Whatz Happening – December 2012 DMA GAB-RRR is Out!

Click on link below to view latest DMA Newsletter covering the November Meeting and the December Holiday Party: 

DMA GAB-RRR December 2012

Hope to see you at our next meeting on Tuesday January 8th

at the Duluth Rexall Grill!

Holiday Cheer, Carols and Connecting

Holiday Cheer Carols and Connecting

When we include music in our speaking engagements, we connect more intimately with our audience.  During the holiday season we are all about connecting!  This season our props were our guitar and keyboard at the Duluth Merchants Association annual Holiday party.

DMA members and guests at the 2012 DMA Holiday Party

We entertained and engaged DMA members and guests,  providing music, singing, and holiday trivia.  Good food, caroling, networking and holiday spirits prevailed.

Connecting at DMA Holiday Party

Holiday Trivia is always a hit!

As Boomers focusing on healthy aging, we enjoy sharing music as part of our Active Positive Lifestyle.  The holiday season allows us to include everyone’s favorite carols in the musical portion of our presentations–just another great way to provide musical holiday spice while connecting with others!  Positively speaking, Sheri & Bill Eppright, Positive Public Image, Inc.

As photo journalists, public speakers and seniors, we promote Active Positive Lifestyles and Healthy Aging in America.If you would like us to promote your event or speak with your group or organization, please contact us…we would love to hear from you!  

Obesity In America – Your Money And Your Life!

Ever get mugged? You’re given a choice: “Give me your money, or I’ll take your life.” Some choice!

This week we attended the monthly Duluth Merchants Association meeting at the Gwinnett Center for Surgical Weight Management. As we enjoyed the professional, warm and welcoming atmosphere, we learned of another harsh reality: Because of obesity, thousands of people die and millions of dollars are lost…both Businesses and individuals suffer.

Smart businesses have a financial business plan for future success, but few businesses include an ongoing plan to encourage both employees and owners to live healthy and productive lives. When folks get sick more often due to obese lifestyles, dollars are lost due to absenteeism.  And then there’s “present-eeism” which refers to the reduced productivity experienced by obese folks less happy on the job.   

Our health conscious evening at the center began with a “Not Your Typical Hospital Meal.” We enjoyed nutritional culinary delights prepared using “Chef Dave” recipes: Cheesy Gorgonzola Apple Stuffed Mushrooms, tasty sandwiches, cheese nibbles, and hummus with crackers and pita bread. Dessert was fresh fruit in vanilla yogurt served over angel food cake.

And who is Chef Dave, you ask? Chef Dave as the only certified bariatric chef in the United States was once a bariatric patient himself 12 years ago. Now working as a chef, his passion is “to help fight the disease of obesity one meal at a time by educating, inspiring and motivating people to live healthier lives.”

Our host for the evening was Debra Proulx, manager of the Bariatric Program.  With 93 million Americans obese (and 28% of Georgians fall into that category!) Debra shared the center’s vision: “to transform lives one person at a time.”

“Healthy Aging nuts” that we are, we asked Debra to explain the role of genetics vs lifestyle choices in regards to obesity. Debra stated that “genetics loads the gun and lifestyle choices shoot the bullets.” Obesity affects every part of the body, with heart issues and diabetes being the biggest potential health risks.

Only a few of the very obese are able to lose the needed weight and keep it off on their own. The surgical weight loss solution treats the obesity, making it possible for the physical issues to minimize and sometimes even go away. Once the obesity factor is eliminated, then personal lifestyle decisions kick in, and the Bariatric program encourages patients to reprogram themselves to make healthy life choices. While the weight loss is a good first step, as Debra pointed out, “weight reduction doesn’t eliminate what got them there in the first place!”

Over 150 high risk folks mostly in their 30’s and 40’s (high risk means they were either “Severely Obese or Morbidly Obese” with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or greater) have already completed their surgeries…many more are just beginning their journey.

Program members start with 6 to 8 weeks of pre surgery seminars, preparing them for healthier and more socially interactive lives ahead. Followed by a 1 day surgery and hospital stay, they then join many ongoing support groups encompassing all aspects of their new life: from clothing exchange (just imagine how expensive it would be to continually update your wardrobe as your body sheds a 100 plus pounds!) to social interaction (for some this surgery opens the door to first time dating!) to nutritional cooking classes, to fitness and dance classes, as well as support groups for family and friends (major influencers!).

Everyone involved must make changes.  Most importantly they become lifetime members of the Program with the added benefit of acquiring many new life-long friends along the way.

