March/April Newsletter

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A Parting Word from our Outgoing President

When Dave Unowsky (Ruminator Books now with Majors and Quinn) and Beth Bergman (Wet Paint) got together 3 years ago to see what kind of interest there was on an Independent Business Alliance in the Metro area they were pleasantly surprised.  That first meeting at Macalester College had about 150 people attending, the second meeting was at the Roseville Library and 100 people, and many were new faces.  That is when it started.  Thanks to Dave’s contacts and Beth’s seed money we started the ball rolling.  

Merritt Clapp-Smith was hired on as E.D.; her paid time was 10 per week not to exceed ½ of the money in the bank account.  Thank you Merritt for working MANY more hours than you got paid.  The other contributors to the upstart were:  Michael Gibbons (attorney at the time in private practice, Andy Hamerlinck (citizen member), John Kolstad (Mill City Music), Marvin Menzel (Homestead Pickin’ Parlor), Dori Ullman (citizen member), and John Hoeschen (St. Paul Corner Drug), myself, and I am sure I have forgotten a few contributing, well deserving people.  For this I apologize, my memory is not as good as I would like it, thus the reason for having at least a partial list for institutional memory. This was history in the making.  

Now we are approaching another milestone.  Our membership is stable (of course I would like it more…there is 504,000 small business in Minnesota), we have gained the respect of many House and State Representative, and the consumer is starting to understand the economics of supporting locally owned independent businesses.  I am proud to have been apart of the beginning of this organization and I look forward to being apart of an even stronger board and the 2008 work plan that Tim Tuel (Shipmate), incoming President has designed.

MetroIBA at the Capitol

Nancy Breymeier: Being on the front line talking, promoting and testifying for Universal Single Payer Health Care has put me in some very interesting conversations.

FACTS:
The U.S. has the most expensive health care in the world.
Our health care ranks below many other countries.
Over head costs for Health Insurance runs around 20%.
The overhead costs for Medicare is less than 5%.

Universal Single Payer Health Care is simply this:  You pay a premium, (health insurance speak), fee (Gov. Pawlenty speak), tax (Democratic speak) $$ (my speak).  This goes to a fund for health costs, you go to the doc of your choice, (not one your health insurance says you have to go to) the doc treats you (not having to worry about the insurance company denying any treatment, or test), Doc’s submits the bill the bill is paid!!!!  This free market health care is called:  Minnesota Health Care Bill!

Minnesota Health Care Bill authored by Senator Marty and Representative Tsumpter was heard at the Capitol on Feburary 18, 2008.  Metro IBA was asked to testify.  It passed the Health Housing and Family Security Committee to move to the Finance Committee.  Stay tuned!!!!

Melissa: Mall of America Developers and Bloomington want taxpayer money

The City of Bloomington and the Mall of America developers are asking for public funding for the building of their parking ramps for MoA Phase 2. They would like to be excused from the financial disparities pool for 20 years which leaves everyone else to make up for their contribution and they would also like to be able to charge additional taxes on merchandise and services at the Mall. This is an issue that would affect all businesses and individuals in  MN.

I was invited to a meeting at the MN House to hear both sides of the argument. There is very little support for this idea, but it is still being heard.  Now we need our voices to be heard...

Please take time to write to your state representatives as well as the Bloomington representatives to stop this from happening. 

Zing Train is Coming Back!

By popular demand, MetroIBA is having Zing Train back! This year’s presentation will be  Fun, Flavorful Finance and will be held on June 10. The location is still to be determined.

This year, we are looking for businesses that would like to be sponsors for the event.  The sponsorship levels are as follows:

Benefactor Level - $3000
Large logo on all event Marketing
Acknowledgement on website
Full Page ad in ZT binder
Up to 10 attendants

Sustainer Level -  $1500
Medium logo on all event Marketing
Acknowledgement on website
Half Page Ad in ZT Binder
Up to 5 attendants

Partner Level - $500
Small Logo on all event marketing
Acknowledgement on website
1/4 page ad in ZT binder
Up to 2 attendants

If you would be interested in being a sponsor, please email Melissa at Melissa@metroiba.org.  We need
sponsorship commitments by April 10.

Registration this year will be via PayPal on our website or via check. Rates to attend are as follows:

Members registering before May 1 - $125. May 1 thru June 1 - $150
Non-Members registering before May 1 - $200. May 1 thru June 1 - $250.

Registration begins March 15 and closes June 1.

More information in the downloadable PDF version of the newsletter