Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
constructive and creative thoughts).
The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
===== Begin letter text =====
Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
and people in urgent need of employment.
I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
refrigeration application.
My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
helped by) the current economy.
The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
production workforce available to me.
I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers could
be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea
might have any real chance of success.
===== End letter text =====
It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
Opinions, please...
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
"Leon" wrote
> Snip
>
> Morris I think you should contact the RV manufacturer directly and present
> the same proposal. While city leaders take credit for the local economy
> when it is good it is the business snf or workers that make it happen.
>
> IMHO the RV manufacturer will be best suited in determining if this can
> work and will probably have more pull with local officials in getting
> special consideration benefits.
>
Also, contact any local media. See if you can get a reporter out to your
place to do a story.
Or write your own story and shop it around. A human interest story will get
people's attention and you can work it from there.
Morris Dovey wrote:
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your
> most constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant
> role in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
> and people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
> about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
> operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
> partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers
> could be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
> Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this
> idea might have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
> expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
> obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
My experience is that if you want something to happen, don't depend on the
actions of others to get it done. Therefore...
1. I would phone first - easy to put off responding to a letter, email or
not. Phone who? Well, maybe the mayor for a start but also the Chamber of
Commerce, local bank managers and heads of the local RV producers you
mentioned. I wouldn't necessarily be asking "Who might be interested in
this?", I'd be briefly outlining my idea and asking them for suggestions on
who to contact that might be able to help me determine who might be
interested. A well connected local lawyer would be a good contact.
2. I'd then phone the potential contacts from step #1 to further refine my
list.
3. Once I actually drilled down to useful contacts - people with actual
interest in my ideas - I'd take a week off and go talk to them face to face.
One added benefit of a face-to-face is that Elkhart is in Amish country and
you should easily be able to find black raspberry pie :)
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:34:08 -0500, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
wrote:
>It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
>expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
>obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
I give them a little more time to respond.
It's been my experience that most city governements have a hard time
responding to anything within a couple of weeks.
If you still don't get any action, as has been suggested by others,
you might want to go directly to one of the manufacturers.
Mike O.
Morris Dovey wrote:
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
> expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
> obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
Many thanks to all who responded. I've been reading and thinking all day
about what you've said - and copied what you've written into a permanent
directory so that I can expand my perspectives by review.
It may very well be that I was mis-directing my efforts by trying to
contribute to the recovery of terminally-ill patients. I jokingly call
my CNC "Sancho Panza" - but in real life I try to avoid head-to-head
confrontations with windmills. :)
I think I should have made clear that I wasn't (actively) looking for
ways to expand /my/ enterprise (I do that, but that's not what this is
about). Rather, I hoped to improve the prospects for those who might
benefit from diversification into "green energy", and to keep /their/
employees on /their/ payroll.
Y'all have given me a lot to think about, and I'm grateful.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
On Mar 15, 2:58=A0pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> Walter wrote:
> > ....thousands of mobile homes.....They have been
> > in outside storage so long they are no longer fit for human occupancy.
>
> > My comments not worth 2 cents.
>
> > w.
>
> How can something meant to be outside be made unfit by being outside?
>
> --
>
> =A0 -MIKE-
>
> =A0 "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
> =A0 =A0 =A0--Elvin Jones =A0(1927-2004)
> =A0 --
> =A0http://mikedrums.com
> =A0 [email protected]
> =A0 ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
Because Bees, Bugs and Beavers all like to be inside as well?
Mostly due to condensation, unheated, and therefore severe mould
problems. Lots of plywood which will rot.
-MIKE- wrote:
>> Except for the UPS drivers, of course.
>>
>
> Who, last I heard, made over $50k a year, base.
--- begin quote
Averages are so misleading. Average UPS drivers pay at this time 12/07/2007
is about $72,000 cash, and benefits of about $30,000.
But driver with enough senority can get more overtime by "bumping" junior
employees and with 15 hours of OT can earn over $90,000 and with 20 hours OT
can earn over $100,000 cash not including benefits.
So a senority driver can earn OVER $130,000 in cash and benefits. There are
ways to earn a few thousand more by working vacations and over lapping
vacations with paid holidays.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_average_wage_of_ups_truck_drivers
Thanks, MIKE and Robatoy. That is exactly what has happened.
Hey Bub----Maybe he needs to look at: http://dekalb-tx-edf.home.att.net/
He would be welcome here.
Walter.