Just as obese folks find hope and choices for a better lifestyle at the new Center for Surgical Weight Management, America and local businesses are becoming more aware of the positive influence the center and healthy lifestyle choices have on productivity and happier employees.

Bottom line, this was a “happy” November DMA meeting, with healthy food, pleasant camaraderie, and some inspiring success stories.

What a great way to start the holiday season, with an eye toward an “Active Positive Lifestyle and a healthier you…please join us!

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As photo journalists, public speakers and seniors, we promote Active Positive Lifestyles and Healthy Aging in America. If you would like us to promote your event or speak with your group or organization, please contact us…we would love to hear from you! 

Positively yours,
Sheri and Bill Eppright,
Positive Public Image, Inc.

Duluth Merchants Association Encourages Networking to Grow Business

Tuesday evening found as at the October Duluth Merchants Association meeting hosted by DMA member Atlanta Flooring Design Centers. We look forward to this once a year treat, where staff members always prepare a wonderful feast of food and hospitality. This year was no exception: we were greeted with homemade barbeque, beans, coleslaw and tantalizing deserts awaited us as we socialized and networked with members, staff and guests.

Owner Donny Phillips shared with fellow DMA members a brief history of his business. From small beginnings on May 17 1985, in what is now the dining room of the Family Restaurant in Duluth, Atlanta Flooring Design Center has grown to be a residential and commercial business with a second branch office located in Charlotte, NC.

With the networking opportunities afforded him by DMA, Donny gave tribute to DMA as both a pillar and a keystone to their business success. Donny sets a great example of being able to network, promote and market his business footprint throughout Gwinnett and beyond in spite of a not so great economy.

And success for Atlanta Flooring Design Centers just seems inevitable, with their strong community ties, excellent staff and a mission statement of “To listen to customer needs, and professionally provide service and material at a great value. Honoring God and always treating people as we would like to be treated.”

Networking was the focus for this DMA meeting as well, with business cards being cheerfully exchanged for business leads and door prizes. We welcomed our several guests, and allowed each of them to give us a brief introduction to their business and services.

We listened as Kathryn Willis (who we all agreed “captures the true spirit of community!)” summarized the successful outcome to this year’s Duluth Fall Festival. Even the weather was picture perfect until end of day Sunday just as the volunteers began their cleanup efforts.

Chris McGahee, economic development manager for the City of Duluth, provided us with excellent news on recent business activities around town.  It seems that “thinking outside the box” has resulted in successful business solutions. LA Fitness was able to creatively utilize shopping center retail space on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, and several vacant manufacturing facilities are being subdivided into smaller more usable spaces for several businesses opening soon.

As we closed the meeting, DMA member Sunny Ramsay reminded everyone that Gwinnett Medical Center will be hosting the Nov. 13meeting at their new Bariatric Center on their Glancy Campus. The Bariatric Center focuses on a “360-degree approach to battling obesity,” a huge health problem in the U.S. today. In a previous blog “Eat to Your Hearts Content” we reported to you that approximately one third of Americans are obese, so we are looking forward to hearing some healthy solutions! Come network with us next month–visitors are welcome!

Positively yours, Sheri and Bill

DMA and Duluth at Southeastern Railway Museum “On the Right Track”

“I hear the train a coming, it’s rollin’ ’round the bend…”don’t you just love a train!  Tuesday night found us at the Southeastern Railway Museum  for the monthly Duluth Merchants Association Meeting.

So trains and Duluth, GA – what exactly do they have in common? When Congress approved a North-South railroad connecting Duluth, Minnesota with Duluth, GA in 1871, the rest, as they say, “is history.” Today the current Duluth City Seal even includes a steam engine, reminding us all of the importance the railroad had to the growth of our Duluth community.

Meeting in the newly restored Depot building, Randy Pirkle, Administrator of the Museum, our host and fellow DMA Member, shared a brief history of the Museum and then an overview of events offered at the Museum. If you haven’t been to the train museum, it’s well worth a visit! From summer day camps to “Second Thursday” preschooler events, to “Train or Treat” at Halloween, to the Christmas time “Polar Express Experience”, the Museum offers great train experiences year round for the whole family.  And for a special treat, this October will highlight the 2012 Railroad Revival Tour.   Willie Nelson, folk rockers Band of Horses, Grammy Award-nominated Jamey Johnson and actor-musician John C. Reilly and Friends will arrive at the Museum on antique railroad cars (Tickets for the Railroad Revival Tour).

Volunteers and Donations are important to the Museum.  60 plus volunteers log in 1200 to 1600 hours per month, and currently the Museum has been awarded a $50,000 “challenge grant” to be used for buildings to protect the trains. This “challenge grant” means that for every cash dollar donated to the Museum by October 31^st 2012, the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation will match each donation up to the $50,000.

