Membership Renewal

NARMS is now focusing on membership renewal. Membership is effective January 1 through December31.
Renewal notices and dues invoices, along with a letter explaining the reasons for the rate increases, have been mailed to our members. Dues are calculated on prior year total company revenue including all offices, divisions, and subsidiaries. Members who have multiple memberships have been sent invoices for each entity.Dues must be paid by January 31, 2005 to assure continuous membership.

The Presidential Cycle

There are all sorts of events that occur with regularity. The seasons, lunar and other celestial cycles and the tides, to name a few. Historians claim there are cycles to history as nation-states grow, mature and decline. Economists recognize expansions and contractions in business activity. In theory, if nothing disturbs the economy, business conditions could remain undeviating. Yet, human nature as it is, tends to extrapolate and thus create changing conditions.
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GlobalShop

GlobalShop is the world’s largest annual event for retailers and brand marketers. NARMS is proud to sponsor, for the first time, The Retail Marketing Service Pavilion at GlobalShop 2005 which is being held March 21st through March 23rd at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Our pavilion has a significant position on the show floor so that attendees can easily locate us.
NARMS is also presenting a seventy-five minute workshop featuring our members’ activities at the retail level and will conduct on-floor seminars on in-store marketing services.
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An Investment in Your Workers

Today’s managers and business owners know that the personal and professional lives of employees are not effectively separated at work. BothDee Mason will suffer when there are family orrelationship problems, legal and financial concerns, health and emotional difficulties, stress, or substance abuse. What is often not understood is that when substance abuse is involved, the workplace is often the last bastion of a person’s life that shows damage. A person in trouble with alcohol or other drugs will rationalize that he/she “doesn’t have a problem” as long as their job is still in tact. (They also want to stay employed in order to have money to afford their “drug of choice.”)
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Information Gathering in the Accident Investigation Process

In our last article, we looked at the fivecausal factors that commonly lead to Steve Wilder accidents, and we talked about the needto consider these when investigating aworker injury. In this edition, I’d like to address theissue of “information gathering” and look at how it canadd to the value of your investigation.
Information gathering (or “fact gathering” as it is oftencalled) is a critical step in determining how an incidentthat led to an injury occurred, and in identifying the rootcause of the incident. The information gatheringprocess can be tedious and time consuming, but it mustbe given its due regard. Information about an incidentshould be gathered from a number of sources,including:
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Don’t Be Caught Napping on AMT Liability

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) was originally designed to apply to only the most affluent taxpayers. That’s not the case anymore. Eventually, this alternative tax may become the regular tax regime for the majority of middle-income and upper-income taxpayers, as well as a sprinkling of low-income taxpayers.
Just take a look at the numbers. A recent report by the Treasury Department estimates that over three million taxpayers will face AMT liability. Seven years ago, only 600,000 taxpayers were affected by the AMT. The number may skyrocket to 16 million by next year and 40 million in ten years unless Congress provides substantial relief.
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NARMS NewsFeed

Have you been wondering why you have not been receiving the NARMS electronic Newsfeed on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays? It is possible that your internet security (firewall) may be blocking the newsfeed service. If this is the problem you are encountering, you need to talk to your IT staff and have them grant permission or “White List” all content from newsfeed@narms.com. The latest retail news will then be available to you three times a week.

Manufacturers’ Advisory Board

The Manufacturers’ Advisory Board held its first meeting as a group at the Westin Hotel in Chicago on October 18th and 19th.
In attendance at this meeting were Brent Spitnale, Pfizer; David Advisory Board Staszak, Energizer; Dodi Heywood, Service Solutions; Theresa Marshall, Microsoft; Mary Jo Bastuba, Nintendo; Gary Ebben President/CEO of NARMS/Staff Advisor; and Tom Dennis, Vice Chairman of NARMS.
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IFBA Service Division

During a meeting held in November, the IFBA committee members reviewed NARMS Strategic Plan and goals for our division.
Our goals are to grow IFBA Service Division membership to 75 members; to successfully promote the IFBA Top-to-Top Executive Conference this coming April; to create an ad campaign targeted to decision makers who utilize services our members provide; and to establish an arrangement with syndicated data service providers. We have made great progress in reaching these initial goals.
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Professional Installation Service Sector Corner

Seasons Greetings!

Well, it is that time of year again! The time of year where we look back on accomplishments and look forward to another exciting andprosperous New Year.
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