Matt Lafata’s Weekly Community News

January 3, 2008 – Volume 7, Issue 1

matt@mattlafatamarketing.com – www.mattlafatamarketing.com

This picture was taken in Rockport, MA on New Year’s Eve. Rockport is a small town right next to the Town of Gloucester, MA where I grew up. Erika and I visited that area for New Year’s to visit family.

As we enter 2008, I am extremely thankful and blessed for everything I have in my life. 2007 was such a great year for me personally and professionally and it is a direct result of all the people that I have in my life – family, friends, and supporters. I am really looking forward to an even better 2008 and I would like to wish everybody a very happy and prosperous 2008!

This newsletter and information source is designed to bring us all a little closer together each week by providing coverage of so many things going on in our community. There are so many amazing things in this newsletter, as there are every week. Please forward this newsletter to all your friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up to receive it themselves. They will greatly appreciate you for it as no citizen should be without this important information at their fingertips.  Let’s work to get all Frisco citizens on this list as a more informed society is a more functional society.

If you have questions or have any community events, people or groups you want to recognize, fundraising events, or any newsworthy items you would like to see added and shared with more than forty thousand residents and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please send me an email so I may include them. The newsletter goes out each Thursday and I need materials by the end of the day on the preceding Wednesday if you want something to be included.

If you received this from somebody else and would like to be added to the list, just send me an email. Your email address will never be sold or given to anybody else for any reason. All newsletters can also be found on our web site at www.mattlafatamarketing.com.

Inspirational Quote of the Week:

"You may be whatever you resolve to be - determine to be something in the world and you will be something.  "I cannot," never accomplished anything.  "I will try" has worked wonders.” – J. Hawes

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@mattlafatamarketing.com

As always, this newsletter is absolutely packed with information – something for everyone. There is always something going on in our great city and I try to include everything I can. In this jam packed issue you will find lots of great information. There is something for everyone including the following…

Visual Arts Guild of Frisco 2008: 21

Newsletter Staff Members and Contributors

Matt Lafata – Editor and Publisher – 214-336-3355

Kaleigh Lafata – Tornado Talk

Sarah Ianace – Happenings in the

Frisco ISD

Glenn Kopanski – Landscape Design

Pedro Checo – Advice from Dr. Checo

Joe Hockaday, CPA – Today’s Tax Talk From Joe

Citizen of the Month and Neighborhood of the Month Details

If you have a citizen or neighborhood you would like to nominate, please send it to me.

The Citizen of the Month will focus on a person or group in Frisco who has been nominated by another individual. He, she or they could be a person or a group who has recently done something special that contributes to the well-being of our city and/or its citizens, or it could be somebody who has had (or currently has) an interesting career or experiences that could be shared with our readers.

The Neighborhood of the Month will highlight a particular neighborhood in our city. I am looking to hear from you as to why your Neighborhood is so special.

The Citizen of the Month for January is one of our FISD crossing guards. Frisco resident Jennifer Heard nominated this person and here is what she had to say:

“I would like to nominate one of the neatest people in our city to be the citizen of the month for the Frisco Community newsletter.  I have no idea what her name is but she is faithful to show up every school day to help the children of Frisco ISD. 

This beautiful lady is the crossing guard at the corner of Hillcrest and Lebanon on the east side of town. She is energetic and happy to see each and every child that crosses her path.  At one time, both she and her husband worked together for the Frisco ISD but his failing health has resulted in her doing this job with a different partner this year.  You will not pass by her corner during the after/before-school hours without hearing things like "good morning, kids!"  "how ya doing today?"  "alright!!!!"  She even brings cold water bottles for the children during the incredible Texas heat for them to have on their way home. 

This crossing guard is a jewel and my kids (not even in Frisco schools) LOVE to roll down the window and wave to her.  We all should have such a fantastic attitude about our jobs.  She is one of a kind.  Just drive by one day and you will see what I mean.

City of Frisco Related Question of the Week:

Q. Are permits required by the City of Frisco for basic home remodeling projects like:
replacing kitchen cabinets?
appliances?
flooring?
windows?
lighing?
tankless hot water heater?
a power conditioning system?

A. Painting, wallpaper, floor covering, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work are exempt from permit requirements. Replacement of appliances and/or fixtures that are plug and cord connected, or do not require any alteration in the electrical or plumbing systems are also exempt. Permits and inspections are required for the replacement of water heaters, air conditioning systems and windows. The best recommendation is to contact Building Inspections to confirm that a permit is not required for your specific project. Building Inspections can be reached at 972 292-5301.

