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Update from Joplin
 Many
of you know that HTS has several locations – not all of you
may know that one of our locations is in Joplin, Missouri.
As the HTS COO/CFO, I’ve been at this office for 26 years
and lived in Joplin since 1978. Since the tornado on Sunday
evening, our city and our office have become a center of
chaotic activity. We are so fortunate that our office was
spared and employees and their homes were unharmed. However,
we’ve had many extended family members and friends whose
homes were totally destroyed. The tornado cut a swath that
crossed the entire city up to ¾ of a mile wide. Hardest hit
were our medical district, school system, our retail centers
and all the neighborhoods in between. For all the pictures
that you may have seen, I can tell you that they pale in
comparison to standing in the middle of destruction as far
as you can see. I have lived in Joplin for 30 years now but
many times this week I was unable to figure out where I was
because every landmark has disappeared. At the worst points,
houses and all their belongings were shredded. The bark was
peeled off trees and cars looked as though they had been in
a bomb blast. Our Home Depot center was literally flattened.
As of today our death toll is at 126 and will continue to
rise. Over 8000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
It has been our darkest hour as a city.
At the same
time, the outpouring of support and help has been
overwhelming. First responders, rescue units and utility
workers have come from across the nation. The result is
barely controlled chaos but we are making progress. Utility
poles are up for a portion of the city and power is being
slowly restored. Internet is down for large portions of the
area and our cable TV provider has been down as well. As a
result, most of you know more than we do about what is
happening. It’s interesting that the major modes of
disseminating information have become the radio, text
messaging and Facebook updates through cell phones.
Volunteers and donations have been pouring in as well.
 Our
office in Harlan sent 11 people down this week to help in
any way they could. They’ve cut down trees and cleared
limbs, packed and helped move folks out of condemned and
damaged houses, and cleaned up computers for one of our
fellow resellers in Joplin whose business was completely
destroyed. I’ve been on several work trips in the last few
years to help rebuild other cities that were damaged by
floods or tornados. It’s very humbling to be on the
receiving end of so much love and care. It’s a place that I
never expected Joplin to be.
One of our
dearest clients, the Joplin Family Y, made an offer to
provide free day care to any children in the city who needed
a place to stay during the day as their parents sorted out
their lives. Yesterday over 300 children were at the Y and
today they are opening an infant care center and two more
site throughout the city. They have been overwhelmed with
calls. Our good partners, Mitel and HP, have stepped in to
fill the need and have provided a new phone system that we
are installing this morning to handle the overflow of calls
and a new server is coming to help them meet the increased
load they face. It’s just one example of the kindness we’ve
experienced.
Every Sunday
morning, our pastor at First Presbyterian starts out the
service with the phrase “God is good, all the time”. We
answer back, “All the time, God is good.” God has been good
to us in the days that have followed this tragedy. His love
surrounds us and gives us the courage to move forward. We
see his face in volunteers and workers who come to help and
feel his touch in donations of every kind. We will need your
help not only in the days to come but in the months and
years that follow. If you come to volunteer here, I hope you
will make contact with us at the Joplin office so that we
can express personally our gratitude. If you have donated
cash or items, we send you our most sincere and heartfelt
thank-you.
Gratefully
yours,
Jane Cage
COO/CFO |
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IT Phone Home!
Diana Johnson, Wood Networks
 Few
things are as critical to your business as a phone system.
Even with the sky-rocketing percentages of people using
social media and the steady rise of email correspondence;
people still use the phone as a critical business tool. A
phone call allows instant communication and response time.
With a phone call you can pick up the subtle nuances of
speech and timbre that do not translate in electronic
communications. All the emoticons in the world can’t clarify
the simple things you can pick up on a phone call. There is
also something comforting about talking to a live person.
You know they understand your need and that they are willing
to meet that need. The problem is
that so many businesses are using outdated or home-use
phones in a commercial environment. There are many options
out there for Business Class Phone Systems. Remember all
phone systems are not created equal!
When selecting
a Business Class Phone System
ask these questions. |
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Skills for a
Successful Life
by
Marlene Chism
From my
experience as a speaker and consultant, it seems that
striving for success creates much unnecessary drama. The
image that comes to mind for me is rowing with all of your
might to get to an island that never appears. When do I get
there? How do I get there faster? What if someone else gets
there first? If there is drama in the boat, getting to the
island isn’t going to be much better.
 With that in
mind, here are five skills that will make your success
journey one worth savoring.
1. Define
success
2. Seek and experience joy
3. Take care of yourself
4. Master your beliefs
5. Own your choices
Read on for more on the five skills. |
