The only B2B Marketing Event you need to attend in California

The only B2B Marketing Event you need to attend in California is finally here! The B2B Marketing Expo will be held on the 2nd & 3rd of October at the LA Convention Centre, and is designed for the most ambitious and talented Marketers looking to drive business growth and advance their own professional development.

The event will be a real One Stop Shop to ignite your marketing capabilities- including an Agenda filled with exceptional, inspirational Speakers from the likes of Google, IBM, Microsoft, Forester and Nike, covering the latest need-to-know topics such as B2B Branding, Data Marketing, Content Marketing, and Voice Marketing. With more than 250 seminar sessions to choose from, there will be something for every Marketer, whatever your experience or passion!

That’s not all! For Marketers who are looking to learn about and try the very latest marketing technologies and strategies, the event offers over 200 educational masterclass sessions and the opportunity to meet with and experience the products and services of more than 300 suppliers.

The event really will be a hub of marketing talent and creativity, including unparalleled networking opportunities with 10,000 other professionals, all visitors are invited to join this ultimate showcase of exceptional marketing minds.

Visit the B2B Marketing Expo website for FREE tickets or alternatively contact Eddy Lawrance on 702 707 7627 or eddy.lawrance@prysmgroup.co.uk to enquire about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities

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ADVERTISE at the City Amateur Golf Tournament Tee Signs

AMATEUR GOLF TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY & SUNDAY JULY 27th & 28th, 2013

Sundale Country Club

Tee Card Advertising

exchange Club LogoYour business can advertise in the largest amateur golf tournament in Kern County for a donation to the Bakersfield Exchange Club of $50.00. Each year this event attracts approximately 150 local golfers and many fans from throughout the Southern California area. Your tee sign will be placed on one of the tee- off areas both days of the tournament all day.

golfYour donation will be used to support the Exchange Club’s various programs including: Child Abuse Prevention, Youth of the Year awards, Search for Talent contest and the Freedom Shrines that are placed in the local schools and public buildings and the Flags of Honor.

If you would like to sponsor a tee, complete the form below and send or email a business card or any other form that is suitable for reprinting. Your sponsorship will be useful advertising and you will in the meantime help support a good cause.

  • For more information,
  • Larry Hiestand, Exchange Club Treasurer
  • 661-327-2071
  • larry@confidentialbkpg.com

Exchange Club meets every 3rd Tuesday at 12:15 at The Bistro. If you are interested in becoming a member, please join us for lunch.

We thank you in advance for your kind consideration and, of course, your support!

Click Here for the Sponsorship Form

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Navigating health care reform what every company needs to know – Free seminars

We’re dedicated to being a healthcare reform resources and providing you with tools to help you navigate through all the current and upcoming changes in healthcare insurance. The Lynn company and Shinault  Baker & Company have partnered to provide our clients with a series of complementary educational seminars.

 Navigating health care reform what every company needs to know is one of the series of seminars geared towards business owners presented by Justin Reagan Shinault  Baker & Company CPA and Troy Burden, Lynn company, licensed agents and health insurance professional.

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This seminar will provide a better understanding of:

  • What is going on – how the game has changed
  • what you need to know how to comply
  • healthcare reform timeline

specific topics to be covered

  • MLR  rebates
  • summary of benefits
  • Pay or Play
  • W-2 reporting
  • California Health Exchange

When and Where
Wednesday December 5th 2012
Stockdale Country Club
7001 Stockdale Hwy
Bakersfield, CA
SEATING IS LIMITED TO 50 ATTENDEES

Click Here to Register

If you have any questions, or wish to be placed on the waiting list for our next seminar please feel free to email dale@lynncompany.com or call 661-873-2200 Ext 200

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Midas support for Honor Flight Kern County

Thank you to all who have helped support Honor Flight Kern County. We are in the final week, raising money to support our veterans. Come in between know & Saturday November 10th and get the Midas Touch Maintenance Package done for $29.99 of which $5.00 for each one completed will be donated to Honor Flight Kern County. Help us show our appreciation to our veterans for what they have done for our Country! Package includes: Up to 5 quarts standard grade oil, oil filter, tire rotation, visual brake inspection and courtesy check. Additional oil, synthetic and diesel oil available at additional cost. ONLY AVAILABLE AT MIDAS BAKERSFIELD!