-MIKE- wrote:
> Robatoy wrote:
>>>> ....thousands of mobile homes.....They have been
>>>> in outside storage so long they are no longer fit for human occupancy.
>>>> My comments not worth 2 cents.
>>>> w.
>>> How can something meant to be outside be made unfit by being outside?
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> -MIKE-
>>>
>>
>> Because Bees, Bugs and Beavers all like to be inside as well?
>> Mostly due to condensation, unheated, and therefore severe mould
>> problems. Lots of plywood which will rot.
>
> Beavers. lol!
>
> Makes sense. They heat up during the day, cool off at night.
> Those things aren't insulated very to begin with.
>
>
"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because that
> would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population is
> afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing industry -
> for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role in the
> economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is experiencing a
> 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I sent
> this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space and
> people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go about
> proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an operation in
> Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of partnership between
> myself and one or several of the RV producers could be worked out so that
> everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of Elkhart
> and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea might
> have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer expecting
> a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally obviously, I'm
> missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
How about the Left Coast? Our Governor is trying to leave a legacy of
setting Oregon on the path to being a center for alternative fuels,
technologies, etc. Several RV manufacturers have gone bankrupt and
unemployment is 5th in the nation. You would probably get a lot of incentive
from Portland, but it may not be the best place to be. See opportunities
throughout the state:
http://www.oregon4biz.com/energy.htm
and a toll free number:
http://www.oregon4biz.com/contact.htm
You could set up everywhere from the Pacific Coast, to rural wine producing
areas, to Cascade Mountain foothills, to high desert, to full Urban. In the
Portland area you even have access to a high tech workforce.
If I can help with more information, just ping me.
In article <[email protected]>, "HeyBub" <[email protected]> wrote:
[snip]
>Indiana is a "union shop" state
No, it's not.
Good Luck Morris. The thought crossed my mind as I read your e-mail: I
wonder if the RV manufacturer employees saved any of the money they must
have made while building the thousands of mobile homes for the victims
of the New Orleans hurricane, most of which are sitting at various
places around the country (including Red River Army Depot, nearby) and
The Hope, AR, airport, less than a hundred miles from me. They have been
in outside storage so long they are no longer fit for human occupancy.
My comments not worth 2 cents.
w.
>
> "Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
>> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because that
>> would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
>> constructive and creative thoughts).
>>
>> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population is
>> afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing industry -
>> for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role in the
>> economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is experiencing a
>> 19+% unemployment rate.
>>
>> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I sent
>> this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>>
>> ===== Begin letter text =====
>>
>> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
>> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
>> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space and
>> people in urgent need of employment.
>>
>> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
>> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
>> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
>> refrigeration application.
>>
>> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
>> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
>> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
>> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
>> helped by) the current economy.
>>
>> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
>> production workforce available to me.
>>
>> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go about
>> proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an operation in
>> Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of partnership between
>> myself and one or several of the RV producers could be worked out so that
>> everyone could benefit.
>>
>> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of Elkhart
>> and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea might
>> have any real chance of success.
>>
>> ===== End letter text =====
>>
>> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer expecting
>> a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally obviously, I'm
>> missing something really fundamental here.
>>
>> Opinions, please...
>>
>> --
>> Morris Dovey
>> DeSoto Solar
>> DeSoto, Iowa USA
>> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
>
>
In article <[email protected]>, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
>It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
>expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
>obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
>Opinions, please...
>
For a variety of reasons, hard-copy on company letterhead is much more likely
to receive favorable attention -- or indeed *any* attention -- than an email
(which may well have been routed to a spam folder anyway).
Also, the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce would be a better target for that letter
than the mayor's office.
Morris, I forgot about this man. He is the biggest seller of Rv in this part
of the country. He no doubt has the MFG's calling wanting to know when the
next order will be. He knows all the MFG;s in Elkhart or anywhere else for
that matter. Here tis the link :
http://www.tomraper.com/
Lyndell
"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because that
> would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population is
> afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing industry -
> for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role in the
> economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is experiencing a
> 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I sent
> this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space and
> people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go about
> proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an operation in
> Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of partnership between
> myself and one or several of the RV producers could be worked out so that
> everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of Elkhart
> and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea might
> have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer expecting
> a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally obviously, I'm
> missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USA
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
jo4hn wrote:
> Morris Dovey wrote:
>> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
>> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
>> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
>> constructive and creative thoughts).
