FEBRUARY 1, 2005Meeting

is being hosted by the

Sharing Center for Women

atUniway Fine Furnishings3480 Summit Ridge Pkwy

Duluth, GA 30096 Tel: (770) 623-1999

The Sharing Center forWomen began as a visionafter the tragedy ofSeptember 11, 2001. DonyaRobinson, a native of GwinnettCounty, knew we needed to domore with the ever changingcommunity. Gwinnett is a coun-ty of pride, action and communi-ty commitment. While we arerich in many ways we still havetrouble connecting the peoplethat have needs with the peoplethat have talents.

The Sharing Center vision iscommitted to help its countyin three ways:

1. Creating an onlineresource center of informa-tion about our countiesresources and resources avail-able in surrounding counties

2. Create a space for the peo-ple with programs to partner

with Gwinnetians that needthese programs. Programs willsupport our community's person-al and professional lifestyles.They can range from supportingyou in starting a new business orcareer advancement programsfor your current profession.Classes to support our personalside will range from financialplanning, living a healthierlifestyle, mother daughter class-es, support groups and spiritualenlightenment groups.

3. Surrogate family supportfor the 95% population thatmoved here leaving behindrelatives, wisdom and her-itage. Our goal is to bring allgirls and women together fromGwinnett's vast internationalcommunity. As families transferin from other states or countrieswe must preserve our heritageand wisdom by teaching ouryouth to honor and respect ourdifferences while rejoicing in oursimilarities. World Peace starts inour backyard. Gwinnett is nowmade up of over 150 differentinternational families. What agreat opportunity to practiceworld peace. What we do abouttoday sets the energy for therest of the world including ourchildren, great-grandchildren andgreat-great grandchildren.

After opening the center in 2003with no loans or debt we realizedwe still did not have enough

programs to warrant keeping the2600 sq foot facility open inTechnology Park. In 2005 weare partnering with communityvolunteers and professionals likeyou to keep the vision alive inlocal businesses and churchesuntil we have the programs inplace to support the physicalcenter. This year with the helpof volunteers we will focus on 2major fundraisers. These will bea celebrity golf tournament(around May) and a motherdaughter fashion show (in thefall Sept-Oct).

This will give us the funds to getthe resource center portion backon line and advertise for talentto revive programs that will com-pliment Gwinnett's current pro-grams. For now we are stillkeeping support programs alivethrough church's and companiessuch as Uniway that have beengracious enough to give back tothe community that has support-ed them over the years.

I hope you will all attend theDMA meeting on February 1st toreceive more details and decideif there may be a small part youwould like to assist with. Did I mention there will be scrump-tious pastries and Greek andItalian food by Valentino's andCloudt's Bakery.

Uniway is allowing the SharingCenter host the February DMA

VOLUME 17 NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2005

DULUTH MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

The DMA was conceived with the idea that as business people we can best accomplish together what no one could do alone.

(Continued. See “Sharing Center” pg 3)

Salutations DMA Members,

The year is off to a splendid

start! My thanks are extended

to Kurt of Kurt's restaurant

for so graciously hosting

January's meeting with rela-

tively short notice. A wonder-

ful time was had by all and

there were several visitors as

well. Some students from

Duluth High School were

present and added a youthful

and jovial tone to the already

elegant ambiance and tasty

libations. This coming meet-

ing in February will be hosted

by the Sharing Center for

Women at Uniway of Metro

Atlanta, Inc. Their address

is 3480 Summit Ridge

Parkway, Duluth,30096. The

phone number is

770.623.1999 and the web-

site www.uniwayatlanta.com.

We anticipate a great turnout

so come prepared to learn

and build business alliances.

February's meeting will com-

mence our series of informa-

tion sessions which are

geared to personal and busi-

ness enhancement.

As your president, I will con-

tinually strive to bring you

opportunities in avenues that

move you to improved effec-

tiveness and success, even as

I avail myself of the wealth of

knowledge and instruction

that each of you bring to the

DMA. Invite others to visit our

meetings and let's expand our

membership base in Duluth.

Please remember to support

your local DMA members'

business which will help to

provide us with a year that is

off the charts!!