6919 White Lane Bakersfield, Ca. 93309 661-398-0921
3723 Auburn St Bakersfield, Ca. 93306 661-873-8212

http://bbng.lavasquare.com/members/midas-auto-service/

 

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Honor Flight Kern County Bakersfield

Midas of Bakersfield is hosting a special Fundraiser this weekend September 7th & 8th 2012.  Midas Bakersfield will donate 10% of Our Revenues to support this worthy cause.  So please come on in and help support Honor Flight Kern County.  Walk-in welcome Reservations recommended

Midas has two locations open to server you.
6919 White Lane Bakersfield, Ca. 93309 661-398-0921
3723 Auburn St Bakersfield, Ca. 93306 661-873-8212

 

The Future of Honor Flight… Help Us Meet Our Goal.

The future looks bright for our country’s World War II veterans. In February of 2006, Earl and Jeff combined efforts and co-founded Honor Flight Network. The leaders of various flying programs, and others interested in starting similar projects in their own regions, attended a summit in Washington, D.C. with over 100 people in attendance. Now a network of participating programs is in place to assist our senior heroes. Resources are pooled, experience is shared and alliances are formed throughout America to get World War II veterans to their precious memorial safely.

Honor Flight Network has established an aggressive goal. Through the end of 2011 we transported more than 81,000 WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their memorial.. The program presently has 117 hubs in 40 states. Due to the senior age of our heroes, and the prediction that we are losing approximately 900 of them daily, we are committed to do all within our power to make their dream a reality. Our current focus will remain on World War II veterans and those veterans from any war who have a terminal illness. However, our vision goes beyond World War II.

Honoring All Our Veterans.

In the future, Honor Flight Network will also pay tribute to America’s other heroes who served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, followed by veterans of more current wars. They, too, have given so much and it’s time we show them that their efforts are not forgotten. Honor Flight Network has learned a lot over these last four years and one point that stands out is that our veteran heroes aren’t asking for recognition. It is our position that they deserve it. Our program is just a small token of our appreciation for those that gave so much.

Please help us continue to make their dream of visiting THEIR memorial, a reality.
HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK — our way of saying to all our veterans — one more TOUR with HONOR.

http://www.honorflight.org
Honor Flight Kern County
Flying from: BFL (Meadows Field Airport, Bakersfield)
Lili Marsh 661-324-6561
Carolann Wooton 661-322-9199

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Tips for a Powerful Elevator Speech

When someone asks what you or your organization does, are you prepared with an on-message, concise explanation?  If not, you may be missing countless opportunities to establish and reinforce brand awareness.

Elevator Speeches are an important tool in the life of most business people. It doesn’t matter if you are a Photographer, Insurance Agent or any other type of business person, you need a powerful Elevator Speech (ES) to extend and support your personal brand.

An elevator speech is a brief description of your organization—who you are, what you do and why it matters — delivered in the time it would take to move between floors in an elevator.

An effective elevator speech should leave your audience wanting more, while answering the essential questions about your organization.

What you say and how you say it are equal parts to delivering an Elevator Speech that will either cause people to take notice of you or go to sleep.

Here are some Tips to help you create a great powerful elevator speech.

Keep it Short and Sweet.  This Elevator Speech should be no longer than 30 seconds

It has to roll off your tongue. You need to write it down and practice it so it becomes second nature to you. This will support a confident appearance when you say it

You have to believe it. If you develop an ES that embarrasses you or causes you to cringe, you either need to beef up your confidence or change what you’re saying about yourself.

Smile. It’s hard not to love people who smile. It communicates warmth and confidence. You come across as engaging and someone people would like to know more about.

Incorporate a positioning statement. Why should someone care about you, your organization or endeavor? When possible, leverage an emotional connection.

Include a distinctive. For example were you the first or only one to do something? Perhaps you are the largest or oldest. These distinctive s help set you apart and provide credibility.

Remove jargon from your Elevator Speech. Check to see that you are using simple, conversational words. Simplicity is the key. Your Elevator Speech is what you say to everyone. Everyone is either a potential client or knows of a potential client. Everyone needs to understand what you’re saying in layman’s terms.

