MEETING: Friday March 25, 2011 EDITOR: Tom Hymer
WELCOME GUESTS: Dan Ledeboer President of the Quest Center and todays program. Cindy Binfield guest of Brenda Janda of Good Samaritan.
FUN & FUND RAISING SERGEANTS: With a crocodile tear Sergeant Jerry announced that this is his last day of duty. He was remiss that there is still much work to do to update our web-site and he hopes it will be completed by the end of the year. However all of his sentimentalism did not deter him from fining his fellow Ambucs. First off was Rick Mitchell for taking his wife and others to Taco Johns for a cheap lunch implying Rick is cheap. Steve Harmon lost his common sense and skipped an Ambucs breakfast meeting to have breakfast with the Kiwanians. The Sergeant was told that the DBS (a.k.a. The Dead Butt Society) was revived by Jeff Brewer and Chuck Peterson, more money down the toilet. Duke Wiggins was fined for leading a French kissing demo, try not to think about it. Paul Brown and Preston Clark protested that it was not their fault for closing early the T-shirt printing station last Saturday night, but they had to pay anyway. Its a little late in life so it cost Darren Wicks to learn what is the front and back of a T-shirt. Stock brokers Dan and Dane Power, Jay Pitzer, and Darren Wicks were blamed for the price of gas going up. Dan complained that Edward Jones does not deal in commodities, but his argument fell upon deaf ears. Jerrys last words appealed to the members to update their information for the web-site as requested by an email dated March 14, 2011. Thanks to Jerry for his sergeant service. He might be back after a furlough.
TUIT: Paul Brown caught Steve Conard, Dennis Reiser, Rick Mitchell, Preston Clark, and Jay Pitzer who tried to wiggle out of paying, but paid just like the others. Darren Wicks was the only one who cared about Tuit, and maybe Paul. The Thompsons were absent today so he had to change his plan of giving the Tuit to Brad. Tim Davies was the unlucky recipient.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Jeff Brewer reported on the T-Shirt project at the NJCAA Tournament and while the sales have yet to be calculated there were more than 20 team orders which seem to indicate a successful event.
PROGRAM: Darren Wicks introduced todays program Dan Ledeboer President of the Quest Center. The Quest Center was established in 1986 to be incubator for new business after Cessna lost employees. Richard French, director of the Quest Center for many years, estimated that 800 to 1000 jobs were created with the assistance of the Quest Center with an economic impact estimated at 35 million dollars. The ideal is to meet with prospective new businesses operators before they spend and invest money. The Quest Center acts like a sounding board to provide suggestions, information, and resources that will facilitate the new business. Only about 10% of the Quest Center clients actually locate in the Quest Center building. One of the most popular services offered by the Quest Center is Quick Book classes, new classes will start on June 5th. The Quest Center regularly sees business owners who have run up excessive credit card debt, in some cases exceeding $100,000. Sadly in such cases it is impossible to help with the current tight credit situation. Lenders today insist on 100% collateral. The Quest Center is 50% funded by Reno County and the rental income from at Quest Center. The remainder comes from K-Tech which is under possible revisions due to the State of Kansas budget deficiencies. K-Tech may be absorbed by the Department of Commerce. New and existing businesses are encouraged to write their own business and marketing plans. Once completed the Quest Center will analyze them and offer suggestions. http://www.hutchquest.com/
50/50 DRAWING: Eric Steinle won the pot of $21.
NEWSLETTER DRAWING: Stan McGirvan could have won $15 but he gave the wrong answer to the question.
NEWSLETTER QUESTION NEXT WEEK: You will win $20 if you know what year the Quest Center was established.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: To be announced.