Committee terms cycle in June of each year. This year there are no regular positions open on the committee.

The Citizens Advisory Committee comprises 12 citizen volunteers who meet periodically, or as needed, to address assignments from the Commission. Individual members also may be asked to participate with Port staff on a range of Port programs and projects. The committee has contributed citizen advice and assistance to the Port since the Commission formed it in 1994.

Applicants must be Thurston County residents. A Port Commissioner, the Executive Director and the chair of the committee will interview applicants and recommend appointments of the alternates to the Commission. Criteria for selection are community and economic development activities; volunteer, board or committee experience; work experience; experience or knowledge of the Port; and reasons for serving.

For an application form, please call (360) 528-8000 or visit the Port’s website at www.portolympia.com.

The application deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012.

For more information contact Kathleen White, Communications & Government Relations Manager at (360) 528-8012 or kathleenw@portolympia.com.

About the Port of Olympia

The southernmost deepwater port on Puget Sound, the Port of Olympia owns and operates an international shipping terminal that handles a range of breakbulk and project cargoes. The Port also owns and operates Swantown Marina & Boatworks, a 733-slip recreational marina and boat haulout/repair facility, a regional airport and a real estate division. A community port, it generates an estimated 7,249 total direct, induced and indirect jobs as documented by Martin Associates in the 2009 data study, The Economic Impact of the Port of Olympia, January 2011, available at www.portolympia.com.

9 companies doing social media right: tips for your success

Presented by Michael Stelzner, Founder and CEO of Social Media Examiner

Statistics:

More than 65 percent of businesses plan to increase their use of main social media platforms. – 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report

61 percent of small businesses are landing new business through social media. – Crowdspring

Only 10 percent of small businesses won’t use social media in 2012. – Ad-ology

80 percent of all online Americans use social media. – Nielsen

Tips:

General social media tips:

• Share “unrelated” yet interesting content.
• Share similar content across multiple networks if it makes sense.
• Give people a reason to share your content.
• Use a lot of photos on your social channels.
• Don’t overlook growing mobile users.
• Use multiple methods to capture leads.
• Integrate social media into your website.
  

Facebook tips:

• Leverage new Timeline functionality.
• Integrate Facebook into your website.
• Don’t only focus on Facebook.

Google+:

• Claim your business’s page on Google+.
• Leverage Google+’s picture bar.

YouTube:

• YouTube is becoming its own platform. Use it to produce user-generated content.

LinkedIn:

• Consider creating a community on LinkedIn. You can email them once a week.

9 take home lessons:

• Social media is a highly visual medium.
• Showcase your customers.
• Enable social sharing on all your content.
• Google+ will impact search results.
• YouTube is far more advanced than you may realize.
• Don’t overlook mobile users.
• Facebook apps add extra function that may keep folks engaged.
• Try expanding into Google+.
• Don’t forget about LinkedIn.

Additional resources:

7 creative social media marketing mini case studies

The Clean Boating Foundation has awarded its Certified Leadership Clean Boatyard award to Swantown Boatworks, which is owned and operated by the Port of Olympia. Earlier this year, the boatyard was among the first to receive the Certified Clean Boatyard honor.

According to Peter Schrappen, foundation executive director, the leadership certification recognizes the Port facility’s “…outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility and its achievements in restoring the health of Puget Sound.”

Leadership Clean Boatyard certifies environmental responsibility at an even higher level than the Clean award, according to Bruce Marshall, Port Habor Director. Swantown was one of three recipients of the first Leadership awards; the other two are located in Seattle.

The Clean Boating Foundation is working towards cleaner waters in Washington state. Partnering with boatyards, the state Department of Ecology, environmental groups and scientific experts, the foundation is a market-driven effort to go above and beyond the minimum environmental requirements laid out in the Washington Boatyard Permit.

The main goal is to develop a checklist of criteria towards which boatyards can strive to become Leadership Clean and Clean. The foundation will advertise the list of certified boatyards to the boating public, giving them a choice of where to spend their money when it comes time for boat repairs and maintenance.

Washington state sees almost 300,000 recreational boats on its waters each year, providing $4 billion in overall revenue and 28,000 marine-related jobs. The foundation believes that increasing the industry’s environmental standards beyond what is required will add to the allure of recreational boating in this environmentally-conscious region.

For more information contact Kathleen White, Communications & Government Relations Manager at (360) 528-8012 or kathleenw@portolympia.com.

About the Port of Olympia

The southernmost deepwater port on Puget Sound, the Port of Olympia owns and operates an international shipping terminal that handles a range of breakbulk and project cargoes. The Port also owns and operates Swantown Marina & Boatworks, a 733-slip recreational marina and boat haulout/repair facility, a regional airport and a real estate division. A community port, it generates an estimated 7,249 total direct, induced and indirect jobs as documented by Martin Associates in the 2009 data study, The Economic Impact of the Port of Olympia, January 2011, available at www.portolympia.com.

Why? They ask the wrong questions, they ask lots of questions, but don’t actually listen, or they listen to the answers and then do nothing about what they hear.

