Team Referral of Glendale is another opportunity to meet with a group of professionals and bring leads to the table and get leads. This group is small and more focused on assisting with each others business. I enjoyed the fact that I can reach out to each person. Team Referral meets Mondays at noon, Marie Callendar’s in Glendale.

Business Networking International in Burbank has a Lunch Bunch and a breakfast group! I am going to check out the lunch bunch today! They meet at Third and Olive every Tuesday!

BURBANK, Calif. (January 13, 2010) – The City of Burbank’s ‘Complete Count Committee’ is gearing up for the 2010 Census. Beginning in mid-March, every address in the United States will receive a quick and simple 10-question Census form to be filled out. The Census Bureau’s Burbank office will have its grand opening on Wednesday, January 20th and Burbank’s Complete Count Committee is working to make sure that every resident is counted.

Volunteers are needed to make this happen. Those interested in being part of a Speakers’ Bureau to learn more about the census can attend a training session at the Community Services Building, 150 N. Third St. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on one of the following dates: Tuesday, January 26; Thursday, February 11; or Monday, March 8.

The Committee has planned several events between now and National Census Day. Informational Census Events are planned for 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Community Services Building, 150 N. Third Street. Those dates are Saturday, January 30; Saturday, February 27; Thursday, March 11; and Thursday, April 1.

He has a new book coming out: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable! Not available until January 26 2010.

Seth Godin is someone I follow and one of the places I get “fed”. Check out his book list at http://www.sethgodin.com

Milt & Edie are generous and think of the community that supports them! Visit Milt & Edie’s at www.miltandedies.com or follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/miltandedies

Watch Great Gift Circle grow!

www.americanaatbrand.com

Any seminar should have some value associated with the cost! Do the research and ask the questions beforehand! Is the seminar producer interested in speaking, adding to their portfolio, or making instant cash?

Is the company or person seeking a long-term relationship? Sometimes seminars are a way to get the business. If the company holding the seminar is giving you something worthwhile to get your business, consider it a business cost to get in the door! Ask for a credit from the seminar to be applied to services rendered in the future!

Consider free seminars also! If a company or person has a seminar that you are interested in and you have done the research to find out where their data is coming from. Take it! Sometimes people are learning how to give seminars, trying to understand their market, trying to get your business, or they could be looking for data from the attendee. This creates the illusion that you get what you pay for. Rethink this! We expect to pay and receive something worthwhile, since we have paid. Seminars without a cost should not be undervalued. Ask why it is free! Especially in this economy!

Your blogs need to be on your own website to help increase your visibility on the internet. Using another blog engine or other website does not create visibility for you! You are helping that company create more buzz for themselves by having your content on their site.

Do not assume that because you have a blog for your community on your site, that it creates buzz for you! You are not sharing your ideas with your community and the internet community. You need to tell others what you think, feel, and why. If they are spending the time blogging on your site, you should also! Be an authority to your blog community and in the internet community.

Social Internet Marketing: Reaching your audience and consumers through your website via blog with connections to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Flickr. You can also use additional sites in your market to let consumers know what events, announcements, product launches, or information that is happening with your business.

Advertise: You need to let consumers know you are here! Advertising sends the message of what you have to offer, what you are about, and how to find you! Advertising needs to be consistent. One ad here or there is not going to get ANY return! It takes frequency and familiarity for a consumer to see you. When they finally need your product or service they are going to look for you. If you are no longer advertising they will think you are no longer in business and find someone who is advertising to buy that product or service. Advertising can be considered web ads or print ads. Find where your best audience is. Capture that business!

Free Press: I will say up front it is not free! Connecting with magazines, newspapers, or other media takes money. Typically you need to find someone who has the connection to the publication you want to have a story presented in. You need someone to “pitch” your service or product. You may also need someone to create press releases. This includes copy, distribution, and follow-up. It can be as costly if not more than advertising.

1. Don’t go running off without a plan. Meet with your marketing folks/committee and decide what kind of presence you want to project and how much information you want to share.

2. Decide if/how you will measure your effectiveness. If you just want to know if your website visits jump, be sure to benchmark your hits before you start any new web activity.

3. Remember that anything you do or say WILL get read by “someone” and that “someone” could be that person’s best friend or be “connected” to them through their social network.

4. Put someone in charge. You wouldn’t put multiple people in charge of updating your website, so don’t put more than one person in charge of the same social media sites. Make sure you all agree on what you want out there … perhaps the lead marketer emails your Social Media Team (SMT) to ask them to post “the attached” and that they do it within X number of days. That way the news breaks evenly across the board and it’s a consistent message.

5. In addition to putting yourself or business out there, use the RSS feeds, groups, and searching areas of the sites to see what’s going on around you. Maybe your competition is posting info that you’ve missed. Maybe you missed a really great article that someone is touting. Maybe there’s an event you want to join. Plugging in words to a Twitter account bring up untold numbers of “tweets” that include the word in their posts. These searches are global and go outside your own ring of influence.

6. Does your website include the ability to create a Blog? If so, put someone in charge of posting news and information on it. Be sure to use key words that will help search engines find you.

7. Monitor how it’s working. Get feedback from your web administrator (are hits going up?), from your registrar (do people check “found you on the internet” when they sign up?), and from those charged with each of the sites you’ve chosen to involve yourself in (does anyone ever comment? When you search your name, does it appear anywhere new?). Make judgments about continued use and time against that. The services are free, but you don’t want to overdo the amount of time (it’s easy to get sucked into these sites.

The message here is this: if your customers have several choices in your expertise, you NEED to stay current and be the business that everyone is talking about. You need to be the business that communicates with those interested in your product or service. Using social media helps get you there.

