October 2008 Newsletter

Phone: (905) 728-2899Fax: (905) 426-2139

www.dhsba.com

Past President’s MessagePerhaps it’s just me, but it seems that as I get older the days and months that pass me by seem to do so at an alarmingly quicker pace. As I look back at the previous year and my tenure as president of the Durham Home and Small Business Association, I can’t help but wonder where the past twelve months went.

When our now-previous board of directors took over a year ago, we had a unique situation to deal with. The club had begun to see a dramatic increase in public awareness and an increase in membership as a result. People loved our casual and informal approach, yet with the increasing membership it became harder to maintain the informal nature that attracted so many people. There was also work to be done from an organizational perspective, as with the growth of the club came the realization that the by-laws and policies of the club had to grow as well. Our challenges grew exponentially when three board members were forced to resign due to various personal reasons within the first two months of our mandate.

After filling the sudden vacancies, we began a process that I am very proud to say has made the DHSBA stronger, more efficient and better positioned to grow into the premier networking incubator for small and home based businesses in Durham Region, if not the entire GTA! With a new logo, thanks to Tad Aronowicz of Design Works, a new trade show venue at Jubilee Pavilion and the development of a strategic plan to guide our future as examples, I am proud of the work that was accomplished. To our departing Board members: Tiffany St. Germain, Peter Cluff, Paul St. Germain, Karen Aronowicz and Paul Feldman, I offer you my sincerest thanks for your efforts and dedication to our organization.

Our new board of directors will be lead by Sandra Cousins as president. Sandra brings an amazing history of community involvement and experience to the board and along with our new directors Glenn Middleton, Gary Round, Ed Turner, Dayle Lovely, Lori Prentice plus returning members Pam Mansfield, Don Reist and myself, we are excited to prepare for another amazing year at the DHSBA.

To all those who offered me kind words and support during my term as president, I want to offer you a very sincere thank you. For as challenging a role as this was, it was one I greatly enjoyed and was very proud to be a part of. For anyone reading this who is not a member, I encourage you to come out this fall and learn just why this organization is developing such an amazing reputation. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you and best wishes.

Eric NovakDHSBA Past President, 2007/2008

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 2

2008/2009 Board of Directors

PresidentSandra CousinsPPL Legal Care of CanadaTel: (905) 263-8152www.sandracousins.com

Vice PresidentDon ReistTutorwiz Education CentreTel: (905) 683-6341www.tutorwiz.com

TreasurerDayle LovelyBookkeeping Plus+Tel: (905) 447-3652

SecretaryLori PrenticeDurham Plus Paralegal ServicesTel: (905) 419-1338

Director of MarketingGary RoundGary's Home ImprovementsTel: (905) 668-8898www.garyshomeimprovements.ca

Director of FundraisingPam MansfieldBookkeeping PlusPhone: (905) 986-1799www.bookkeepingplus.info

Director of ProgrammingGlenn MiddletonMiddleton Controllership Services Ltd.Tel: (416) 431-6221www.middletoncontrollership.ca

Director of MembershipEd TurnerTurner Clean & ServicesTel: (905) 448-9203www.turnerclean.ca

AdvisorKaren HuntSenior Administrative Co-ordinatorRegion of DurhamEconomic Development & Tourism DepartmentTel: (905) 668-4113 ext. 2601Toll free: 1-800-706-9857www.region.durham.on.ca

Past PresidentEric NovakModern Media PerspectivesTel: (905) 231-0431www.modernmediaperspectives.com

Founder & Life-Long DirectorBetty PennyPenny & Associates Inc.Tel: (905) 985-0712www.pennyinc.com

Newsletter Co-ordinatorJanet BocconeSecond Glance Writing ServicesTel: (416) 859-0162www.sgws.ca

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 3

Are the Skilled Trades Sexy?Christine RaynorHome Or Away Property Services

There’s something about a clean, fitted T-shirt and jeans moulded around a body used to physical labour, topped off with a hard hat and a pair of work boots that is just so…sexy! Look a little closer and realize that those work boots and hard hat are PINK and you can see that the traditional picture of male-dominated trades is beginning to change.

As fifty percent of skilled tradesmen are scheduled to retire over the next 15 years, Ontario is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers. In our push to obtain post secondary academic education for our youth, have we overlooked the traditional training ground for many youth—, particularly male—who, for whatever reason, choose not to pursue a university education?

There are 147 different skilled trades in Ontario in four different sectors: construction, transportation, manufacturing and service. The Ontario Ministry of Education tells us that 10% of registered apprentices within the skilled trades are now women, although sadly, mainly concentrated in the lower-paying career sectors. This percentage is set to increase with the support of the government’s Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) program and a $1.5 million cash injection to fund WIST projects and initiatives throughout the province designed to attract more women into the skilled trades. What was formerly a male dominated industry is increasingly finding new lady members outside of the traditional ‘female’ skilled trades within the catering and beauty industries. Traditionally, the physical aspects within certain trades had deterred women from attempting to follow that route. There is certainly a physical aspect to the trades: sometimes strength but also dexterity, stamina, good hand-eye coordination and balance. As there is also a diversity of knowledge required to be a tradesperson, trades require intelligent individuals with creativity and good literacy, mathematical, analytical and problem solving skills. Apprenticeships in a trade need to be viewed positively as a credible alternative to the more academic university education and not as an inferior way to begin a career which can be extremely rewarding, challenging and potentially high-paying.Women are a key resource in meeting Canada’s skills shortages in sectors where they have been under-represented. This is a message that has to get out to Ontario secondary schools and the benefits and opportunities of a career in a skilled trade must be made known to all students equally. It then comes down to us, as business owners and employers, to embrace the notion of women in skilled trades by supporting, encouraging and providing opportunities for women on a level with their male counterparts.

