, Inc.West Star EnterprisesWingstop RestaurantWyman & Little Inc.

Health/Weight LossHerbalife International13503 Falcon Ridge Rd.Eastvale, CA 92880Al Ash (951) 272-1063www.myaaweightloss.com

Janitorial ServiceWurm’s Janitorial Services, Inc.544 Bateman Cir.Corona, CA 92880Larry Stewart (951) 582-0003

Manufacturers - Water FiltrationSprite Industries, Inc.1791 Railroad St.Corona, CA 92880Sherry Farley (951) 735-1015www.spriteshowers.com

Pension PlansInland Empire Pension Administration14198 Post St.Corona, CA 92880Christina Gledhill (951) 272-8569www.inlandempirepension.com

RestaurantJimmy’s Diner160 E. Ontario Ave., Ste. 103Corona, CA 92879Jim Spiropoulos (951) 734-0800www.jimmysdinercorona.com

SchoolsTaylion Virtual Academy1184 W. Second St., Ste. 101San Bernardino, CA 92410Ramona Bywater (909) 889-5152www.taylion.com

Tri-County Allied Health School512 Queensland Cir.Corona, CA 92879Arnold Ardevela (951) 479-4775www.tricountyallied.com


NEW IN TOWN

Owners John and Jeni Palmieri in front of theirnewly opened Discount Warehouse

Discount Warehouseby Peter Fischetti

Mention the word “Palmieri” in Corona and a lot of people will think of the pharmacy that JimPalmieri opened in 1969 and owned until 2000,when he sold it to Kevin Pidgeon, a long-timeemployee pharmacist.

Over the years, lots of people have worked atPalmieri Pharmacy including one of Jim’s sons, John, who helped out his father while attendingschool. After graduating from UCR, John becamean account rep for Bergen Brunswig (nowAmerisourceBergen), a large pharmaceutical services company, and later for Bristol-Myers. At both jobs, he won several national awards forsales achievement.

But ultimately, John would find a different prescription for success in the business world.After cashing in some company stock for a largeprofit, John purchased a nearly-new car for hiswife, Jeni, for about half the cost of a brand new one. “I thought that was a great deal,” he said, “so I bought three more and parkedthem outside my house with a ‘For Sale’ sign.They sold almost immediately, and I was hookedon cars.”

Ten years ago, Palmieri, now 42, opened FreewayIsuzu Trucks & Vans at Sixth and Yorba streets in Corona. About five years ago, he and Jenipurchased the 10 acres from Sixth Street to the

freeway, which included the Isuzu CommericalTruck dealership and many buildings.

Over the years, the warehouse had a number of tenants, including Habitat for Humanity andanother liquidator, both of which did well, Jenisaid, and then a furniture outlet which recentlyclosed. Faced with a vacant building, she said, “I told my husband we should put somethingthere. It’s a tough economy, and people needbargains. I know, with two girls in school, howexpensive it is to feed them. Since we own thebuilding, we must pay the rent anyway.”

John wasn’t sure, but Jeni was. She contacted the liquidators that previous tenants had used,signed new contracts, and two months agoopened Discount Warehouse where she runs the show. Almost all the products are familiarbrands, and grocery and household items are the most popular, Jeni said. “We get those deliveries on Tuesdays, and people know that, so they’re lined up waiting to get in.”

You never know exactly what will be on theshelves, but the Palmieris try to stock basichousehold goods and groceries, along withclothing, furniture, electronics and sports equipment. “The way it works,” John said, “isthat we buy a $6 container of Downey’s for $3,and sell it for $4.”

A few weeks after Discount Warehouse opened,John expanded the Freeway dealership to includeSixth Street frontage on 1625 W. Sixth, sellingpre-owned autos and commercial trucks. Also onsite is a service center that does repairs on allmakes of vehicles.

John stays pretty busy juggling his businesses.“I couldn’t do it without Jeni,” he said, but both make sure there’s time for their twodaughters. Rachelle, 13, who attends SantiagoHigh School, is Miss Corona Pre-Teen, andSophia, 10, a fifth-grader at CoronaFundamental, has won awards for cheerleading.

When John and Jeni need advice on their nextmove, there’s always his father, Jim, now 81, who meets and greets on Fridays. Jim’s wife of 56years, Kathleen, continues to stay active. Jim,Kathleen, John. Jeni and daughters just cameback from Europe where they met with relativesin Ireland.

Discount Warehouse is open Monday to Saturdayfrom 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (951) 531-8290or visit www.discountwarehousecorona.com.For more information on purchasing trucks and autos at Freeway Trucks & Vans, call (951) 278-3799 or visit their website atwww.freewayisuzutrucks.com.

Phot

o by

Jim

Dor

sey

Phot

ogra

phy


Restaurant ReviewSilver Dollar Pancake House

Visit Allan’s new online restaurant video website:FeedMe411.com. Allan can be heard every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 pm on the Let’s Dine Out RadioShow on KTIE 590am. You can contact Allan [email protected] or by phone (909) 910-3463.

here for years, on my next trip they insisted that I try the Apple Waffles,Strawberry French Toast and their unique Chili Cakes. If I don’t try these,many of the customers said that my life would not be complete, and theywere serious!

