Guam-A Different Perspective


For the first time in many years, the world is able to see Guam in such a unique and beautiful way-through a masterpiece of a video on Guam as part of a high quality promotion of the island for the 12th Festival of the Pacific Arts to be held here in 2016.  Many have dubbed the cultural fair as the "Pacific Olympics"  for the high level of competition in recent years in the traditional chanting and dancing categories of the FESTPAC and scores of displays of the wares of the Chamorro society and the other indigenous peoples of the Pacific.
 
The 6:46 video takes the viewer through a brief history of Guam touching on the first contact with Explorer Ferdinand Magellan, Spanish rule and U.S. administration into the current day on island.  The video also uses spectacular graphics to show its place in Micronesia and Oceania.

Most importantly the video showcases our island culture intertwined with shots of the ultra-modern international airport, popular tourist sites activities and the stunning crystal blue waters and white sands that surround our 250 square mile Paradise Guam.  My favorite part of this video is the showcase of the Southern part of our island-unfortunately my home village Talofofo was not in it.

With all the fuss about delays in the Guam Buildup Program, the exaggeration of the prevalence of the brown tree snake and quirky local politicians, this video does such a great job to show a side of Guam not seen in many years.

I am not sure who produced this video, seen on the You Tube channel of Guam Legislative Speak Judy Won Pat.  It has local production company Shooting Star Productions finger prints all over it-job well done folks. The old Guam Postcard video, seen by many on VHS, did its best to showcase the island-but nothing like this.

Creativity.  Honesty. Passion.

This video shares these threeimportant values of our people to the rest of the world and of the efforts ofthe organizing committee preparing to welcome the FESTPAC to the island.  The road ahead over the next three years is going to be tough.  10 thousand plus participants will be on Guam for the event.  There are expected to be even more folks here to experience the Pacific culture like never seen before.

This is exciting stuff that we as an island community should get behind.  I have not seen such interest in one single community event since Guam hosted the South Pacific Games in 1999.  While still a long way out, please considering giving to the effort or plan to volunteer time to make this event a very special one for Guam and islanders across the region. Our culture will be showcased.  

The activity will do such much for the island that we won't truly know the social and financial impacts until way past the final song is sang on the FESTPAC Main Stage.

We are all ready. Thanks for the video. And finally-Good Luck Guam!

"Reasonable Cost" for LED Lighting

It is a little known fact that lighting accounts for nearly 15 percent of the energy consumed in buildings across America's 50 states and five territories.  This has pushed building owners to seek out  more energy efficient lighting systems for their respective facilities. This places the spotlight on Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting.  

Why?

According to a recent report by global corporate research and growth services firm Frost & Sullivan,  due to its reasonable cost, technology improvements and long life the LED lighting market is poised to grow significantly over the next five years.

 In their analysis of the North American LED Lighting Market, Frost & Sullivan found that the market earned total revenues of $1.15 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach $3.63 billion by 2017.

The market is primarily segmented into indoor and outdoor LED lighting.  Analysts surmised that the need to conserve energy by upgrading older systems to LED lighting is a key driver for the market and found that there is higher adoption of energy efficient lighting in the outdoor segment due to government funding for lighting upgrades in exterior applications.

Additionally, the report noted that the North American LED lighting market has also got a leg up from supportive legislation, such as the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which mandates greater energy efficiency of general service incandescent lamps. The legislation also pushes the market introduction of efficient and high performing solid-state lighting (SSL) products, including LED lighting.

While the U.S. federal government is pushing hard to incorporate these upgrades in buildings from Pennsylvania to Guam, the higher initial costs of LED lighting products compared to that of competing technologies are beating back full implementation. Not helpful as of late, is the economic downturn of the last few years that has tightened the grip on funds by building owners as they demand cost effective systems that also offer energy savings.

There is an upside.

 The Frost & Sullivan report noted that while the operating costs of an LED lighting system are low, the capital expenditure or "first cost" of LED lighting products is often prohibitive to end users that do not have a clear vision of the short- to medium-term return on investment from energy savings. 

 In the islands where $0.26 per kWh is the norm and rising, this idea is certainly turning heads of even the most conservative of owners here and across the Western Pacific. We can take away from all of this that the technology will experience wider acceptance as ongoing research helps lower costs of production, making LED lighting more affordable.  If we can continue to educate customers, including those reading this blog, about the life-cycle cost benefits of installing an LED lighting system and demonstrating the energy savings that are achievable with these systems-there will be market success.