I’m all for getting customer feedback – it’s a great source of ideas, opportunities, improvements and it demonstrates to your customers you care, provided you do listen and then take action.

Too many organizations simply get boxes checked, go through the motions, and ask questions that don’t make them too uncomfortable.

So, just to get you thinking, here are 10 questions you might want to consider asking your customers that challenge the status quo and possibly improve your performance, attitude and relationships.

1. What attracted you to us originally? This helps get a view of how you are seen in the marketplace and what are the things that appeal to your customers.
2. What would you do if we weren’t here? This may give an insight into the value they place on you as a supplier – would they actually notice if you disappeared?
3. Can you name one particular individual who has impressed you in our organization? This highlights your customer champions, and maybe some of your unsung heroes. If they can’t name anyone, what does that say about the way your people interact with your customers?
4. What one thing could we do better? It may highlight their priorities and key issues.
5. Why do you buy from us? This highlights your strengths – some of which, you may not be aware of. Be careful how you phrase this one. You might sound as if you’re doubting yourselves.
6. If your business was the best in the world, what would it look like? This one stretches the imagination, and even though you may not be able to deliver exactly what they say, it may give you a few ideas about what they see as important.
7. Name one thing that we do or don’t do that irritates you. The key is doing something about it.
8. Who can we learn from? This helps you identify who your customers see as role models, and might just point something out that’s not happening in your industry you could learn from.
9. What would you say to someone else who asked you about us? Their initial response to this is often a revealing one.
10. What is the one thing we should never stop doing? This one tells you what they really value about you.

You may feel you can’t ask these questions to your customers. That’s not a problem, as long as you can find some questions that you can ask.

————————————————————————————————–

Barbara Wold is a street-smart, down-to-earth business speaker, presenting topics from sales and marketing to customer service and tourism. She is an international speaker who has “WOWED” over 850,000 people from all 50 of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Copyright 2012. Reprinted with permission from Barbara Wold’s Retail & Consumer Tips, mail to: bwold@ix.netcom.com.

In the weeks leading up to May 1, 2012, buildings in downtown Olympia and the westside were victims of a rash of graffiti. City Hall, on 4th Avenue, was among the buildings targeted. Much of the graffiti was related to events associated with May Day and was accompanied by anarchist symbols. The Olympia Police Department responded with targeted patrols that netted four suspects. Local residents provided information that led to an additional four taggers being taken into custody. Arrests were made in both downtown Olympia and on the westside. Business owners, neighborhood groups and City of Olympia staff moved quickly to cover graffiti as it occurred. Graffiti removal is an important tool for discouraging future tagging. Taggers do not get satisfaction when their work is painted over or removed.

Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts stated, “The recent arrests are a great example of both law enforcement and the community coming together to address crime. Vandalism like graffiti encourages further degradation of a community. We must all work together to proactively report and respond to criminal activity.”

For additional information about how to partner with the City of Olympia in its fight against graffiti, please visit the City of Olympia’s graffiti webpage.

There is still time to APPLY for the Leadership Thurston County class of 2013. Join over 450 informed, connected LTC graduates who are making Thurston County a great place to live, work and play.

LTC is an intensive, experience-based leadership development program. Participants learn first-hand about community issues, expand networks with local leaders, hone leadership skills and explore ways to be involved.

•    The program runs from September 2012 through June 2013.
•    The class meets monthly for day-long sessions that include discussions, site visits and group and individual activities.
•    Topics include education, business and economic development, government, health and human services, law and justice, the environment and arts and culture.

The deadline for applications is May 15, 2012, and class size is limited to approximately 30 participants. Cost of the program is $1,750, and payment plans are available.

LTC was founded in 1992 by community members and the Thurston County Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)3 educational, nonprofit organization.

For an application and information, go to the LTC website, or contact Program Coordinator Patti Grant at (360) 357-8515 or ltc@thurstonchamber.com.

Drive to Deliver is a brand new delivery service for the Olympia area. If we can order it, pick it up and it will fit in a car, we can deliver it for you! If you’re tired of eating pizza for lunch or dinner, give us a call!

•    ONE PHONE CALL – you call us, we order, we deliver
•    Food – from any restaurant in Olympia
•    Courier items
•    Lunches for corporate meetings
•    Convenience store items and late night munchies
•    Household and personal items
•    Office supplies
•    No minimum order required

We’ll bring you whatever you need to your house, apartment, hotel, dorm, office or hospital room!

Our company began with an early-morning idea: “Why doesn’t anyone in Olympia deliver breakfast?” This was followed by a search of restaurants that deliver other things. We found a lot of pizza, some Chinese, a fantastic burrito joint and a problem: Not everyone delivers!

In fact, most of our favorite restaurants (and there are several) don’t deliver, but are more than happy to provide take-out. What happens when you don’t feel like driving? Or it’s late, and you’re already in your pajamas? Or…shouldn’t be on the road!

Thus, the idea of Drive to Deliver was born. We’re Olympia’s only late-night, all-out, every single restaurant included delivery service. If you can think of it, we’ll go get it for you! And we’re not limited to food! Oh no! Late-night quickie-mart runs, small grocery orders, we’ll even pick up your prescriptions from the drugstore. We’ll deliver everything from office documents to full boardroom lunches (with a day’s advance notice) – and everything in between – with one easy phone call.