From the lunch side of the menu came the Beefeater $8.49, the MonteCristo Sandwich and the Triple Decker Club House Sandwich, both pricedat $7.99. The Beefeater featured grilled roast and mushrooms (and lots of it) served on grilled Sourdough bread along with blue cheese dressing.The sandwich was delicious while the side of fresh cole slaw had a nicesweet mayo dressing and went very well with the sandwich. The MonteCristo consisted of thinly sliced ham, turkey, Swiss and American cheesebetween two slices of bread that were dipped into an egg batter and fried,served with strawberry jam and topped with powdered sugar.The sandwich was not quite as good as the one made at the Blue Bayourestaurant in Disneyland, but was a good choice none-the-less.

The last sandwich was the classic Club sandwich with slices of ham andturkey, lettuce, slices of tomato and mayo on three pieces of bread of yourchoice. No wonder this item is so popular; it’s simple yet really good,especially with their onion rings.

Other entrées I tried and liked very much were the four piece crispy andjuicy Fried Chicken Dinner and the Chicken Fried Steak. Both of thesedishes were only $8.69 and come with a choice of soup or salad and achoice of potato, grilled bread, dessert and a beverage. You can’t beat this folks! Just a reminder, even though they serve “dinner” items,they are only open for breakfast and lunch.

For dessert, you must try one of their homemade goodies like the bigger-than-life Cinnamon Roll $2.29, served warm, their New York creamy andrich Cheesecake $3.79 and their delicious Bread Pudding that’s just $1.89.

Since Robert and his wife Diana Hernandez took over about 20 years ago and with the help of their son Robert Jr. and their friendly staff,this restaurant has been a favorite local breakfast and lunch spot for many people who reside in Corona as well as in surrounding areas.Although I live a little distance away, you know I will be back for more of their home style cooking.

Silver Dollar Pancake House710 East Sixth Street / Corona, 92789(951) 737-5977Hours: Monday-Saturday 5am to 4pm

Sunday 6am to 4pm Price Range: $3.99 to $9.99American Cuisine

Allan Borgen’s

Above: The Silver Dollar Pancake House. Above: The interior is a throwback to the forties with a bar area.

Above: Banana Pancakes – two pancakeswith bananas in the batter, topped withpecans and caramel syrup.

Phot

os b

y Al

lan

Borg

en

There is nothing better than starting the day off with a great breakfast,and one terrific choice is dining at the Silver Dollar Pancake House inCorona, which has been serving up some delicious breakfast and lunchitems since 1925.

The interior of the restaurant is a throwback to the forties when foodwas made fresh to order and was what made waking up something tolook forward to. The menu features a large variety of traditional as wellas some original breakfast and lunch items that will thrill and delightyour culinary senses. Best of all, all of the items on the menu are available throughout the day no matter when you drop in.

The choices are endless, but I decided on my first round to order the Old-Fashioned Buckwheat Cakes $7.69, the Western Omelet $8.49,and the popular Banana Pancakes $8.79. The Buckwheat Cakes,were three large, dark colored pancakes that had a distinct nutty flavor to them, and even tasted “healthy” – if that’s possible? As good asthese pancakes were, the “Mother” of all pancakes were the BananaPancakes. This memorable plate consisted of two huge fluffy pancakeswith sliced bananas in the batter and topped with chopped pecans andcaramel syrup. Pure heaven! If you enjoy omelets, I suggest you try thetasty Western Omelet with chopped onions, green peppers, bacon andcheese. All of the omelets come with three buttermilk pancakes, hashbrowns with toast or biscuit and gravy. The omelet was extremely fillingespecially when potatoes and toast are added to the mix. Oh yes, I justhad to sample the biscuits and gravy and they were oh so good!

They also have a lot more breakfast items to choose from. After talking to some of the many loyal customers that have been coming

Dec 2010/Jan 2011

MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION LUNCHEON

22 Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org

Our final Quarterly Membership Meeting for 2010 is Friday,December 3rd at Crossroads Church. Tickets can be secured by logging on to www.MyChamber.org or calling the Chamber at (951) 737-3350. This meeting is sponsored by Premier Service Bank.

Focused on providing a good workforce througheducation, the Chamber has invited BonnieReiss, Secretary of Education for the State ofCalifornia, who will openly share about the educational system and areas where we mustimprove, as well as make drastic changes.

Bonnie Reiss was sworn in by Governor Schwarzenegger on February 23, 2010. The Office of the Secretary of Education is the primary education advisor to the Governor and iscommitted to creating, promoting and supportingthe Governor’s policies that ensure access to quality education for all Californians.