Adults: $8
Children (3-12): $5
Seniors (60+)/Disabled: $5
Children 2 and under free

The Starlight Bowl’s 2009 Summer Concert Season begins with a “Star Spangled Salute To America.” Enjoy an exciting evening of music and patriotism culminating in a spectacular aerial fireworks finale as the sights and sounds of Liberty ring out at the Bowl this 4th of July!

Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

Entertainment from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Fireworks – 9:00 p.m.

Nestled in the Verdugo Mountains, the Starlight Bowl is Burbank’s premiere outdoor entertainment venue and has entertained generations of Southern California families. The Starlight Bowl’s convenient location, great sight lines, grassy picnic area and comfortable seating are complemented by the high quality family entertainment presented on July 4th and each Sunday evening throughout the summer.

The Sunday evening concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. following the annual 4th of July celebration, from July through August, you can expect the best in music and entertainment.

Cynthia Wagner Public Relations is responsible for the on-line presence via blog, facebook, twitter, and many event sites, too many to mention. Check out http://www.starlightbowl.com

One Colorado has developed the first image campaign for their district. One Colorado is at: 24 East Union Street Pasadena, California, 91103. We have worked with many different publications and you will see One Colorado’s ads starting in August for the next six months!

Winners will be announced immediately following the competition on February 21 st.

This picture is the 2008 winners with Maestro Steven Kerstein.

For more information please visit www.burbankphilharmonic.com

More to follow……

This gives your child the opportunity to enjoy gymnastics, performing in skits they create themselves, playing games, watching movies, and spending the night in the gym. We provide pizza for dinner and morning breakfast.

This gives the parent a late night out on the town! Even waking up without the commotion of having to get breakfast ready. It is already done for you!

For more information contact Fun and Fit Gymnastics at 818-845-0700.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Meanwhile, the parents get to go out, shop, maybe enjoy a dinner together without the kids!

This is the perfect event for both parents and kids. Please call 818-845-0700 for more information.

Check out a little about Mike Flad’s new role:

The City Manager’s Office has the responsibility of setting goals and providing administrative direction for all City departments, in full accordance with policies established by the City Council. The overall department goal is to carry out the policies established by the City Council in an effort to ensure the maintenance and improvement of the quality of life in Burbank.

(from the City of Burbank Web site)

Mike’s previous work experience:
Assistant City Manager, City of Burbank (2003-2008)
Park, Recreation and Community Services Director, City of Burbank (2000-2003)
Assistant City Manager, City of Ukiah (1998 – 2000)
Assistant to the City Manager, City of Burbank (1996 – 1998)
Administrative Analyst, City of Burbank (1993 – 1995)
Workers’ Compensation Coordinator, City of Burbank (1990 – 1993)

I had the opportunity to work with Mike when he was responsible for the BEST (Burbank Employment and Student Training Program), and we stayed connected through all the various communty activities – it’s been wonderful to watch his career progress.

Congratulations, Mike!

We all got to thank her and congratulate Mary for her fine job as a city employee throughout the years. That evening, I spoke with many different people and shared in the memories they have of her service and friendship.

I gathered from all of this that Mary likes chocolate? There was an extraordinary chocolate display of goodies and of course, the chocolate fountain for the guests on the way out.

One of the things I kept hearing was that Mary was not going anywhere, and that she was just going to put her energy into different projects. So, I look forward to seeing her around.

Congratulations, Mary!

The parade is on Olive Avenue from Lincoln to Lomita. We are excited to see you there! If you are interested in being a sponsor, please go to my contact information and send me an e-mail. I will be more than happy to discuss sponsporships with you!

Help Community Chevrolet celebrate 50 years of Business

AND

Network! Network! Network!

Please note: The luncheon is on Thursday and at a new location!

The Business Connection Luncheon starts at noon. You should try to arrive early to network. This particular event takes place once a month and you have an opportunity for 25 seconds to stand up and make an impact. You get to tell the crowd about your business in 25 seconds! It is a lot of fun. There are also opportunities to sponsor the luncheon or have a table to showcase your business.

If you would like to see the float under construction, you can visit3D-Double Feature at the City of Burbank, 123 W. Olive Avenue in the work yard.  Enjoy!

Sandy is well known for her participation and leadership in Burbank On Parade.  So if you are wondering where you have heard “Sandy Dennis” that is because she has taken the leadership role and Parade Chair since the parade’s inception.

Sandy Dennis can be reached at (818) 517-4963.

Overall winners were:
520 N. Florence St.
1st runner-up –1206 N. Sixth St.
2nd runner-up — 613 University

Honorable Mentions:
907 N. California St.
1018 E. Orange Grove Ave.
2110 N. Evergreen St.

The holiday decorations at Sheridan Gardens, 817 N. Hollywood Way, were recognized in the Commercial category.

The Youth winner was the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank at 2244 N. Buena Vista St.

Jeff Lulla, owner of Fun and Fit Gymnastics states “Consistently placing importance on personal performance and effort is not always easy in the competitive culture we live in. We have to choose what we really want our kids to value and we must be clear and consistent when teaching values”.

The completely non-competitive, recreational gymnastics programs offered at Fun & Fit Gymnastics help children define winning as “my personal best” as opposed to the traditional competitive definition of “being better than everyone else.”   By redefining winning to allow every student the opportunity to achieve a victory, self-esteem is raised and the gym environment becomes more positive.

Please visit www.funandfit.com for more information.

My son was having a great time pelting his little sister.  She was not able to return fire fast enough, so needless to say, she was soaking wet, but they both had huge smiles on their faces.  We stopped by Starbucks to get some hot chocolate afterward.  Have you checked out their fancy hot chocolates lately, yummy!