And just as the railroad brought the original economic growth to Duluth in the 1800’s, DMA members, guests and City officials were gathered at the Southeastern Railway Museum, discussing and encouraging business growth in our community.  Mayor Nancy Harris reminded us of several projects in the works, including the new Community Building at WP Jones, the new Bike Lane on Peachtree Industrial Blvd., and the future realignment of Highway 120. Chris McGahee, Economic Development Manager, encouraged us with news of many re-development efforts in the works around the city.

So, what is that light at the end of the tunnel? It’s the light coming from the bright future for Duluth Merchants Association Members and the City of Duluth, as they work together for the prosperity of the Duluth Community… “all the live long day.”    Positively yours, Sheri and Bill

  

Next DMA Meeting Tuesday, Sept 11th 2012

DMA Buzz – Whatz Happening – Upcoming Events for DMA Members at The Work Spot!

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Check out the list below of upcoming EVENTS available to DMA members at the Work Spot.

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Social Media Summer Camp: Facebook For Your Business – FREE!

July 31^st 10:30

http://smscfacebook.eventbrite.com

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Propel Your Pitch “YOU…The Story Behind Your Resume” – $250

August 4^th 9:30 – 1:30

http://propelyourpitch.eventbrite.com/

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Social Media Summer Camp: Twitter for Your Business – FREE!

August 7^th 10:30

http://smsctwitter.eventbrite.com/

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Women in Business – Roundtable – FREE!

August 7^th 10:00 am – 11:00 am

www.whereshelearns.com

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ABC’s of Affiliate Marketing – $25

August 25^th  10:00 am – 12:00 pm

www.whereshelearns.com

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DMA Buzz – Whatz Happening! August Special: Complimentary f1360 Review for DMA Members!

August Special – for Duluth Merchants Association Members.

fi 360 Report Provides Portfolio Insights

Don Kemp, DMA Member, and Financial Advisor with Park Avenue Securities and Espey Financial Group, is offering a complimentary fi360 review to Duluth Merchant Association members on their 401k or personal mutual fund portfolios. There is no cost or obligation for the review.

The fi360 Fiduciary Score (“Score”) is an investment rating system born out of Practice 3.1 in the Prudent Practices for Investment Fiduciaries handbook series. It helps quickly identify a short list of investments that merit continued research in the selection process. It also facilitates the ongoing monitoring process by highlighting investments that contain potential deficiencies.

The Score evaluates investments on nine different criterion across a spectrum of quantitative data points to determine if the investment meets a minimum fiduciary standard of care. The nine criteria include: regulatory oversight, track record, assets in the investment, stability of the organization, composition consistent with asset class, style consistency, expense ratio/ fees relative to peers, risk-adjusted performance relative to peers, and performance relative to peers.

The Score is a flash-report on a selected investment.

It is a useful tool for investment decision-makers to identify and monitor investments in the course of their due diligence process. The fi360 Fiduciary Score represents a suggested course of action and is not intended, nor should it be used as the sole source of information for reaching an investment decision.

Each portfolio review will produce a comprehensive report using the scorecard below:

 

For additional information, please contact Don Kemp at 678-860-4639 or Donald_kemp@glic.com

DMA Buzz – Whatz Happening! See You at the August 7th DMA Meeting Hosted by Duluth Fall Festival Committee!

 

 

The Duluth Fall Festival Committee is honored to be hosting the next Duluth Merchants Association meeting.  It will be on Tuesday, August 7th at the Duluth Festival Center in Downtown Duluth at 6:00.  We are determined that this will be a very special, fun, DMA meeting.    

Costco, a Fall Festival Sponsor, will provide an assortment of their delicious hors d’oeuvres and treats.  Costco has unbelievable food for any kind of party, reception or dinner.  They have a large array of party trays and specialty platters, so think of them when you plan your next event or get-together.  They are located at 3980 Venture Blvd in Duluth.  Also, the Festival Committee will have their delicious homemade desserts.

Wine and beer will be furnished by Bernard and Sharon Robertson of Duluth Fine Wines.  They are longtime DMA members as well as Fall Festival Sponsors and have been very community minded as long as they have been in Duluth. Their business at 2870 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard has been the location of annual DMA meetings for several years.  We appreciate their generosity on this and all of the other events that they help with.