This Day in History – January 3, 1990: Noriega Surrenders to the U.S.

From the History Channel…

On this day in 1990, Panama's General Manuel Antonio Noriega, after holing up for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, surrenders to U.S. military troops to face charges of drug trafficking. Noriega was flown to Miami the following day and crowds of citizens on the streets of Panama City rejoiced. On July 10, 1992, the former dictator was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Noriega, who was born in Panama in 1938, was a loyal soldier to General Omar Torrijos, who seized power in a 1968 coup. Under Torrijos, Noriega headed up the notorious G-2 intelligence service, which harassed and terrorized people who criticized the Torrijos regime. Noriega also became a C.I.A. operative, while at the same time getting rich smuggling drugs.

In 1981, Omar Torrijos died in a plane crash and after a two-year power struggle, Noriega emerged as general of Panama's military forces. He became the country's de facto leader, fixing presidential elections so he could install his own puppet officials. Noriega's rule was marked by corruption and violence. He also became a double agent, selling American intelligence secrets to Cuba and Eastern European governments. In 1987, when Panamanians organized protests against Noriega and demanded his ouster, he declared a national emergency, shut down radio stations and newspapers and forced his political enemies into exile.

That year the United States cut off aid to Panama and tried to get Noriega to resign; in 1988, the U.S. began considering the use of military action to put an end to his drug trafficking. Noriega voided the May 1989 presidential election, which included a U.S.-backed candidate, and in December of that year he declared his country to be in a state of war with the United States. Shortly afterward, an American marine was killed by Panamanian soldiers. President George H.W. Bush authorized "Operation Just Cause," and on December 20, 1989, 13,000 U.S. troops were sent to occupy Panama City, along with the 12,000 already there, and seize Noriega. During the invasion, 23 U.S. troops were killed in action and over 300 were wounded. Approximately 450 Panamanian troops were killed; estimates for the number of civilians who died range from several hundred to several thousand, with thousands injured.

Today, Noriega, derogatorily nicknamed "Pineapple Face" in reference to his pockmarked skin, is serving his sentence at a federal prison in Miami.

January is Rotary Awareness Month:

Frisco has two Rotary clubs and you can find contact information below if you are interested in joining. Here is a brief history of Rotary…

The world’s first service club, the

Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA,

was formed on 23 February 1905 by

Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name “Rotary” derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members’ offices.

Rotary’s popularity spread throughout

the United States in the decade that

followed; clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.

As Rotary grew, its mission expanded

beyond serving the professional and social interests of club members.

Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The

organization’s dedication to this ideal is

best expressed in its principal motto:

Service Above Self. Rotary also later

embraced a code of ethics, called The 4-Way Test, that has been translated into hundreds of languages.

During and after World War II,

Rotarians became increasingly involved in promoting international understanding. In 1945, 49 Rotary members served in 29 delegations to the United Nations Charter Conference. Rotary still actively participates in UN conferences by sending observers to major meetings and promoting the United Nations in Rotary publications. Rotary International’s relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) dates back to a 1943 London Rotary conference that promoted international cultural and educational exchanges. Attended by ministers of education and observers from around the world, and chaired by a past president of RI, the conference was

an impetus to the establishment of

UNESCO in 1946.

An endowment fund, set up by

Rotarians in 1917 “for doing good in the

world,” became a not-for-profit corporation known as The Rotary Foundation in 1928. Upon the death of Paul Harris in 1947, an outpouring of Rotarian donations made in his honor, totaling US$2 million, launched the Foundation’s first program — graduate fellowships, now called Ambassadorial Scholarships.

Today, contributions to The Rotary

Foundation total more than US$80

million annually and support a wide

range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.

In 1985, Rotary made a historic

commitment to immunize all of the

world’s children against polio. Working

in partnership with nongovernmental

organizations and national governments

through its PolioPlus program, Rotary is

the largest private-sector contributor to

the global polio eradication campaign.

Rotarians have mobilized hundreds of

thousands of PolioPlus volunteers and

have immunized more than one billion

children worldwide. By the 2005 target

date for certification of a polio-free

world, Rotary will have contributed half

a billion dollars to the cause.

