August 2008 Newsletter Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

The Brentwood Clarion Page

AUGUST 2008 Vol. 44, No.8

TEAR OUT THE CENTER SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND GET INVOIVED!

The Brentwood Voice of Business

Harry York, CEO

Brentwood Chamber

Your Chamber Announces Two New Member Programs

To better serve you, the Chamber member, the Chamber has purchased a brand-new membership software

program, and starting in September we will kick off our first Good Morning Brentwood.

The Chamber's new software will allow the staff to track all of the members in one database, track all

member activities including events, track all membership financials, and do all of the membership

mailings. The mailing option will allow us to e-mail, fax or “Snail Mail” to the membership or even do

any combination of mail. Starting this month we will start to e-mail the Chamber membership of

upcoming events and other timely messages. This e-mail will be a much quicker and more cost-effective

method of the Chamber to connect with its members and others. In August we will also be redoing the

Chamber web-site Membership Directory.

Good Morning Brentwood the Chamber's new networking program will start

September 25. This program will allow those in attendance to do one-on-one

networking at their table, to do a 10 second introduction before all of those in

attendance, and there will be a speaker on a timely, pertinent subject.

This first program will be held at Cortona Park on September 25th at 7:30 a.m.

Our first program will be on how to successfully network. Those attending will

be able to bring business handout materials for distribution to all those in

attendance. This good morning program will give all Chamber members

another effective opportunity to make business connections to build their business.

Your Chamber is always working to provide more and better benefits.

Member Benefits paying off.

Karen Spann of the Monthly Grapevine said she saved $110 on her first order from Office Depot using

the Chamber’s new discount program. “The Chamber said there would be a saving, but I had no idea it

would be so big.” “I saved money on my first order and the order was delivered to my front door the

next day,” exclaimed Amy Alvis the owner of Living Trusts My Amy. “This is a great program. I even

get the discounts at the store.”

See the sign up form inserted in the newsletter.

The Brentwood Clarion

Mission Statement: The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization dedicated to the promotion of the civic and commercial progress of the community. We will continuously strive to maintain and foster a healthy business climate for Chamber members and the entire community.

photo by

Generations Photography

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

by Joe Trebino

To begin, I would like to congratulate all of the people who helped with this year’s

CornFest. It was a job well done and the CornFest had another successful year due to

everyone of the volunteers who (to use an overused, but appropriate cliché) gave 110%. I

believe that the only area where we fell short was in sponsor contributions which could be

expected due to the present economy.

This brings me to the second thing I would like to comment on “today’s economy”. There are some

businesses in Brentwood that are probably not affected by the slow down in the housing market and all that is

associated with it. This is good for you. But those of us who are affected by this slow market, are finding that

it has affected our business. The Chamber has even felt the downturn. There has been a definite drop in

membership.

So what can we do about this? I don’t think that the economy will get better for the next year or two. In the

meantime every owner or manager should first look to see which expenses can be eliminated. Probably the

biggest expense that a business has is payroll. This is a hard one to deal with because you have employees

that you count on, as they count on you. Don’t be afraid to explain your situation to your employees. Maybe

instead of eliminating one of your employees, they would be willing to cut their hours so that they would be

helping each other as well as helping you. You, as the owner or manager, will have to take up the slack until

there is a turn around in this economy.

Your next biggest expense is probably your rent. You might be able to renegotiate your lease. The landlord

would rather get some rent rather than no rent. Next you need to look at all your other expenses and eliminate

anything that you don’t absolutely need to operate your business on a daily basis. When times are good we

tend to spend money on questionable expenses that really don’t help your successful operation but look good

at the time. Maybe you can no longer made a contribution to every group or charity that comes into your place

of business.

I have been in business in Brentwood for 33 years. This is the third or fourth slowdown-recession that has

occurred during that time. So far we have always come out of them, this one seems to be a little tougher and

lasting a little longer. You can learn from this experience so that you are better prepared for the next one.

Some of the things you can do are:

1) Save some of your profits to get you by in the slow times.

2) Know that good times will not last forever.

3) Keep an eye on your expenses.

4) Try to stay out of debt.

5) Don’t over-extend yourself.


Cell 925.813.1319

The Brentwood Chamber office is now able to provide you with all your Human Resource materials. We have copies of the 2008 California and Federal Posters, 2008 California Labor Law Digest, California Labor Law Ad-ministration, and the 2008 Employee Handbook soft-ware.