May the Lord bless all your

endeavours.

Dereck Whitesmith

DMA President 2005

OFFICERS

DERECK WHITESMITHPresident

JENNIFER INGALLSVice President

ALISA WILLIAMSSecretary

JOHN MONKTreasurer

2005DULUTH MERCHANTS

ASSOCIATION OFFICERS& BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pam Adams 770.564.0876Laura Heck 770.814.8984

Jennifer Ingalls 678.376.9700Marion Maloof 770.923.1111

John Monk 770.495.8900Thom Mash 770.689.2600

Terry Palmer 404.502.5531Sunny Ramsay 404.906.4677

Chuck Raynor 770.418.4929Allan Roth 770.497.8776

Roderick Tate 770.495.9334Alisa Williams 770.476.3434Mark Williams 770.441.0945

Derek Whitesmith 678.957.8030 Jim Wilson 770.813.8947

DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

from the desk of the

P R E S I D E N T

HappyValentines

The Gab-RRR is a publication of theDuluth Merchants Association

www.duluthmerchants.com.

Printed and Distributed by Dennis & Carol Keller,

Accent Mail Service678.473.4643

Database byDennis & Carol Keller,

Accent Mail Service678.473.4643

Photography byLaura Heck, Heck Design Group

Phone/Fax 770.814.8984HeckDesignGroup@aol.com

Layout byTerry Palmer, QuickCREATIVE

404.502.5531Terry@quickcreative.us

3DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

We have all, in some way,been touched by the traumaof heart disease. Gwinnettcounty will be holding theirfirst annual heart walk on Feb5 in the morning at theGwinnett arena.

If anyone would like to joinLori O'Brien's team or makea contribution please contactLori at 678-542-2004 or e-

mail her at lori@tonightsen-tertainment.com.

To send a check make it outto the American HeartAssociation and mail to

Lori O'BrienTonight's Entertainment Inc.2626 Cardinal Lake CircleDuluth, GA 30096

Gwinnett/North Fulton HEART WALKFebruary 05, 2005 Event

InformationFeb. 5, 2005

Gwinnett Arena

Registration:8:00am

5k

The whole family can join in!

meeting at their beautiful facility. You'll meet awonderful couple, John and Norma Williams whohave spent over 25 years living their passion byhelping people save money. You'll get a glimpseof why people are saying Uniway is the best keptsecret in Duluth. Their professional clientele dis-covered how to purchase and bypass distributorand retail mark ups. (Uniway 770-623-1999)

Food is being provided by one of the newestRestaurants in Duluth "Valentino's" Greek andItalian food. John opened and redesigned the oldDanatos pizza on Peachtree Industrial nearEckerd at Howell Ferry. Thank you JohnKastanos for bringing your talent to share withour community. (Valentino's 770-495-9990)

For you sweet tooth lovers, Wayne Cloudt ofCloudts bakery will tempt us with wonderfulhome made pastries and treats from one ofGwinnett's oldest bakery's. (Cloudts 770-623-4146)

If you are unable to attend but wish to be put onour monthly newsletter update please email arequest to sharingcenter1@aol.com. Our listsare private and confidential.

The Sharing Center for Womenwhere generations connect…

Victor Joseph, Owner ofAct Communicationswill donate $50.00 to the DMA when anymember, their families or friends, activate anew cell phone, or new Satellite Dish withthem.

Act Communications was established andopened its’ first store in Duluth in 1996.They are on Peachtree Ind. Blvd. next toPublix, at the intersection of Peachtree Ind.Blvd. and North Berkley Lake.

Visit their web site at www.actcommuni-cations.net to see different and interestingproducts from home and garden to surveil-lance and spy equipment such as voicechangers, security cameras, Key Katchersfor the computer, and telephone recorders.

Act Communications Owner: Victor Joseph

3870 Peachtree Ind. Blvd.Suite # 3-C

Duluth, GA 30096

Tel(770)622-1666Fax(770)622-1669

info@actcommunications.netwww.actcommunications.net

(Sharing Center; cont. from cover pg)

Duluth High School Interact Club,in association with the city ofDuluth, is excited to announcethe first annual Battle of theBands. The event is designed tohelp raise funds for the followinglocal non-profit organizations:Duluth High School CareTeam, the Gwinnett Centerfor Sexual Assault (GSAC),the Foster Children’sOrganization, and theRainbow Village. The followingis a brief explanation of theevent.

