THE MINNESOTA ENTREPRENEURS

JANUARY 2003 NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE:

ME, Inc.'s NEXT MONTHLY MEETING: January 14, 2003
NEW CHANGES for ME!
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
SBA Pilot Program 
BABC Minnesota: Take Your Business to the Next Level
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION - Individual and/or Secondary Members from the Same
Company
FUTURE PROGRAMS- FEBRUARY thru MAY 2003

JOIN US on TUESDAY, JANUARY 14th for ME, Inc.'s Monthly Meeting!

Schedule of Events:

5:30 p.m.
Registration & Informal Networking

6:00 p.m.
Educational Presentation:
Michael Wellcome,Program Manager
Northern Tier High Tech Corridor
http://www.ntht.org

Mr. Wellcome will present ways to connect with entrepreneurs and business people
across the state via the discussion forum available on the Northern Tier High Tech
Corridor.

Mr. Michael Wellcome is the Associate Director of the Bemidji State University Center
for Research and Innovation (CRI). The Center for Research and Innovation is an off
campus facility designed provide the linkage between faculty, Staff, and Students of the
University and regional business and industry.

Michael's background includes telecommunications system design, electronic commerce,
grants administration, and project management. He is currently the Project Officer for the
Blandin sponsored Northern Tier High Technology (NTHT) Corridor. The NTHT is a
virtual (web) project designed to catalog the technology and knowledge resources of
Minnesota and provide a collaborative platform for entrepreneurs, higher education,
business, and government entities. The Northern Tier also provides a place for
individuals and businesses to upload their professional profiles into a searchable
database. The service is free of charge. You can participate in the Northern Tier by
logging on to www.ntht.org.

7:00 p.m.
Announcements & Networking

7:15 p.m.
Inspirational Presentation:
Walter Bond, Walter Bond Seminars, Inc.

Walter Bond said he always felt as if he was born to do something special, and that
feeling has continued to come to fruition throughout his entire life.  And what a ride it has
been! 

From his beginning as a child growing up in the inner city of Chicago, Walter discovered
a love for sports at a very early age. he excelled in basketball, baseball and football
throughout his school years. After choosing basketball as his sport to pursue, he became
determined to one day play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He took the
first step in realizing his dream when he received a full athletic scholarship to the
University of Minnesota.

Once at the University of Minnesota, the competition got tougher, and said he spent a
good amount of time in his freshman and sophomore years on the bench.  Asking advice
of coaches and working hard to focus on improvement worked. Bond became the first
ever rookie free-agent to start opening night for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks (1992-1993
season). During his eight year professional basketball career, Bond also played for the
Utah Jazz and the Detroit Pistons. Walter also played professionally in Greece, Germany,
Italy and Venezuela.

After retiring from professional basketball, his focus and his goals have reached a
new and exciting level. He has realized another dream by successfully starting his own
public speaking business and travels around the nation motivating audiences from all
walks of life. Walter's passion is to help people and organizations reach their potential.
Always known as a dynamic speaker and masterful storyteller, he tells stories from his
childhood to present, to give keynotes and seminars that energize people in all industries.
His talks focus on teamwork, motivation, change and leadership, and he has an ability to
customize his messages to connect with his audience to incite change in their lives and
careers.

"Playing basketball was my dream, but speaking is my destiny," he said. "When I'm in
front of a crowd, I come to life! Give me a platform and a microphone and I am
euphoric."

Come hear Walter's remarkable story and the lessons he's learned along the way.

8:45 p.m.
Networking

9:00 p.m.
Post Meeting:You are invited to join us for Late Night Networking at Patrick
McGovern’s Pub & Restaurant at 225 W. 7th Street in St. Paul.

Announcing: SBAExchange Pilot Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration is proud to announce the launch of the
SBAExchange Pilot Program-- an electronic purchasing tool designed to facilitate small
business e-procurement opportunities and improve the efficiency and accountability of
current government procurement processes.

The SBAExchange is a streamlined electronic tool that allows agencies to award
simplified acquisitions up to $100,000 (including micro-purchases) and to make
purchases and payments electronically with the Government-wide commercial purchase
card.  Agencies will be able to use SBAExchange to award purchases over $25,000 that
have been posted in Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), provided the notice
states that the award will be made electronically.  Additionally, it will help small
businesses compete for purchases that are currently being obtained through other
contracting methods.