Now on sale in the Chamber office is a pictorial

history of Brentwood by author Carol A. Jensen

THE BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OFFICE


PRO-TECH HEATING AND

AIR CONDITIONING

Bob & Sheri Dickson - Owners

P.O. Box 2001, Brentwood, CA 94513

925-978-1776 925-516-1776 925-673-3776

Fax: 925-673-3777

www.protechheating.com email: [email protected]

Lic #705148

(July 23, 2008) In a decision that will have an impact on the laws governing meal and rest breaks, the 4th District Court of Ap-peal yesterday ruled that California law requires that employers need only provide meal periods, and, as a result, as with the rest period claims, the plaintiffs’ meal period claims are not amenable to class treatment. The issue before the court in the case of Brinker Restaurant Corporation et al., v. The Superior Court of San Diego County, is did the trial court err in certifying this matter as a class action without first determining the elements of plaintiffs and real parties in interest against the defendants? The court ruled that the class certification order is erroneous and must be vacated because the lower court failed to properly consider the elements of the plaintiffs’ claims in determining if they were susceptible to class treatment. The court concluded that:

Employers cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking rest periods; they need only provide, not en-sure, rest periods are taken;

Employers need only to authorize and permit rest periods every four hours or major fraction thereof and they need not, where impracticable, be in the middle of each work period;

Employers are not required to provide a meal period for every five consecutive hours worked; While employers cannot impede, discourage or dissuade employees from taking meal periods, they need only provide

them, not ensure they are taken; and While employers cannot coerce, require or compel employees to work off the clock, they can only be held liable for em-

ployees working off the clock if the employer knew or should have known the employees were doing so. Furthermore, the court concluded that because the meal and rest breaks need only be “made available” and not “ensured,” individual issues predominate and based on the evidence presented to the trial court, they are not amenable to class treat-ment. Finally, the court concluded the off-the-clock claims are also not amenable to class treatment as individual issues pre-dominate on the issue of whether Brinker forced employees to work off the clock, whether Brinker changed time records, and whether Brinker knew or should have know employees were working off the clock. For more information, visit the Customer Service page at http://www.calbizcentral.com/Help/Pages/help.aspx.

Court of Appeal Rules Employers Must Only Provide Meal and Rest Breaks

http://www.calbizcentral.com/Help/Pages/help.aspx


Income Tax Preparation Financial and Tax Planning Business Management Bookkeeping

8440 Brentwood Blvd., Suite H 925-240-1242

www.reaganmanagementservices.com “Best of Brentwood” 2002-2007 Business of the Year, 15th Assembly District

SPECIAL THANKS TO DARIUS MAHALLATI,

OWNER OF

GRAZIE ITALIAN CUISINE & MARTINI BAR For stepping up to the plate and hosting the Chamber’s

July Mixer. On a very short notice, when asked, Darius

said not a problem, he would be happy to do it and we were happy to

let him. Darius shown at right welcoming everyone to his

establishment along with Chamber President Kathi Reed.

The weather was perfect to stroll into the restaurant for refreshments

which in true Darius’ style were excellent and then return to the patio

to sit under trees and umbrellas and network with

other Chamber members. Darius donated two gift cards to Grazie!

For the business card drawing. These were won by Niel Ruggiero

of Ruggiero’s Italian Chef for Hire and Patrick Shabram of BAEB

Publishing were the lucky winners. Karen Spann of The Monthly

Grapevine took the Share-the-Pot of $102.00.

We would like to thank the following businesses for their contributions to

our drawings:

Brentwood Library

Delta Community Services

A Place for Seniors

The Monthly Grapevine

Brentwood Press

Dreams are a Wish Your Heart Makes

BAEB Publishing

Photo provided by Generations Photography

Lyle Miller of Bust-

A-Bug and Shayn

Cutino of Anja Well-

ness telling war sto-

ries of the previous

weekend-CornFest.

These two were

major workers and

are much appreci-

ated.

Lois Chelini,

Oak Street Boutique

and Lori Knudsen of

California Payroll

enjoying the patio.


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The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Invites you to participate in the

14th Annual Golf Tournament (Scramble format)

ATE: FRIDAY, September 19, 2008 TIME: CHECK IN—11:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START—12:00 P.M. NO-HOST BAR—5:30 P.M. WITH DINNER TO FOLLOW. (Additional dinners—$30.00) LOCATION: Shadow Lakes 401 W. Country Club Drive Brentwood, CA 94513 COST: $155.00 PER PERSON (EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION $135.00 MUST BE IN CHAMBER OFFICE BY August 22, 2008 at 5:00 P.M.) Special Early Bird Drawing for a chance to win Free Gold Membership Initiation Fee to Shadow Lakes or Deer Ridge. The winner of this prize will only be required to pay the monthly dues fee).

