Northeast KC Chamber Presents
Lunch & Learn for Small Business Owners & Chamber Members

Who: The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce will host two presentations for small business owners and not-for-profits featuring consultant Dodie Jacobi and Missouri Bank’s Julie Nelson Meers.  Each lunch presentation begins at noon, and will allow time for questions.  Members and non-members are encouraged to attend one or both sessions for cumulative benefit. See specific topics for dates and locations.
1st in the series: this is being made possible with assistance from LISC. . Fax or e-mail in your reservation by Monday noon 08-25-08 nekcchamber@aol.com.

When: Tuesday August 26, 2008.  Noon to 1:30 PM
Where: The Urban League of Kansas City 1710 Paseo, KCMO 64108
Workshop & Luncheon fee: $20 with RSVP by noon August 25.  $30 at the door
Lunch: Deli box lunch, choice of Meat or Veggie
Workshop topic:  Conversational Finance, The Basic Vocabulary of Financial Statements
             Business owners needn’t be fluent in the language of finance, but knowing how to speak basic finance-ese is imperative for owners who want to grow their business.  Julie joins Dodie to teach you how to speak the financial statement equivalent of “where’s the baggage claim?” so you can converse clearly with your bookkeeper, accountant, or banker.  Learn the language of financial statements, and you can read valuable details about your business even without a professional translator!
Bios of the two presenters are included here.

     Dodie Jacobi Management Consultant

Dodie has a 25-year career creating marketing and growth strategies with entrepreneurial ventures.  She has consulted with more than 75 companies from sundry industries - from start-up sole proprietor, to “Mom & Pop” shop owners, and multi-million-dollar-funded gazelles.  She is a three-time entrepreneur and co-founded three not-for-profit organizations.  Dodie also helped develop business plans for several entrepreneurship support programs funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  Currently, Dodie consults with small businesses in the for- and not-for-profit sectors, teaches courses for small business owners at Missouri Bank, and is a frequently quoted media source.  Dodie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University.  She lives in Hyde Park with dogs Tilly, George, and Maddie, and can frequently be found in KCK riding horse Sami.

Julie Nelson Meers Senior Vice President, Missouri Bank.  Growing up the daughter of a community banker in a small town in central Kansas, Julie discovered her interest in banking and small business at an early age.  Julie spent 8 years working with regional banks, Commerce Bank and Mark Twain Bank, as a middle market commercial lender, before joining Missouri Bank in 1996 as a commercial lender.  She quickly developed a reputation as an advocate and financial educator for small business, particularly for those in the creative industry.  Today Julie serves as Senior Vice President with responsibilities in both Commercial Banking and Marketing, and serves as part of the bank’s Executive Management Committee. She also co-owns Meers Advertising with her husband Sam Meers.  Julie has served on numerous boards and committees and is a frequent guest speaker on a range of entrepreneurial, banking, and financial topics. Julie graduated from the University of Kansas in 1988 with a degree in Business. She lives in Brookside Missouri with her husband Sam, daughter Katherine, and Golden Retriever Boulder. 

JOIN THE CHAMBER NOW AND BE IN THE DIRECTORY!
Directory ad deadline is upon us. Please look at reverse side of the newsletter for inclusion in the Fall publication.  We will be making calls to past ad holders and want our newer members to also take advantage of the exposure your business can receive. Residents really like and use the locator map that has been in there the last 3 years.
FILL IT OUT AND FAX IN TODAY !

“New Tools” City Program and Celebration
Community leaders and the Mayor have met to hold a Kick-off event on Saturday Sept 6, 2008. 6 pm to Midnight.  The evening will include a bus tour, by invitation only, through the area. Following the tour, a celebration that is free to the public will be held at the Concourse Park.  The festival will include music, food vendors, fun and games. 

The purpose of the tour and celebration is to provide leaders an opportunity to see up close and personal an area of town that is in need of “New Tools” to help redevelop, revitalize and restore itself to a vibrant and vital part of KC.  Additionally, the festival will provide an opportunity for the residents and businesses owners of NE a sense of community and pride. Please consider helping support this one day event with a sponsorship or participating with a vender booth. You may fill out the enclosed form or contact Jennifer Leon with The Main Event at 816-795-6616 with questions or to discuss this further. You can also contact  Mayor Mark Funkhouser about sponsoring the event at 816-513-3500.

Member news:

Fashion Show you don’t want to miss!
BOOM!!!!!   The fireworks may be over but the fun hasn't stopped. 
This week.  August 15th Sheffield Family Life Center 5700 Winner Road.   The action starts at 7PM.  The first annual City Union Mission Thrift store fashion show.    Something Old and Something New.  Meet local model and designer Sheila Walker.   This event is FREE and open to the public.  FREE GIFTS.  FREE POPEYE'S Chicken.   Get out of the heat and enjoy this special event.  After seeing these great fashions come and visit the Second Chance Thrift Store on 2301 Lexington.   Then Sunday return to Sheffield Family Life and be encouraged by words of inspiration.  If you need more information call Rick at 483-7484.  Hope to see you this weekend!!!