As it approached the dawn of the

21st century, Rotary worked to meet the changing needs of society, expanding its service effort to address such pressing issues as environmental degradation, illiteracy, world hunger, and children at risk. The organization admitted women for the first time (worldwide) in 1989 and claims more than 145,000 women in its ranks today. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Rotary clubs were formed or re-established throughout Central and

Eastern Europe. Today, 1.2 million

Rotarians belong to some 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@mattlafatamarketing.com

Homeowner Association Meetings and Other Group Meetings:

If you have an upcoming meeting that you would like a city official at, just to be available to answer any questions, please let us know. If Matt’s schedule permits, he would love to attend.

Answering Questions for Kids and Young Adults:

As you know, communication and sharing information is something that I spend a lot of time doing. I frequently get asked to answer questions for kids and young adults for school projects or leadership programs. Usually the project involves getting these questions answered from somebody in a leadership position, and as a City Council member, I’m always happy to take the time to do this. If your son or daughter ever needs questions answered from a leadership figure for projects of any kind, please feel free to contact me or have them contact me directly.

Alternatively, if your child is interested in learning more about city government and has questions, feel free to contact me.

Finally, if you are looking for a speaker to talk to a group of kids or young adults about city government or Frisco in general, I’m happy to try and schedule something.

All the opinions, endorsements or recommendations in this newsletter are mine alone and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of any organization or group with whom I am affiliated or the individuals who are a part of such organizations and groups.  You should not rely on any statement made in this newsletter as evidenced of how I may act as a member of any organization or group.  Inclusion of news, events and other information in this newsletter does not imply an endorsement; it merely serves as my effort to be of service to the readers.

All About Frisco:

In our continuing efforts to bring information to our great community, we have updated our web site with listings of:

·         Frisco Neighborhoods and Homeowner Associations

·         Churches and other places of Worship

·         Clubs and Organizations

·         The Frisco Independent School District and other Schools

Visit www.friscocommunity.com to access this information and I look forward to your feedback. This site will continue to grow and evolve over time.

Clubs, Groups and Organizations in and around Frisco:

Frisco is home to a very diverse and numerous set of clubs, groups and organizations. If your group or organization is missing, and you would like to get it listed, please send me an email so we can list it and continue to maintain the most comprehensive list available.

 
AARP – 972-335-2478

Alcoholics Anonymous Frisco – 972-708-5086

Allen-Frisco-Plano Autism Spectrum Parent Group

American Cancer Society of Collin County – 214-819-1221

American Legion Post 178

American Red Cross of North Texas – 972-542-5642

Angel Food Ministries – 214-282-5576

AroundTown Kids

Arts of Collin County

Association of Frisco Retired School Personnel – 972-335-3040

Boy Scouts of America – 214-902-6754

Boys and Girls Club

CASA of Collin County – 972-529-2272

Celebrate Recovery – 214-282-5576

Chamber of Commerce

Christian Community Action – 972-436-4357

City of Frisco – 972-292-5000

Collin County – 972-424-1460

Collin County Association of Realtors – 214-618-3800

Collin County Community College

Collin County Community College Education Foundation

Collin County Connection – 214-544-0666

Collin County Early Childhood PTA – 972-712-3634

Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance – 214-521-5342

Collin County Genealogy Association – 972-231-4190

Collin County Republican Party

Dallas Athletic Rugby Club

Daughters of the American Revolution – 972-307-5906

Democratic Party of Collin County

Denton County

Downtown Advisory Board – 972-292-5108

Downtown Merchants Association – 972-292-5108

FamilyWatchdog.com

FC Dallas

Frisco A&M Club – 972-897-7765

Frisco American Business Women’s Association (ABWA)