Ten bands will be chosen to per-form from 5:00pm-9:30pm onthe ampitheater stage at theTown Green in DUluth. Thebands will play for approximately15 minutes each. After all bandshave performed and beenjudged, there will be an awardsceremony at 10:00pm.

We are expecting over 1,000spectators at the event. Therewill be food vendors and enter-tainment provided in betweensets to make the event evenmore enjoyable for all. We willalso be selling event t-shirts thatwill feature the names of thebands that perform. All applica-tion and entrance fees will bedonated to the organizationsmentioned above. In addition toticket proceeds, however, weare seeking sponsorship ofthe event. All donations forthe sponsors will betax deductible and adonation affidavit orreceipt will be provid-ed for all donations. To show appreciation forour sponsors, we will feature the company’s

name on the T-shirt andfuture flyers for the event aswell. We would also like towelcome sponsors to displaycompany banners at theevent itself. Any contribution isappreciated very much. However,we will have “levels” of sponsor-ship. To be a “roadie” sponsor, adonation of $100 is needed.“Back up singers” are sponsorswho contribute $200-200.Finally, “lead singers” are spon-sors who contribute $300 ormore to our cause.

The Duluth High School InteractClub Battle of the BandsCommittee would like to thankyou immensely for your time andsupport. We are extremely excit-ed for the Battle of the Bands totake place and look forward to avery successful event.

For additional information, pleasecontact:Geri Glanary or JenniferWiggins, Duluth High School InteractClub Advisors at (770) 476.5206;or Terry Franzen, Event Chairpersonat (770) 248.2882.

4DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

Waving Goodbyeby Jamie Pachino

January 20 – February 13

A coming of age story about a young woman’s loss of

her father.

Enchanted Aprilby Matthew BarberMarch 17– April 10

When two London housewivesdecide to rent a villa in Italyfor a holiday away from theirbleak marriages, they recruittwo other English women toshare the cost. During their

enchanting month in a romantic villa, the ladies fallunder the spell of their sun

drenched surrounding. Therethey rediscover laughter, learn new truths about t

hemselves and find just theromance they need, thoughperhaps not the romance

they expect to find.

Showtimes are Thurs - Fri 8:00 p.m.Sat 2:30 & 8:00 p.m.

Sun 2:30 p.m.unless otherwise noted.

Prices for Thursday, Friday, Sunday:

$22 Adults; $20 Seniors$18 Students

and Saturday:$25 Adults; $23 Seniors

$21 Students

For reservations:www.auroratheatre.com

or 770.476.7926DATE: March 12, 2005TIME: 5:00pm - 10:00pmLOCATION: Town Green in DuluthSPONSORSHIP DEADLINE: Feb. 15

BATTLE OF THE BANDSDuluth High School

Sponsors Needed For:

Battle of the Bands

5DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

Modern vehicles are wonders ofengineering. In the past ten years,maintenance intervals for things likespark plugs, emission and coolingsystems have been stretched out to100,000 miles. But the need forperiodic maintenance hasn'tchanged. In fact, given the longerlife expectancy of the typical vehicletoday, the need for periodic mainte-nance has never been greater if youexpect to get the most from whathas become the second biggestinvestment most individuals will evermake.

To protect your automotive invest-ment, and to get the maximum reli-ability and safety from the vehicleyou depend upon daily, you need toestablish and follow a maintenanceplan. The best place to start a main-tenance program is by reading yourowner's manual. In it you will findthe manufacturer's recommendedmaintenance schedule. This is basedon "normal" driving, but very few ofus drive "normally." The roads aretypically dusty and strewn with pot-holes and speed bumps. The manu-facturer's recommended mainte-nance schedule is the starting pointfor your vehicle maintenance plan,not the end of it. Here are somegeneral recommendations, whichapply to all types of cars and trucks.