To participate, small businesses must obtain an Internet-based Supplier Web Site from
www.SBAExchange.gov.  Through the Supplier Web Site a small business will receive:

* A fully hosted, supplier branded, e-commerce website;
* Exposure to federal buying authorities, large federal prime contractors and other large
buying officials;
* An electronic catalog;
* A centralized order management system for receiving and processing Internet- based
orders from federal, state, local and commercial buying authorities;
* A management system for tracking new business, creating and submitting quotes and;
* Assistance in managing the new site.

SBA plans to kick-off this pilot program nationally on March 30, 2003 when agencies
can begin awarding transactions through the system.  In order to ensure a successful
launch in March, the small business electronic catalog development period began on
October 30, 2002.

The annual cost to participate in the SBAExchange Pilot Program is $1,500. 
Additionally, a transaction fee of 2 percent will be added to all orders.

If you are interested in this Pilot Program please visit us at www.SBAExchange.govto

learn more. If you have any questions please forward them to:
Questions@sbaexchange.com

ME! Announces New Look, New Logo, New Location:

We'll keep you posted as we roll out the new look and logo on our website at the end of
this month. We have chosen the image to reflect MEI as "ME!"In addition, we will

start meeting at a new location beginning in February:"The Venue" at Galtier Plaza in
St. Paul - enter on either Jackson or Sibley Streets between 5th Street and 6th Street.

THIS YEAR, TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

In April 2003, BABC Minnesota will launch a new service for Minnesota companies
aiming to break into the lucrative UK and European markets.

The Minnesota Business Office (MBO) program takes a pioneering approach to
international business and economic development by opening temporary offices in
dynamic, high-tech centers across the country, giving Minnesota companies the chance to
explore and exploit the wide range of business opportunities offered by the regions of the
UK.

The first MBO will open on April 1, 2003 in Manchester, England, followed by a
Minnesota Business Mission to London and Manchester at the end of May. This is a truly
unique opportunity for Minnesota companies wishing to develop new business in the UK
and on into Europe. For more information, please see the attached prospectus, or call me
at 612-205-0505.

Best wishes for a prosperous New Year!

Paul Duncan
Chairman, British-American Business Council Minnesota
+1-612-205-0505 (US) / +44-7944-485767 (UK)
http://www.babc.org/minnesota

BABC Minnesota is supported in part by British Airways: http://www.ba.com

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
January 2003

Radical transformation: Coming soon to an organization near you!

By Eric P. Strauss

British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently addressed the Labour Party at a conference in
Blackpool, England. “We are at a crossroads,” he said. “Do we take the modest thought
important steps of improvement? Or do we make the great push forward for
transformation? I believe we’re at our best when at our boldest.”

Although Blair was speaking about a country, an economy and a people a world away, he
may as well have been describing the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. You see, we too, are
at a crossroads. Membership is not what it once was. Attendance at our monthly meetings

has been fair at best; some months we attract as few as twenty members and guests. And
too often, those guests attending a Minnesota Entrepreneurs’ meeting for the first time
choose not to return.

Of course, plenty of great things are afoot. Our board of directors – half of which were
elected at our annual meeting in November - is as strong as it’s been in years and more
active than ever. In February we will begin holding our monthly meetings at a brand new
facility in downtown Saint Paul; a change which we’re very excited about. Our new web
site will be launched in the coming weeks. And we’re making strides toward
supplementing membership dues with sponsorship income.

Moving forward, do we take the modest though important steps of improvement? Or do
we push forward for transformation? I am inclined to push forward for transformation. As
Blair recounted in October at his party’s conference, "The radical decision is usually the
right one. The right decision is usually the hardest one. And the hardest decisions are
often the least popular at the time."

Over the course of the next twelve months, I will work with the board of directors and
our members to make the hard decisions; those decisions which may not be popular, but
which will help transform our organization into one which, 1) Becomes better known and
respected among Minnesota’s vibrant entrepreneurial community; 2) lives up to the
vision statement we adopted last year, that ME be Minnesota’s primary resource for
growth oriented entrepreneurs, and 3) grows in membership, meeting attendance, and the
value we provide entrepreneurs as a source of education, inspiration, and networking
opportunities.

In December I began meeting one-on-one with board members to better understand what
each one wanted to get out of ME and how I could best help them achieve their goals for
the organization. In January, I’ll be opening up that invitation to all members and
prospective members. If you have an idea or thought about how ME could be improved
to provide greater value to our members, please let me know. I’m open to comments,
constructive criticism, and anything else you believe will benefit our organization and its
members. I may not agree with every comment, nor will I always share your enthusiasm
for what changes must be implemented, but I promise to listen to what you have to say,
take it under advisement, and act on it one way or another.

