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PRSRTSTD

U.S.POSTAGE

PAID

PERMITNO.232

TULARE,CA

2012 Officers

Art ClarkChair of the Board

Kohler & Clark ScrewProducts, Inc

Philip SmithChair Elect

Citizens Business Bank

Crystal CotaVice Chair of Finance

M. Green & Co.

Marie PintoImmediate Past Chair

Tulare Adult School

Geoff HinesVice Chair of Membership

CEO of the Tulare Fair

Deanne Martin-SoaresVice Chair of

Governmental Affairs

2012 Board

Terry BrazilTulare Historical Museum

KerissaPostma-ChapmanInternational Agri-Center

Crystal CotaM. Green & Co.

Simone FrazierLand OLakes

Melissa FreitasValley Business Bank

Geoff HindsTulare County Fair

John BarbadianTulare Regional Medical

Center

John ThomasBank of Sierra

Sue Ann HillmanJD Heiskell

Linda NoguesBacome Insurance

Lonnie TiesieraWill Tiesiera

Ford-Mercury, Inc.

Dennis MederosLegal Counsel

Horswill, Mederos, & Soares

Traci MyersEx-Officio

City of Tulare

Professional StaffNina Akin

President / CEO

Sherry CarsonOffice Manager

Vickie KuntzInformatio n Specialist

Andi CabreraDirector of Mem bership

and Sales

Linda HowarthInformatio n Coordinator

the updateis the official monthly

publication of the

Tulare Chamber of Commerce

220 E. Tulare Ave.

P.O. Box 1435

Tulare, CA 93275-1435

686-1547

email: info@tularechamber.org

web: www.tularechamber.org

For advertising information call:Colleen Ferreira (559) 735-3227

the update is published in partnershipwith the Tulare Advance-Register

www.TulareChamber.org thetheUpdate

UpdateJune 2012

Tuesday, June 5th

1PM Bling 4 You BBQ/Ribbon Cutting,

1585 E Tulare Ave.

Thursday, June 7th

10AM Cartmill Overpass Ribbon Cutting

Monday, June 11th

12PM Governmental Affairs Committee

meets at Apple Annies

Tuesday, June 12th

12PM Ambassador Meeting at the Chamber

Wednesday, June 13th

Ribbon Cutting for Costas Catering. Call

the Chamber for more information.

Save the Date:

Like us on Facebook and FoLLow us on TwiTTer aT TuLareTweeTs

Published date: May 26, 2012

Most of us spend our lives working andraising a family and every once in a whilehave the opportunity to engage in politicsor something related to the public arena.All of my life I have enjoyed communityinvolvement. I started working on presiden-tial campaigns when I was in high school;most of our family friends were either onthe city council or active on one board oranother; I never knew any difference. Ithought this was how it is for everyone in acommunity. My Dads buddies were either

a mayor at some time or a chairman of thisor a board member of that; my mother evenworked on Marcie Bufords (the first womanmayor in Hanford) campaign! I was raisedto believe you needed to give as much asyou get to create a happy marriage, a happyfamily, an active church and a healthy com-munity. My family belonged to service clubsand I was encouraged to volunteer at a veryyoung age. My Father is a Mason and I wasa Jobs Daughter, we went to church on

Sunday and I sang at the Rest Homes withmy grandmother. I was a PTA president,President of the Kings Guild; I worked oncampaigns to pass school bonds, sold GirlScout cookies, taught Art to the elementaryschool children and have always dedicatedmy time to the community in which I lived.

This is community. This is the descrip-tion of a person who belongs to a com-munity. Every person who sits on our Citycouncil is there with the right purpose inmind. They are not career politicians and

they dont give their time because theywant something in return or have a hiddenagenda. Everyone who belongs to a serviceclub is cut from that same cloth. What a joyit is to see the generosity of Tulare. I knowthat we will be able to look back on all ofthis and know that our efforts were not invain.

The Chamber of Commerce is the COREof every community. Every great thing that

has happened in mostcommunities (includingours) is because of theChambers efforts andthe Service Clubs thatrally together. Economicdevelopment and thriv-ing commerce are theresponsibility of all. Ifyou look at the most suc-cessful efforts, the privatesector is responsible for the Tulare Outlets,

the World Ag Expo and more. We dontspend the money, we make it. We make theevents that create a Community. There areinteresting times ahead, but rest assured,Your Chamber, its Board and its membersare always looking for new ways to createEconomic Growth in Tulare. Thank youfor being actively involved; if you are notinvolved, call the Chamber well find you acause

Please join the California Chamber ofCommerce and Californians Against HigherTaxes to review recent polling results onthe cap and trade issue and to discussefforts to oppose this $30 billion hiddenenergy tax (through 2020) proposed bythe California AirResources Board(CARB). This hiddentax would signifi-cantly increase ener-gy prices and posessignificant threatsto California consumers, businesses and thestates economic recovery. If CARB proceedswith the auction as planned, Californianswill face:

Higher gas prices at the pump.