Remember it’s all about them, not you. Hence check to see that you only mention “I” once. The one time you can use it is at the beginning when you say, “I work with target market.”

Don’t forget the basics. Who does your organization/endeavor benefit? How does your organization benefit someone?

Shut up. Once you’ve delivered your ES, stop yourself from saying anything else. I know this is a tough one, but people often blather on, which deflates the impact of your ES. When you stop talking, it will also prompt the person you are introducing yourself to to ask about you or introduce themselves. Both results are great.

Leave them wanting more. A great test of a powerful ES is if they ask you about what you’ve just said. Go have fun with this. Next time you attend a professional meeting, say your ES, shut up and see what happens.

Have a few ES’s in your toolkit. ES’s are not one size fits all. You will discover that your audience will be a determining factor in what specific message you want to convey. Once you have your primary ES, think through the various groups of people you are likely to use it with. This will help you decide what needs to get tweaked to make it just right for that group of people.

Finish with an ‘ask’. If applicable, be sure to close by saying what others can do to get involved and incorporate a website address where people can get more information.

Test, tweak, test, tweak, test, tweak, and test your Elevator Speech. Test for the verbal responses like, “Tell me more” “Wow that sounds really interesting.” Also test for non-verbal responses. Is the person opening their eyes, looking at you more intently or leaning towards you? You will know and feel when you have a powerful Elevator speech.

Bonus Tip: can your elevator speech answer the “so what?” question before it’s asked? When you deliver your elevator pitch, most people will unconsciously be saying “so what?” Answer it for them. For example, instead of “XYZ company makes your grass grow slower,” try “XYZ company makes your grass grow slower so you don’t have to mow it as often.” See how the “so what?” is answered in the speech?

Your Elevator Speech is among the first things you do that will form an impression with others. You want it to be just like you – professional and well delivered.

Here’s another tool to get you started. Just fill in the blanks to start working on your elevator speech.

[YOUR COMPANY NAME] helps [TYPE OF CUSTOMER YOU SERVE MOST] to [BENEFIT/VALUE YOU DELIVER]. Unlike other companies that provide similar solutions, [YOUR COMPANY] [DIFFERENTIATION – HOW YOU DO IT DIFFERENT – THIS IS WHERE YOU ANSWER THE “SO WHAT?”].

 

This information was derived from several sources:

  • http://blog.journalistics.com/2011/elevator-speech/
  • http://www.careerealism.com/elevator-speech-tips/
  • http://www.salesconversation.com/issue2.html

 

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The Do’s And Don’ts of A Minor Car Accident

The fender bender you were just in appears to be minor. No one looks injured and there is minimal damage to the vehicles. First breathe a sigh of relief – then take these precautions to help prevent your small accident from becoming a big problem.

Don’t drive away.
Do stay at the scene and move your vehicle to a safe place out of traffic even if there appears to be no damage. If the other car is parked and the owner isn’t around, leave a note with your name and contact information.

Don’t assume there aren’t injuries.
Do assess yourself and your passengers. Even low-impact collisions can cause injuries, some not appearing until days after the accident.

Don’t sign any documents and avoid accepting or offering cash for repairs. You may end up paying out-of-pocket to repair damage to your car that only appears minor, or you could pay the other driver more than necessary.
Do stay calm. Take notes and photos, and exchange information with the other driver, including your name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number.

Don’t assume an accident is too minor to be reported.
Do call the police or file a report on your own. This will help your insurance agent handle your claim. An accident report could also help protect you from issues that may arise later about the extent of damage to your vehicle or injuries to you and the other driver.

Don’t forget to notify your State Farm agent.
Do discuss your options for handling potential claims.

The State Farm Pocket Agent® smartphone app makes it easy to capture the essential details of an accident. Pocket Agent can help you diagram the accident scene, record witnesses’ names and numbers, contact your agent, and even locate nearby repair shops.

What To Do After an Auto Accident

Auto accidents are unexpected and stressful. Even the most careful drivers may be involved. If you are in an accident, State Farm is committed to helping restore your peace of mind as soon as possible. If you have recently been involved in an accident begin reporting a claim.