Since 2007, Secretary Reiss served as operating advisor to Pegasus CapitalAdvisors, a private equity firm committed to investing in and developing scarceresources, commodities and sustainable companies. Previously, she served assenior advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2007, where she advised the Governor on all major policy initiatives, including education, the environment and children's issues. From 1994 to 2003, Secretary Reiss served as founding president of the Inner-City GamesFoundation, later renamed After School All-Stars. In 1988, she founded theEarth Communications Office where she led the effort to use media for publicawareness campaigns of environmental issues until 1993. Secretary Reiss’experience includes careers as an entertainment lawyer, accountant, producer and writer.

Secretary Reiss was appointed to serve on the University of California Board ofRegents in 2007 for a twelve year term. She serves on the Board of Directors

for After School All-Stars and the Governor and First Lady’s Conference onWomen. In 2007, Secretary Reiss received the William S. White LifetimeAchievement Award from the U.S. Department of Education for her advocacy inthe area of public education and, in 2006, she received the Advocate of theYear Award from the University of California Student Association. From 2004 to 2006, Secretary Reiss served on the California State Board of Education.

Prior to hearing from Secretary Reiss, the Greater Corona Valley Chamber willhonor the following business partners with various awards:

The Award of Excellence for Manufacturer/Distributor will go to Vulcan Materials,who have become actively involved in ourregion. The business was formed as a private family-owned construction materials company in 1909 in Alabama as the Birmingham Stag Company.Throughout the years, the companyexpanded and in 1956 became a publiclytraded company under Vulcan Detinning’slisting on the New York Stock Exchange.The company was renamed VulcanMaterials Company and now has access to the capital markets that will help it grow and prosper. In 1999, Vulcanacquired CalMat, Inc., expanding the

Company’s aggregates operations into California, Arizona and New Mexico, making Vulcan one of the nation’s leading producers of hot-mix asphalt andready-mixed concrete.

AWARD of EXCELLENCE: Manufacturer / Distributor

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Vul

can

Mat

eria

ls

Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org 23 Dec 2010/Jan 2011

The Award of Excellence in Retailgoes to Jos. A. Bank, located inthe Promenade Shops at DosLagos. Jos. A. Bank is not justanother menswear retailer. Whatmakes them unique is also whathas attracted customers to theirstores for 105 years: a heritage of quality and workmanship, anextensive selection of beautifullymade, classically styled tailored

and casual clothing, and prices typically 20 to 30 percent below their competitors.Add that to an expert staff of sales professionals who prize service and customersatisfaction above all. There are 500 stores nationwide with a full selection ofmen’s tailored and casual clothing, footwear and accessories. A 100% satisfaction guarantee is behind every item they sell.

The Award of Excellence in Service goes to Mission Ambulance, whose mainheadquarters are located in their Corona Division. The main offices include theirambulance billing unit, centralized dispatch center and communications facilities,and administrative offices. Fleet maintenance and repair is conducted from thislocation, and they also maintain their storerooms here. Other functions located inCorona include their quality assurance and training facilities. Their modern,

state of the art classroom provides the setting for training of Mission Ambulance staff, and is also used

for many types of classes for individuals seekingmedical training and certification. All of their

Division's ambulances are coordinatedin Corona, with ambulances constantlybeing moved according to servicedemand and the needs of the variouscommunities they serve.

This quarter the Chamber willhonor one of its many non-profit organizations, the LakeNorconian Club Foundation.This group is small in volunteers (and ready to acceptmore), but have had thousandsattend their events, includingover 50 tours of the LakeNorconian Historic District,attended by politicians andpreservationists from every level,

Olympic athletes and more. Their efforts in preserving the facility are long term andtheir spirit is infectious. They continue to conduct tours of the former NorconianClubhouse, and are working in cooperation with the City of Norco to receive 130acres of historic excess land from the Federal Government. The list of their accomplishments over the years is staggering, and can be viewed on their website.

Lastly, the Chamber will recognize Jim Hildebrantof Classic Handyman Services with the Volunteer of the Quarter award. During the short time Jim has been with our Chamber, he assisted in relocating thelobby display from Riverside to our Chamber offices, as well as fixing odds and ends at the office. Jim also volunteers with Rotary Club International, and with over 30 years in construction, you can count on hiscompany. Jim has built his reputation in the communityby delivering quality work with his crew, on budget and on time. He has extensive experience in both residential and commercial – everything from buildingschools and shopping centers to carpentry, plumbing,

kitchen/bath remodels, concrete work, irrigation and electrical. “There are fewthings I can't do,” says Hildebrant.

AWARD of EXCELLENCE: Service

AWARD of EXCELLENCE: Retail AWARD of EXCELLENCE: Non-Profit Award

VOLUNTEER of the QUARTER

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Brig

itte

Joux

tel

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Jos

.A.B

ank

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Jim

Hild

ebra

nt

Photo Courtesy of Mission Ambulance


ith the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) on the rise and agovernment-funded stimulus plan in place, most physicians havealready been approached by several EMR vendors claiming to offer thebest product in the marketplace, leaving physicians with the dauntingtask of selecting the one that will best fit their practice. The right EMRsolution will improve the quality of patient care and satisfaction,increase productivity, ensure HIPAA compliance and boost profits.Finding and implementing the right EMR solution, however, can feellike trying to find a needle in a haystack if physicians don’t know whatto look for. Fortunately, local physicians can rely on Corona-basedHealthcare IT companies’ knowledge and experience before, duringand after EMR implementation.