Member Marvin Lyman, Papa Lew’s Soul Delicious Food was present at the Power of Diversity Celebration at 18th and Vine. He is pictured in the Kansas City Small Business Monthly August issue on page 8.  More than 300 people enjoyed networking, musical entertainment and traditional and ethnic food sampling at the sixth POWER of Diversity Celebration, hosted by the Greater KC Chamber.  Marvin was a participant in the Herman A. Johnson Business Mentorship class of 2008. Congrats Marvin. The restaurant is located at 2128 E 12th St. KC MO  816-421-3378.

New Member:
We want to welcome Brocato’s Auto & Truck Repair, LLC at 104 S Belmont Blvd. KCMO 816-231-5938 or 231-5991. Talk to Joe Brogoto owner.

Government Relations Committee - Beginning in September, members will have an opportunity to see their elected officials monthly as the Chamber's Government Relations Committee, chaired by Scott Wagner, will meet on the first Friday of the month at 8AM for coffee and discussion.  The location is still to be determined but the Chamber hopes you'll take this opportunity to be in front of our elected officials. Contact Scott Wagner 816-756-7272.

NE Library Displays hosted by one of our members.
When you next visit your favorite library, take a look at their display cases. This month China and the Olympics is being featured. Nancy Cramer Owner of Modern Supply Co. Inc. has loaned many art work and handicraft items, as well as carved jade, bone, and everyday items used by the Chinese. Nancy has made four trips to China, beginning in 1982, and was one of the earliest U.S. groups to be allowed in after the Cultural Revolution. Displays and books can be seen at:

Lucille Bluford Library, 3050 Prospect
Northeast Library , 6000 Wilson
Trails West Library, 11401 E. 23

She has a display of dolls from other countries at Waldo Library, 201 E. 75th St.
Watch for each month as displays change frequently. You might find something you want to read and learn more about! Other collectors are invited to talk to the librarians about their collections for display.
Modern Supply Co. Inc. fire suppression systems. 816-241-7168

Prospective Adoptive Parents please read:
Hello!  My name is Kendra Maxwell and I am a recruiter for the Jackson County Children's Division.  My job includes recruiting foster and adoptive parents in the Jackson County community, specifically the Northeast/Uptown area.  I also recruit specifically for children that are up for adoption in Jackson County.  I am always looking for opportunities to get information out to people in the community through businesses, neighborhood meetings, fairs, etc. 
 If you have any opportunity for me to do so I would love to hear about it and partner with you for the sake of our children in Jackson County that are in foster care.  If you would like more information on how to help please feel free to email or call me at 816-889-2854 or kendra.e.maxwell@dss.mo.gov.
Kendra Maxwell, BSW

August 1, 2008 – Grab business with your business cards
Business cards that are imprinted on only one side are half as effective as those that have valuable information printed on the other side.  Place a description of your shop on the flip side, your hours of operation, mission statement, shop specialties or a map that shows the location of your shop and delivery area. Carol Birkey
Business Coach – Virtual Office Assistant
816.781.8053
Email:  carol@carolbirkey.com
Website: carolbirkey.com

Future Workshops

Marketing 101
Tuesday, September 23, noon – 1:30 , Saint Paul School of Theology, 5123 Truman Rd. Holter Center Building.  KC MO

Essentially, “Marketing” is about answering three questions: Who are your best customers?  Where you find more like them? How do you keep them?  Dodie shares ways to answer these questions, so you can build the income you want around the customers you most want.

Fees or Famine, Fee Structures for the Well-Fed Business
Date: To Be announced.  St. Paul School of Theology, 5123 East Truman Road
 
If your expertise or time are things for which you bill clients, the difference between fiscal feasting and financial famine depends on a profitable billing rate and a cash-flowing payment schedule.  Even if you’ve been in business awhile, Dodie will help you take an objective look at your pricing to make sure there are no holes in your net. 

Check out www.nekcChamber.com Home page as Real-estate opportunities are here in NE for Artist Entrepreneurs. For all you Real Estate members of the Chamber please take note:

I want your listings to be included on the Chamber web site. The page is up to list real-estate opportunities to ARTepreneurs or other business prospects in our area. It is a FREE service to our Members. Non Members will have a fee to post their real-estate location or locations. If it is in Northeast WE want it listed. Please e-mail me Rebecca Koop at NEKCchamber@aol.com for the FREE web site listings

Web sites of interest:
www.kcmo.org
www.KansasCity.com
www.KCSourceLink.org
www.asianchamberkc.com,www.hccgkc.com (HispanicChamber)