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The following is an interview with Chris Obert. Chris is pga member and head golf professional at Millwood Golf and Racquet club in Springfield, MO. He has run over 500 corporate and charity related golf tournaments. He knows his stuff when it comes to making people happy on the golf course. I hope you enjoy.

What common mistakes do you see people make when organizing their golf tournament?

They pay too little back to players or to not enough players. Committees can sometimes get caught up on the present event and how much they are raising for their charity and do not stay focused on the future of their event. If they keep future participation in mind and give back to those participating, they will continue to grow their event year after year.

Do you see the same problems with corporate events?

Corporate events rarely have this problem since the host company usually doesnt charge an entry fee and covers all expenses for a wonderful day of golf, food and beverage. At times I have seen corporate events cut corners and not host beverages on the course, this can be a disappointment to clients they are entertaining. If you plan on winning over your current or future customers, dont cut corners. Make a great impression on your clients by giving them a small gift on their cart seat (Preferably a Towel, Repair Tool or Sleeve of Balls) with the course logo you are playing that day or your company logo. This always makes a great first impression.

What common threads do you see with events that do well year after year?

Tee gifts, big or small will immediately get your participants attention. But remember this, if do it once, they will expect it in the future. Keep this in mind when deciding how much you want to spend and dont try to over impress every year. Keep the gifts simple and consistently priced from year to year. Make sure to give a gift that will not be left in the cart and thrown away at the end of the event by the course staff while cleaning carts. Players will tend to hold on to course logo items, accompany the course logo with your company or charity logo. It will cost a little extra for the second logo, but your items will not be left behind.

Can you typically get what you need at most pro shops?

Yes, you can consult the pga professional or course tournament Director for ideas, pricing is usually better through them since they are making profit on guest fees, food, beverage and gift certificates. Most courses will make only 10-15% or less on these extra tee gifts as a service to you and to keep you returning to their facility for years to come. After the first year, the course will have your logo on file for the future gifts to make this a simple process from year to year.

What is the best time of year for groups to hold their event?

It is very important to contact your desired facility to book your event before the first of the year. Most courses that host events will book up prior to the end of January. Expect to have a Monday event day if you choose a private facility. If you are starting a new event, it is best to get into a good facility and be less demanding on the date, rather than allowing your exact date to determine the course. In the years to follow, you can advise the professional or tournament Director that you would like to move your event to a different date if one opens. Most courses will have repeat tournaments that will have preference on their date.

Is it that tough to get a date you really want?

Once you establish that you are viable event with good participation (100+ Players) you soon will have the date you desire at a great facility. Once you have established a desirable date at a good course, try to keep it on that same date from year to year so that your participants and sponsors can anticipate it. FYI: Some charities prefer to take early dates in the year so that corporate donations they are looking to acquire will not be depleted. You must contact those companies as soon as you have an established date, time and location to best achieve your charity goals.

Dan Boever is a highly sought after golf entertainer and 11-time World Long Drive finalist who has traveled the country for the past 10 years performing power trick shot shows for over 600 of America's largest companies and charities. Dan has been featured on CBS, espn, The Golf Channel and has been in 8 national television commercials for Pinnacle Golf. Dan also appeared in the New Line Cinema movie "Hoot", released last May. For more information about Dan and how you can energize your next golf event with Dan's one of a kind golf exhibition go to http://www.danboever.com or view http://www.metacafe.com/watch/477188/through_the_legs_at_200_mph/

posted by 10022  # 2:41 PM 0 comments

A voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, transmission is initiated by converting voice into digital format. This can be done by Analog telephone adaptor (ATA) or by the computer itself using software. In the Public Switch Transmission network (PSTN), the dialing of the number initiates the call by connecting the call to the public switch and routing the call to the correct partys telephone number through the telephone network.

A VoIP network also has similar functions like that of PSTN, in addition to the IP provider and Internet Service Provider (ISP). The major components of a VoIP network are user devices (one or both ends), a call processing server, VoIP gateways, gatekeepers and an IP network. The user device consists of VoIP phones, traditional phones with accessories and computer-based devices. VoIP phones may be hard or soft phones.

A VoIP hard phone is like a traditional phone, but instead of a phone jack, it has an Ethernet port through which it communicates directly with a VoIP server or another VoIP phone. It doesnt need a personal computer, only an internet connection. These hard phones may also come cordless.