Lube It For LifeThe engine is the heart of your vehi-cle and probably the most costly torepair when something goes wrong.Modern electronic controls haveeliminated a lot of adjustments, andwhat we used to call a tune-up hasevolved into something akin to a

complete physical, where most ofthe work involved is designed to verify proper operation of computercontrol systems. While it's true thatnew cars and trucks run cleanerthan ever before, the engine and allits related control systems must bekept operating exactly as designedto prevent increased engine emis-sions and a host of driveability problems. The one thing you can dothat will add many miles to yourengine is regular oil and filterchanges. Most auto manufacturersrecommend oil and filter changesevery 7,500 miles or six months,under "normal" conditions, but manybelieve a better interval is 3,000miles or three months. By changingthe oil regularly, the inside of yourengine will stay clean and you'llavoid damaging sludge build up.

Keeping Your CoolToday's cars also run hotter thanthey used to. With the trend todownsize vehicle components tosave space and weight, cooling sys-tem components are being asked todo more than their older counter-parts. The best thing you can do tomaintain the cooling system at peakefficiency during the life of your caris to replace the coolant according tothe manufacturer's recommenda-tions. Although some of the newercoolants last longer, anti-freeze doeswear out. By replacing the coolantperiodically, you insure that the cor-rosion inhibitors are fresh and arehelping to eliminate the scale andcorrosion that builds up inside thecooling system.

Fluid FactsProbably the most ignored fluid in

the car, and the most important, isthe brake fluid. Brake fluid is not apetroleum-based product, so it doesabsorb moisture from the air, whichdiminishes its effectiveness and low-ers braking performance. Sludge willalso build up over a period of timeand may block the valves insideanti-lock brake (ABS) units andresult in costly repairs or replace-ment. In addition, this sludge maycause calipers and wheel cylinders toleak, also resulting in repairs orreplacement. So the best thing to dois to have the brake fluid flushedand refilled periodically, althoughmanufacturer recommendations varyas to how often. A good rule ofthumb is to have the brake fluidchanged and the system flushedevery 36 months or 75,000 miles.The transmission fluid also needs tobe changed on a regular basis tohelp keep the transmission in tip-topshape. Here again, some manufac-turers have increased maintenanceintervals to 100,000 miles for trans-mission fluid changes, but they stillneed periodic maintenance. Mosttransmission failures can be directlytraced to lack of maintenance. Whenplanning your maintenance schedule,consider that even one transmissionreplacement will probably greatlyexceed the cost of all the fluid andfilter changes for the entire life ofthe car. Power steering is anotherfluid that is often ignored. It is recommended that it be flushed andrefilled at least as often as youreplace the brake fluid.

Replacing the differential fluid issomething that is most often over-looked. A regular fluid change will

Protect Your Auto InvestmentIf you've ever wondered what it takes to be an ASE-certified automotive technician, consider this: in thespace of one career, automotive engine technology alone has advanced from purely mechanical devicesthat need periodic adjustments to sophisticated, computer-controlled systems that can actually compen-sate for normal wear. The same can be said for virtually every major system on a vehicle, from brakes totransmissions. And the technicians who service and maintain our vehicle fleet have had to learn it all. Infact, to be an ASE-certified automotive technician today is to commit to a lifetime of training just to keepabreast of changing technology.

cont. on pg 6

submitted by:AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS

OF NORTH ATLANTAAlbert Marquez(770) 330-5469

www.discoverak.com

6DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

help the differential last the life ofthe vehicle. If your vehicle is four- orall-wheeldrive, change the transfercase fluid as well.

Get Out The GritFilters are an important part of regu-lar maintenance. Air and fuel filterskeep dirt and abrasive grit out of theengine. Problems arise when thesefilters get dirty and start to clog up.Many driveability problems, such ashesitation and rough idle, can stemfrom dirty air and fuel filters. Formaximum effectiveness, they shouldbe replaced about every 15,000miles, but driving in dusty conditionscan require more frequent air filterchanges. A filter that is very rarelyreplaced, but should be, is the car-bon canister filter. It is an importantpart of the emission control systemand filters the incoming air that thissystem uses. The canister is such anintegral part of today's engine man-agement system that a clogged can-ister filter can also result in driveabil-ity or emissions problems.