Higher utility bills for gas, electricity andwater.

Higher prices for every day goods andservices.

Higher costs forschools, collegesand hospitals -anyone who useslarge amounts ofenergy.

Finally, CARB is attempting to implementthis hidden energy tax without a two-thirdsvote of the Legislature by calling it a fee.

A briefing and planning meeting will

take place to include a presentation onrecent polling on this issue and reviewwhat Californians Against Higher Taxes hasdone to date on this important public policyquestion.

California Chamber of Commerce1215 K Street, 14th FloorCalifornia Room

Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

RSVP/Questions: Jenny@gcwest.com

If you are unable to join the meeting inperson, please use the dial-in information

below. Thank you.Dial-in #: 866-910-4857Event #: 307006#

Nina Akin-President/CEO

Community Involvement

Poll Briefing on Cap and Trade Energy Tax

Please Join Us - Thursday, May 31

Lets Talk BUSINESS!with Hancock A/C & Heating

When Craig Hancock was growing upin Bishop, California he made a few discov-eries along the way. He enjoyed baseballand continued to play after high schooluntil sidelined by injuries. He found that

he enjoyed working at the local appliancestore; delivering, maintaining and repairingnew and used appliances (o.k., so deliveryto the upper story of an A-frame residencemay not have been so enjoyable). It wasntuntil after graduation though, that he under-stood the full truth of his fathers oft repeat-ed statement its not the problems; its howyou deal with them.

As it became clear that successive inju-ries might prevent Craig from pursuing acareer in baseball his father, Dick Hancock,encouraged him to attend college anddevelop skills in other areas. Given hisearly aptitude for appliance repair Craigchose to attend heating, ventilation, and air-

conditioning (HVAC) courses while playingfor a team in southern California. Duringthe 1980s he completed his coursework,worked for a local firm to develop hisskills and finally took the exams requiredto obtain his contractors license. Havingenjoyed the way of life offered by our com-munity during visits with family, Craig choseto relocate to Tulare and opened the doorof Hancock A/C & Heating in 1990. Forthe sake of accuracy the initial door thatwas opened was the door of his truck; forthe next five years Craig was the firms onlyemployee.

Philip: Many small business owners findit difficult to grow with their organization.

Some entrepreneurs are challenged by theprospect of managing personnel. How did

you make the transition from being the onlyguy on the job to being the guy that is man-aging eight other people?

Craig: Over the years Ive had to adaptto the fact that more people would berequired to respond to the growing demandfor our services; but we grew very carefully.In 1995 the f irst employee was hired byHancock A/C & Heating, my wife Rosemary.We discussed the situation and decidedit would be best if she left her job with alocal attorneys firm and began handlingthe phones and files for our business. Shehated to leave that job, but we really neededher in the office while I was out in the field.

Since then, weve gradually added techni-cians or office staff as needed. Teamworkis important even if it means Ive had toreconcile myself to being the coach, not theplayer. I primarily handle logistics now andno one is done for the day until everyone isdone. One of my rules is that if a techniciancannot identify the problem within f ive min-utes he needs to call for back up. By com-municating consistently with my crew if oneof the guys gets bogged down I can shift hisworkload to someone else, or call in some-one with special skills.

Philip:Youve mentioned your fathersopinion of problems a couple of times dur-ing our conversation. How do you applyhis philosophy to managing your business?Is there any particular approach you takewhen addressing problems?

Craig: Our primary goal is to solveour clients problem. Thats it and thats

all. If we can fix the problem, instead ofmerely pushing new equipment, well have

attained our goal. Manyof the hardest-workingfamilies in Tulare find thefinancial challenge of anew air conditioner to be

an enormous burden. So,if we can repair a motorinstead of replacing anentire unit; problem solved.I didnt start this businessto get rich, I like the work.Rosemary and I work everyday and were going to keep working. If wecan fix the clients problem today, theyregoing to call us in the future. By placingthe clients interests ahead of our own wesolidify the relationship. Weve been hon-ored to receive the American Home ShieldQuality of Service Award for customer sat-isfaction two years running now; placing usamong the top ten HVAC contractors in thecountry for service quality.

Our clients truly appreciate what wedo. When we opened the office on Mondaymorning after the first hot weekend in Aprilour inbox was filled with service requests.My family and I have been blessed andwere very grateful.

Philip: During the last seven years con-tractors have made (and lost) fortunes inyour industry. How did you and Rosemarydecide to approach the housing boom?What management principles took youthrough the economic cycle and enhancedthe stability of your organization duringthose years?