>>
>> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
>> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
>> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
>> in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
>> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>>
>> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
>> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>>
> [snip]
>
> Another option is a letter to the local newspaper or TV station. This
> can be nuclear, viz. "why haven't local officials responded..." or
> merely an inquiry, viz. "what do you think my options are...". Either
> will generate some response.
> mahalo,
> jo4hn
One caution with that, if you are trying to obtain cooperation from a
government or other official, using a nuclear option such as the media is
not the best way to start off a working relationship. You might get an
initial grudging meeting or two, but there will be "significant hurdles
that just could not be overcome to come to closure" and the only thing you
will wind up with is wasting your time.
--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough
Snip
Morris I think you should contact the RV manufacturer directly and present
the same proposal. While city leaders take credit for the local economy
when it is good it is the business snf or workers that make it happen.
IMHO the RV manufacturer will be best suited in determining if this can work
and will probably have more pull with local officials in getting special
consideration benefits.
Doug Miller wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, "HeyBub"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>> Indiana is a "union shop" state
>
> No, it's not.
You are correct.
Indiana is an "Agency Shop" state. The difference between a "Union" shop and
an "Agency" shop is that in the latter, an employee need not actually join
the union but must, nevertheless, contribute dues and initiation fees as if
he were a union member.
I regret the error. Coming as I do from a Right To Work state, I hope I'll
be forgiven for lack of expertise on union matters. We just don't have much
contact with unions or union members in Texas.
Except for the UPS drivers, of course.
On Mar 15, 10:34=A0am, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Opinions, please...
>
Are you sure?
<G>
Expect, one day soon, for the mayor of Elkhart to have this sudden,
great idea:
"How about, if I, as mayor of this fine city, reach out to somebody
with a good idea to keep our people in this city working?"
Next there will be a budget for his friends to do research on what it
takes to bring somebody's great design/idea to fruition in such a way
that his mayor's ass can get re-elected.
The mayor's first thought, upon opening your e-mail, would have been
to figure out how that is going to help him. Screw the little people
who are looking for work, screw the RV business owners who didn't
support his last campaign.
Am I a tad cynical perhaps?
Morris, my suggestion is to try the idea which was already ran up the
flagpole in this thread: find an interested RV manufacturer directly.
Business looks after business. Forget about the politicians doing
anything for you or anybody else. You'll be buried in paperwork and
you'll never get anything done.
A fellow who has had some lay-offs, a bit of extra plant-space, some
manufacturing equipment running at 50% and all he has to do is retrain
a few of his favourite employees, dial up the heat and lights a bit
and off you go.
Have him sign a non-competition waver and put yourself in charge of QC
and R&D.
If he can't see the quality of individual and product he's dealing
with, you don't want to do business with him anyway.
But politicians? HOPE your e-mail got routed to the junk pile.
r
Morris ...
There are many communities in the midwest that have economic development
organizations whose major purpose is to assist companies in relocation.
As one would assume, companies with immediate needs for hiring
hundreds of employees get the lion's share of attention, but a smart EDO
would want to hear your story. As others have written, put your focus
on local chambers of commerce and similar organizations. They will have
staff who know how to read a business plan. The right organization will
come bearing gifts like tax incentives and relo assistance.
I'm in the Milwaukee area and if I can be of any assistance drop me a
note (drop the nospam from my email address).
Larry
Morris Dovey wrote:
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
> in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
> and people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
> about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
> operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
> partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers could
> be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
> Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea
> might have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
> expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
> obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
>
Morris Dovey wrote:
...
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
...[letter snipped for brevity]...
> Opinions, please...
Good idea.
Would think the Mayor would have been on it like a goose on a June bug
and may be that it has been passed on down the line to appropriate
folks. Then again, being a generic letter it may not have gotten the
attention it deserved.
If you're serious about pursuing it I'd suggest calling the Elkhart
Chamber of Commerce Director directly and ask for director of economic
development. Although Elkhart is large enough they probably have a
separate organization for economic development, any place I've been the
COC is a great contact point. The first thing they'll want is a
business plan, of course, after the 5-minute coffee klatch is over.
There are bound to be any number of other small manufacturing facilities
in small communities all around that are short of work or in danger of
or have closed as well. Who has gone under or made cutbacks in DeSoto
area in the last year?
