Star City Holiday Parade 2009

October 2009 Salesperson of the Month

Kathy Wright

October was a challenging month as reps balanced our largest promotion of the year, Brand Expand, with the start of the holiday season. Kathy managed to do both extremely well. Not only did she have the second most RSVP’s for Brand Expand, and the most presentation week attendees, but she also was our top salesperson in October. Kathy was 102% to goal for Print, 118% to goal for Online, Even on L Mag, 104% to goal for Direct Marketing, and Value Direct 134% to goal. All adding up to an astonishing 116% increase over last year’s revenue numbers.
Outstanding, Kathy!

September 2009 Salesperson of the Month

Beth Corrick Loop

Beth’s text-book sales approach allowed her to once again excel in September. Even in this tough economic environment, she was 104% to her Print goal and came in even to last year with her Online sales. And, her success carried across all products: SBU sales 413% to goal; Neighborhood Extra sales 90% to goal; and L Mag Sales 227% to goal. All together, it allowed her to be 105% to last year’s revenue goal. Fantastic job, Beth!

August 2009 Salesperson of the Month

Nicole Pilcher
Nicole’s ability to sell across all Journal Star products helped her shine in the month of August. She was 124% to her print goal and 114% to her online goal. Plus, she was able to get wins in other key areas as well: SBU Sales 312% to goal; L Mag Sales 117% to goal; and One Mag Sales 313% to goal. In total, Nicole was 124% in revenue to last year’s sales. Way to go, Nicole!

July 2009 Salesperson of the Month
Ryan Kramer

In a critical sales month, Ryan’s sales efforts are to be commended. Ryan’s actives were up 15% , a key factor in sales success. And, his overall revenue was almost 20% over goal, driven primarily by print, up an amazing 50%! Great job, Ryan!

June 2009 Salesperson of the Month
Jill Aerni

Our employment category has faced significant challenges as a result of our struggling economy. However, Jill has shown that even in a tough environment, she can still consistently maximize her sales opportunities. Jill effectively creates bundled proposals, incorporating our full product mix. Niche and online products are key to our continued future success, allowing us to capture dollars employers may have shifted away from their traditional newspaper buy. Jill made goal on all three of her niche products (Top Jobs 176%, Work For You 101%, and lincolnjobs.com 144%) and was a 241% to goal for online! Plus, Jill’s consistent can-do attitude sets her apart on a daily basis. Way to go, Jill!!

Monday, June 29, 2009-->
NPPD, LJS, KETV Receive Pro Patria Awards

York – Denny Rasmussen and Roy Steiner accepted a prestigious award and, with it, the public thanks of grateful Nebraska Public Power District employees Saturday evening at York.
NPPD received the Pro Patria Award for public employers, presented by the Nebraska Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve during the organization’s 2009 convention. WO1 Kelly Olinde of the Nebraska Army National Guard and an NPPD employee nominated the state’s largest public utility.
Also receiving Pro Patria recognition were the Lincoln Journal Star, nominated in the large employer category by Capt. Ryan Kramer of the Army Guard, and KETV-Omaha in the small employer division. Army Guard Capt. Charles McWilliams nominated KETV.
Accepting for the Journal Star was Publisher John Maher. Rose Ann Shannon stepped forward for KETV.
Steiner, NPPD vice president of human resources and corporate support, also delivered the evening’s keynote remarks.
He said 91 of Nebraska’s 93 counties are served in one way or another by NPPD in either retail or wholesale capacities. The utility is responsible for 5,000 miles of transmission line, 2,200 employees and supplies one million power users. Steiner said six NPPD employees “are on active duty today” in the military. Since 2002, he said, 33 have completed extended duty in service to their country, 12 for more than a year and nine more than once.
“In my 10 years” with NPPD, “particularly the last five or six, I have never heard our managers do anything but support” the company’s dual-duty Guard and Reserve employees.
Speaking of Pro Patria Award winners earlier Saturday, Nebraska ESGR executive director Bill Nelson said, “These are the cream of the crop for 2008” and the state’s most supportive employers of part-time soldiers.
Rasmussen himself was surprised when presented a beautiful award in bronze and glass for his decades of unwavering, personal service to Nebraska ESGR. Rasmussen, honored and thanked in heartfelt remarks by Nelson, is retiring as an ESGR volunteer.

Photos from the
“Journal Star Volleyball Tournament”
Sunday, July 12th
Spikes Beach Bar & Grill
2300 Judson

LJS and NEXT Honored

The Veterans of Foreign Wars honored the Lincoln Journal Star and Neighborhood Extra for coverage of the VFW’s Heartland Honor Flight series. Plaques were presented June 13 during the VFW’s state convention banquet in Kearney.

The Neighborhood Extra was also presented the Council President’s Award for Marketing Excellence, for contributions to helping promote scouting throughout Southeast Nebraska by the Cornhusker Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Salesperson of the Month for April—

Kathy Anderson, Star City Sports
Kathy has taken on the challenge of a complete product redesign and how to increase revenue each month to the tune of 50%. Also, for the first time, she has an online site to learn and sell.
Kathy was 108% to goal for April. Not to mention that previous year sales were at 15,632 and she took the challenge of exceeding a new goal of $22,500.
Kathy came in at 105% to her online goal.
Kathy also increased actives in a time when many customers are cutting back. Hats off to Kathy for not only meeting, but exceeding the challenge.
Way to go!

May 2009 Salesperson of the Month
Tami Hentzen – Wheels For You Omaha
Congratulations to Tami Hentzen in our Omaha office. During a month when many monumental announcements were being made about the automotive industry, Tami was able to exceed prior year Wheels revenue by 8.3%. Tami also sold an outstanding amount of online revenue which hit the $10,407 mark, 375% above prior year. This revenue included a mix of Wheels inventory packages, banner ads and Search Engine Marketing. Very well done, Tami! Congrats on a phenomenal month!