Craig:When Rosemary and I discussed

our options as the economy was heat ing up,See Lets Talk/3

Philip SmithVice President,

CitizensBusiness Bank

Salute to Dairy!June 21 st 11 :30- 1: 30 at th e He ri ta ge

Complex. Contact the Chamber for Sponsorshipopportunities and tickets for this event or regis-ter online at www.tularechamber.org. Our GuestSpeaker will be Tyler Bramble of AllTech. Joinus while we salute dairy and hear about all theamazing advancements AllTech is bringing toTulare.

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page 2 June 2012 tulare chamber the update

May 26, 2012 Tulare Advance-RegisterPROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

When retirement was years away, cal-culating how much income you may needmay have involved a lot of estimates. Nowyou can be more accurate. Consider thefollowing factors:

1.The length of your retirement.Theaverage 65-year-old man can expectto live about 17 more years; theaverage 65-year-old woman, 20 more

years , according to the Nat ionalCenter for Health Statistics. Have

you accounted for a retirement of 20years or more?

2. Earned income. Working dur ingretirement, even on a part-timebasis, can reduce your need to tapretirement assets for ongoing livingexpenses.

3.Your retirement lifestyle.Your life-style will help determine how much

income youll need to support your-self. A typical guideline is 60% to80% of your final working years sal-ary, but if you want to take luxurycruises or start a business, you mayneed 100% or more.

4. Health care costs and insur-ance. Most Americans are not eli-gible for Medicare until age 65,and even then, Medicare doesntcover everything. You can purchaseMedigap supplemental insurance tocover some of the extras, but evenMedigap does not pay for long-termcustodial care, eyeglasses, hearingaids, and other ongoing essentials.For more on Medicare and health

insurance, visit www.medicare.gov.5. Inflation. Because the rate of infla-

tion can vary over time, its a goodidea to tack on an additional 4%each year to help compensate forincreases in the cost of living.

Running the NumbersThe next step is to identify potential

income sources, including Social Security,pensions, and personal investments. Alsoreview your asset allocation -- namely,how you divide your portfolio amongstocks, bonds, and cash.1Are you temptedto convert all of your assets to low-risksecurities? Such a move may place yourassets at risk of losing purchasing power

due to inflation. You may live in retire-ment for a long time, so try to keep yourportfolio working for you both now andin the future.

A New Phase of PlanningOnce youve assessed your needs

and income sources, its time to look attapping your nest egg. First, determinea prudent withdrawal rate. A commonapproach is to liquidate a maximum of 5%of your principal each year in retirement;however, your income needs may differ.

Next, youll need to decide whenand how much to withdraw from yourtax-deferred and taxable investments.Investors are required to take annualwithdrawals from employer -sponsored

retirement plans and traditional IRAs afterage 70 1/2. Be aware that these withdraw-als are subject to federal income tax.2

The advantage of maintain ing tax -deferred investments for as long as pos-sible is their ability to compound on apre-tax basis and thus offer greater earn-ing potential than their taxable counter-parts. In contrast, long-term capital gainsfrom the sale of taxable investments arecurrently taxed at a maximum of 15%.

Please contact us if you have any ques-tions.

1Asset allocation does not assure a profit or pro-tect against a loss in a declining market.

2Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts madeprior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to an additional10% penalty. In the case of employer-sponsoredplans, there are special rules that apply to plan

participants aged 55 and older who separate fromservice.

Paladin Investment Group 559-625-4005 www.paladininvestmentgroup.com

Calculating Your Retirement Needs

Kimberly Lindley, Jerry Hayton , Trish Arnold

Jobs and the state of the economy areof high concern to the public at largeand most likely your employees. As theyweigh their choices for the June elec-tion, your employees may find it helpfulto learn about the business perspective

on the ballot measures. Sharing thisinformation is not the same as tellingemployees how to vote and the sampletext below attempts to make that clear.ou can include the link below in an

email to employees who would like moreinformation. If you have concerns aboutcommunicating these positions to youremployees, be assured that you are within

your rights to do so just remember: NOPAYCHECK STUFFERS, no coercion, norewarding or punishing employees (orthreatening to do so) for their politicalactivities or beliefs. For more guidelineson political communications to employ-ees, see the brochure on our website.Note the distinction between internalcommunications (to employees, stock-holders and their families) and commu-nications to external audiences (such asnon-stockholder retirees, outside vendors,customers, passersby).

