COMMWORLD of Kansas City wins awards…

We’re proud to attain the most prestigious status awarded by Toshiba America Information Systems – Telecom Systems Division. Less than 15% of the 450+ Toshiba Telecom Dealers in the United States have attained this highest level of expertise and achievement.
“2013 Toshiba TAIS TSD IPedge Communication Specialist Platinum Dealership” and “2013 Toshiba TAIS TSD Strata CIX Sales Professional Platinum Dealership”

Bob and Linda Bennett, owners of COMMWORLD of Kansas City, want to congratulate and thank the dedicated staff for demonstrating this commitment to excellence.

Before you vote in Missouri or Kansas, check out the voting records of our Senators and Representatives…

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) tracked lawmakers voting records from January 3, 2011 to August 3, 2012 on key small business issues. Lawmakers had to score 70% or above to receive NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business Award. Here’s how Kansas and Missouri lawmakers rated. Can you see a trend?

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
MISSOURI
Clay (D) 0
Akin (R) 100
Carnahan (D) 8
Hartzler (R) 100
Cleaver (D) 0
Graves (R) 100
Long (R) 100
Emerson (R) 92
Luetkemeyer (R) 100

KANSAS
Huelskamp (R) 100
Jenkins (R) 100
Yoder (R) 100
Pompeo (R) 100

SENATE:
MISSOURI
McCaskill (D) 45
Blunt (R) 100

KANSAS
Roberts (R) 100
Moran (R) 100

How to increase attention to detail & productivity in business.

Researchers have discovered that looking at pictures of kittens, puppies and other baby animals at work increases attention to detail and worker productivity. Therefore, please pass this around your office and to every business person you know so they can look at these pictures and boost the economy!

The findings were the result of a study conducted by Japanese psychologists at Hiroshima University. Students were asked to attempt detailed tasks after viewing pictures of baby animals, then after looking at pictures of adult animals, and finally after seeing pictures of delicious foods. The performance of students after viewing pictures of kittens, puppies, etc. was significantly better than after seeing the other groups of pictures.

The researchers theorized various reasons for the marked improvement, but who cares? Even if they don’t improve productivity, pictures of puppies and kittens have got to make you smile.

Sources: huffingtonpost

Free kitten with every order

Free kitten with every order…

Supplies limited. Must have a loving heart and good home to qualify.

Adorable, Playful, Affectionate and Litter-Box Trained…. They’ve been coming to work at COMMWORLD to enhance their socialization skills. As much as I hate to part with any of them, 5 kitties plus our older Fluffy Cat is too many. If you have love to give to one of these babies, just call Linda or Bob at the COMMWORLD office. (816-763-1100) The kittens are free to good homes. (Just kidding about the kitten with every order – there’s no purchase necessary!)

We snapped this picture shortly before moving the plant. The kittens had just discovered it and we were concerned that it could be harmful to them. I knew they would be extremely harmful to the plant. You should see the fun and mayhem they create with fake greenery.

A Mommy cat visited our barn and delivered 5 adorable kittens. By the time Bob and I discovered them, their eyes were open, they were walking around and they were hungry for the kitten food we gave them. Mommy isn’t wild, but she was very cautious. It took time and patience to win her confidence to allow us to pet her and the kittens. We knew we had to get the kittens early or they would become feral cats.

It seems the socialization is working. As I write this, 2 of the little darlings are sound asleep on my lap.

Memorial Day History & Traditions

The tradition of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began as a way to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. Even before the end of the war, organized groups of Southern women were putting flowers on the graves. People spontaneously began honoring the fallen in many different towns. The official proclamation came three years after the end of the Civil War in 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. The first official observance was on May 30, 1886 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. It is thought that a day in May was selected so that fresh flowers would be available.

By 1890, all the Northern states had recognized the holiday. Over 24 towns claimed to be the origination location of Memorial Day, and finally in 1966, Waterloo, New York was selected for that official title. After World War I, when the holiday was changed to honor Americans who died fighting in all of our wars, the South finally recognized Memorial Day. Several Southern states still have separate days to honor the Confederacy.

The red poppy is the official flower of Memorial Day. Inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields”, in 1915 Moina Michael started the practice of selling and wearing red poppies to honor the fallen heroes. The money collected was then donated to service people in need.

In 2000 a “National Moment of Remembrance” was established to be observed every Memorial Day at 3:00 PM local time. Taps may be played and a moment of silence and respect is observed. The White House “National Moment of Remembrance” memorandum asked all Americans to “come together to recognize how fortunate we are to live in freedom…. This memorial observance represents a simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and honor the struggle to protect our freedoms.”

Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of summer. It’s time to start wearing white shoes again. People celebrate this federal holiday with parades, picnics, concerts, races, ball games and more. We wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day holiday. Have lots of fun and let’s all observe that “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3:00PM on Monday to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms.

