BizStratBlog2

Top Ten Reasons I Live in Rochester

I'm a big fan of HGTV - the cable channel that does all the home makeovers and house hunting shows. Somewhere in that jumbled mix of how to create the perfect kitchen or bathroom, or how to buy the perfect house, is my dream home.

And, it's located right here in Rochester.

Why? Well, let's take a particular show that was on last night called "National Open House" all about getting the most bang for your buck. The question was - where in the U.S. can you get the most house for $250,000, all the way up to $1 million?

I can only tell you that the examples were outstanding and impressive - but no better than homes right here in my hometown. For the low price of $250,000 you can get 1800 square feet in Minnesota, or 1000 square feet in Princeton. OR - which they didn't show, of course, 2500 square feet here, in Rochester. (square footage is estimated, from memory - but, I bet I'm pretty close to accurate)

(Read on for the top ten reasons)

What if your users could update their own data

With Access 2007 you now can! MS Access has added a new twist in their 2007 program.  You can now select a table with an email address as a field, and create an "email merge" that will send out data from the table in a form that appears in the users browser. The user presses "reply" and they can (optionally) update or just confirm the data. When the return message hits your Outlook 2007 emailbox - the date is automatically updated in the database with the updated information. If there are conflicts or validation issues they get taken care of at the time of update.

This allows you to keep mailing information up to date and correct. It also would allow you to conduct simple email surveys. Imagine if you linked this up to a project management database and sent everyone out a request for update that they could just reply to. Or you used it to manage a joint task management system or calendar.

This is just one of the cool new features in the new Office 2007 suite.  Enjoy!

Eyes on the Future committee needs your help

The Eyes on the Future committee needs your help! We're looking to fill out our roster of questions for the Eyes on the Future Conference panelists in June.  We've started the Eyes on the Future Blog.  The purpose of the blog is to begin and CONTINUE the discussion about what we can do personally to assist the Rochester Economy.  We'll be taking the best of the questions and ideas and presenting them to panelists to hear their answers from the point of view of the site selectors, economic development leader, and government officials.

This is your chance to be heard, and don't forget to sign up for the event - it's free, but space is limited and it's going fast.  We've currently distributed almost 1000 tickets, so if you want to be sure you have a seat - be sure to sign up now.

What is Your Hidden Gem in Rochester?

Quick! Think of a hidden gem—a place, perhaps off the beaten path-that you return to as often as you can, recommend to others, (or maybe keep to yourself), that is part of what makes Rochester such a great place to live.

Our June print issue of Business Strategies Magazine is dedicated to many hidden gems of Rochester. This month, here at the office, staffers came up with:

• Magnolia's on Park and Oxford, described as unpretentious and a true treat featuring warm brie and fruit, many beers you've never heard of, and espresso-steaming hot and sweet.
• Rochester rivers and streams for giant brown trout (NY record 33 lbs 2oz)-the only other place on earth to catch these monsters is in South America.
• Richardson's Canal House Terrace, where you can sit outside on the banks of the canal and watch all the boats and ducks go by.
• Lilac Hill Nursery, where Doc Lilac, the original Ted Collins, has gorgeous lilacs in every imaginable variety, across from Casa Larga. Sells fresh-cut bouquets, too.

Post your own hidden gem below, just click "comment."

Ellen Wagner, Editor
Business Strategies Magazine
www.bizstrat.com

Eyes on the future update

For a limited time Pre-Registration for the Eyes on the Future event is FREE! 

Pre-register now for your chance to attend this unique event.  There are a limited number of free spots available.  Once they are gone registration returns to the $25+$2 S&H price.  Registration day of the event remains $25. 

If you already registered and paid - you'll receive a refund.

Focus: Fix New York State

Local business owner and CEO Joe Klein speaks out about New York politics and what needs to be done to reform the state to keep people, companies, and jobs here. Klein, a life-long resident of Rochester and owner of Klein Steel Services, Inc., knows first hand the challenges that face companies within Upstate New York. In a recent interview, he reiterates a few key items of what he believes must happen.

BSM (Business Strategies Magazine): Joe, you made headlines last year for your controversial remarks at the Small Business Council luncheon. Recently, you expressed your thoughts about local business economics, and politics in an essay that appeared in the Democrat and Chronicle. How would you sum up the most pressing issues facing Governor Eliot Spitzer at this time?

Klein: Unfortunately, I think we’re in worse shape than last October. Our amount of job loss and unemployment is in direct relationship to the state’s budget overspending, which is basically triple the cost of inflation. Our Governor, Senate and Assembly should NOT be proud of this. However, I do think that Governor Spitzer truly wants to fix the problems of New York. He needs to continue to tell the people of our state to keep speaking out until they force our legislators to take action.

In all probability, Governor Spitzer isn’t going to be able to persuade the Assembly and Senate to do what we need to do. Just look at the top political contributors—they will make sure this never sees the light of day. Basically, legislators are willfully ignorant or they're divorced from reality or simply lining their pockets.

Here are the issues I think we have to address in moving forward to reform our state of New York:

• Fix our electoral voting districts. Stop the gerrymandering of electoral districts. Fair voting districts must be created. Look to Iowa as an example of creating fair voting districts. (Unlike New York)


• Spending is up 9 % in this year's budget. In estimation, this could cost 30,000 jobs in Upstate. The budget should be getting an F grade. It is as bad as any budget in the last 20 years and the legislators and Governor should be ashamed of it.