Article submitted by Christine Raynor, Home Or Away Property Services. She can be contacted at 905-448-0808.

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 4

ICARUS: The Untold Business Coaching StoryAn article from the mind of Peter D. Cluff

Most of you know the story of ICARUS, but did you know that his name is an acronym for business planning?

You may be wondering what ICARUS has to do with business. The way I see it, he has just as much to do with business planning as arranging financing or developing products. Let me explain after the following refresher.

I • C • A • R • U • SIn Greek mythology, Icarus’ father, Daedalus, fashioned a pair of wax wings for himself and his son in order to escape Crete by flying away. Before they took off from the island, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun and not too close to the sea. Overcome by the sublime feeling that flying gave him, Icarus soared through the sky joyfully but in the process, he came too close to the sun, which melted his wings. Icarus kept flapping his wings but soon realized that he had no feathers left and that he was only flapping his bare arms. Daedalus escaped but Icarus fell into the sea and was gone forever.

So what happened? In Daedalus’ mind, the plan was pretty solid based on future technology. He knew that wax was subject to melting so he warned Icarus about the possible side-effects, just like those American Viagra ads. Icarus initially escaped because of his father’s IDEA aided by his own COMMITMENT and ACTION. But his RESULTS were disastrous because he did not UNDERSTAND or appreciate the potential risks and he disregarded the advice and SUPPORT his father gave him.

Ideas • Commitment • Action • Results • Understanding • SupportThe business moral of this tale is that no matter how good your ideas, how solid your commitment and how well-intended your actions, you are not always guaranteed favourable results. For any plan to be successful, you must understand the possible risks and outcomes of your decisions and actions and use the help provided by your strongest, most knowledgeable supporters.

This sounds like a great segue into the benefits of business coaching. An intuitive business coach will help you recognize and understand any risks and flaws in your business planning before you jump in and take action. The coach will also provide you with much-needed support through all phases of your planning and execution to ensure the best possible outcome. A solid coach would never have allowed Icarus’ plan to get “off the ground” because it was based on flawed technology. I mean what was Daedalus thinking? Wax, wings, flying and sun are pretty lethal combinations.

Without Understanding & Support, this story might as well be about some guy named ICAR, who could be the poster-boy for bad planning and execution.

Peter Cluff is a Business Coach and Consultant and uses the I • C • A • R • U • S coaching method in helping all new small business owners start up and develop their businesses. Peter has authored many business and personal articles published mainly

on his website http://www.criticalpathbiz.com and in his blog http://petercluffscritcalpathblog.blogspot.com.

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 5

Durham Home & Small Business AssociationWhere entrepreneurs meet, learn and grow

Members of the DHSBA:‣ attend regular monthly meetings, workshops and

seminars at special member prices‣ have their spouse/partner included with their

membership‣ have their name and business listed on the DHSBA

website (with links)‣ learn useful, timely and practical skills

‣ display their promotional materials at meetings‣ have the opportunity to interact with other like-

minded individuals ‣ are kept informed of government activities affecting

home and small business‣ are involved with a reputable organization with a

dynamic membership

Membership ApplicationName:_______________________________________________________________

Business Name:_______________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________

City:___________________________________

Postal Code:______________________Home Phone:_________________________

Business Phone:__________________________Fax:__________________________

*Website: http://www.____________________________________________________

*E-mail:______________________________________________________________

Description of Product/Services :__________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

I want all my contact information on the DHSBA website.

I do not want the indicated (*) information on the DHSBA website.

Individual Member $55.00 Annual Fee

Corporate Member $80.00 Annual Fee

I do NOT wish to receive information from DHSBA by e-mail.

Signature:____________________________________________________________

Date:________________________________________________________________

Cheque enclosed in the amount of $_______________________________________

Mail your application with payment to:

DHSBA700 Finley Avenue, Unit 5

Ajax, ON L1S 3Z2

or bring to the next DHSBA member meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

NovemberDHSBA Trade Show

DecemberChristmas Networking Extravaganza

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from

September through Juneat Whitby’s Centennial Building

416 Centre St. South.

Registration and networkingbegins at 6:30 p.m.

followed by the meetingfrom 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We encourage pre-registration.www.dhsbacom905-728-2899

info@dhsba.com

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 6

We Proudly Acknowledge Our Sponsors

Please support the John Howard Society by bringing a non-perishable food item or personal care item (soap, tooth brushes, shampoo etc.)

to each DHSBA meeting.A registered charity, The John Howard Society of Canada helps people who are struggling to turn their lives around. Most, but not all, of the people we

help have either been in trouble with the law or are at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity.

For more information, visit www.johnhoward.on.ca.

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 7

Visit www.dhsba.com for advertising and sponsorship opportunities.Did you know that a business card ad in this newsletter costs only $10?

Submit your business card today and have it appear in our next issue to gain exposure to hundreds of potential clients in Durham Region!

The Buzz on Business Trade ShowGet the buzz on business at the

Durham Home and Small Business Association Trade Show.Stroll into Oshawa’s Jubilee Hall to sample the

diversity of products and services that DHSBA businesses offer.

Wednesday, November 5th, 20087:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Jubilee Hall, OshawaPhone (905)728-2899

info@dhsba.com www.dhsba.com

DHSBA NewsletterOctober 2008Page 8

Free Admission

Door Pr izes

Networking

Round Table Discussions

Refreshments

Free Park ing