To learn more about the LED products that GET, LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

Ambit Energy National Consultant Asks "Are You Stuck?"


National Consultant for Ambit Energy Carlos Marin posed an interesting question to GET, LLC and other consultants this past weekend:

"...We've noticed lately that some of you may be feeling stuck and frustrated in your business.  Now is definitely NOT the time to give up or give in! Quite the contrary - It is time to step out of your comfort zone and DO what you have NEVER done. It's time to push harder, have more heart, and prove to yourself what you're really capable of!

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got! It's time to break free from whatever cycle is happening in your life. If you truly desire from the depths of your heart to succeed in this business and attain your dreams and desires - you absolutely MUST do things that feel uncomfortable.

Maybe it's picking up the phone and making calls, or showing the business plan, - regardless of what it is - NOW is the time to take MASSIVE action! We build confidence and feel good about ourselves when we're making progress and growing. How dare you not step out and show the world what you're made of?!... It's time to SHINE YOUR LIGHT!

Trust us, you'll feel SOO much better once you do. - Do the things you fear and the fear will disappear! "

Thanks to this blog I can ask you,


Take a look and give us a call or email us ASAP on this opportunity.  Trish and I appreciate your questions to find out how to turn on the cash flow whenever someone uses electricity and gas in your city and state!


MANA Offers Advice: Taking a Simplified Office Deduction


GET. LLC is a proud member of the Manufacturers Agents National Association (MANA).  There sole mission is dedicated to educating, protecting and promoting the multi-line, outsourced sales function.  They offer so much to its members, we thought we would share this piece of advice from MANA on taking an simplified office deduction:

"The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a simplified option for taking a deduction for the costs associated with the office if you have a business office in your home. If you have a business office in your home, you know that the process for preparing the form to claim a deduction has been a painful one.

The new optional deduction, capped at $1,500 per year based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet, should reduce your paperwork and recordkeeping burden. 

Currently, you have to fill out a 43-line form (Form 8829) often with complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation and carryovers of unused deductions. Under the new option, you cannot depreciate the portion of the home used in a trade or business, but you can claim allowable mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses on the home as itemized deductions on Schedule A. These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business use, as is required under the regular method.
Business expenses unrelated to the home, such as advertising, supplies and wages paid to employees are still fully deductible.

Current restrictions on the home office deduction, such as the requirement that a home office must be used regularly and exclusively for business and the limit tied to the income derived from the particular business, still apply under the new option.  

The new simplified option is available starting with the 2013 return most taxpayers file early in 2014. Further details on the new option can be found in Revenue Procedure 2013-13, posted on IRS.gov."

We strongly recommend if you have any additional questions, please seek guidance from your tax professional. Deductions from your respective home offices are important to your bottom line. Keep good records and keep on building your business. 

Guam-A Different Perspective


It was a event at the Vatican that is steeped in tradition.  

The 266th Pope selected by the College of Cardinals is from the same order who brought Christianity to Guam about 300 years ago.  Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged from the Conclave earlier today as Pope Francis.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the first to happen some 400 years before the very first mission to Oceania, the eyes of the world's 1.2 billion faithful have been focused on Rome over the past week and in prayer of who will head up the Catholic Church.    

Pope Francis is a Jesuit.  

In June of 1668, Diego Luis de San Vitores arrived in Guam with five other Jesuits.  This Mission marked the first contact between the Society of Jesus and the Chamorro people of the Marianas.  The 20 year conversion yielded much bloodshed during the early years of Spanish colonial rule including the deaths of 20 martyrs that later yielded the Beatification of San Vitores and the Beatification and Canonization of Pedro Calunsod.  This is how the start of the Catholic Church and the Jesuit influence began in Guam.

Much has evolved in that time.  Peace mainly has reigned.  The strength of the teachings remain evident across each of the island's villages through the celebrations of their respective patron saint, the scores of Catholic Schools spreading the word of God and the perpetuation of ideals that has a positive impact on many other parts of this island society.

The Jesuits and their teaching have had a profound impact on so many people here.

