Thomas Claiborne Frost was born in Jackson County, Alabama in 1833 and moved to Texas after graduating from college.  He studied law and his license to practice was signed by Judge R.E. Baylor for whom BaylorUniversity was named.  His diverse resume included that of a Texas Ranger, lawyer, postmaster and county district attorney.  In 1868 he started Frost Bank with his brother and a third partner.  With a history that weaves through five generations and spans more than a century, Frost Bank survived two of the most devastating economic collapses of our time:  The Great Depression in the 1930s, and the economic downturn of the 1980s when the price of oil dropped, the real estate market crashed and the savings and loan industry crumbled.  Frost bank hunkered down and became the only one of the major Texas bank holding companies to survive the downturn without federal assistance or a merger.
 
Mazon Associates has been a proud customer of Frost Bank for over eight years.  When the nation is again facing an economic crisis, we would like to reassure our clients and customers of the safety and soundness of Frost Bank.  The following information was provided to Mazon Associates by our corporate banking officer:
 
Safe from the mortgage crisis: The vast majority of problems in this crisis stem from issues relating to the home mortgage business. Frost exited the mortgage business eight years ago because we saw the character of the business change from a relationship between the customer and the bank to being viewed as a commodity and transaction.

Safe from investment company failures: Frost does not have any loans to, or own any investments in, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch or AIG. Frost makes loans to businesses and individuals in our Texas markets with whom we have established relationships.

Safe from cash shortages: Frost maintains one of the most liquid balance sheets of any major bank, allowing us to keep cash at hand. We keep much more of our deposits in cash and liquid investments than other banks. This gives us the ability to easily meet our customers' needs for funds.

Safe from dependence on the stock market: Frost isn't funded with any brokered deposits. The vast majority of our funding comes from our own customers' deposits -- from individuals and businesses.

Safe from concerns about capital: Frost maintains capital levels that are significantly higher than what our regulators require to be "well capitalized." These levels are also much stronger than those of our peers.
 
Additionally, a recent Business Wire news release dated September 19th titled "Fitch Revises Outlook for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. to Positive; Affirms Ratings" can be viewed in full at http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080919005404/en.

 

 

The biggest peak in retail candy sales occurs during the Halloween season each year.  Other big candy holidays impacting the candy market are Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas and Hanukkah.  In 2007, total confectionery sales, including gum, equaled $29.1 billion.  About 1,500 new sweets hit the market each year.  And the candy market is expected to grow even bigger.  On Sept. 25th, Wrigley stockholders approved a merger agreement with Mars, Inc. (to be completed on Oct. 6th) which together will give them 29.1% of the market share, followed by Hershey at 29%.  Wrigley Company will become a subsidiary of Mars, Inc., adding Starburst, Skittles, Altoids, Lifesavers, and many other products to the Mars portfolio. The Wrigley Company was founded in 1891 and has been led by four generations of the Wrigley family.  Juicy Fruit and Wrigley's Spearmint gums were the company's first two products, introduced over 110 years ago.  Today, Wrigley products include gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops and chocolate.  Wrigley has annual global sales of $5.4 billion in over 180 countries and employs about 15,000 associates.  Mars, Incorporated was founded in 1911, is family owned and operates in more than 66 countries, employs more than 48,000 associates worldwide, and has annual global sales of $22 billion.  Mars candy products include Dove, Milky Way, M&M's Snickers and Mars. The combined strengths of Mars and Wrigley will create a dynamic $27-billion food company and become the world's leading confectioner.  Candy sales are not impacted by the slow economy as folks continue to reward themselves with small candy treats because larger purchases are more difficult to make.  (Sources:  www.wrigley.com; www.mars.com; & DMNews Sept. 8, 2008)

 

 

 

 

Ever wonder what may have caused that recent computer crash?  Perhaps it could have been caused by TMI (aka, too much information).  Those funny emails with photos, anything with an attachment, all contribute to computer space overload when they come into your mailbox, when sent from your mailbox, and when stored in your computer files.  Example: A simple incoming email with an attachment size of 1500 kb (or 1.5 mb), meaning that much space being used on your computer.  Forwarding this same email can result in another 1500 kb (and each time you forward it to someone else) in your Sent folder until you delete it.  Even when you delete a message, the space does not go away until you empty the message from your deleted/trash folder.