Some cars still have a positivecrankcase ventilation (PCV) filter,also called a breather element. Thisfilters the air for the PCV system toensure clean air enters the enginecrankcase. Most cars today draw airfor the PCV system from the aircleaner housing so this filter is notneeded, but if your engine has one,replace it at 15,000 mile intervals as

well. Speaking of the PCV system,the PCV valve (if equipped) shouldbe replaced on a regular basis, too.When you put the new PCV filter in,replace the PCV valve as well. Manycars now use a metered orificeinstead of a PCV valve and thisshould be checked periodically forfree flow.

Today's Tune-UpIgnition systems have become muchmore reliable over the years. Manyengines don't even have distributorsanymore. They use a DIS or DirectIgnition System. These systems caneither mount one ignition coil oneach spark plug, or share one coil fortwo plugs, thus eliminating the needof a distributor. On engines that stilluse a distributor, it is a good idea toreplace the distributor cap, distribu-tor rotor and ignition wires accordingto the manufacturer's recommenda-tions. The spark plugs need to bereplaced on a regular basis as well.Even though some manufacturershave extended those intervals to100,000 miles, this doesn't apply toall engines. The best plug to use isthe one the manufacturer recom-mends. This information can usuallybe found on an engine decal locatedunder the hood.

Belt BasicsPerhaps the most critical enginecomponent these days is the timingbelt. Not all engines use a timing

belt, but on those that do, it's criti-cal that it be replaced before itbreaks. At some point the beltbreaks and, if your car has aninterference engine where thevalves and pistons occupy thesame place in the combustionchamber at different times, seriousengine damage can occur. If yourcar has a non-interference engine,the worst that will happen is youget stranded somewhere. Mostmanufacturers suggest replacingthe timing belt every 60,000 miles.Other engine drive belts should bechecked on a regular basis (aboutas often as you change oil). Ingeneral, you should be on the look-out for excessively cracked, glazedor frayed belts. Many accessoriesincluding the alternator, powersteering pump and coolant pump

are operated by drive belts. If thesebelts break or slip, the componentsthey drive will fail to work, and thatcan leave you stranded. One morething to check while you're looking atthe belts is the battery. Virtually allbatteries are maintenance-free thesedays, except for a periodic terminalcleaning and inspection for cracks orleaks. Also, make sure the battery ismounted securely.

Tire TipsTires are one of the most importantmaintenance items under your car.The best way to get the most out ofyour tires is by having them rotatedand balanced on a regular basis,about every 7,500 miles. This willensure that they wear evenly andlast as long as possible. Balancing isimportant to eliminate vibration atroad speeds and because a properlybalanced tire reduces the stress andstrain on shocks, struts, and steeringparts. Keeping the tire pressures setto specification will also go a longway in extending tire life and fueleconomy.

Last WordFinally, you should get in the habit ofreplacing your wiper blades once ayear. Wiper refills are the most inex-pensive safety feature on your vehi-cle. And if you doubt having goodwipers is a safety feature, try drivingwith bad ones in a downpour atnight. If you live in an area that suf-fers cold and snowy winters, youmay want to change to winter bladesin the fall and go back to regularblades in the spring. Following amaintenance program is the bestinsurance you have against unex-pected breakdowns. It can also paydividends by allowing you to get themost out of your transportationinvestment. With a little forethoughtand TLC, that family chariot can reli-ably deliver a couple of hundredthousand miles of service.

AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS OF NORTH ATLANTAAlbert Marquez(770) 330-5469

www.discoverak.com

cont. from pg 5

Unlucky Seven: Services Most Neglected by Customers

Oil, Filter, Lube .... 35%

Transmission .... 19%

Tires .... 14%

Cooling System ... 13%

Brakes ... 10%

Belts ... 5%

Tune-Up ... 4%

7DMA-Gab-RRR February 2005

Electronic

Newsletters

or Ezines

are a must

have for any

growing

online enterprise. A well-planned

ezine is a way to build a database

of subscribers which will increase

traffic, interest and generate

income through sales or

advertising.