Frisco Al-Anon Family Group – 972-978-8757

Frisco-Allen Texas Area Alumnae Panhellenic

Frisco Area Children’s Theater – 972-377-2675

Frisco Area Republican Women

Frisco Association For the Arts

Frisco Athletic Network

Frisco Bar Association

Frisco Baseball/Softball Organization – 972-712-2288

Frisco Business and Professional Women – 972-377-0335

Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Frisco Chorale

Frisco Community Band – 972-668-5315

Frisco Community Theatre – 972-377-3868

Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau

Frisco Cycling Club

Frisco Democratic Party

Frisco Dog Park

Frisco Ducks Unlimited – 972-712-5049

Frisco Early Childhood PTA

Frisco Economic Development Corporation – 972-668-5550

Frisco Education Foundation – 469-633-6066

Frisco Family Services Center – 972-335-9495

Frisco Family YMCA – 972-335-3222

Frisco Fire Department – 972-335-5525

Frisco Football League – 972-712-0558

Frisco Garden Club – 972-335-3812

Frisco Gymnastics Center – 972-377-0888

Frisco Humane Society – 972-498-8980

Frisco Independent School District – 469-633-6000

Frisco Kiwanis Club

Frisco Noon Lion’s Club – 972-335-2487

Frisco Music Teachers Association

Frisco Neighborhood Watch

Frisco Police Department – 972-292-6000

Frisco Post Office – 972-335-7453

Frisco Pride

Frisco Public Library

Frisco Quilt Guild

Frisco Republican Men’s Club

Frisco Republicans – 972-335-9176

Frisco Residents of Color

Frisco Rotary Club – 972-701-2801

Frisco RoughRiders

Frisco Soccer Association – 972-712-4625

Frisco Square

Frisco Sunrise Rotary

Frisco Swim Team

Frisco Thunder Professional Football

Frisco Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8273 – 972-712-5611

Frisco Women’s League – 972-712-8890

Frisco/Plano Christian Women’s Club – 972-668-4464

Frisco Youth Volleyball Leagues

Heritage Association of Frisco – 972-335-6684

Heroes for Children – 214-256-5824

Kids Kaleidoscope

KittiCo Cat Rescue – 214-826-6903

Labrador Retriever Rescue of North Texas

Lewisville Independent School District

Meals on Wheels – 972-562-6996

Miracle League of Frisco

MOMS Club of Frisco – East Central Chapter - 972-712-1789

MOMS Club of Frisco – South Chapter – 214-336-8001

MOMS Club of Frisco – SE Chapter – 214-2272418

MOMS Club of Frisco – SW Chapter – 469-384-8002

MOMS Club of Frisco – West Central Chapter

MOMS Club of Frisco – West Chapter – 214-504-9223

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) – 972-668-7458

North Texas Tollway Authority – 214-461-2000

OU Club of Collin County – 972-797-9708

Overeaters Anonymous – 972-832-5263

Play Pals – 972-839-0312

Senior Center at Frisco Square – 972-292-6550

SPCA of Texas – 972-562-7387

Speak Up – Frisco Toastmasters Group – 972-881-9989

Stonewall Democrats of Collin County

Texas Democratic Women of Collin County

Texas Tornado Hockey

Toastmasters Club of Frisco – 972-712-4611

Visual Arts Guild of Frisco

Volunteer Center of North Texas

Voter Registration Information – Collin County

Voter Registration Information – Denton County

Women Encouraging Business – 972-335-9522

Word of Mouth Productions

Young Life Frisco – 972-424-6339

Youth Leadership Frisco

Churches and other Places of Worship in and around Frisco

One of the wonderful things about Frisco is the many diverse religions you can find. If your Church is not listed, please contact me at matt@mattlafata.com so we can list it and continue to maintain the most comprehensive list available.