I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you at our next meeting on Tuesday,
January 14th!

Sincerely,

Eric P. Strauss
President
Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc.
eric@entrepreneursforhire.com
612-374-0004 (W)

DID YOU KNOW. . .that members pay the equivalent of only $10 per meeting?  That's
right!  For $120 per year, you have access to 12 months of programming - with two
presentations at each evening event!

Please go to:  http://www.mn-entrepreneurs.org/join.htmfor a membership application
form.

Annual dues are $120 for the first person in a company, and the Board voted to accept
additional members from the same company at half price!  So, the second, third, fourth
persons, and so on, from the same company and same location, can now join at half the
price of the main member ($60 each). We will no longer have 'global' corporate
memberships, but rather each membership will be attributed to a particular person.

GIFT CERTIFICATES!
ME, Inc.  Membership Campaign:Every new and renewing member will get 2
certificates to bring a prospective member to a meeting to check us out!  We will track
referrals and recognize you for bringing in any new members!  See Kathy at the
registration desk to get your certificates!

HAVE YOU HEARD ME, Inc.'s MONTHLY PRESENTERS ON THE RADIO?  
Get a sneak preview....Tune to KCCO at 950 AM on the first & second Tuesdays of the
month at 6:23 a.m.

FUTURE EVENTS:

INSPIRATIONAL PRESENTATIONS (7:15 PM)

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS (6:00 PM)

February 11, 2003
Minnesota Trade Office
Odile Young, International Trade Representative
http://www.exportminnesota.com

U.S. Department of Commerce
Star Schween, International Trade Specialist

U.S. Small Business Administration
U.S. Export Assistance Center
Nancy Libersky, Regional Manager International Trade Programs
http://www.sba.gov

Topic: “Export: An Opportunity to Grow Your Business”
Looking into New Market Opportunities & Export Resources for Minnesota Businesses
The Minnesota Trade Office: Export Programs and Services

U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. Commercial Service Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration: Export Financing for Small Business

March 11, 2003
Small Business Development Center
Michael Ryan, Director
http://www.stthomas.edu/sbdc

Topic: How the Small Business Development Center assists companies by providing
comprehensive consulting and education to new and experienced business owners.

April 8, 2003
Decipher I.T!
Steve Boland, Technology Translator
http://www.decipherit.com

May 13, 2003
"Young Innovators Program" Presentation

All meetings will begin with registration at 5:30 PM, followed by the program from 6:00
– 8:45 PM. Educational Seminars begin at 6 PM and the Keynote Presentation begins at
7:15 PM. You may wish to make arrangements to have dinner prior to the event, or join
the group after the event for a snack and Late Night Networkingat Patrick McGovern’s
Pub & Restaurant at 225 W. 7th Street in St. Paul.

AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER:

ME, Inc. Monthly Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, with
Registration & Informal Networking at 5:30 PM.

To Register for the Next Meeting, go to: http://www.mn-entrepreneurs.org/reserve.htm. 
Non-member rate: $25 at the door, cash or check – or $20 if you register in advance via
the web site or call Kathy to make your reservation: 651-687-0272.

For Directionsto the January meeting at Minnesota Business Academyand
information on parking, please copy this address or click and go to: http://www.mn-
entrepreneurs.org/addr_map2.htmMinnesota Business Academy is at the corner

of Wabasha & Exchange Streets in St. Paul(the old Science Museum of Minnesota).
ME, Inc. Board of Directors Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 4:00
PM. Call 651-687-0272 for Board Meeting location.  Board Meetings are open to ME,
Inc. Members only.

PLEASE NOTE:This will be our last monthly meeting at Minnesota Business

Academy.
Starting in February, we will transfer to "The Venue" located in Galtier Plaza.
Entrances at either Jackson or Sibley Streets between 5th Street and 6th Street. Once
inside, look up for the movie marquee!  

You are receiving this information from THE MINNESOTA ENTREPRENEURS
because you are on our E-mailing list.  To no longer receive our newsletters or other
information, simply reply to this email with remove in the subject area.  We will
promptly remove you from our email list.  Thank you for supporting entrepreneurship in
Minnesota.  Copyright Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. 2003