A well-written, content rich email

newsletter can substantially

increase the stickiness of your

site. Give your visitors a chance to

get to know you and they will be

far more likely to become regular

visitors to your domain.

Keeping your visitors up to date

with site changes, new additions,

and general news about your

product and service is also an

excellent way to generate more

return traffic, which in turn gener-

ates more business for you.

Success for any ezine rests chiefly

on growing your readership. Here

are five ways to do that:

1. Include a link or form within

the navigation menu on your

site, ensuring maximum exposure.

2. Add a link to your ezine sub-

scription (email address) on all

outgoing e-mail with a signature

file.

3. Trade ad spots in other

ezines to promote your site.

Track subscribers if possible.

4. Post articles to other ezines,

with a link back to your site to

generate interest in your own

ezine.

5. Get listed on many ezine direc-

tories. It's like free advertising!

BizSiteNames.com provides a

great Email Mail Marketing service

that allows you to build your own

contact/subscriber base and cre-

ate and distribute your news the

spam free and legal way. And it's

all at an affordable rate with no

programming experience required!

You can even expand your mailing

list limits with our upgrades as

your newsletter grows in

popularity.

Source: Bruce Whitehead for Bravenet

SOHO (small office/home office)businesses and organizationslooking for affordable, innovativeways to improve their businessidentity or to take their business to the next level make up themajority of the BizLynks clientfamily. Explaining the technicalto the "technically-challenged" iswhat Pam does best. A self-pro-claimed Digital Diva and Gadget Guru, Pam enjoys shar-ing her knowledge and experi

ences with other entrepreneurs.Pam doesn't stop at buildingyour web site; she goes extramiles to help you grow yourbusiness by building your professional image, improvingyour credibility, and increasingyour client base.

Calendar

Anyone interested in hosting a DMAmeeting or providing refreshments,please contact Albert Marquez at

770.623.6069.

All Meetings begin at 6:00pm on the firstTuesday of each month, except where

otherwise indicated with an *. Locations will vary.

** Dates subject to change.

Increase Traffic andWeb Site Stickiness

February 1 The SharingCenter for Women

March 1 GwinnettCommunity Bank

March 5 DMA AnnualBenefit Dinner

**April 5 Foster Children’sFoundation

May 3 Tavern on theBridge

June 7 Accent Mail

*July 5 The Printing TradeCompany

August 2 Duluth Fall Festival

September 6 Century 21 FindleyReal Estate

October 4 Atlanta FlooringDesign Centers

November 1 Houston &Company CPA

2 0 0 5

www.BizLynks.com

Bits & Bytes is brought to you by our

webmaster and Digital Diva, Pamela Adams,

www.BizLynks.com, 770-564-0876.

IS YOUR COMPANY MAKINGNEWS?If it is, we want to spotlight you in

the DMA Gab-RRR. If youhave any significantnews about your busi-ness: awards, big wins,

new expansions, relocating, please e-mail

them to Terry Palmer at gabrrr@duluthmerchants.comor fax it to 770-813-9923. It is yournewsletter and we rely upon you.

ARE YOU NEXT?We want to showcase our DMAmembers in our meetings. If youwould like to host a meeting or ifyou have an educational 30 minute

presentation that you believe wouldbe of benefit to our members, pleasecall Albert Marquez at 770.623.6069 with your ideas.

ARE YOU USING YOUR ASSO-CIATION’S WEBSITE TO THEFULLEST?Add your web address and a business description to your entry in the online membership directory.Send an e-mail to webmaster@duluthmerchants.com with your updates

CHANGE OFADDRESS Please e-mail

address changes to

Dennis Keller at accentmail@bell-south.net or call him at678.473.4643

ALL NEWSLETTER ENTRIESmust be submitted by the 12th ofeach month for the next issue.

THE NETWORK TABLE ISAVAILABLE!Yes, we want to invite all of you tobring your literature (in small quan-tities) about your products and serv-ices to our DMA meetings so fellowmembers can learn more about you.BUT, FAIR WARNING: at the end ofthe evening, you must take your literature with you, or it will bethrown away.