Apostolic Temple – 972-712-5673

Assembly of God Cornerstone Community Church – 972-335-4704

Celebration Covenant – 214-387-9833

Central Christian Church – 972-377-2608

Church of God in Christ – 972-377-3649

Church of Living Stones – 972-335-3499

Compass Christian Church – 972-335-7546

Congregation B’nai Israel

Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church - 469-362-7844

Cornerstone Community Church – 972-335-4704

Crossroads Community Church – 972-712-0582

Crosswalk Community Church

Faithbridge Presbyterian – 972-377-9560

Fellowship of Frisco – 972-335-1700

First Baptist Church of Frisco – 972-335-9830

First Pentecostal Church – 972-292-3174

First United Methodist – 972-335-4380

Frisco Bible Church – 972-335-8150

Frisco Church of Christ – 972-335-2118

Frisco Trails Fellowship Bible Church – 972-731-5999

Genesis Metro – 469-450-6277

Grace Avenue United Methodist – 972-335-2882

Grace Church - 469-633-9104

Grace Pointe – 972-292-3174

Hamilton Chapel Baptist Church – 972-377-3348

Hope Fellowship – 972-377-8855

Kingdom Life Christian Center – 214-618-1500

Lebanon Baptist Church – 972-377-3348

Liberty Baptist Church – 972-625-3546

Living Waters Family Worship Center – 214-387-9602

Lone Star Baptist Church – 469-358-7089

Newstart Church of the Nazarene – 214-282-5576

Northstar Church – 972-712-8282

Praise Fellowship Worship Center – 214-387-9397

Preston Ridge Baptist Church – 972-712-7007

Preston Trail Community Church – 972-668-1244

Rejoice Lutheran Church – 972-335-6411

Revolution Ministries – 214-649-0623

Rock Hill Church of Christ – 972-346-2710

Shawnee Trail Church of Christ – 972-377-9106

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church – 972-712-2645

St. Philips Episcopal Church – 214-387-4700

Stonebriar Church of Christ – 972-712-9264

Stonebriar Community Church – 469-252-5000

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 972-377-4724

The Journey – 214-529-8873

Turning Point CMA Church – 469-733-3196

Water’s Edge Lutheran Church – 972-712-7377

About Matt Lafata:

Matt Lafata and his wife Erika share six children between the two of them. In January 1999, Mr. Lafata moved to Frisco from Gloucester, MA. Mr. Lafata has helped build several highly successful businesses for more than 20 years. A long-time business consultant, entrepreneur and human resources professional, he is the Director of Business Development with the Frisco-based HR strategy and technology consulting firm HRchitect (www.HRchitect.com). He is also the founder of several marketing and public relations agencies including The Matt Lafata Marketing Group (www.mattlafatamarketing.com). Previously, Mr. Lafata was an Executive Vice President of a computer software company where he was responsible for corporate development, marketing, sales, product development and more. Mr. Lafata studied finance and business management at Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts.

Mr. Lafata is involved in numerous organizations throughout Frisco. He is in his 2^nd term as a Frisco City Council member and has been involved in the following…

·         Former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem on the Frisco City Council

·         Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner

·         Graduate of Leadership Frisco

·         2005 recipient of the “21 Leaders of the 21^st Century” by Inside Collin County Business

·         Graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy and a member of the Alumni group

·         Youth sports coach

·         Past board member for the Frisco Family Services Center

·         St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Member

·         Member of the Frisco Heritage Association

·         Member of the Frisco Association for the Arts

·         Member of the Frisco Community Theatre

·         Community Advisory Board member for the Frisco Women’s League

·         Friends of the Frisco Public Library Member

·         Board member for the Frisco Square Municipal Management District

·         City of Frisco Technology Committee member

·         City of Frisco Budget and Audit subcommittee member

·         Tax Increment Finance board member

·         Wakeland High School PTA Technology/Publicity Committee Chairperson

·         Co-Director of the Mrs. Texas United States Pageant

·         Honorary Chair for World AIDS Day 2007 in Collin County

Since 2001, Matt and his marketing company have produced this very popular e-newsletter that goes out every week to over 40,000 people and businesses which keeps the Frisco community in touch with local events and businesses.

In July 2007, Matt announced his bid for Mayor of Frisco in the May 2008 election. Visit www.matt4mayor.com for more information about his candidacy.

How to “Whitelist” this Frisco Community Newsletter in Your Spam Filter:

With the advent of outrageous volumes of unwanted email these days, of which I get a ton, it's unfortunate that legitimate email publications like this are not being seen by some of the readers who enjoy those publications. There is much fear today that the email publishing/marketing industry is in serious trouble, due to mistakes in filtering when legitimate email is erroneously tagged as unwanted email.

While we applaud the anti-spam industry for removing the plethora of unwanted email from many of our mailboxes, from time to time, some legitimate email publications are mistaken as unwanted.

Sometimes, this results in our mailings bouncing back, with requests for us to respond to challenge/response messages to prevent future filtering. However, due to the size of our list, it's nearly impossible for us handle the volume of such requests.

To that end, please realize that we want our readers to always anticipate and enjoy the valuable information that this community newsletter delivers.

If you currently use an anti-spam program or service, we ask that you take just a minute or two to add this newsletter to your "safe" or permitted email sender list. This usually involves simply adding our sending address (From:) to your whitelist, safelist, or list of privileged senders. This is commonly known as whitelisting a publication. Simply add the email addresses of matt@mattlafata.com and matt@mattlafatamarketing.com.

If you wish to be removed from this list, please send an email to matt@mattlafata.com.