Be prepared

  • Carry a set of cones, warning triangles, or emergency flares in your trunk to help alert traffic.
  • It also helps to have a pen and a card with any relevant medical information for you and your family.

Immediately after an accident

  • Take a deep breath and stay calm.
  • Check for injuries; call an ambulance when in doubt.
  • If accident is minor, move cars to a safe place, out of traffic.
  • Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights and use cones, warning triangles or flares for safety.
  • Call the police, even if the accident is minor.
  • Notify your insurance agent immediately.

Other important tips

  • Do not sign any document unless it’s for the police or your insurance agent.
  • Make immediate notes about the accident, including specific damages to all vehicles involved, witness information, etc.
  • If the name on an auto registration is different than the driver, jot down the relationship.
  • Be polite, but don’t tell anyone the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
  • State only the facts, and limit your discussion of the accident to the police and your insurance agent.
  • If possible, don’t leave the accident scene before the police and other drivers do.

Johnny Williamson
BUS: (661) 324-8700
TOLL FREE: (877) 637-8700
Email Me
Lic. # 0F95789

State Farm Insurance

The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under any policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.
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Olive Drive Blazers

The Olive Drive Blazers will host their annual spring fling on Sat March 3rd. The theme this year is Casino Night. Craps, Poker, Black Jack & Roulette gambling tables along with silent & oral auction items for you to bid on.

Casino night tickets are now on sale and going fast. They are looking for table sponsors and auction items.

We have decided to put together an awesome gift basket from BBNG. I will be donating a 3 day 2 night Mini Vacation and Taylor will be donating a set of Bed Sheets. If you would like to put something in the basket please bring it to the meeting next Tuesday.

If you have any questions about the Casino night please call Cindy Tackett at 661.203.6573 or email her at cmallocean@yahoo.com

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Blood Drive

State Farm Insurance & Affordable PC Repair are sponsoring a blood drive in their parking lot (Rosedale Square Hooters) on Wednesday Feb 22nd from 2pm to 8pm.  As many of you know, Teena Williamson, (Johnny’s Wife – St Farm)  has Lymphoma Cancer and has had to use Platelets from blood donors to get through the treatments.
I am asking each and every one of you to consider donating on this day for Teena and millions of others whose lives rely upon your generosity for their survival.
 
Please mark your calendars and join BBNG, State Farm, Affordable PC Repair and Hooters as we combine efforts to make this drive an unprecedented success.  Teena is anxiously awaiting with a sign-up sheet, just submit your approximate arrival time and telephone number using the contact information below.  The wonderful staff at Houchin will be on hand to take your donation, and Hooters will be ready to reward you with a complimentary appetizer.
Thank you in advance for your support!  It is MUCH appreciated.
[contact-form-7 id=”158″ title=”Blood Drive”]
 
STATE FARM INSURANCE
Teena Williamson
Office Manager

Tips for a Successful Donation

By following a few recommendations before, during and after your blood donation can help you make your donation experience as safe, successful and pleasant as possible.
Before Your Donation

  • Blood Donation Tip – Eat Healthy Maintain a healthy iron level in your diet by eating iron rich foods, such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals and raisins.
  • Get a good night’s sleep.
  • Drink an extra 16 oz. of water and fluids before the donation.
  • Eat a healthy meal before your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.
  • If you are a platelet donor, remember that your system must be free of aspirin for two days prior to donation.
  • Remember to bring your donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of ID.

During Your Donation

  • Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
  • Let the phlebotomist know if you have a preferred arm and show the staff any good veins that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood.
  • Relax, listen to music, talk to other donors or read during the donation process.
  • Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink in the refreshments area immediately after donating.
  • Have a Successful Blood Donation

After Your Donation

  • Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish any fluids you lost during donation.
  • Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation.
  • If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.
  • In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes. If bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.
  • If for any reason something doesn’t feel right, call the American Red Cross toll-free number provided to you after your donation.
  • Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives.
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Fastest Growing Business Network in Kern County

The Bakersfield Business Networking Group aka (BBNG) is Kern County’s Fastest Growing Business Group. Launching on January 3rd 2012 we have grown to 16 member in just 3 weeks with applications from new members waiting to be approved. If you would like to secure your exclusive position in this group of Executive level business owners click on the join button or contact one of our members for a personal invitation.

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