Visit-

StarCityGolfer.com. Golf news, course features, tips, an interactive course map and much more.

Safety Committee

Fire and Life Safety Education Safety Tip

Scald Prevention
A scald is an injury caused by hot liquid or steam. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in the home each year due to scalding from excessively hot tap water. The majority of these incidents involve older adults and children under the age of five. Most scalds occur at home and they are typically related to ordinary activities like bathing, cooking, and eating.

Children are more at risk for tap water scalds because:
a) a child’s skin is thinner and more sensitive and burns more quickly than an adult’s skin.
b) children cannot move away from the hot water quickly.
People of all ages can be burned by liquid at 140 degrees Fahrenheit in as few as thirty seconds. It takes only five seconds for a young child to be injured by 140 degree liquid; and only one second at 160 degrees. According to a Home Safety Council survey of American parents, 71.5 percent of those surveyed did not know the correct setting for their hot water heater which is 120 degrees.

Follow this simple advice from the Home Safety Council to help reduce the risk of scald injuries at home:

-Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. On the appliance this setting will be just below the MEDIUM setting.
-Test the water before your children get into the tub.
-Always start and finish with cold water when filling the bathtub.
-Face your child away from the taps to reduce the risk of the taps being turned on.
-When children are in the tub, watch them closely.
-Install special tub spouts and shower heads that prevent hot water burns to avoid injury to babies and young children with delicate skin.
-When drinking hot drinks, keep them away from the edge of tables and counters so children cannot reach them.
-Avoid drinking hot drinks when you are holding a young child. Using a “travel mug” with a tight-fitting lid can help reduce a hot spill if the beverage tips over.

How do I find out just how hot my water is at the faucet?
1-Run the hot water for at least two minutes.
2-Fill a cup with hot water from the tap and test the temperature with a meat or candy thermometer.
3-Wait at least 30 seconds to gauge the highest temperature.

Cooking-related scalds are preventable.
-Establish a “no kids zone” in the kitchen where children are not allowed to be while cooking is happening.
-Cook on back burners and keep all pot handles turned back, away from the stove’s edge.
-All appliance cords should be coiled and kept away from the counter’s edge, out of the reach of curious children who may grab handles and cords.
-Use non-slip placemats instead of tablecloths if toddlers are present. Young children may use the tablecloth to pull themselves up, causing hot liquids or food to spill down onto them.
-Never heat bottles of baby formula or milk in the microwave oven, especially if using plastic bottle liners.
-Place microwave ovens at a safe height, within easy reach for all users, to avoid spills.
-Steam reaching over 200 degrees Fahrenheit builds rapidly in covered containers and can easily result in burns to the face, arms, and hands. Puncture plastic wrap or use vented containers to allow steam to escape during cooking.

Treat a minor burn injury immediately with cool running water for three to five minutes. Do not apply ice which can harm the skin. Do not apply butter or lotions that can keep the skin temperature hot, increasing the injury. Apply a sterile bandage to the injured area.

If the scald is serious, get medical attention fast.

Thank you to all who came out to the 3rd Annual Journal Star Bowling Party on February 22. A fun time was had by all.

Congratulations to the following winners:
Top Team Score: Second to None
Top Male Bowler : Mike Cutsor
Top Female Bowler: Cindy Lange Kubick
Secret Number winners: Bill Eddy and Hugh Hayes
Best Team Theme: Bankers Hours
And all the drawing winners: Greg Dibella, Shelly Kulhanek, Jacob Hannah, Clark Woodruff, Annie Beckius, Jaci Fallick, Cory Matteson, Kane Nordmeyer, Joni Sailors, Cindy Lange Kubick, Julana Nordmeyer, Erik Bahr, Ryly Jane Hambleton

Bowling Pics

Photos by Erik B.

Amazing Race Challenge

The Classified sales team just wrapped up an eight week “Amazing Race Challenge”. A mileage value was assigned to each of our upsells.
“Upsells”, such as photos, borders, online ad options, etc., are items we suggest to advertisers to enhance the visibility of their ad and increase their success. The mileage earned was used for “virtual travel” around the United States to visit the hometowns of the reps involved in the contests. We used a large map to track each team’s progress. The Red Team, pictured here, consisted of Luke Miller, Alejandra Perez, Barbara Chesnut, Audrey Beaver and Claire Armbruster traveled the furthest and won bragging rights in the end. The contest helped us increase upsell revenue over last year at a time when call volume is down and our sales staff if smaller. In addition, it built awareness of how to sell and schedule upsells and fostered teamwork in a department with several new sales reps.

“Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning on your home computer to see the day’s newspaper."

Employee Pricing only

2008 Husker Extra Yearbook is available to employees for $9.95, tax included ($5 off the list price)
The Husker volleyball poster, featuring an incredible celebration photo by Jacob Hannah, is available to employees for$5.95, tax included ($4 off the regular price)For more information, call Kim Woodcock at 7353 (Sorry, the autographed posters are gone)

Also, tell your family and friends about www.journalstar.com/store, the place for Husker collectibles,photo reprints and more!

Mark your calendar

The next Break with the Publisher is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2:00pm Multi-Purpose Room.

Thanks!

Thank you to all who participated
in the Community Blood
Bank Blood Drive on
February 24.
12 donors participated for a
total of 8 units of blood collected.
Because one unit of
blood can potentially save up
to there live, our organization
helped a total of 24 patients!
The next blood drive is scheduled
for April 21.