Here’s an example of how it works: You call us at the number below. You tell us what you’d like from any of the many Olympia restaurants. We call, place the order, pick it up and bring it to you. You pay us with your cash or major credit card when we arrive with your delivery!

For more information or to place an order contact Drive to Deliver at (360) 519-4077 or www.drivetodeliver.com.

Accomplished South Sound actor Christian Doyle will be the instructor for the class. Doyle is an experienced actor in both stage and film, as well as a comedian, singer/songwriter and teacher of improvisation, stage combat and youth theater. He has recently appeared on stage for Harlequin in Summer in the Sixties, Stardust Serenade and The Seafarer.

Scot Whitney, managing artistic director, stresses that Harlequin’s acting classes focus intensively on developing specific skills as opposed to staging productions. “We believe it’s important for students to have opportunities to constantly refine their acting skills. This is the way for them to build maximum confidence on stage.”

No auditions or previous experience are required to take this class. There is a fee of $200.

All Harlequin classes are held at the State Theater. For registration forms and further information visit www.harlequinproductions.org or call the box office at (360) 786-0151.

WHO: Harlequin Productions Education Programs

WHAT: “Improv Basics” acting class

WHERE: State Theater, 202 4th Ave E, downtown Olympia

WHEN: Saturdays, May 12, 19, 26 and June 2

HOW MUCH: $200

Harlequin Productions is a professional, nonprofit theater company offering a seven-show, year-round season of classics, musicals and new works, as well as training and outreach programs. Through a dynamic selection of extraordinary materials, the company explores the human adventure in search of theatrical magic that stretches the mind, nourishes the soul and inspires human empathy. Celebrating their 20th anniversary season in 2011, Harlequin also owns and operates the State Theater in downtown Olympia.

For additional information, photos or to schedule an interview, please contact Don Yoder, Education Program and Marketing Manager, at (360) 705-3250 ext 104 or don@harlequinproductions.org.

Amy Stull, Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Olympia Police Department, was awarded the Sandy Richards Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year award for 2011. The award was given by the Washington State Crime Prevention Association <http://www.wspcaonline.org/> at their annual meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2012 in Walla Walla.

Ms. Stull has worked for the Olympia Police Department since 1999. In 2005, she became the department’s Volunteer Coordinator managing the Volunteers in Policing, or VIPs program. VIPs includes about 80 community volunteers who help with many crime prevention activities including Neighborhood Speed Watch, Harbor Patrol and vacation home checks. In addition to managing the VIPs program, Ms. Stull provides crime prevention training to neighborhoods and multi-family complexes. She has also been instrumental to crime prevention in Olympia’s downtown working on the city’s graffiti removal and alley lighting projects.

With the premier Olympia city center address the room renovations will transform the Governor Hotel into a boutique luxury guest experience featuring room amenities, furnishings and services that provide guests with a new level of luxury and hotel choice in Thurston County. The hotel will also have available pre-loaded iPods with a selection of music choices for guests to enjoy in the new rooms.

It’s time to raise the bar for our guests and the boutique luxury experience sets a new standard, says Sandra Miller, General Manager of the Governor Hotel. We have the best location with the best views and the time is right to renovate and showcase the Governor Hotel as a great place to stay for new and returning guests.

The new grand king rooms feature:

• 320 square feet of space
• Top floor rooms with vista views of the State Capitol, Capitol Lake, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains
• Wall of windows
• French balcony with full opening sliding door
• Keurig Coffee Brewing System with a premium selection of K-cup coffee and tea with additional flavors available for purchase
• 46-inch flat screen TV with cable programming. Stream Netflix, Hulu TV and more. Grand king suite includes two 46-inch flat screen TVs.
• iPod/iPad/iPhone clock/radio docks
• Apple technology including available Apple TV and available iPod’s with pre-loaded music selections to play in your guest room.
• World class Brighton Pillow Top Individual Wrapped Coil King sleep system with custom designer headboard
• Luxurious duvet cover with comforter and bed scarf
• Pillow menu – prior to arrival select from down, synthetic or ergonomic pillow choices
• Luxurious plush bathrobes
• Ultra plush bath towels and bath mat
• Speakman Anystream Hotel luxury shower head
• Spa bath products from L’Occitane en provence
• Makeup mirror and hairdryer
• Complimentary full hotel wireless internet and ample electrical and USB port plug-in options for charging located near the desk and bedside tables
• Spacious glass-top business desk with leather executive desk chair positioned to capture the view
• Governor inspired artwork with a flare including a selection of Picasso prints and Lichtenstein art located in the hotel lobby
• Microwave and mini-fridge
• Room service – lunch and dinner
• Laptop-size safe
• Complimentary hot breakfast buffet, parking and local newspaper

The Governor Hotel is celebrating the opening of the new rooms with an open house for local business leaders, public officials and friends of the hotel to view the new rooms on Thursday, April 26 from 3 to 6 pm. Attendees must RSVP to tom@olywagov.com or call the hotel at (360) 352-7700.