FEE INCLUDES: GREEN FEE, CART, RANGE BALLS, TEE PRIZES, LUNCH AND DINNER TEE PRIZES :LONG DRIVE FOR MEN AND WOMEN, PUTTING CONTEST

TEAM MEMBERS 1. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 2. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 3. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ 4. ___________________________________________SHIRT SIZE_______________________ CONTACT PERSON:_________________________________PHONE NO:__________________ Additional Dinner:#_______________________ $30.00 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Brentwood Chamber of Commerce 240 Oak Street Brentwood, CA 94513 Phone: 634-3344

Payment Information

Name:__________________________

M/C#___________ _______________

Visa#__________________________

Expiation Date:______________

Billing Zip Code:___________

Signature:_______________________


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August 7, 2008 Gooseberry Fool 622 First Street

August 28, 2008 Panama Bay Coffee Company

4431 Balfour Road, #A


JOIN US FOR THE

August Mixer

hosted by:

Arbor Ridge Apartment Homes

Location: 2400 Shadow Willow Brentwood, CA 94513

DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2008

TIME: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

*Raffle Prizes

*Share-the-Pot Drawing

Anyone wishing to sign-up for the Golf Tournament see Jilda

Early Bird Special Ends August 22, 2008

BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August

August 7 Chamber Lounge—Gooseberry Fool

August 13 Ribbon Cutting—A Place for Seniors

August 19 Ribbon Cutting—ECC Bank, Balfour Road

August 20 Ribbon Cutting—Cortona Park

August 21 Mixer at Arbor Ridge Executive Apartments

August 28 Coffee Club—Panama Bay Coffee Company

September

September 4 Chamber Lounge

September 18 Mixer

September 19 Golf Tournament—Shadow Lakes

September 25 Good Morning Brentwood

September 26 2008 East County Economic Conference

October

October 16 Mixer at Shepherd’s Gate

October 25 Hometown Halloween

November

November 1 A Taste of Brentwood (restaurant tour)

November 20 Mixer TBA

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Mixer Locations (or Ribbon Cuttins) can (and do) change at any time. Check the Calendar of Events on our

website for updated information:

www.brentwoodchamber.com

At-Home Tastings •Premier Wine Gifts

Custom-Labeled Corporate Gifts

Kathi Reed Independent Wine Consultant

925-240-8382

www.winealongwithme.com [email protected]


Phone: 925-625-0278 P.O. Box 406 Oakley, CA 94561 www.linmarkltd.logomall.com

All Sports Trophies Advertising Specialties Custom & Corporate Awards

(925) 516-8880 • Fax (925) 625-5316 Email: [email protected]

Bob & Sharon Sherriff, Owners

Sick Leave Mandate Passes Committee; Study Says Bill May Cost 370,000 Jobs

June 27, 2008 California Chamber of Commerce-opposed legislation that could result in the loss of 370,000 jobs within five years passed the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on June 25. The bill, AB 2716 (Ma; D-San Francisco), unreasonably expands employers’ costs and liability by mandating a specific paid sick leave policy. It passed on a party-line vote of 3-2. The day before the committee hearing, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Foundation held a news conference to release a study that concluded California will lose approximately 370,000 jobs within five years if ABX 2716 becomes law. “The ever-increasing burden of costly mandates on employers can cumulatively result in lower wages, reducing available health insurance, limiting training programs and — in the worst case scenario — job loss or reduced work hours,” said Marc Burgat, CalChamber vice president of government relations, during the news conference. “Job loss translates to lower tax revenues from employers and employees, as well as increased utilization of unemploy-ment insurance. In an already-troubled economy, California should be seeking ways to stimulate job growth and avoid forcing costly mandates on employers,” Burgat said.

Costly Mandate AB 2716 mandates that all employers provide paid sick leave to an employee after seven days of work in a calendar year to care for the employee’s own illness, or to provide care to a sick child, spouse, domestic partner or other relative. The mandate would extend to all employers and all employees, as specified. There are no exceptions. The provisions of AB 2716 will have an impact on all employers, large and small, regardless of the level of sick leave cur-rently provided.

Fiscal Impact According to the NFIB Foundation study:

California employers will be taxed with a $4.6 billion mandate.

The new regulations will cost California companies an estimated $59.3 billion in sales in the first five years of enact-

ment.