* * * * * * * * * *

Remember to VoteAs you consider your choices on the

June ballot, we want to share with youthe positions of the California Chamber ofCommerce on the statewide ballot mea-

sures. Please dont interpret this email asa message telling you how to vote. Weare providing this information becausethe CalChamber positions are based onthe impact of the ballot measures onCalifornias economy and jobs climate. Formore information on the reasons for eachposition, please see the link at the bottomof the email.

Prop. Position Subject

28 Support Limits on LegislatorsTerms in Office

29 Oppose Additional Tax onCigarettes for CancerResearch

More information available at www.calchamber.com/ballot

1215 K Street, Suite 1400Sacramento, CA 95814916 444 6670www.calchamber.com

Limits on Legislators Terms in Office.Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Reduces total amount of time a personmay serve in the state legislature from 14years to 12 years. Allows 12 years servicein one house. Applies only to legislatorsfirst elected after measure is passed.

Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.Reasons for Position

Unlike a 2008 attempt to reform term

limits (Proposition 93), Proposition 28applies its revised limits only to legisla-

tors first elected after the propositionpasses. Legislators elected. Following arebrief summaries of the measures that willappear on the June ballot and the reasonsfor the California Chamber of Commercepositions.

The CalChamber encouragesemployers to share this informationwith their employees. Businesses arewithin their rights to do so - just remem-ber: NO PAYCHECK STUFFERS, no coer-cion, no rewarding or punishing employ-ees (or threatening to do so) for theirpolitical activities or beliefs. For moreguidelines on political communications toemployees, see the brochure at www.cal-chamber.com/guidelines.Note the dis-tinction between internal communications

(to employees, stockholders and theirfamilies) and communications to exter-nal audiences (such as non-stockholderretirees, outside vendors, customers andpassersby).

For more information on the ballotmeasures, see the link listed below or

visit the website of the secretary of stateat www.sos.ca.gov.

Proposition 28 would continue tobe subject to existing term limits. TheCalChamber opposed Proposition 93 in2008 because it did not include a com-panion reform measure on redistrict-ing, a goal subsequently accomplishedwith the passage of Proposition 11 in2008. Proposition 28 is a much-neededimprovement to the current term limitslaw while keeping the original initiativeintact.

More Information: www.cafreshstart.com

Imposes Additional Tax on Cigarettesfor Cancer Research. Initiative Statute.

Imposes additional $1 per pack tax on

cigarettes and an equivalent tax increaseon other tobacco products. Revenues fundresearch for cancer and tobacco-relateddiseases.

Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.

Reasons for PositionThis initiative imposes an additional

tax on cigarettes and an equivalent taxincrease on other tobacco products tofund research for cancer and tobaccorelat-ed diseases. It is estimated to raise nearly$1 billion in new taxes, but nothing inProposition 29 requires the Proposition29 funding to be spent in California oreven in the United States.

Although cancer research is impor-tant, the CalChamber Board of Directorsthought it was inappropriate to create anew program when the state is slashingexisting essential programs, such as edu-cation and courts.

In addition, the Legislative AnalystsOffice concluded that the revenue streamto fund these new programs would be

declining and the CalChamber Board wasconcerned that it would once again putexisting programs at risk to keep the newprograms.

More Information: www.NoOn29.com

California export trade, dragging bot-tom three years ago, has emerged asarguably the brightest star in the stateseconomy.

California businesses shipped mer-chandise valued at $14.62 billion inMarch, up 4.8 percent from $13.95 billionin March 2011, according to an analysisof Thursdays U.S. Commerce Departmenttrade figures by Beacon Economics, aconsulting firm with offices in the BayArea and Los Angeles.

March marked the 29th straight monthof year-over-year growth, coming off a2011 that was an all-time record year forCalifornia exports.

With the March figures in the book,California companies are now exceedingthe merchandise export totals recordedat any time since state-of-origin datawere first compiled in 1987, said JockOConnell, Beacons international trade

adviser. And that includes the era of thedot-com boom.

Beacon said all three export segmentsrose year-over-year.

Exports of manufactured goods inMarch nudged up 2.2 percent to $9.38 bil-lion, non-manufactured exports (chieflyraw materials and agricultural products)

rose 15.5 percent to $1.90 billion andre-exports gained 6.6 percent to $3.34 bil-lion.

Christopher Thornberg, a Beaconfounding partner, said the numbers offerhope for wider economic recovery inCalifornia: Although non-manufacturedgoods posted stronger gains, the increasein manufacturing exports on a monthlybasis should translate into upward pres-sure on the labor markets in the manu-facturing and logistics-oriented sectors incoming months.

Still, experts cautioned about overseaseconomies.

Chinas economy is cooling down,

much of Europe is in recession and recentsetbacks are starting to affect several of

the previously fast-growing developingeconomies of Latin America and Asia,OConnell said. Looking ahead, muchwill hinge on whether European Unionleaders will be able to finally defuse thelong-simmering euro crisis, and, if not,

how badly the fallout will affect financialmarkets elsewhere.