Countless hours have been spent working with many clients and partners in the healthcare industry to understand EMR needs andreviewing numerous EMR solutions in search of the product that bestmeets doctors’ needs with great service and reliability. Extensiveresearch and unwillingness to accept anything but the best allowscompanies to help providers understand what to look for in an EMRsolution and how to choose the best fit.

1. Government Stimulus and “Meaningful Use” GuidelinesNot all practices and EMR solutions will qualify for the government stimulus. You need to choose a CCHIT certified software vendor that is certified for the “Meaningful Use”guidelines. A local company can best help local practices ensurethat “Meaningful Use” guidelines are met. In fact, some even provide a 100% money back guarantee that the software willqualify for stimulus money and have a track record of 100% successful implementation.

2. Customizability and Ease of UseMost EMR solutions require users to learn entirely different software than they are accustomed to using. Others believe thatan EMR solution shouldn’t force a practice to adapt to their newsoftware – the EMR solution should be flexible enough to accommodate the provider’s unique workflow. One particular EMR solution offered is Microsoft-based, so it is highly customizable

and easy to use. If you can use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,etc.), you’ll be using your new EMR solution like a pro in no time!

3. Implementation, Training and Ongoing SupportNearly all EMR providers claim to offer implementation,training and ongoing support. What they don’t tell you is thatyou’ll likely be dealing with a provider located thousands of milesaway that outsources EMR implementations to local companieswith little to no knowledge of the products they are implementing.Then, training is very brief, and there are no guarantees you willfully understand the software before you are expected to beginusing it (additional training will cost you). Finally, when you findthat you do need help, you may have to resort to an 800 linewhere you’ll be treated like a number. Some local companiesbelieve in standing by their clients before, during and after implementation. It’s important to make sure your implementationpartner doesn’t offer EMR solutions that they aren’t trained andcertified to support. Your implementation and training should bedone by a team of highly skilled and helpful engineers who willstrive to ensure that you have a full and complete understandingof your new EMR solution. When you call their office for support,you should have access to a team of engineers who personallyknow you and your needs. Plus, it’s vital to choose an EMR solution package that comes with unlimited network and technical support for all of your IT needs. You may be surprised tolearn that you can find complete packages for less than the costof most software-only options.

With so many EMR options available, local companies can offer local physicians the guidance and support they need to choose thebest solution for their practices while providing the support they cancount on.

Biren Shukla is the President/CEO of Forum Info-Tech, Inc.and can be reached at (951) 256-4070 [email protected]. Their office is located at 1247 Pomona Rd., Ste. 105 in Corona.

How to Qualify for EMR Stimulus MoneyWhile Transforming Your Practice from Physical Charts to Efficient Digital Workflowby Biren Shukla

TECHNOLOGY BYTES

W


As two key credits are set to expire for employees, they can expect tosee an increase in the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecksbeginning next year as the Making Work Pay Credit and the AdvanceEarned Income Credit both expire.

Employers, meanwhile, could receive a break in the form of a payroll tax holiday. President Obama, who recently proposed two taxbreaks for businesses, hinted at a town meeting Sept. 20th that theadministration is considering such a holiday. Obama said the administration was “willing to look at any idea that's out there that wethink will help. But we've got to do so in a responsible way.”

While employers might receive a tax break, employees will not. Incometax withholding will increase even if Congress votes to extend therecent Bush tax cuts in time for the release of the 2011 income taxwithholding tables by the Internal Revenue Service, an AmericanPayroll Association official said.

When the Making Work Pay Credit expires at the end of this year,employees will no longer receive credits that were automatically calculated into paychecks, so the withholding amount will rise,the APA said in a recent news release. The credit, part of the AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, came with a maximum of$800 for a married couple filing jointly and $400 for other taxpayers.

Repeal of the Advance Earned Income Credit will result in a decreaseof up to $152 intake-home pay foreligible workers, theAPA said. The AEICrequired special withholding for eligible low-incometaxpayers to receivea partial EarnedIncome Credit on federal taxes in their

paychecks rather than waiting to claim a refund the next year on theirtax return. Employees qualifying for the credit will need to wait until2012, when they file a 2011 tax return, to receive a tax credit.

At some point, “if Congress does not vote to extend the tax cuts, theIRS will have to issue 2011 income tax withholding tables operatingunder the assumption that the tax cuts will expire,” said ScottMezistrano, senior manager of government relations at the APA.

“If tax cuts are extended after the 2011 percentage-method withholding tables are issued in mid-November,” Mezistrano said,“there will be some issues when it comes to calculating withholdingon paychecks. If tax cuts are extended, the IRS will have to issue newincome tax withholding tables that reintegrate the tax cuts, whichmight take some time to show up in employees' paychecks.”