More than half of that, 36.2 percent of total sales loss, will be losses to small businesses. Major job losses will occur in retail trade, construction and professional services.

The study analyzes the results of an input-output system that produces short- and long-term forecasts for detailed indus-try sectors when external shocks are applied. It estimates future changes in jobs, output (sales), income and productivity for California by business size and industry. Estimates are made by comparing forecasts without change to forecasts with change — in this case, proposed legislation. The full study can be viewed at www.NFIB.com/CA

http://www.NFIB.com/CA


WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS!

EAST BAY MUSCLE CARS

High Performance Modification

Steve Keefer, Owner

560 Valdry Ct., Ste. B-3

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-516-2277

Cell: 925-550-5771

Email: [email protected]

www.eastbaymusclecars.com

A PLACE FOR SENIORS Residential Care Facility for the Elderly

Terry Cruz, Licensee/Administrator

2664 Torrey Pines Drive

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-513-3831

Cell: 408-504-6745


BIRTHRIGHT Non-Profit Organization

Rose Deitz, Contact

857 Second St., Ste. D

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-634-1275

Cell: 925-286-4905


REALTY WORLD PIGATI & RUSSELL Real Estate/Realtor

Melissa Hughes, Realtor

6670 Lone Tree Way, Ste. 4

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-513-4004

Fax: 925-513-4330

Cell: 925-584-7058


www.mhugheshomes.com

HAMPTON INN BRENTWOOD Hospitality

German Jimenez, Contact

7605 Brentwood Blvd.

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925-513-1299

Fax: 925-513-1280

Email: [email protected] & [email protected]

OFFICE DEPOT Office Supplies

Toreano Norris, Store Manager

5885 Lone Tree Way

Antioch, CA 94531

Phone: 925-755-8713

Fax: 925-755-8719

(new members continued)


BRENTWOOD

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kathi Reed, President WineShop at Home

Shelly McMahon, Ex-Officio Shelly’s Garden

Shayn Cutino, Director Anja Wellness

Bill Fee, Director Mazzy’s Fire Protection Specialists

Toni Grimes, Director Notary Public

De-De Hays, Director Prudential California Realty

Richard Inglis, Director Reagan Management Services

Paul Kelly, Director Home One Mortgage

Richard Perez-Pacheco, Director Black Sheep Design

Ken Seamann, Director Discovery Professional Services

Karen Spann, President-Elect The Monthly Grapevine

Joe Trebino, Director Delta Pure Water, Etc.

Lyle Miller, Alternate Director Bust-A-Bug Pest Management

t——————————————————

Harry York, CEO

Bonnie Lucchese, Support Services

Director

Jilda Fairhurst, Event Coordinator

Bill Putman, Volunteer

CHAMBER HOURS

Monday through Friday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Phone (925) 634-3344

Fax (925) 634-3731

email: [email protected]


Paul Roman, Window Innovations 2007 Ambassador of the Year

Amy Alvis, Living Trusts by Amy De-De Hays, Prudential California Realty Chris Krohn, The Emerging Soul Richard McDaniel, Mutual of Omaha David Mengel, Gemini Staffing Vicki Sexton, First Bank Pat Trombino, First Bank Olga Vidriales, Travis Credit Union Susanna Wahl, Edward Jones Renee Woodruff, MAP Donna Zickerman, Sarah Coventry Clarissa Perez-Pacheco, Black Sheep Design Shirley Freeman, America’s Best Choice Susan George, Ayurveda Knowledge For Life Liz Andrade, Ribbons & Roses Ed Gutierrez, Certa Pro Melina Perdom, Certa Pro

The Chamber Ambassador Team

(New members continued)

KB SECURITY KAMS CCTV Installer

Kyndl S. Buzas

P. O. Box 956

Oakley, CA 94561

Phone: 925-890-0790


www.kbsecuritykams

SPECIAL KIDS FOUNDATION,INC.

Non-profit Organization

Lisa McBride, President/Founder

3105 Castle Rock Loop

Discovery Bay, CA 94505

Phone: 925-516-9690

Fax: 925-516-6999

Cell: 925-584-7762


www.spkids.org


Phone: 925-634-3344

Fax: 925-634-3731




Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

240 Oak Street

Brentwood, CA 94513

TEAR OUT THE CENTER SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND GET INVOLVED!

The Brentwood Farmers’ Market

is OPEN every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon

Downtown Brentwood

August 2008 Newsletter Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

Documents

Transcript of August 2008 Newsletter Brentwood Chamber of Commerce