On the import side, California took in$30.72 billion in goods in March, up 6.3percent over $28.9 billion in March 2011.Some goods entering California go toother states, so exports are considered amore accurate measure of the states tradehealth.

Nationally, the U.S. trade deficitswelled to $51.8 billion in March, up from$45.4 billion in February. That was thefastest rate of increase in nearly a year, asimports hit a record $238.6 billion.

Imports rose 5.2 percent fromFebruary, a byproduct of high-volumepurchases of foreign oil, autos, cellphones

and clothing. Exports totaled $186.8 bil-lion, up about 3 percent from February.

une Ballot Measure Information to Share with Your Employees

Overview of June Ballot Measures

California Exports Rise for 29th MonthMembers Renew Chamber

InvestmentThank you to the following businesses andindividuals who renewed their membership

during the month of April.

Best Western Town & Country LodgeBuilding Maintenance Services

Citizens Business BankPalace Food Depot

SS Shirts

Saputo Cheese USA, Inc.Tulare Community Health Clinic

Craig Vejvoda CLUWalter Mortensen Insurance

Cary & Connie StanleyTulare Polaris

Tulare County Cabrillo Civic Club #12Grissom-Wallace Communications Inc.

Machado Custom Hay Loading, Inc.Mid-Valley Pipe & Supply

Tulare County Mortgage ServicesFisher Manufacturing Company

Judge Walter GorelickJasjeet S. Malli, DDS, Inc.

Quad Knopf, Inc.Sharp Insurance & Bonding

Sissys BBQ & MoreTulare County Fair

Tulare Senior Services, Inc.United Way of Tulare County

Darrell & Bobbie WilsonFarm Credit West

Carrolls Tire WirehouseJanet Heath

Morrison Management SpecialistC.P.Phelps, Inc.Land OLakes

Tulare Youth Service Bureau Inc.Tulare County Federal Credit Union

Nunes Appliance ServiceJoe & Inez Simoes

Valley Industrial Medical GroupHappy Trails Riding Academy

Tulare Elks Lodge #1424Wonder Valley Ranch ResortBoyds Electric Motors, Inc.

Billie FryMorris Levin & Son Hardware

Richs Business Options/Amway Global

Kevin Wright Insurance

Welcome Aboard New MemberCongratulations and thank you to thefollowing new members that invested

in the Chamber during the month of April.

Sids UpholestryRetail

Relocated to K Street. Owners Irma andSid Carter Jr. have moved to their newlocation and we are delighted to have

them in our downtown area. We plan tohave a Ribbon Cutting soon!

VS-0000201616

LENDING SERVICES

ELECTRONIC SERVICES

DEPOSIT SERVICES

and many other benefits...

Not a member? Join Today!

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5011 Visalia, CA 93278-5011

www.tucoemas.orgFederally insured by NCUA

TULARE1233 E. Prosperity Ave.

(559) 685-8892

VISALIA2300 W. Whitendale Ave.

5222 W. Cypress Ave.

(559) 732-8892

PORTERVILLE1389 W. Henderson Ave.

(559) 784-8892

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tulare chamber the update June 2012 page 3

Tulare Advance-Register May 26, 2012MEMBER NEWS

ember NewsSpring into Summer on June 2nd

Vendors, Food, Local Businesses. 9-4PM atthe Corner of Aronian & East Tulare Ave.or more information contact the Avonraining Center. 684-0505 Lisa or 901-1631

for Debbie.

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Books Bands & BBQ is a bash tobenefit the Tulare Public Library. Saturday,une 30th from 1-8PM at the International

Agri Center in Tulare. Head down fora day of live music, fantastic food andactivities for all ages at the second annualsummer fundraiser.

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Condor R/C Club invites you toa Remote Controlled Model Aircraft

emonstration Saturday, June 2nd9AM-2PM at the International AgriCenter. See R/C airplane and Helicopterlying Demonstrations, Static Displays

and how R/C models work. Food &rinks Available Free admission andree Parking and fly a model with a

club instructor.

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At ServiceMaster by Beneventowe know that nothing can be morefrustrating for business owners thanexperiencing a disaster. Disasters arenot something that you can predict, butthey are something that you can planand prepare for! Here are some tips tomake sure your business is ready

First, have an Emergency Responselan! Visit www.ready.gov for a great

template that your business can use.Be sure that it includes plans for evacu-ation, shelter, lockdown and medicalemergencies. Also include all pertinentcontact information in case someoneis not on scene that you need to get intouch with.