Smaller may be better/get more interest as larger places tend to think
in terms of hundreds of jobs rather than tens or fewer. We fight the
same thing here in SW KS--the guv'nor has turned down permitting for a
new power plant that would provide 2000 or so construction jobs and
longterm roughly 300 new jobs in operations/maintenance, etc. The
spokesman for one of the lobbying groups against made fun of the project
supplying "only" 300 jobs and therefore not being economically
significant. This is from someone from the Topeka/KC area of course,
with their population and economic base talking about a project proposed
for a county whose total population is <30,000 and a community of
roughly 1750. The larger areas "just don't get it".
--
--
On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:34:08 -0500, Morris Dovey wrote:
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
> in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
> and people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
> about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
> operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
> partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers could
> be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
> Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea
> might have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
> expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
> obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
My first impression is they need a new Human Resources Director at city
hall. Then hire compent help.
Run for Mayor if you ever make the move.
Doug Miller wrote:
...
> For a variety of reasons, hard-copy on company letterhead is much more likely
> to receive favorable attention -- or indeed *any* attention -- than an email
> (which may well have been routed to a spam folder anyway).
Yeah, I missed the e-mail bit. I agree completely anything written
needs to be professional-looking and traditional.
If once get contact started undoubtedly e-mail will be convenient in any
discussions but it ain't likely to get be as useful in introduction.
> Also, the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce would be a better target for that letter
> than the mayor's office.
Yep, as suggested earlier. Although I'd also suggest going to City web
site and look specifically for Economic Development
office/official/group/consortium. Don't know if theirs will be
city/county/region, but there's bound to be one (or more) and web sites
with information as well in all likelihood.
One thing I'd think Morris may run into as noted before is walking into
fairly sizable area w/ high unemployment as very small potential
employer isn't going to have the impact as would in a much smaller
community that just lost its one facility--they're going to be focussed
on the larger guys more. Not that one shouldn't make the contact but
it's not like he's going to be the salvation of the community so they
can't afford to put undue effort in a single very tiny effort. That's
nothing against him and they won't be thinking of it as anything except
what they see as possible numbers here as compared to somebody else
they've been chasing for several years or who may have contacted them.
--
Walter wrote:
> ....thousands of mobile homes.....They have been
> in outside storage so long they are no longer fit for human occupancy.
>
> My comments not worth 2 cents.
>
> w.
>
How can something meant to be outside be made unfit by being outside?
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
Robatoy wrote:
>>> ....thousands of mobile homes.....They have been
>>> in outside storage so long they are no longer fit for human occupancy.
>>> My comments not worth 2 cents.
>>> w.
>> How can something meant to be outside be made unfit by being outside?
>>
>> --
>>
>> -MIKE-
>>
>
> Because Bees, Bugs and Beavers all like to be inside as well?
> Mostly due to condensation, unheated, and therefore severe mould
> problems. Lots of plywood which will rot.
Beavers. lol!
Makes sense. They heat up during the day, cool off at night.
Those things aren't insulated very to begin with.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
>
> Except for the UPS drivers, of course.
>
Who, last I heard, made over $50k a year, base.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
Larry Jaques wrote:
> Asking many months later, did any ever call, write, or email back?
No response of any kind - I would guess that there might have been
enough federal stimulus money available to take care of the plant owners
and the municipality, and there probably wasn't much need to take care
of the townsfolk who moved away to find other work.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Morris Dovey wrote:
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
> in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
[snip]
Another option is a letter to the local newspaper or TV station. This
can be nuclear, viz. "why haven't local officials responded..." or
merely an inquiry, viz. "what do you think my options are...". Either
will generate some response.
mahalo,
jo4hn
On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:34:08 -0500, the infamous Morris Dovey
<[email protected]> scrawled the following:
>Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
>appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
>that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
>constructive and creative thoughts).
>
>The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
>is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
>industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role
>in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
>experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
>Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
>sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
>===== Begin letter text =====
>
>Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
>experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
>economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
>and people in urgent need of employment.
>
>I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
>over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
>solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
>refrigeration application.
>
>My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
>hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
>DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
>class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
>helped by) the current economy.
>
>The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
>production workforce available to me.
>
>I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
>about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
>operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
>partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers could
>be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
>
>I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
>Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea
>might have any real chance of success.
>
>===== End letter text =====
>
>It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
>expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
>obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
>Opinions, please...
A) They likely felt that to sub-out to you would seriously undermine
their workforce by spoiling them with fun new work.
B) Big RV mfgrs are clueless as to how to do things "small." Don't
sweat it. That's how small business stays in business while large
corporations die off during downturns. The bigwigs (and smallwig
manager-types) do only the things they have been doing and are
incapable of thinking outside the box, as it were.
Asking many months later, did any ever call, write, or email back?
A friend of mine used to work at the San Marcos, CA 'Windybagel'
assembly plant. They did absolutely everything in-house, often at a
much higher end cost. Oddly enough, they hired very independent,
creative types, but harnessed them into old, staid assembly plans.
I doubt that Windybagel management was alone in its narrow thinking.
---
A book burrows into your life in a very profound way
because the experience of reading is not passive.
--Erica Jong
Morris, have a look around this wesite. It is our catch all Indiana
homepage. I will keep eyes and ears open for you and forward anything I come
across to you.
Good Luck Lyndell
P.S. AI stands for: Access Indiana
I live in Southern Indiana and we are nowhere near 19% YET!
I had no idea it was that bad in Elkhart.
Don't rule out an e-mail to Mitch Daniels (Governor) :-)
Obama says there will be opportunities in these hard times and I beleive it.
I know of a sign business that is doing well, taking down signs where people
go out of business and putting up another when a new business starts up .
Again Good Luck
http://www.ai.org/
"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because that
> would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your most
> constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population is
> afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing industry -
> for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant role in the
> economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is experiencing a
> 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I sent
> this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space and
> people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go about
> proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an operation in
> Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of partnership between
> myself and one or several of the RV producers could be worked out so that
> everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of Elkhart
> and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this idea might
> have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer expecting
> a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally obviously, I'm
> missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USA
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Morris Dovey wrote:
> Although there is a considerable political component to this, I'd
> appreciate if feedback does not include political criticism (because
> that would not be constructive - and what's urgently needed is your
> most constructive and creative thoughts).
>
> The economy sucks. A significant proportion of the (global) population
> is afraid to spend, and an early casualty is the RV manufacturing
> industry - for obvious reasons. That industry played a significant
> role in the economy of Elkhart Indiana - and (at last look) Elkhart is
> experiencing a 19+% unemployment rate.
>
> Following a PBS Newshour broadcast that reported on their problems, I
> sent this e-mail to Dick Moore, the Mayor of Elkhart:
>
> ===== Begin letter text =====
>
> Yesterday our local PBS NewsHour program reported that Elkhart is
> experiencing particularly uncomfortable consequences of the general
> economic downturn, and that your city has both unused production space
> and people in urgent need of employment.
>
> I own a small business that produces passive solar heating panels, and
> over the last few years I've been working to develop directly
> solar-powered engines that appear ideally suited for pumping and
> refrigeration application.
>
> My present production / R&D facility is located in a rented aircraft
> hanger at a small airfield on the edge of the small rural community of
> DeSoto, Iowa. I'm pretty "small potatoes", but I've developed a first
> class product and orders are on the increase in spite of (or perhaps
> helped by) the current economy.
>
> The current facility is marginal, and I do not have any significant
> production workforce available to me.
>
> I'm not much of a "wheeler-dealer" type, and I'm not sure how to go
> about proposing a nice crisp path from where I am to setting up an
> operation in Elkhart, but I'm inclined to believe that some kind of
> partnership between myself and one or several of the RV producers
> could be worked out so that everyone could benefit.
>
> I'd like to invite discussion if, with your intimate knowledge of
> Elkhart and the current RV manufacturing businesses, you think this
> idea might have any real chance of success.
>
> ===== End letter text =====
>
> It's been more than a week - and no response (and I'm no longer
> expecting a response). Obviously, I'm not a wordsmith - but equally
> obviously, I'm missing something really fundamental here.
>
> Opinions, please...
I'll take the contrarian position and urge you to stay as far away from
Elkhart as possible.
The city, its leaders, its workers, and its economy have demonstrated they
know how to fail.
Instead, look at localities that are (relatively) thriving. They will
generally have a better attitude toward entrepreneurs, less regulation,
lower taxes, eager workers, fewer union problems (Indiana is a "union shop"
state), lower cost of living, and a greater percentage of creative
thinkers. It is not an accident that economic conditions mirror economic
success.
Times are tough all over, true, but some localities just don't get it.
Illinois is toying with raising their income tax by 50%; New York wants to
tax soft drinks, fur coats, boats, air, whatever. California is screwed.
Indiana has an overall unemployment rate of 9.2%. This is higher than the
national average and one might conclude there is, therefore, a pool of
readily-available workers. While true, these workers may very well cost your
nascent company $55/hour!