COMMWORLD of Kansas City will be closed on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day. Emergency service is always available for our clients.

Bob & Linda Bennett
and the COMMWORLD of KC Team

Sources: http://www.usmemorialday.org, http://www.va.gov, http://www.usmemorialday.org

30th Anniversary of COMMWORLD of Kansas City

COMMWORLD of Kansas City reaches its 30th Anniversary on October 19, 2011. The company celebrates 30 years with the same principals, same manufacturer – Toshiba, and outlasting over 330 competitors in KC. This is especially significant because telecommunications is known for buyouts and failures.

Bob Bennett opened COMMWORLD of KC in 1981 facing major challenges. It was during a recession, in a young industry, with no financial backing, and in competition with the largest corporation in the world. CEO, Bob Bennett stated, “Linda and I are grateful to our clients, vendors, friends, family and associates for helping us reach this milestone. To mark this occasion and confidence in our products, services and people, COMMWORLD of KC is introducing what we believe is the first “Money Back Guarantee” in our industry. We’re excited about the Anniversary and expect great things for the future. ”

In 1981, the “interconnect” industry was in its infancy. It was called interconnect because, for the first time, telephone equipment connected to the Bell / AT&T network was not owned by Bell / AT&T. KC area businesses were very cautious about owning a telephone system instead of renting from Ma Bell.

Toshiba America Information Systems, Telecommunications System Division (TAIS,TSD) played a major role in the company’s success. COMMWORLD of KC is the area’s oldest Toshiba Dealer. In 1982, Toshiba introduced the Strata VI . Some of those vintage systems are still serviced by COMMWORLD – a testament to Toshiba’s and COMMWORLD’s reliability and stability.

COMMWORLD of KC has thrived through major changes in technology. Today the company provides everything a business needs to stay connected and to increase productivity, protection and profits.  Products include VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocal) or Converged Phone Systems, Unified Communications, Voice Mail,  Local/Long Distance/Internet Service, Voice and Data Cabling, Video Surveillance and  more.

            COMMWORLDs’ team averages 20 years with the company, the technical staff average 26.5  years of industry experience and 4 managers share 113 years working together. These experts design, install and support modern technology solutions with old-fashioned customer service.

About COMMWORLD of Kansas City:  

COMMWORLD’s mission is to be a trusted partner to provide reliable technology solutions and service that improves their customer’s business. Clients rate the company 72% excellent and 24% good. COMMWORLD has earned many awards including “Toshiba IPedgeTM Communication Specialist Platinum Dealership” and the “25 Under 25 Award” presented by Thinking Bigger Business Media. It is the only company on every Kansas City Business Journal –  Top 25 List of Telephone Equipment Providers dating back to 1983. COMMWORLD is an Affinity Partner of Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Corporate Partner of National Association of Women Business Owners – KC Chapter. Bob Bennett, CEO, and Linda Bennett, President, participate in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program. Bob serves on the Grandview Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee and University of Missouri, Kansas City Bloch School of Management – Dean’s Advisory Council. He writes a business philosophy column for KC Business Magazine. Linda is an honoree of KC Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business”.

The COMMWORLD Building is located at 6200 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030. For more information, call (816)763-1100 or visit www.commworld-kc.com.

###

We hate to say we told you so, but your phone bill is probably wrong and the FCC knows it…

They’re still at it – the scammers and crammers who steal your money by getting their fraudulent charges put on your phone bill.

It may just be a buck or two and the description of the charge appears to be authentic. Multiply that small amount times every month. Then multiply again by how many hundreds or thousands or millions of phone bills show up with these little phony charges. And how many get paid, month after month, sometimes for years. It’s big business and it’s wrong.

We’ve sited Gartner Research findings before that stated 80% of business phone bills have errors. Some are “honest” mistakes, but others have nothing honest about them. The FCC knows there’s a problem. They estimate 15 to 20 million households have what are called “mystery fees” on their monthly landline bills.

On July 11, 2011, the FCC announced a proposal aimed at stopping unauthorized charges on phone bills. The proposed rules outline changes for phone bills and phone companies designed to help consumers recognize “cramming” so they at least have a chance to dispute fraudulent charges.

Greater Kansas City companies with a monthly local, long distance and Internet bill totaling $300 or more, can contact us for a Telecom Bill Analysis.

Have you been hit with “mystery fees”?

Congress & the President could learn from Small Business

Have you seen this video on YouTube? Small business owner, Jim Garvin, vents his frustration at Congress and the President for their lack of leadership.

Jim speaks for many of us small business owners who do take responsibility for paying our bills, keeping people employed and “living within our means” – especially when times are tough. Congress and the President could learn a thing or two about budgeting and leadership from small business owners in the U.S.

What changes have you made in your small business during this challenging economic period?