The news of a new Pope-a Jesuit-was welcome to many here in Guam. 

“This is a joyful day!," said His Excellency Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap. D.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana. "We give great thanks to Our Lord for the beautiful gift of this most humble and holy man, our newly chosen shepherd on earth, Pope Francis."

It brought to an end an event not expected to be seen in our lifetime-though this writer was witness to the three previous. 

When the white smoke emerged from the stacks above the Sistine Chapel, a holy man of the people stepped forward on the balcony above St. Peter's Square selected by 118 Cardinals.

Father Jorge of Buenos Aires is the successor of the Apostle Peter-a hero of the faith. 

Many look to Pope Francis to stay the course and maintain the "rock" of the church that has been through much for over 2000 years.    

Savoy Furniture says "American Made – It Matters!"


GET, LLC is proud to be a partner with Montoursville, Pennsylvania-based Savoy Furniture.  What we like about their Government Sales and Marketing Manager Jason Saylor and the rest of the team at Savoy Furniture is that they are a women-owned business focused on serving the needs of their customers-first and foremost.  

And even more importantly, that they manufacture products that are made in the heartland of America.

Does this fact really matter?

Just one look at the Company's website and you will find this tidbit that explains this pretty well:

"Often, one of the first things noticed when entering a building is the seating.  That first impression reinforces the image of the school.  Students expect their lounges and community rooms to provide comfort, versatility and function – all wrapped up in a stylish design.
What they see when they walk in the door also includes the wear and tear of daily student life.  The best way to minimize this is to make sure your furniture is constructed in a way that withstands the real test – the student test.

Savoy Contract Furniture is 100% American Made right in the heart of Pennsylvania. Our design team and engineers work together to construct furniture with lasting beauty.  Beginning with raw materials,  and finishing with ready-to-ship furniture, quality checks occur at each stage of the process.  In many cases, Savoy even manages the installation of new furniture and packaged rooms, ensuring that the entire process runs smoothly.

We provide value-driven solutions that will save your department, and your school, money for years to come.  Reduced maintenance and replacement costs are always great to look forward to – but the value you’ve created by having a lasting GOOD first impression – as they say, priceless."

In a day where value is becoming more and more important to our customer's bottom line, it is this drive of a company like Savoy Furniture that is a reminder that such top notch customer service is not dead in America.  They are some of the most responsive professionals in the business today.  You gotta like their attitude.

Give us a call or drop us a line today to find out more about the Savoy solution that is best for your respective organization.

Independence LED Lighting Sponsors ACR Prize


GET, LLC commends Independence LED Lighting on the recent announcement that they will be a  major sponsor of the American Campus Efficiency Prize (ACE Prize).  On the heels of the recent securing of a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, our friends in Pennsylvania are taking another leadership role in the whole "Green Jobs" effort to move the U.S. Economy forward. 

The ACE Prize is dedicated to educate a new generation of students that will play an integral role in the new Global Energy Economy, and to reward them with scholarships when they succeed at helping their schools reduce energy consumption.  Independence LED have committed up to $10 Million in Scholarships for the A.C.E. Prize initiative. The amount of money is less core to this green job creation path than the innovation of the joint academic and business initiative to provide “Learn and Earn” benefits.

“Independence LED has already seen the value come in several ways," said Independence LED Lighting Chairman Charlie Szoradi. "We have recently identified two of the students in the program that exhibited particularly high potential, and they are now trained in lighting energy auditing and on Return on Investment (ROI) Savings Report software."

Independence LED believes that the next generation of their green job employees are the students that are currently enrolled in college and about to graduate. The LED tube company has started to mentor students to create what they call a “career launch pad” with practical business experience as a compliment to the students’ academic work. Independence LED then provides the scholarships as retrofit projects unfold on the students’ own campuses.

Kudos to Charlie and the team at Independence LED Lighting.  If you are a college student and interested in participating, please email your resume to holloway.155@buckeyemail.osu.edu and li.1178@buckeyemail.osu.edu. 

Undergraduate or Graduate Students are invited to participate with the majority of interest to date has come from students with a focus on engineering, environmental science, and/or business. The Learn and Earn Scholarship program is ideal for students that are highly motivated since the scholarships are performance based. 

You can give GET, LLC a call or drop us a line and we can assist you with participating in this important program.