While some payroll departments can quickly have the new withholdingtables integrated into payroll systems, other businesses rely onupdates from payroll software developers that could take longer if new tables need to be programmed, Mezistrano said.

Additionally, some companies run the first payroll of 2011 in late 2010.If withholding tables are reissued, some employees are going to endup being over withheld, Mezistrano said.

Current Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sept. 26 thathe expects members of both parties to come together to extend the2001 and 2003 tax cuts after the November elections. Durbin saidmost Democrats believe that Congress should not spend the money to extend cuts in the top tax rates for individuals earning more than$200,000 and couples earning $250,000, but ultimately he believesDemocrats and Republicans will reach an agreement that will preventa stalemate that ends in higher taxes for everyone.

Sam Pfefferman is the President of Specialized PayrollServices (SPS) and can be reached at (951) 824-8659 [email protected].

Payroll Update: Income Tax Withholdings Set to Increase in 2011 by Sam Pfefferman

ith the economy still in its dull state, many believe the worst is still yet to come. Unfortunately, as we head into the new year, there is a widerange of unfavorable tax changes that pertain to tax credits, tax deductions,sales taxes, and other tax rates you should know about. Having a betterunderstanding of what tax law changes are coming in 2011 can help youplan ahead to potentially lower your tax liabilities. Although this list is notall-inclusive, the major changes that could impact you are detailed below.

Changes With Income Tax Credits – Generally, a tax credit is adirect reduction in tax liabilities, and is usually put into place in order to encourage a certain behavior. Sometimes tax credits can even result in arefund. This is different from a tax deduction which only lowers your taxable income. Below are a few tax credit changes we will see in 2011 and a few unusual ones that already went into effect:

• Child Tax Credit Reduced – In 2011, the child tax credit will be cut in half to $500 per child and may not even be applicable to all taxpayers.For those filing jointly, the tax credit begins to phase out at $110,000(AGI) and for taxpayers completing a single tax return at $75,000.

• Making Work Pay Tax Credit Gone – This year workers are able toget a tax credit for 6.2% of their earned income with a maximum creditof $400 for single filers and $800 for married couples. In 2011, this taxcredit will be eliminated unless Congress acts, as Obama’s proposal seeksto extend this credit in 2011.

• Earned Income Tax Credit Reduced for Some – This is a tax creditfor low-income working families with earned income less than or equalto $48,362. The income limits on this credit vary by your filing status andby the number of children you claim as dependents. In 2011, the EITC isexpected to decrease for families with three or more children with higherincome phase outs eliminated.

• Hope Tax Credit Changed – This tax credit goes back to being onlyapplicable for the first 2 years of college and the limit lowers from $2500to $1800.

• Energy-Saving Credits Gone – The current 2010 credit for principalresidence homes making changes to housing insulation, windows, doors,HVAC equipment, water heaters and more will expire next year. This taxcredit allowed up to 30% back ($1,500.00 max. limit) with applicableenergy efficiency improvements.

• Home Buyer Tax Credit for Veterans – If you or your spouse are part of the Armed Forces, Military Intelligence or Foreign Service andhave been engaged in active duty for at least 90 days outside of the UnitedStates you have until April 30th, 2011 to sign a real estate contract andclose by at least June 30th, 2011. Be sure to make note of this date if you intend on purchasing a house and claiming this credit.

Changes With Income Tax Rates and Other Taxes – Tax ratesrefer to the percentage of taxes that need to be paid with regards to incometax rates, estate transfers, and capital gains.

• Estate Tax To Increase – The Estate Tax, also referred to as the DeathTax, is set to return. Through the Economic Growth and Tax ReliefReconciliation Act in 2001, the estate tax has been phased out over thepast 10 years but will unfortunately reach an end this year. This meansthat unless Congress has a dramatic change of heart, the estate tax will

not only return but is set to increase to 55% for homes valued over$1,000,000 dollars (under the Obama plan this tax rate is 45%).

• Capital Dividends and Gains Hikes – Those who fall within the upper tax brackets should prepare themselves for a changing rate. Afterthis year, the current 15% long-term capital gains rate will return to 20%.However, those in the upper tax brackets will not bear the weight aloneas most brackets will be affected. Under former President Bush, the lower 15% income tax bracket had a 0% capital gains rate but thisnumber is expected to rise to 10% in 2011. For the upcoming year, dividends, excluding mutual fund capital gain distributions, will no longerbe taxed at 15% for those in the upper tax brackets, but instead is set tobe taxed as income. Simply put, those in the upper tax brackets will befaced with a higher tax on dividends.

• Income Tax Hikes – President Obama’s proposed budget for 2011 willextend changes to not only income tax rates but income brackets as well.However, tax breaks for single taxpayers with an income of less than$200,000 and married couples earning less than $250,000 will beexempt from any changes. As far as brackets are concerned, the 28% tax


W

FINANCIAL COLUMNHow Will Tax Law Changes Coming in 2011 Affect Your Business?by Becky Rhodes

elementary and secondary educational costs. In 2011, the maximum contribution limit per year on this plan will drop dramatically from$2,000 to $500.

• HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs Cannot Be Used for Over the CounterMedicine - Americans will not longer be able to use Health SavingsAccounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and HealthReimbursement Accounts (HRAs) to purchase over the counter medicineif it is not insulin.

For more information on 2011 tax changes, visit the IRS website atwww.irs.gov.


bracket is predicted to rise. The 33% tax bracket is also forecasted toincrease to 36%. Similarly the top 35% tax bracket is expected to be39.6% in 2011, and the well known “Marriage Penalty” will return withnarrower tax brackets. Also, the standard deduction for married coupleswill not be double the rate for single filers (those slated to get marriedthis year or next will be discouraged to do so, if only marginally).

Changes With Tax Deductions – A tax deduction is not a tax credit.Instead, a tax deduction lowers a taxpayer’s gross income in exchange for a certain behavior or action. Therefore, it normally reduces indirectly bylowering the amount the taxpayer pays.

• Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction Gone – Beginning January1, 2011, taxpayers will no longer be allowed to deduct mortgage insurance premiums from their tax returns. Previously, homeowners whowere paying insurance premiums for mortgagecontracts that were signed after December 31,2006 were able to take this deduction, assuming they fell within the income cap of$100,000 for families.

• 179 Business Expense DeductionLowered – For 2011 there are several business taxes that will be affected. The section179 expense deduction that pertains to smallcompanies and firms emerges as a primeexample. Here, the maximum expenses deduction will see a significant decrease from $250,000. Of course, as with all tax deductions, other limitations apply.

• Student Loan Interest Deduction LimitChanges – For 2011, individuals or marriedcouples can only deduct interest from the first60 months of the repayment term. Moreover,the phase out income limits for claiming thededuction for both single filers and marriedcouples will come down.

Sales Tax & Other Tax Increases ThatMay Affect You:

• Tanning Tax – This tax is an excise or salestax for those individuals who love to browntheir skin. This tax will continue next year andjust started at the beginning of this month.Although it is a mid-year 2010 tax, it is still a new tax that will primarily impact individualsat the end of this year/start of next year as falland winter approach.

• Brand Name Pharmaceutical Tax – This taxis an annual tax assessment on brand name pharmaceutical companies which amounts to atotal of $2.5 billion for 2011. The end result isthat many of us will see our brand name drugcosts going higher.

Other Notable Tax Changes:

• Coverdell ESA and 529 Plan Alterations –Previously, under a 529 Plan, taxpayers withchildren were encouraged to invest after-taxmoney into an account that increased with taxfree withdrawals, assuming the money wasbeing used to contribute towards educationalplans. However, in 2011, 529 Plan withdrawalswill not be tax free when paying for the cost ofcomputers or internet access. Coverdell ESAPlan will see changes as well. This plan is similar to the 529 Plan but is directed towards


hey’re everywhere. In credit card agreements, hospital contracts,construction contracts, contracts for sale of your house. You name it,arbitration clauses are everywhere.

What is an arbitration clause? An arbitration clause is an agreementwhere the parties agree to submit their disputes for decision by a private,third party decision maker. Instead of a judge and jury, the case is decidedby a professional arbitrator who may be a retired judge or attorney.Generally, arbitration uses special rules and procedures that differ fromthose used in the court system. Typically, the arbitrator’s award is bindingon the parties and may be enforced like a court judgment.

What should I know about arbitration?

Arbitration may save time and expense, but savings are not guaranteed. Many industries use arbitration because they believe thatarbitration will result in a decision that is quicker, cheaper, and perhapsless uncertain than the jury process. Of course, it is impossible to determine in advance whether arbitration or litigation (suing in court)will be more cost effective in a specific case. The arbitrator’s hourly fee and the arbitration company’s charge for the arbitration can be signifi-cant. Moreover, arbitration does not avoid lawyers; lawyers represent theparties in arbitration just like they do in litigation. (You should not represent yourself in arbitration any more than you should in litigation.)

Some arbitration clauses are not enforceable. You should notassume because you signed a contract with an arbitration clause that the arbitration clause is enforceable. Arbitration clauses that are unconscionable will not be enforced. Unconscionability is a complex legal concept. It includes the situation where the arbitration clause is buried in the document so it is unlikely to be recognized, cases where the partiescannot opt out of the arbitration clause, and situations where the arbitra-tion clause compels only one side in the deal to arbitrate. See your attor-ney to determine whether a specific arbitration clause is enforceable.

Arbitrators don’t have to follow the law. We’ve all heard the saying“It may not be fair, but it’s the law.” Just the opposite is true in arbitration.Arbitrators may follow broad principles of fairness — known as equity —and do not have to strictly follow the law. Therefore, in arbitration, “It may not be the law, but the arbitrator can decide if it’s fair.”

Arbitrators’ decisions are not appealable. If the court makes anerror in litigation, you can appeal. Granted, most appeals are denied, but at least there’s an opportunity for review. On the other hand, if thearbitrator makes an error, you’re stuck. While arbitrators can be removed from a case for a conflict of interest, the grounds are narrow. An arbitrator who works for an arbitration firm that gets virtually all of its business from a single healthcare provider does not, per se, have a conflict of interest with party who was a victim of that provider’smedical malpractice.