Next, ensure that all members ofyour Emergency Response Team as wellas department heads have copies of theemergency plan. You will also want tohave regular meetings to discuss anychanges to the plan as well as to checkfor understanding.

Finally, a plan doesnt do any goodif it is not implemented! Complete adrill to make sure everyone understandstheir role during an event. This willhelp to alleviate some of the confusionthat can occur during a catastrophe.

Should you have any questions on

developing an emergency plan for yourbusiness, ServiceMaster by Beneventocan help! With our 866-RECOVERprogram we can not only assist you inpreparing for an emergency, but alsosupport you when it occurs. With onephone call we can get you the resourc-es you need to get your business backup and running in no time at all. GiveServiceMaster by Benevento a call todayto find out more (559-625-8554 or 800-399-CLEAN (2532))!

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Co-Sponsored by IDEA! Printingand Graphics and Provident-Saliernoamily Foundation,Tulare-Kings Right

to Lifes (TKRL) 11th Annual Golffor Life tournament is scheduledfor Monday, June 11th, at the VisaliaCountry Club, according to AprilKesterson, Executive Director of TKRL.

The 4-person shot-gun scramblerepresents a major fundraising eventfor TKRL. Entry fee is $150 per per-son, which entitles the participantto 18 holes of golf on one of CentralCalifornias finest courses, plus lunchand a catered dinner at the VCC club-house. Check-in will begin at 10:30a.m., with tee-off at 12:00noon. In addi-

tion, everyone has a chance to win anarray of prizes by purchasing raffle tick-ets during the evening festivities.

Kesterson said there are stillopportunities for local businesses orindividuals who want to support thetournament as a Sponsor. Life Saverand Heartbeat Sponsor Packages areavailable, as well as Tee/Green Sponsorlevels.

TKRL works for restored moral,cultural and legal respect for innocenthuman life, reaching out to a societyafflicted by legalized abortion, infanti-cide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.TKRL offers education in these lifeissues, offering positive alternativesand support to the distressed and theirfamilies.

For information about SponsorPackages and/or Registration Forms,contact April Kesterson at 732-5000,visit www.tkrl.org, or e-mail april@tkrl.org.

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Valley Commerce Bancorp,(OTCBB: VCBP), a bank holding com-pany and the parent company of ValleyBusiness Bank, today announced firstquarter 2012 net income of $859 thou-sand, or $0.27 per diluted common

share. This compared to earnings of$625 thousand, or $0.19 per dilutedcommon share, for the first quarter of2011. All per share calculations statedabove have been adjusted for the 5%stock dividend issued in June 2011.

Allan W. Stone, President and ChiefExecutive Officer, remarked, Betweenour recent repayment of TARP funds tothe U.S. Treasury and our strong firstquarter results, we are pleased to get2012 off to an exceptional start. Ourfirst quarter results reflect the corestrengths of our company that includestrong risk management and a solidfinancial position. Our attention is turn-

ing away from recession issues andtowards the future. We are aggressivelycompeting for quality customers andmaking the investments needed to suc-ceed in a rapidly modernizing bankingindustry. We look forward to a produc-tive and rewarding year in 2012.

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Permanent power is currently avail-able in the Medical Tower transformerand service section. The ExpansionProject has two 1.5 mega-watt back-up emergency generators supplyingpower when the Southern CaliforniaEdison grid becomes unavailable. Thesevital machines have been stored on

site for many months. The emergencygenerators were craned onto their padsMay 17 and 18. After connection andtesting of the emergency generators, theMedical Towers electrical system willbe complete.

The 21,700 square-foot basement,housing electrical equipment, mechani-cal equipment, the fire pump and theinpatient pharmacy is approximately80% framed and dry walled. Work willbegin on plumbing & electrical finishes,flooring and painting.

The Imaging Department is located

on the first floor. The MRI will belocated in the southwest corner of thebuilding. The special MRI pad and fram-ing of the walls will be completed theend of May.

The pneumatic tube system designedto carry medication to nursing sta-tions throughout the Medical Tower,is installed in the Basement and FirstFloor and is progressing throughout thebuilding.

Second Floor framing has startedin the Physicians Lounge and StaffLocker areas and will continue throughthe entire floor including Pre and Post

Operative areas, Operating Rooms and

Procedure Rooms.

The installation has started forboom supports for 3 treatment roomsin the Emergency Department on theFirst Floor, 4 Operating Rooms and 2Endocrinology Procedure Rooms on theSecond Floor. Booms are adjustablestructures holding overhead lights andmonitors used by Physicians during sur-gical procedures.