At the meeting you will be greeted by our emcee for the night, the Voice of the Festival, Brooks Coleman and our Mayor, Nancy Harris. This will be primarily a social event but we will tell you briefly about our history, our accomplishments, and our plans for the future.  As always all Festival proceeds go back into Downtown Duluth.  At our recent 30^th Anniversary Celebration we made the final payment on the Duluth Festival Center which is the site of this meeting. We have paid a total of $1,300,000.00 toward that plus many other projects in the Downtown area.  For more information please go to our website www.duluthfallfestival.org.         

We really appreciate the many Duluth Fall Festival sponsors in DMA, and the number of volunteers who belong to both organizations.  Our aim is the same as our common purpose is to make our community a better place.  We all look forward to seeing you at the meeting on August 7^th.  We are preparing for a large crowd so please don’t disappoint our generous sponsors and volunteers.   We want YOU to be there!

Kathryn Willis

2012 Festival Chairperson

 Kwillis@ParsonsGifts.com 

770-476-3405

 

 

July DMA Meeting – “A Walk in the Parc”

July DMA Meeting at the  Parc at Duluth. ( Pictured L-R: Sid Howard, Judy Young Doering, Jim Johnson, President DMA, Rayann Larsen, Owner, The Work Spot and DMA Board Member)

Tuesday evening found us enjoying luxurious surroundings, as the July  Duluth Merchants Association meeting met at the Parc at Duluth. A true “walk in the park”, it’s no wonder folks 65 and older have decided to become permanent residents at the Parc.  As an upscale Senior Community where living is easy, the Parc lifestyle offers “service, style, friendship and fun” for all their residents. Their motto is “Live longer, Live Better.”

Our Parc hosts Judy Young Doering and Sid Howard welcomed fellow DMA members, greeting everyone with wine and warm appetizers to enhance the pleasant socializing.  Dr. David and Janice Hammer, Resident Ambassadors and enthusiastic promoters of the Parc lifestyle, also joined in the fun.

Sid and Judy discussed the Parc’s latest offering: the conversion of 20 of their luxury apartments into 25 assisted living apartments. Available this fall, these units will give residents even greater living choice options as their aging needs change.

2012 DMA $1,000 Duluth Community Scholarship was awarded to Charlie Hall. (Pictured L-R: John Monk, Charlie Hall, Jim Hall, Evan Hall, Julie Hall and Jim Johnson)

Charlie Hall, recent graduate of Duluth High School and son of DMA members Jim and Julie Hall, (Gwinnett Gladiators) also attended the meeting to express his gratitude. As the recipient of the $1,000 DMA 2012 Duluth Community Scholarship, Charlie will be attending Georgia Southern University in Statesboro this fall. With plans to focus on athletic training and sports medicine, we expect great things from Charlie. So, please keep us posted on your progress, Charlie!

President Jim Johnson presented members in attendance with the recently updated DMA brochure. Jim noted he had also delivered some brochures to the City for inclusion with business license packages. Another great channel to get the word out about DMA…new members are always welcome!

Front Row: Al Brown – ABS Insurance, Steve Eckman – Minuteman Press Duluth, Rayann Larsen – The Work Spot, Jim Johnson, President DMA.2nd Row: Sid Howard – Parc at Duluth, Julie Hall, Judy Young Doering – Parc at Duluth, Suzanne Willet – Clutter Ninja, Sheri Eppright – Positive Public Image, Dr. David Hammer – Parc at Duluth, Bill Eppright – Positive Public Image. 3rd Row: Charlie Hall, Jim Hall – Gwinnett Gladiators, Rebecca Tyra – Dynamic Marketing Group, Sunny Ramsay – Gwinnett Medical Ctr, Vivian Eckman – Minuteman Press of Dulth, Janice Hammer – Parc at Duluth, Mary London – Gwinnett Daily Post. Back Row: Al Watkins – All Good Pest Control, John Monk – CPA, Jim Dugan – City of Duluth, Clayton Nugent – NCR, and Glen Sarver – GSRC Counseling.

New and returning DMA guests were given an opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses, to an enthusiastic DMA audience.

Jim Dugan, City Councilman and Fall Festival Committee member, reminded everyone to be sure and attend the August 9^th DMA meeting which will be hosted by the Duluth Fall Festival at the Duluth Festival Center.  Always a feast and a large gathering, this particular annual DMA meeting focuses on Festival sponsor appreciation.

And patriotic we are in Duluth! Jim stated the City of Duluth has been named one of the 6 cities across the entire U.S. as being the most patriotic.  Check out the Duluth patriotic video showing the obvious pride of our fellow Duluth residents!

Networking and door prizes ended the evening…please join us next time, August 9^th at the Duluth Festival Center for another great meeting!

Positively yours, Sheri and Bill