Arbitrators do not have to follow the legal limits on punitivedamages. Let’s say you entered a non-disclosure agreement with a manufacturer and you violate the agreement by intentionally disclosing theprotected information with the malicious intent to harm the manufacturer.If a court finds that you are liable for punitive damages in additional toactual damages, there is a constitutional limit on the amount of punitivedamages that a court may award. In arbitration, on the other hand, the sky’s the limit on punitive damages. If the arbitrator concludes thatyou deserve to be punished to the extreme, the courts cannot intervene tosay enough is enough.

Arbitration clauses should be reviewed carefully. A jury trial of your peers is an extremely valuable right. This right should not be waivedsimply because you are dealing with a large institution or business, or because you have been presented with a preprinted contract form thatcontains an arbitration clause. Before you enter a contract with an arbitration clause, ask your lawyer if arbitration makes sense for you.

David R. Saunders represents clients in real estate, land use, and general business matters. His firm, Clayson, Mann, Yaeger and Hansen, joined our Chamber in 1915. He can be reached at(951) 737-1910 and visit his website at www.ClaysonLaw.com.

It is always advisable to consult with qualified legal counsel about your own particular situation, in that these matters can vary substantially in degree and nature.

LEGAL OPINIONSWhat Are Arbitration Clauses,and How Can They Affect My Business? by Dave Saunders

T


AB 898 Lieu (D) Documents: NotariesPublic: SolicitationsCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

AB 1594 Huber (D) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Peripheral CanalCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 1778 Lieu (D) State AgencyPromotions: CommercialsCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

AB 1805 Calderon C (D) Environment:California Environmental Quality ActCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 1846 Perez V (D) Environment:Expedited Environmental ReviewCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson YESAssembly Member Jeff Miller YESGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger SIGNED

AB 1881 Monning (D) Recovery ofWages: Liquidated DamagesCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

AB 1998 Brownley (D) Solid Waste: Single Use Carryout BagsCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 2098 Miller (R) Riverside CountyTransportation Commission: ContractsCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson YESAssembly Member Jeff Miller YESGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger SIGNED

AB 2138 Chesbro (D) Product Manage-ment: Single-use Recyclable PackagingCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 2187 Arambula (I) Employment:Payment of WagesCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

AB 2283 Miller (R) Disposition ofHuman Remains: Alkaline HydrolysisCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson YESAssembly Member Jeff Miller YESGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

AB 2492 Ammiano (D) PropertyTaxation: Change in OwnershipCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

ACA 28 Nestande (R) State Budget:CertificationCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

ACA 30 Jeffries (R) Lieutenant Governor:Elimination of OfficeCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

ACA 31 Jeffries (R) Floor Sessions:Appropriate HoursCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 657 Steinberg (D) Human TraffickingCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger SIGNED

SB 810 Leno (D) Single-Payer Health Care CoverageCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 885 Corbett (D) Gift Certificates:RedemptionCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

SB 967 Correa (D) Public Contracts:Recovery and Reinvestment ActCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NO Assembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

SB 974 Steinberg (D) Income and Corp-orations Tax: Hiring and Career CreditCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 1010 Correa (D) EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA)Corona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 1036 Cedillo (D) Tax Administration:Disclosure InformationCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 1335 Cox (R) Employment: Working HoursCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 1474 Steinberg (D) LaborRepresentatives: ElectionsCorona Chamber OpposeState Senator Bill Emmerson NOT

VOTINGAssembly Member Jeff Miller NOGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger VETOED

SB 5 f Hollingsworth (R) Sales and UseTax exclusion: Trade-in Motor VehicleCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

SB 66 h Cox (R) Employment: Working HoursCorona Chamber SupportState Senator Bill Emmerson N/AAssembly Member Jeff Miller N/AGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger N/A

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE2010 Vote Record cont.

(continued from Page 7)

December 1 & 15 6:30PMCORONA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGCost: FREE Location: Corona City Council Chambers400 S. Vicentia Ave.Contact: City of Corona Management Services(951) 736-2370

December 2 5PMGRAND OPENING / RIBBON CUTTING:SHADES OF AFRIKA Cost: FREELocation: 114 E. Sixth St.Contact: Vonya Quarles (562) 618-3940

December 3 11:30AMQUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING / LUNCHEONSpeaker: Bonnie Reiss, Secretary of Education,

State of CaliforniaSponsor: Premier Service BankCost: $60 Members / $75 Non-members

$450 / $750 Table of 10Location: The Plex, Crossroads Church,2331 Kellogg Ave.Contact: Denea Breitenbucher (951) 737-3350

December 4 12PMLADIES DAY OUT Cost: FREELocation: The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Contact: Heather Bordner-Ayyob

[email protected]