[

United Way of Tulare Countyispleased to announce that the Hunger

Doesnt Take a vacation Food Drivewas a huge Success. On May 11th, RuanTransportation, Food 4 Less Teamed upto for one day to Drive Away Hungerhere in the South Valley. Hundreds offolks congregated at the Food 4 Lesson Dinuba Blvd to donate non perish-able food items and enter a chance towin prizes donated by Wal-Mart DCof Porterville, and Verizon Wireless.A special thanks to the team at RuanTransportation, together with friendsfamily and community over 1200 lbs offood were donated. Thank you to allof you for your commitment to TulareCounty. www.unitedwaytularecountytc.org

Arrive on time. Legislators time is verylimited, especially at the state level.

Do not be intimidated.These legisla-

tors are in the business of representingthe publics interest. They need to learnmore about your business and the peo-ple who work for you.

Know your legislators. If you dontalready know your representatives,make it your business to get acquainted.You should know about issues that areimportant to them. Do you live in theirdistrict? Does your company have afacility there? What are their committeeassignments? What position have theytaken on your issue in the past?

Be a resource. Legislators are expectedto be experts on every issue. However,

they rely on you, their audience, to pro-vide that information. Be prepared toanswer questions regarding key issues.

Your credibility will increase if you pro-vide useful answers.

Show your expertise.Yes, the legisla-tor will want to know all about an issuefrom you. That is because you are theexpert on your business, your issue andhow it affects the legislator. Legislatorswant to do whats best for their con-stituents.

Avoid false promises. If you dontknow the answer, make sure to asksomeone who does. Nothing is worsethan providing inaccurate information.Let them know you will follow up withtheir inquiry and do it ASAP. The quick

response will get their attention andgain their respect. However, false prom-ises could really ruin your reputation

and credibility. Listen, and always say Thank you.

Listen to what the legislator has to say,even if you dont agree with what heor she is saying. You can state factsto back your stance, but dont argue.Thank the legislator for taking the timeto talk to you. Someone will be follow-ing up with a thank you note for his orher attendance; however, if you spent afair amount of t ime with a legislator, itwould be more personal if you signedthat letter or sent your own.

Addressing a legislator.Alwaysaddress the legislator formally as

Assembly Member ________ (Representative or Delegate in somestates) or Senator ________. If you

know the legislators leadership posi-tion, be more specific, as in MajorityLeader ______, what a pleasure to seeyou.

Keep it brief.The legislator is attend-ing your function to meet and greetyour organizations employees and/ormembers.

Be energetic.A good attitude andenthusiasm about your business issueswill reflect in the legislators approachto you. Communication is predomi-nately non-verbal, so a good smile andbody language will leave a resoundingimpression on the legislator.

ips to Help You Communicate with Your LegislatorThe following tips will help you communicate with your legislators with ease

Jeffrey Scott#201619

Lets Talk(continued from page 1)the principle we kept coming back to wassimply to maintain our focus. Even thoughit appears that were in the same industrywith all the HVAC firms in town; that isntthe case. First, were much more involvedin the servicing aspect of the industry thenwe are in new installation. Sure we couldhave hired a bunch of guys and bid on thesub-division work; but what do I do at theend of the job, lay them off if I dont have

another contract? We really try to create afamily environment within our organization,and that means sticking by the people onyour team. We hire carefully and dont want

to be put in a position where wed have tolay someone off. Our employees have fami-lies that depend on the paycheck they bringhome.

Second, our market is primarily residen-tial, with a little light commercial. Were notout bidding the big jobs, the ones that canput a company out of business if somethinggoes wrong. Thats not the type of businesswere after. Well stick with the residentialmarket and do our best to develop relation-ships that last for generations. As long as

we treat our employees right and our cus-tomers right well be here ten years fromnow fixing HVAC problems one householdat a time.

7/31/2019 Chamber Tulare June 2012_3

4/4

page 4 June 2012 tulare chamber the update

May 26, 2012 Tulare Advance-RegisterNETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Lose Weight F

eel Better G

etFi

tTulare 299 So. L Street (559) 688-4312

NOOnly $35 per mo.

Ladies Only Area

We sell dietary supplements

Contracts or Initiation Fees

Iron Grip GymFitness for Men & Women

Get Healthy& Strong!

JuneCalendar

JuneCalendar

Saturday, June 2nd9-2PM International Agri Center ModelAircraft Demonstration. Condor R/C Club.Free admission free parking.

Saturday, June 2nd9-4PM Spring into Summer at the Cornerof Aronian and East Tulare Ave at theTulare Avon Training Center

Monday, June 4th11:30AM Monday Munchies Meetingof the Minds! At Figaros in Tulare1348 E. Prosperity Ave.

Tuesday, June 5th1PM Bling 4 You BBQ/Ribbon Cutting,1585 E Tulare Ave.

