The news of our organization is starting to spread like wildfire…. we’ve settled on a name, and it is:

Accept no imitations. We’re the ones with the political, legal and financial clout. And we’re non-profit and non-partisan too, so we’re not catering to anyone except the best interests of the Poconos and bringing jobs here.

We’re still plotting and planning in a back room at PoconoCommuter.Com, but if you’re in the Pocono Area and want to hang with me, or Stephen, or Wayne, or Frank or Jon (I hope. Probably after Tuesday’s elections.)…
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FOCUS GROUP
On February 23rd SMS will host a focus group discussion. The topic will be
the Future of Monroe County and how we can contribute.
As some of you know we tried last month to have a meeting but the weather
was bad. Each month we will have a meeting and focus on different topics for
discussion. At the meeting we all will pick a topic for the next meeting, so it will
give us all a chance to think about it and research it.

PLACE: BUDGET MOTEL JR’S GRILL
TIME: 5:30 TO 7:30
DATE: FEBRUARY 23RD , 2005

Contact info for RSVP
Robert Bennett
570 421 4974
smsrb-AT-ptd.net (You know what to do with the “-AT-“)

I had the honor of finally meeting the owner of the Budget (after years of patronage) at the Tech conference on Wednesday. Great guy.
If you wanna hang, you’ll find me there.

Some of the big news going on here during the Year of the Phoenix.
Just came back from a technology conference at Stroudsmoor. Bob Bennett, of Secure Managed Solutions is bringing a high speed data center and digital pipeline into the Poconos. One of the advantages we have is we are in between New York City and Philadelphia, and we can serve as a gateway. We’re also on a different power grid than New York, so it makes perfect sense to make our move here in post-9/11 America.

What will this possibly mean?
* Local businesses being on the ground floor of state-of-the-art technology and websites.
* Satellite offices set up here (Read: Jobs in our area instead of commuting)
* A “Vault” containing any relevant data. Imagine if you’re in Europe and you lose your wallet and passport? You can retrieve your info anywhere on the planet.
* Grants and tax incentives to set up businesses here (Read: Jobs in our area instead of commuting… uhm, again)
* WiFi, teleconferencing and all sorts of other gadgetry will play an integral part of how business will be done.

One of the things that have long-irked me is the low standards set here. The attitude of “Well, it’s the Poconos, what do you expect?” will no longer apply. There’s no reason why “New York Standards” shouldn’t be the standards of businesses everywhere.

ESPECIALLY in the Poconos.

State Rep. Mario Scavello was there, as was John Siptroth, candidate for Kelly Lewis’ old spot.

Winner of the “Most under-dressed jerk at a business seminar” award? ME!!!!!

All the movers and shakers out here in the fields of technology and advertising were here, including my good friend Jon Hom, who has turned Digital Zone into quite a formidable powerhouse since last we spoke five years ago. Also presenting was Creative Arts Recording Labs and Secure Managed Solutions.

I have allied myself with a few power brokers out here, and projects include forming a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to bringing people together and establishing hi-tech jobs to the Poconos, and a ThinkTank connecting businesses into the new PowerLine.

I’ve seen the future, baby…. and it is now.