Any Political Advertising contained in this newsletter is Paid for by Matt Lafata for Mayor - Sarah Ianace, Treasurer, 6061 Pintail Lane, Frisco TX 75034 

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! This week’s newsletter is Proudly Sponsored by KidsNArt and the grand opening of their new art studio here in Frisco. Also check out the Spotlight on WebFratelli, a partnership of two great businesses here in Frisco that bring together websites and hosting with logo and design services. A lot of work goes into putting this newsletter together and I greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors so please patronize them wherever possible.

Our Texas Tornado hockey team is back to its winning ways and plays this Friday and Saturday night here in Frisco. Visit www.tornadohockey.com or call 972-335-9800 to get tickets.

Interliga games take place this Sunday at Pizza Hut Park. Visit www.fcdallas.net or call 888-FCD-GOAL to get your tickets.

The January Citizen of the Month is one of our FISD crossing guards and you can read more about why she is the Citizen of the Month in the left hand column.

This is a community newsletter and as such, I want to encourage you to send me community events as well as write-ups about people or groups who should be recognized and/or commended for what they do or have done. This is a newsletter about Frisco for all of us to play a part in. It is designed to bring our community closer together so please submit stuff to me at any time.

If you have a business, restaurant or a service and are interested in advertising and reaching more than 40,000 individuals and businesses in Frisco and the surrounding areas, please email us at sales@mattlafatamarketing.com for more details on the various options available to you. The newsletter is also included on the web site www.mattlafatamarketing.com and www.frisco-online.com for additional exposure. It’s a great way to promote your business, promote an event at your place of business and is the most cost effective and efficient way to reach a large segment of the Frisco population. You may want to also consider providing a special offer to newsletter readers only.

Newsletter Sponsor – KidsNArt and the Grand Opening of their Frisco Art Studio:

Now open in Frisco!  KidsNArt announces the Grand Opening of their Frisco Art Studio!  Come visit us at 6201 Technology Drive, Ste 103 Frisco 75034 to check us out!  You can also visit us online at www.kidsandart.com or give us a call at (972)821-8643.  We offer many different classes and programs such as Mommy & Me classes, Draw, Paint & Sculpt classes, multi-craft classes and more starting at 2 years through teens-we even have some adult classes and open paint times too!  All of our instructors are caring artists and not only will your child be introduced to new techniques and mediums, but they will learn about famous artists as well!  Also put on your calendar our Grand Opening celebration on January 14th from 4pm-6pm where you can meet our artists, check out the studio and have some refreshments!  Come join the fun and we hope to see you soon!

Spotlight on… WebFratelli - Kim Green and Bill Sholar:

Bill and Kim, please tell us about your business. Who are you, and who are your customers?

Bill: WebFratelli is a partnership between two well-established Frisco firms. Small businesses needing websites and hosting, logos and banners, business card and brochure design, and Internet advertising are our primary clients.

Kim: Before we formed our partnership, we had a lot of overlap, but my business, First Source Solutions, leaned towards the graphic design and aesthetic side, and Bill, under the name WebGusto, focused on the “back end” – programming websites, hosting, and so forth. Bill is also certified by both Google and Yahoo, and helps get client websites found on the Internet.

Bill: The partnership is a great combination of skills and interests. Kim loves the artistic stuff, and I enjoy making systems and processes work well. She has been providing graphic design services since graduating from the Art Institute in the late 80’s, and I developed and managed computer projects and computer centers since the late 1960s. Our business card taglines say it all. Kim’s side says “I make it look great” and my side says “I make it work great.”

With the number of web services companies in this area, please tell us more about what’s unique or different about your business?

Kim: For one thing, we tie together all the pieces of a company’s “identity” – from their logo to their brochure to their website to their Internet advertising.

Bill: We also do something completely unique in website design and maintenance. We create complete custom websites with all of the creative design that clients expect in such a website, and provide our clients with a toolkit that allows them to maintain, update, and customize their site with no skills needed beyond using a mouse.

Our clients can change text, add pictures and pages, even change the layout if they wish. We even registered a federal trademark, “Websites under your control,” for this service.

Kim: Clients that don’t have the time or inclination to update their sites still just send us their changes, and we manage it for them, the same as with any other website.