December 5 4PMLIGHT UP A LIFECost: FREELocation: Ceremony at First Baptist Church ofCorona, 155 W. 8th St.Reception at Corona Regional Medical Center Main Lobby, 800 S. Main St.Contact: Lucy Davies - [email protected]

December 5 4PMCITY OF CORONA TREE LIGHTING & HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONCost: FREELocation: City Hall South Plaza400 S. Vicentia Ave.Contact: (951) 736-2241

December 6 12PM COMMUNITY SERVICES NETWORK MEETING Location: Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce, 904 E. Sixth St.Cost: FREEContact: Sol Shapiro (951) 271-7222

December 7 10AM4TH ANNUAL PEARL HARBOR COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATION Cost: FREELocation: Lake Norconian Club Pavilion1999 Fourth St., NorcoPHOTO ID REQUIRED TO ATTEND Contact: (951) 734-5081

30 Read Business Monthly online at www.MyChamber.org

Calendar of EventsEvents listed are open to the public. Call contact person before the eventto verify time and place. Some events are free, while others are not.For a complete listing of community events, call the Chamber at (951) 737-3350, or go to www.CoronaChamber.org for the latest updates.

Dec 2010/Jan 2011

December 1 - 24SANTA'S WORKSHOP Cost: FREELocation: The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: 11AM - 9PM Wednesday - Thursday: 4 - 9PM Friday - Sunday: 11AM - 9PM Contact: Heather Bordner-Ayyob

[email protected]

December 1 - January 2ICE SKATINGCost: $10/hr, $3/hr skate rentalLocation: The Promenade Shops at Dos LagosMonday - Thursday: 4 - 10PM Friday - Sunday: 2 - 10PMContact: Heather Bordner-Ayyob

[email protected]

December 1 6PMCOMMUNITY MENORAH LIGHTING Cost: FREELocation: Congregation Beth Shalom2790 California Ave.Contact: Bruce Williams (951) 734-8045

December 9 & 16 9AMSCORE - BUSINESS COUNSELING & ADVICE Location: Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce, 904 E. Sixth St.Cost: FREE Contact: Greater Corona Valley Chamber (951) 737-3350

December 9 5PMGRAND OPENING / RIBBON CUTTING:PRE-PAID LEGAL Cost: FREE; please RSVP for food countLocation: Jimmy's Diner, 160 E. Ontario #103Contact: Mike Cantu (951) 245-6892

December 10 - 12THE U.S. “OH-NO!” CHRISTMAS SHOWCost: $11-$13; $50 for family of 5Location: Historic Corona Civic Theater815 W. Sixth St.Hours: Friday: 7:30PM

Saturday: 2PM & 7:30PMSunday: 2PM

Contact: (951) 279-2298

December 11 12PM25 TONS OF SNOW Sponsor: Radio DisneyCost: FREELocation: The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Contact: Heather Bordner-Ayyob

[email protected]

December 13 12PMAMBASSADORS MEETINGLocation: Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce, 904 E. Sixth St.Cost: FREEContact: Greater Corona Valley Chamber

(951) 737-3350

December 18 11AMBLOOD DRIVE-TOY DRIVECost: FREE; please bring unwrapped toyLocation: 9106 Pulsar Court Contact: Melissa Wilson (951) 277-7767

December 19 7:30PMCHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS WITH DAVID BENOIT Cost: $20-$65Location: Fox Performing Arts Center 3801Mission Inn Ave., Riverside Contact: Michelle Hornberger

[email protected]

December 31 9PMNew Years Eve PartyCost: $35 per person/$55 couple by

December 17th, $50 per person after December 17th

Location: Eagle Glen Golf Club1800 Eagle Glen Pkwy.Contact: Greater Corona Valley Chamber

(951) 737-3350

December 8 5PMGRAND OPENING / RIBBON CUTTING:SYNERGY HOMECARECost: FREELocation: 1101 California Ave., Ste. 100Contact: Anna Kuck at (951) 280-9808

December 7 5PMGRAND OPENING / RIBBON CUTTING:SIXTH STREET CAR WASH Cost: FREE; special gift for those who purchase

a car washLocation: Sixth Street Car Wash416 W. Sixth St.Contact: Arthur Saryan (951) 371-0707


Earn $25 in ChamberDollars and a FREE Adin Our MagazineAre you doing business with a non-Chamber business? Do you have afriend who could benefit from Chambermembership? Of course you do!

The Chamber is providing some motivation for you to refer potential members:

First, when your prospect joins theChamber, your name, company andphone number will be listed in theBusiness Monthly.

Second, you’ll receive $25 credittowards up to half of any Chamber purchase, such as your own membership fees and attendance atChamber events.

Finally, when you refer five applicantswho become Chamber members, you’llreceive a FREE one-eighth page colorad in Business Monthly – a $480 value!

For a referral form and more information about the program,call the Chamber at (951) 737-3350.

Thank you to the following member forrefering new members:

Karen SpiegelSpiegel Enterprises(951) 833-8136


904 East Sixth Street

Corona, CA 92879

www.MyChamber.org

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGEPAIDADV