• To provide a networking opportunity for all businesses
• To promote open communication and support to all business and community leaders
• To be a resource for information generated from County, City and State levels that have a direct Impact on our Business Community

　Your Neighborhood Community Night at Chuckle’s Bar & Grill is Friday, September 21^st. Danielle and Chuck Quattrocche are celebrating their newly remodeled restaurant during the month of September and are excited to be hosting our event this year.. The Chinese Auction will run from 5:00 -9:00 PM. We still need items from our members and we encourage everyone to "get their name out there" with a donation. Please call Cathy Kratovil or Donna Bethke ASAP to donate.. Auction cards will sell for $5 for a card of 25 chances that will allow you to bid on 50+ items. Winners need not be present. Item can be picked up the following week.

The business networking social begins at 5:00 pm and we encourage all business owners and staff to drop in and meet the community. Wear your company name badges and bring your business cards for special door prize drawings. Don’t have your own? Bring any one from your company and put your name on the back.

Our newly added Poker Run is set and many thanks to our five "mystery" businesses who will be participating. Registration begins at 5:00 PM at Chuckle’s. Packets will be $10. Included inside will be a map and directions to five businesses on/off the Belair Road corridor. Balloons will be posted along the corridor. You will "run" to get one playing card from each business. Each poker hand must be returned to Chuckle’s before 8:00 pm. It will be automatic elimination as hands are returned. We will be awarding $200-$100-$50 cash gift card prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3rd places.

Passport Plus will have the brand new edition of their book for purchase for $20. Member, Angela Heydt can not say enough about the money she and her family have saved already by using this book. In three visits to restaurants on the Belair Road corridor she has already saved over $50+. Remember $7 from each book goes back to OFBPA and will be donating all proceeds to the Fullerton Fireworks committee. Richard Mince has gone a step above and is offering an on going fundraiser through our Business & Community Guide. On page 11 his ad has a special coupon for everyone who purchases a book and the proceeds continues to benefit the OFBPA-Fireworks. Thanks Richard for being such a great partner to our association and the community,

And for those who want to unwind and listen to some great music, Jack Ryan the "Jam Man" will entertain us beginning at 9:00 PM. Jack is awesome and brings new meaning to "let the good times roll".

Please make plans to attend the September meeting. The Comprehensive Zoning Map Process in Baltimore County has begun and every business owner needs to be aware of the impact this can have on your property values if changed. We also have our new grant application process from the Office of Economic Development and your input is needed on how we spend our grant monies for 2008. Details for the October networking social will be available. For all events and for membership forms visit our website at. www.ofbpa.com.or Donna at 410-665-6551.

410-319-5728 (p) 3501 Taylor Avenue (21236) billp@mdschblind.org

You are invited to attend NRG’s Maryland Summit and Tradeshow! It is a great opportunity to meet some new folks and grow your business through referrals.

Never heard of NRG? They are a business to business networking organization that is dedicated to helping companies develop business through referrals. And it works! Expected attendance is 600-700 people and everyone comes prepared to make meaningful connections, not just collect business cards. If you are interested in growing your business, consider coming as a guest. Admission is $30 for NRG members and $40 for guests. However, NRG’s President has extended a special offer for members of OFBPA. For OFBPA Members, the normal admission fee will be waived. In other words, FREE ADMITTANCE! (That is a $40 savings).

Continental breakfast served. Door Prizes too!

When: Thursday, September 20th, 2007 Time: 8:30AM – 12 NOON

Where: The Columbia Hilton, 5485 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045 Phone: 410-997-1060

To pre-register, call NRG’s President, Mike Weiner at 443-756-9656.

Please mention that you are a member of OFBPA. www.networkreferralgroup.com

Exhibitor Tables are still available for $350-$500.

OFBPA member and NRG member, Lisa Hogan will be an exhibitor at this event. Please feel free to call her too if you have any questions or want more information about NRG at 443-846-2310.

ANOTHER for OFBPA Members!

Karen Boyd, President of ActionCoach Maryland and also a member of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce has invited us to attend a special event with Brad Sugars, a world renowned entrepreneur author and business coach. Sugar's is a self made multi-millionaire at 35 and owns the world’s largest business coaching firm. Baltimore is one of only 23 stops the "Billionaire in Training" is making. Event is Wednesday, September 26^th at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, located at 700 Aliceanna Street (21202). Registration and networking is from 5:00-6:00 pm. Event is 6:00-9: 00 pm. EVENT IS FREE. You must register to attend at www.billionaireintraining.net. Enter code USCH031 or call 410-374-3536 and ask for Karen Boyd.

I have registered to attend and if anyone else is going I would love to "hook up" and ride together—I am SO NOT a city girl and have no clue where this is at!

Minutes: August 8th, 2007: (to be approved at the September meeting)

Officers and Executive Board in attendance: Donna Bethke, Kim Durham.,

President’s Report- newsletter going out today, attended SHA meting- concept approved and community meeting will be held late fall. Will let everyone know when date is set. Need to encourage as many business owners to attend.

Membership Report-85 members as of 8/8/07

Minutes – approved July minutes. Motion to approve - Kim1^st Angela. 2^nd Approved

Treasurer’s Report- due to power outage- no report.

Hospitality Chair- no new updates Website: no new updates

• Correspondence: BC Advantage; FSH Golf Tournament; MedStar; Linover & Overlea community and HARBEL newsletters.
• Back to School Movie Day- set for August 1^st at Beltway Movie 6- not as well attended, but still fun. Excess school supplies donated to Fullerton and Elmwood.
• Multi-vendor bingo still on hold
• Directories are here. Let Kim know how many you want. Looking for businesses to post on website for the community to pick up.

• Community Night set for September 21^st at Chuckles- Cathy has sent out donations letters. Packets have been decided upon- Kim handling, Tom working on Poker Run participants.
• Next networking social- Tuesday or Wednesday preferable days. Will contact Amer’s
• Next Meeting: September 19th at 4:30 pm MD School of the Blind
• Wrap Up- Motion to Adjourn

President Donna Bethke (410) 665-6551 Vice President Pat Zimmerman (410) 444-5555

Treasurer Darlene Conner (410) 661-4412 Welcome Chair Cathy Kratovil 443-520-7179

Directory Chair Kimberly Durham (888) 887-9297 ex. 41506 Secretary vacant

Hospitality- Rachael Waters 410-882-0915 Member at Large- Barbara Nash 410-488-4800

Welcome Membership 2007

Renewal .Tech Services LLC Zach John 410-254-2222 (p)

Renewal A Natural Way to Health Frances Thomas 410-325-6677 (p)

Renewal A-1 Bill & Earl's Auto, Inc. Earl Specher, Jr. or Marty 410-668-4100 (p)

Renewal Academy Animal Hospital Vicki Marci/Dr. Fred Lewis 410-483-5162 (p)

New Apple Insurance Services, Inc. Angela Heydt 410-256-5800 (p)

New Catholic Charities Center for Family Services　Tia Dickson　 410-685-2363 (p)

(Remember this corner is members to let everyone know what they do)

Check out this new website! Rick made it! Tell all your friends (maybe enemies too).
www.anaturalway2health.com Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. 　Take Juice Plus+. 　I do! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Faith Seymore www.graceteam.myarbonne.com

I'm excited to announce to all of you that I have added a Holiday shopping service just for you.

You will be able to shop in style, from your home in your pajamas!!　 Just take a look at the catalog in the Shop on Line section of my website.　 Make a list of what you would like to get and then call me or email me with your list.

I will be happy to order it for you and if you would like I will put it in a gift bag for you.　 Shopping and wrapping all done!　 Don't forget to ask me for the details when you call.

That's not all, for every　$75.00 you order,　you will receive a coupon worth 10% off on your next purchase.

You can also host a Holiday Shopping Party for your friends and receive $100.00 of free products!　 We're booking fast so call me soon for open dates on my calendar.

So let's get shopping ladies and gentlemen and have fun doing it.　 The Mall has nothing on us we're doing it the fun way and the smart way this year.

My home phone is 410-661-1996 and my cell is 443-418-7843 and my website is linked below for your convenience.

For me, business is personal and I thrive on providing service to my clients that is beyond their wildest expectations. What does that mean? I offer credit card and check processing but so do a lot of other companies. The difference becomes apparent when someone has a question or problem. On a Friday night of a holiday weekend, you can reach me. Weekends and evenings, you can reach me. I am here for you and your business.

With all the changes going on in the industry of credit card and check processing, how is a business to make a wise decision on which processing company to use? And how do you know that you are getting a fair deal? First of all, I do rate comparisons for all my accounts. Then the next step is to educate. With some basic understanding of how the industry works, you can have the tools to make an educated decision. I look at it as working together as a team to understand the issues of your business and address any current concerns. We then can get to the solutions that save you money and time.

The exciting part is that the entire company is run with this same approach too. Absolute customer satisfaction. We offer creative solutions for saving you money on your credit card processing for all major credit cards. We offer a variety of check services including Check Recovery (this service is NO COST to you the merchant) and when recovered, you receive 100% of the check’s face value. We offer a variety of processing equipment too (special pricing for OFBPA members).

What makes us different? A lot of personal connection, a bit of industry education, and a passion to help you make your business the best it can be. Just today I had a customer tell me that she would follow me to the ends of the Earth because she knows I would (and have) watch(ed) out for her interests. I think that says it all!

If you are interested in finding out more about our services, please call me. I am happy to be a part of this association and I look forward to getting to know you all better!

Best Regards, Lisa Hogan, Special Accounts Retriever Credit Card and Check Processing

On behalf of Shelia Dixon, Mayor of Baltimore and James T. Smith Jr., Baltimore County Executive please save the date to attend the Baltimore Regional Employer Awards Breakfast.　　As the Baltimore Workforce Invest Board and the Baltimore County Workforce Development Council recognize innovations in workforce development on Monday, September 17th 2007 from 7:30am to9:30am at Martin's West, located at 6817 Dogwood Road in Baltimore. To R.S.V.P. for this inaugural affair, contact Cheryl Harrison-Clay at 410-396-1910 at extension 318

Linover Improvement Association invites everyone to their Annual Block Party: Saturday, September 22Rain Date, Sunday, September 23^rd from Noon to 5 pm at the Entrance to Linover Park (5100 block of Terrace Dr).

Donna, please forward this to the members of the OFBPA... Rick Kelly is a K9 officer with the Maryland State Police.　 Due to budget shortfalls, there is not enough money to cover the medical expenses of the K9 dogs.　 A small donation can go a long way for these dogs. Visit http://injuredpolicedogs.com/　to donate. Thanks, Bob Marousek, CMC

I was invited to attend a meeting at OHS on behalf of the OFBPA on 8//22/07. Stephanie Marks, a New Teacher Mentor, Elizabeth Burchett, Behavior Intervention Specialist and Tim Fiddle a teacher at OHS put together a presentation on Positive Behavior Intervention & Support (PBIS), a nationally based program. Currently there are 276 in MD and 60 of them are in Baltimore County at all levels of education. PBIS defines the school’s behavioral expectations then teach those expectations to all faculty, students and staff. OHS has developed the Falcon (mascot) 5 which is play money which is given out as rewards when someone meets the expectations. Rewards are having a positive impact on the school environment and the goal is to reduce the amount of referrals. (In 2006-2007 there was 1800 referrals= 27,000 minutes @ 15 minutes= 450 hours= 56 days@ 8 hours/ day.-in short they are very time consuming).

We all know that we ALL perform better when there is an incentive. The school does many things like free ice cream, reduced ticket prices to events, yet has limited resources and funding. Rewards can be a simple as coupons from your business for a free soda, $5 food coupons, etc, or larger items that they can use for raffles.

They are reaching out to the community and business and asking for our help in anyway possible. A cash donation ( tax-deductible), coupons from your business ( please keep these are free and clear as possible, as OHS has 38% of their population on free and reduced lunch, so an expensive purchase to get something free might not be a possibility), gift cards, small items that would appeal to high school students—any and all are welcome. If you can help out OHS, please contact Stephanie at 410-887-5241 or smarks@bcps.org or Elizabeth at eburchett@bcps.org.

M&T Bank - Jason Fisher, branch manager and his staff will be moving into the Beltway Plaza shopping center in November. Jason will keep us posted on the Grand Opening FYI. (they are currently in the Kenwood Avenue shopping plaza)

Extra Innings: Baltimore is the premier indoor baseball and indoor softball training facility in the Harford/Baltimore County area - dedicated to fulfilling the needs of players of all ages and abilities. Our state of the art, year round, indoor facility has and over 18,000 square feet of training area, 8 multi-use indoor batting and pitching tunnels, 4 coin-operated batting cages, a fully stocked pro shop, member’s training area, weight training room and team meeting/private birthday rooms. Owner Stephen Markey and General Manager, Rick Krivida (former Oriole and Olympic Gold Medalist) invite everyone to their Grand Opening on September 24^th from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Former and current professional baseball players including Wayne Franklin, Mike Bordick, Dave Johnson, Randy Mulligan, Al Bumbry and more will be on hand to sign autographs. They will be open 7 days a week. They are located at 7604 Rossville Boulevard near the Golden Corral. Visit www.extrainnings-baltimorenorth.com

　Dear Donna,

Thank you so much! I think you must be the school supply fairy.　　I have several families with very limited means who could really use the help!　　I know these families would really appreciate the help. Thank you so much for thinking of us. Cathye Cossaboon, Guidance Counselor at Fullerton Elementary. (Cathye also sent a letter in addition to this email and I will share at the meeting)

The Task Force, which included representation from the OFBPA Business Association, and the Linover and Overlea communities, approved the Concept Phase of the Belair Road Streetscape at their streetscape meeting on July 25, 2007. The next step is a Public Meeting will be at St. Michael’s the Archangel Church gym on October 10th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Your attendance will be critical in moving ahead to the Design Phase. Come see the fabulous Power Point presentation the state has put together. You will be impressed with the "New Belair Road". Once the concept has the support of the community and businesses at large and the local elected officials, it would then be submitted to SHA’s list of streetscape projects across Maryland where it will compete for funding for actual design phase. If you have been following the minutes posted on out website, you know that overall safety and ADA accessibility will be addressed. New synchronized traffic signals and dedicated left hand turn lanes at the key intersections of Henry Avenue, Fullerton Avenue and Taylor Avenues will help traffic flow and traffic calming as they are timed to move traffic as safely and efficiently as possible.

A Each bulk mailing must have a minimum of 150 pieces. Weight must be 3.3 oz or less

B. Mail may be fold over with a bulk mail "wrap" which has a copy of the OFBPA Bulk Mail Permit # in the top right hand corner (open end must be at the top and use must wafer seals OR a # 10 Business Envelope may be used and we will provide you with a self-inking Bulk Mail Stamp.

The MAIL MUST BE SORTED IN TWO CATEGORIES--ALWAYS in zip code order

All 212’s will go in one tray (s)

All non 212’s go in another tray (s) (Ex: out of state and all 210’s etc.)

If mixed AADC zip code order regardless of zip code

We need to use 3602-EZ form- title Postage Statement-Standard Mail-Easy Nonautomation Letters of Flats

On the form given to you with the bulk mail materials we will fill in all fields that we can and

highlighted areas will be filled out by you. The form used as of 6/07 is 3602-EZ. This new form is a one page form and we will use PART D Sections 01 and 02 Section 01 is AADC – Requires 150 pieces in the same zip code

Current rate is $0.246 Section 02 is Mixed AADC- all remaining pieces Current rate is $0.255

A check made out to POSTMASTER is required or cash. (no credit cards accepted)

Your check, the Bulk Mail Form, and your mailing may be taken to any 212 Post Office. (no express post offices)

A copy of your form must be faxed to Donna Bethke at 410-882-5194 (f) so that we may keep track of who is mailing and when. Discrepancies are resolved at the main post office and you are responsible for any differences.

If you sort your databases (if running labels) in ZIPCODE order it makes sorting the mail easier.

• Bulk mail prices are $0.246 for AADC and $0.255 for all mixed AADC
• Compared to $0.41 per piece this is a significant savings.
• You can reach more customers for less!
• This is privilege of being an OFBPA member and is included in your dues.

Do you really know how to forward emails? 50% do ... 50% don't.

Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it? Every time you forward an email there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their email addresses and names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor person to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every email address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel! How do you stop it? Well, there are several easy steps.

Try the following if you haven't done it before

(1) When you forward an email, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the "Forward" button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.
(2) Whenever you send an email to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding email addresses. Always use the BCC:(blind carbon copy) field for listing ALL the email addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own email address. If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it.
(3) Remove any "FW :" in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling.
(4) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual email you are reading. Ever get those emails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By Forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view; you stop them from having to open many emails just to see what you sent.
(5) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. DO NOT put your email address on any petition. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email addresses on a petition. (And don't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced; it just ain't so!)

ACTUAL FACT: Most e-mail petitions are worthless because they do not fully identify the signer by street address, etc. nor does it prove that the signer really signed it. Don't forward them.
Some of the other emails to delete and not forward are:
a. The one that says something like, "Send this email to 10 people and you'll see something great run across your screen." Or sometimes they'll just tease you by saying 'something really cute will happen.' IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! (We are still seeing some of the same emails that we waited on 10 years ago!)
b. I don't let the bad luck ones scare me either, they should get trashed.
c. Before you forward an 'Amber Alert’, or a 'Virus Alert’, or some of the other emails floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward them. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for YEARS! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Just go to www.snopes.com <http://www.snopes.com/>. It's really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on.
So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.