I have some history with both of you. Kim did my mayoral campaign logos, and is working on new graphics for the HRchitect site. I had Bill convert my campaign website so I could add pages and change text myself. It was so easy to make updates that I had him do the same thing for the HRchitect site as well. In fact, Erika and I developed a website from scratch using your toolkit, to pass along information about our wedding. Do most of your clients have you do 100% of the initial site, like you did for my campaign site?

Bill: Most clients have us set up their site so it is fully presentable to the public, even if they plan additions later. It hasn’t been all that uncommon for that site to be just a single page to start, and the client has later added dozens of pages themselves, or sends us additions to make for them.

Kim: That’s the beauty of this approach. With this toolkit or our update service, our clients can do as much or as little as they want. Bill and I want to enable our clients to “focus on their business and let us focus on their online and print marketing needs”.

How much is your toolkit, and how much extra does a website like this cost?

Bill: The toolkit is free to our clients, and they don’t have to install anything. It’s installed on our servers, so it’s always up to date, and clients just use it whenever they want, from any computer that can get to the Internet.

Kim: Sites we develop using the toolkit usually cost 10-20% less than sites developed using other approaches, so we are doing almost all new sites that way.

This is the part of the spotlight where people get to know a little more about you. I usually ask about food, but your business name, WebFratelli, intrigues me. Where did that come from?

Kim: And we were all set to answer the food question!  Our first “official” meeting was at Kotta Sushi Lounge, and our business planning meetings usually take place somewhere that serves sushi. We are sushi fiends!

Bill: The name of our partnership is a play off a misunderstanding, and we have just never let it die. When we were just starting to work together on a trial basis, our first joint customer somehow got the idea that we were brother and sister, which we thought was a hoot. As the partnership solidified and we decided we needed a name for it, we thought that we'd see if there was some catchy word that played off the "brother and sister" theme, and found "fratelli" which is Italian for brothers and sisters.  The alternative was αμφιθαλείς (Greek), 兄弟 (Japanese), or 형제자매 (Korean). But we couldn't pronounce those. Are we Italian? No, but we like spaghetti (when sushi isn’t an option).

Maybe I will get the answers to your favorite restaurants in a future interview. In any event, how does someone find you?  Online at www.WebFratelli.com. We are regulars at the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning meetings. We meet with local clients at their place of business or other convenient meeting spots. People can reach  Kim at 972-377-8237, Bill at 469-252-0102, or leave a message for either of us at 866-640-1234. They can also send an email to info@webfratelli.com.

LAST CHANCE FOR 2008! Interview to be Mrs. Frisco 2008 and represent married women of Frisco!:

Many times, wives and moms get so busy with the day-to-day activities of life that they forget to do something *just* for themselves. Sound familiar? If so, you could be on your way to a new journey of self-exploration, all the while making new friends! If you are a resident of Frisco or work here, are at least 21 and married, you’re eligible to compete for the title of Mrs. Frisco United States® 2008. Represent this amazing city and have a year you and your husband will always remember! The new Mrs. Frisco will get her state entry fee paid to compete at the Mrs. Texas United States® competition at the host hotel Westin Stonebriar Resort this coming April in Frisco!  This will be the fourth year the state competition has been held in Frisco. The new Mrs. Texas gets an all-expense paid trip to compete at the televised Mrs. United States® competition July 2008 in Las Vegas. Other contestants interviewing for Mrs. Frisco also will have a chance to compete at the state Mrs. Texas pageant at a discounted entry fee!

There is no talent competition, no platform, & no experience is necessary. Age and having children have no bearing on judging. We have had winners of a wide variety of age ranges. This will be a fun, laid back weekend filled with great memories and lots of new friends for you and your husband!

The reigning Mrs. Frisco, the amazing Sheila Elliott, will be passing on her title to a new winner on SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 in Frisco. If you would like to interview for Mrs. Frisco, please email Erika Lafata at or visit the Mrs. Texas website to get the entry form. Deadline to enter is January 9.

Please Register To Vote:

We have a very important election in May of 2008 where we will elect a new Mayor of the City of Frisco for the first time since 2002. I am running for Mayor in that election and appreciate your support.

If you are not registered in the City of Frisco, please take the time to register to vote, so that you can participate in this very important election.

For voter registration information, click on the county where you reside.
Denton County or call 940-349-3200
Collin County or call 972-547-1990

You can also visit the City Secretary’s office at City Hall to get a voter registration card.