 

 

Just in:  Another computer virus is making the rounds, and it is especially critical to those clients who routinely ship via UPS to their customers.  The email sender is "United Postal Service" (which the receiver may mistake for the United Parcel Service) and it does not have a UPS email address (a telltale sign it is bad!).  The subject contains a UPS tracking number that only looks valid.  The body of the message is "Unfortunately we were not able to deliver postal package you sent on Sept the 28 in time because the recipient's address is not correct.  Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office." and is signed "Your UPS."  It also comes with an attachment that references a UPS letter number with a file extension of ".zip".  As with any suspicious email, and especially email with an attachment, do not attempt to open it, do not forward it or reply to it but delete it immediately, and then delete your deleted/trash folder.  Note:  Any worldwide email subscriber is allowed to set up an email user name of his/her choosing using a valid IPS (internet service provider) email address - there is no law controlling email user names on email addresses.  This is how many unsuspecting people inadvertently open bad mail, open bad attachments, reply to bad folks, and forward bad mail to others - hence, a computer virus spreads.

 

 

Protecting your privacy is one of Mazon's main concerns when handling your account.  One of the less obvious ways we protect you is by shredding any FedEx, DHL, and UPS shipping tickets upon receipt so no unauthorized folks will obtain your shipping account number from the trash. Another of the ways we protect requested invoices from going to non-customers is that we always ask for a phone number and a fax number when a customer requests an invoice be sent to them.  We compare this information to what is already in our files, or research the request further before sending, and updating our information as necessary.

 

 

 

 

The following recent recalls were issued by the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission.  More details can be found at www.cpsc.gov.  Gotham Compact Fluorescent Downlights (Recessed Ceiling Lights) (Mfg: Gotham Lighting, Conyers, GA); MYO and MYO Belt Headlamps (Mfg: Petzl, Crolles, France); Gas Boilers (Mfg: PB Heat, Bally, PA); Certain VAIO TZ-series Notebook Computers (Mfg:  Sony Electronics, San Diego, CA); SlyDog Retractable Dog Leashes (Imp:  Worldwise Inc., San Rafael, CA); MasterForce 3.6-volt Cordless Screwdrivers (Imp: Menards, Eau Claire, WI); Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges (Mfg: Wolf Appliance, Madison, WI); Portable Garden Hose Reel Carts and Wagons (Imp: Eley Corp dba Rapid Reel, Lincoln, NE); Countertop Water Dispensers (Mfg: Greenway Home Products, Northwood, OH); Indoor Lighting Fixtures (Mfg/Dist: Lithonia Lighting, Conyers, GA); Kenmore & Kenmore Elite Coffee Makers (Retailers: Sears, The Great Indoors and Kmart, Hoffman Estates, IL); Car Chargers Used with Power System Plus 3 Million Candlepower Spotlights (Imp/Dist: International Merchandising Service, Fullerton, CA); Power Light Modules (Imp: GCI Technologies, Edison, NJ); Electrical Wire Splices (aka Butt Splice Connectors) (Mfg: Molex, Lisle, IL); Light Commercial Heat Recovery Ventilators (Mfg: Venmar CES, Saskatoon, Canada).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the National Confectioners Association (www.candyusa.org):  One serving of candy corn contains only about 140 calories.  Candy Corn is not just for Halloween anymore. Candy makers have made Reindeer Corn for Christmas, Cupid Corn for Valentine's Day and Bunny Corn for Easter.  More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces -- enough to circle the moon nearly 21 times if laid end-to-end.

 

 

 

(Note:  Each month we will feature a different staff member.)