Thursday, June 7th10AM Cartmill Overpass Ribbon Cutting

Thursday, June 7th5:30PM Communication Seminar, 3rdSession

Monday, June 11thTulare-Kings Right to Lifes (TKRL) 11thAnnual Golf for Life tournament at theVisalia Country Club. For informationabout Sponsor Packages and/or Registra-tion Forms, contact April Kesterson at732-5000, visit www.tkrl.org, or e-mailapril@tkrl.org

Monday, June 11th12PM Governmental Affairs Committeemeets at Apple Annies

Tuesday, June 12th12PM Ambassador Meeting at the Cham-

ber

Wednesday, June 13thRibbon Cutting for Costas Catering. Callthe Chamber for more information.

Monday, June 18thNewsletter deadline

Monday, June 18th11:30AM Meeting of the Minds MondayMunchies. Toms Smoking BBQ, 240 N.L St.

Thursday, June 21stSalute to Dairy Luncheon!!

Saturday, June 30thBooks Bands and BBQ 1-8PM Internation-

al Agri Center. Fun for the whole family!

Please send your event dates tolhowarth@tularechamber.org.

The Tulare Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize these members who have gone above andbeyond membership investment in 2011. Their support is instrumental in the growth of the Chamber.

Presidents CircleJ.D. Heiskell & Company

Lagomarsino Group

Res-Com Pest Control

Saputo Cheese USA, Inc

Southern California Gas Company

Tulare Advance Register

Tulare Outlet Center

Tulare Regional Medical Center

Directors CircleInternational Agri Center

Land O Lakes

Ambassadors CircleAcclaim Auto & Truck Accessories

Adair & Evans, An AccountancyCorporation

Bank of the SierraCitizens Business BankCollege of the Sequoias

Horswill, Mederos & SoaresRuan Transportation Corporation

Sturgeon & Beck, Inc.Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino

TF Tire & ServiceValley Business Bank

Will Tiesiera Ford-Mercury, Inc.

Circles ofExcellenceA program of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce

Discover Tuscany

Coming in 2013 a trip toBali

Your tour begins inRome. Upon arrival, youmay wish to sign upfor an optional tour ofClassical Rome or enjoy

free time to explore onyour own. This evening,get acquainted with yourfellow travelers duringa festive welcome din-

ner at a local restaurant whereregional foods, fun Italian melodies and fine Italian

wines kick of your Tuscan adventure! That is just one day ofthis 10 day trip. It is time to cross this one off your bucketlist. This trip is on our calendars for November 6th throughthe 15th. Book prior to May 6th and save $100 per person.This trip will take you to Rome, Assisi, Basilica of St.Francis,Montecatini Terme, Siena, San Gimignano, Wintery Tour,Florence, and a Tuscan Feast. Contact the Chamber at 686-1547 or Jill Worley at 686-8085 for more information.

Tour departs March 18th 2013 and tripincludes7 nights

accommodation, dailybreakfast, airport trans-fers, sightseeing tours,special dinner on thebeach, English speakingtour guide, and plenty ofleisure time to enjoy thebeauty of Bali on yourown!

Mixer!We were delighted to have Cool Hand Lukes Cater our

April Mixer. Business and Civic Minded people of Tularemet and enjoyed prizes, some delicious appetizers courtesy

of Cool Hand Lukes, and as always made strong businessconnections in the community. See for yourself and join usat our monthly mixers or host one yourself! For opportuni-ties to host a mixer contact Andi Cabrera at 686-1547 oremail at acabrera@tularechamber.org

CalChamber Fact SheetThe California Chamber of Commerce is the largest, broad-based business advocate,working at the state and federal levels to influence government actions affecting allCalifornia business. As a not-for-profit, we leverage our front-line knowledge of laws andregulations to provide affordable and easy-to-use compliance products and services.

President and Chief Executive Officer:Allan Zaremberg.

Located at 1215 K Street, Suite 1400, Sacramento, CA 95814

Mission: To serve as an advocate and resource for California employers and toengage in other activities, domestically and internationally, that enhance theCalifornia economy and make the state a better place to live, work and do business.

CalChamber Membership Facts

Members total more than 13,000

Members employ one-fourth the private sector workforce in California

75% of CalChamber members have 100 or fewer employees

CalChamber Reportswww.calchamber.com

Certificates of OriginChambers of commerce traditionally have issued Certificates of Origin on behalf of

.S. exporters who are required to provide assurances to foreign buyers that the goodsthey are purchasing originated in the United States.

The California Chamber of Commerce does not issue Certificates of Origin; however,many local chambers throughout the state provide this service.

www.calchamber.com

The Tulare ChamberGovernmental Affairsand Board of Directors

recommend thefollowing:

Neutral on Prop # 28

Oppose Prop # 29