Frisco House and Garden Show:

January 4-6, 2008 Home Enthusiasts Won’t Want to Miss The Frisco House & Garden Show

WHAT:  The Frisco House & Garden Show to feature thousands of square feet of Award Winning Gardens by Seasons Landscape, Montgomery Farms, C-Green, Trinity Tree Farm and more; pools and spas for every budget; outdoor living, decking and sunrooms, shop ‘til you drop in our Texas Marketplace; get a little taste of Texas in the Go Texan section; check out our Home Improvement center; see the latest in window treatments, stained glass, and home accessories in the Design and Décor center; home technology and security; wreath making, floral design and other informational seminars.

Celebrity guest Sue Whitney from Junk Market Girls.

WHEN: Friday, January 4, 3pm-7pm

            Saturday, January 5, 10am-7pm

            Sunday, January 6, 11am-5pm

ADMISSION:  Adult 17+ $8.00

(65+ FREE on Friday) (Children 16 and under FREE)

WHERE:            The Frisco Conference Center– 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive

Frisco, TX 75034. Visit http://www.embassysuitesfrisco.com/maps.aspx for directions.

Visit Water Smarter at the Frisco House and Garden Show:

Many of you know that I am a huge fan of conserving water and ensuring we have an adequate supply for years to come. While you are at the show, be sure and stop by the Water Smarter Booth # 713. Water Smarter is a new Frisco business owned by Frisco residents Jennifer and J.P. Dyal. They are selling a product every household in Frisco needs...an ET controller. You've heard of them from the city and I have featured these before. You can also read more about it here. You get a $100 rebate if you buy and register it and now Water Smarter is making it easy for you to pick one up. Just visit Booth #713 - Water Smarter, at the Frisco House and Garden Show this weekend. (They joined late so they are not in the show directory, so you might jot it down.) It's a weather-based sprinkler controller that replaces your existing controller. It reads the weather and adjusts your watering. No more waste. Good for the environment. Go see them! Help Frisco avoid the next drought.

Two Open Part-Time Positions at HRchitect Here in Frisco:

HRchitect is a small nationwide and fast growing human resources technology consulting firm and a leading provider of consulting services to major mid-size and Fortune 500 corporations. 2007 was a good growth year for us and we are expecting even bigger and better things for an exciting 2008. As a result, we have two positions that we are currently trying to fill and they are listed below. Qualified candidates should email a cover letter and resume along with which position they are interested in to:

Matt Lafata, Director

HRchitect, Inc.

mlafata@HRchitect.com

Part-Time Accounting Manager

HRchitect, Inc. is seeking a part-time Accounting Manager to work out of our corporate offices located in Frisco Square, Frisco, TX. 

We are looking for an experienced and independent individual who will not only carry out standard financial/accounting activities in a timely and accurate manner, but also possess the drive to continually look for and insight to identify creative ways to further increase our profitability.   

The Accounting Manager will be responsible for all accounts receivable, accounts payable and collection activities, maintenance of accurate records and the auditing of methods and procedures to improve efficiency.  Additional duties include the preparation of balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other financial reports pertinent to a consulting organization and the presentation of these reports to management.  There will be minor payroll activities, plus the maintenance of corporate, client, employee and subcontractor legal/contractual documents. 

Requirements:

* Highly knowledgeable of financial/accounting concepts, practices, and procedures

* Accounting degree would be a plus

* Commitment to timely and accurate completion of tasks

* Availability to work up to 20 hours per week

* High proficiency with QuickBooks

* Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel
* Proven record in a challenging, fast-paced environment.  References will be required
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Ability to work independently
* Very organized

* Proven impeccable honesty and trustworthiness.  Detailed background check will be conducted

This position is the perfect opportunity for a person who wants to remain in or return to the workforce, get involved in a growing organization, and work in a unique and dynamic environment, but does not want to work full-time. For those desiring full-time employment, future advancement to HRchitect Controller is possible. The hourly rate for the position ranges from $15.00 to $18.00 per hour commensurate with experience.

Part-Time Marketing Coordinator

The role of the Marketing Coordinator will be to handle general marketing duties and help with the overall branding of HRchitect. The person in this position will be responsible for the following activities, in no particular order, although additional marketing related activities will be added from time to time and as market and competitive conditions dictate:

·         HR Marketer – Monitor this on a regular basis for opportunities related to conferences, speaking opportunities, etc.

·         Trade show and user conference planning and coordination