A dialup hard phone is one with a built-in modem instead of an Ethernet port. A wifi hard phone is built with a wifi transceiver to connect to a wifi base station to be connected to a remote VoIP server. This can be used to transfer calls to a gsm network.

A soft phone is run by software in the computer. This requires appropriate hardware such as a microphone, a speaker or a USB port. Once dialed, the phone number is processed by the call processor, which is actually hardware running a database mapping program called soft switch; the software manages all connections. This is also called IP PBX (private branch exchange), similar to the PBX of the PSTN lines.

There are gateways and gatekeepers that control the call admission and bandwidth management. They also control the creation of IP packets that contain the voice data and other information about the call.

Finally, there is the IP network, which consists of distributed routers ensuring connectivity. This IP logical switch is referred to as the soft-switch architecture. These four components form the phone system for VoIP, in addition to the software and various protocols through which the call is smoothly communicated.

VOIP provides detailed information on VOIP, VOIP providers, VOIP Phone system, VOIP Solutions and more. VOIP is affiliated with Wireless IP Phones.

posted by 10022  # 11:27 AM 0 comments

We've all heard the predictions - Fifteen major atlantic hurricanes are expected for 2007, five of which are predicted to impact Central florida. Certainly, nobody yet has forgotten the four hurricanes that inconvenienced us in 2004, nor can we forget the three storms of 2005. But before we look ahead to this coming season, let's stop and take stock of the lessons we've learned from our most recent experiences and prepare our children for this year.

In 2004 and 2005, we pulled together as a community and did all the things good friends and neighbors do when the chips are down. We shared food, water, tarps, and cell phones, and we took time to connect with the strangers across the street. We reached out to those in need and made some great new friends in the process. We hunkered down, we weathered the storm, and together we cleared the deadwood.

We became accustomed to the blue tarps, and fortunately, tarp city is almost gone. So what can we do to prepare for this year? Certainly we cannot change Mother Nature. After all, few mothers allow her children to change her. However, we have now learned how to live with her. And that is the first step towards a safe season.

The good news is that most of the things five hurricanes can damage have already been damaged and replaced. New roofs, stronger windows, and better structures mean less damage. The old trees are gone and the new trees are firmly rooted in their place. Our communities are now ready to come through the storm with minimal or no damage.

Yes, were ready. We all know what we have to gather, and for the most part, we all have our storm supplies ready. Sure, there are some things we can still do. For example, we can still have our plan of where to go when the phones are out. We still need to know where the closest shelter is.

Those of us with kids should consider going to visit friends or relatives when the next storm comes. After all, what better time is there to go on vacation than when a hurricane is in town?

Weve all discovered that cell phones work during the storm, and weve all learned that if you cant call directly to a family member, then we need somebody else to calla central friend or message boardsomebody out of town who can let everyone else know were okay. Dont forget text messaging, email and SMS. Teens and even young kids with cell phones are expert at these technologies. Chaos is the only constant in natural disasters such as hurricanes. The answer to coping with the sense helplessness chaos brings is to take control of some aspect of the disaster. Even if you know how to text message, ask your kids to help you or even teach you to use these technologies.

The key to feeling safe and not worrying about this years storms is to be prepared and to have a plan. Make sure your children know the plan, have practiced the plan and can implement the plan without you. Thats right, the key to security is knowledge. After 2004 and 2005, we have the knowledge and we have the experience. And as a result, well get through this years storms far easier than we got through last years.

So when the wind blows and the rain falls this season, well be warm, dry, and hunkered down. Well play games with our kids, talk with our kids and maybe even learn something about them as people. Well hold your children close until the sun shines in Central florida again. After all, they dont call us the Sunshine State for nothing.

Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is the founder and president of the consulting firm High alert, LLC.. He serves on expert panels for pandemic preparedness and healthcare surge planning with Congressional and Cabinet Members. board certified in multiple specialties, Dr. Ramirez is Founding Chairperson of the American board of Disaster Medicine and serves the nation as a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer in the national Disaster Medical system. Dr. Ramirez has a new book: You Can Survive Anything, Anywhere, Every Time. His website is http://www.High-Alert.com

posted by 10022  # 8:20 AM 0 comments