From suncat0 at gmail.com Fri Aug 2 08:28:21 2013 From: suncat0 at gmail.com (Joe Sontag) Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 04:28:21 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: Capitol and Port Huron stuff Message-ID: <34CA409F2B6D4ACF9B424E32241C3A16@Reputercat0> For those who care to know, I've included some data regarding the Bureau and its agents' activities at the State Capitol and Port Huron Vending Route Facilities during May and June, 2013, information that someone was good enough to give me. What's happening on the I-94 Port Huron route is very interesting. By setting the starting and ending inventory to 0, the private company servicing this route is getting away with charging all purchases, including starting inventory, to the cost of goods sold and will get off with doing this each month. Us "low-life" blind licensees are required (in theory at least) to show both a starting and ending inventory figure in order to make the actual cost of goods sold available for calculation. Connie Zanger and her, uh companion Rob Essenberg, say all of this is ok because the Company uses a system that accurately tracks the cost of purchases and recognizes a par-based inventory system. While I have no doubt that the system being used is of high quality, it is a management tool and nothing more than that. What is done with the data it provides to its user and the accuracy of the data that the system uses is under the control of the system's user, who is ultimately responsible for the business and what it reports to the outside world. Just let most of us try to get away with claiming a value of 0 for starting and ending inventory each month and see just how long it takes for license revocation to begin. And please remember that Mr. Essenberg, whose businesses prior to his current facility were either subsidized by the former Commission or showed only modest income, is about to be named as Director of the new Business Assistance and Development Program (BADP), if he hasn't been secretly appointed already. Still not blogging about the BEP or anything else, Joe Sontag ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Sontag Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 11:47 Subject: Capitol and Port Huron stuff Here it is, including a text version I generated for the I-94 route and the Capitol for May. I have a untagged pdf of the Port Huron stuff, but it's a scanned or damaged document. Our BEP at work. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Capitol062013vfmr.doc Type: application/msword Size: 98304 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: Capitol052013vfmr.txt URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From suncat0 at gmail.com Thu Aug 15 01:54:50 2013 From: suncat0 at gmail.com (Joe Sontag) Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:54:50 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] BEP WARNING References: <9E17A3F6AB794E10B15F3023330DFC7C@Reputercat0> Message-ID: <73606113AAF241048D5D37E31E1A9DE2@Reputercat0> I tried back in 2003-2004 to persuade operators that they needed to read and act on the proposed new promulgated rules, with almost zero success. Too many operators simply did as much or as little as they could get away with or by with, as the greatly expanded new rules quietly slipped into effect. We find ourselves now in an environment where outside pressures are forcing both BEP and operators alike to follow the rules as they are written; and that isn't entirely bad. But, for Management and for who knows how many operators, the party's over, or is it? Those of us who have stood up for our own rights or for the rights of others and for the long-term stability of the Program have been damaged by active and passive tactics from BEP Management, especially during the past 7 years or so, while others have been rewarded for their ability to get the goods on BEP Administration and paid off for their silence. The EOC has been strangely unconcerned about most of this, even though it is there to represent operators as individuals and as a group. This system worked in the past, but has been shut down completely today. Very few attorneys with administrative law experience are familiar or willing to become involved with the laws, regulations and rules of our program. Bill has the right idea. Whether or not the Committee will come around is questionable, in my opinion. Joe Sontag, who still does not blog about the BEP ----- Original Message ----- From: Sheila Stelmach To: 'Joe Sontag' Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 19:34 Subject: RE: BEP WARNING if this is true they need to contact a attorney ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Joe Sontag [mailto:suncat0 at gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 4:43 PM To: Bill Lozier; alpenafoodservice at gmail.com; Bill Kenny ( (; cglime83 at gmail.com; Dave Petrilli ( (; erics1stop at att.net; fishman.garner at gmail.com; garsvend at aol.com; hnry_mosley at yahoo.com; jiggyzee at att.net; jrvending87 at yahoo.com; keathleygreg at yahoo.com; kev48198 at gmx.com; landerson1971 at gmail.com; lilypadluv1 at sbcglobal.net; lisa_powells2000 at yahoo.com; lisalweber at yahoo.com; marz r; michaelbaer at mail.com; Michael Costantini ( (; Mike Torrez ( (; Kevin Tomczack ( (; morganemily98 at yahoo.com; drea7139 at yahoo.com; nrthlakeken42 at hotmail.com; Ray Odell ( (; paulh2418 at yahoo.com; Phil Kelly ( (; Bob L; resolutioncomm at sbcglobal.net; risasteve92 at yahoo.com; rkvend at yahoo.com; robstack69 at yahoo.com; roxanna at kristinaraes.com; rtheisser at gmail.com; rutherford_beard at yahoo.com; shadowofsouls at msn.com; shdedodds at yahoo.com; silviatrevino0298 at yahoo.com; sjx3 at sbcglobal.net; szoet63 at charter.net; thecrave at me.com; tsseiter at bind-tech.com; vendman at aol.com; wndmcdnld at yahoo.com; Bill Younce ( (; cherileagle at comcast.net; blindman46us at yahoo.com; kevinhopkins_77 at yahoo.com; nmobile73 at me.com; pettyrolando at yahoo.com; buildingit2gether at gmail.com; Terence ( (; kstanczak at yahoo.com Subject: Re: BEP WARNING I would add this: For those who bid on the facilities below especially, *Visit the Places In Person! Talk to the current employees, customers, anyone who will talk to you about what's been happening there in the recent past. All that glitters is not gold. As a potential new operator of a facility, you can never have too much information; and some of the best info often comes from customers, building management and suppliers.. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Lozier To: (alpenafoodservice at gmail.com) ; Bill Kenny ( ( ; (cglime83 at gmail.com) ; Dave Petrilli ( ( ; (erics1stop at att.net) ; (fishman.garner at gmail.com) ; Bill Lozier ; garsvend at aol.com ; (hnry_mosley at yahoo.com) ; jiggyzee at att.net ; jrvending87 at yahoo.com ; keathleygreg at yahoo.com ; (kev48198 at gmx.com) ; (landerson1971 at gmail.com) ; (lilypadluv1 at sbcglobal.net) ; (lisa_powells2000 at yahoo.com) ; (lisalweber at yahoo.com) ; marz r ; (michaelbaer at mail.com) ; Michael Costantini ( ( ; Mike Torrez ( ( ; Kevin Tomczack ( ( ; (morganemily98 at yahoo.com) ; drea7139 at yahoo.com ; (nrthlakeken42 at hotmail.com) ; Ray Odell ( ( ; (paulh2418 at yahoo.com) ; Phil Kelly ( ( ; Bob L ; resolutioncomm at sbcglobal.net ; risasteve92 at yahoo.com ; (rkvend at yahoo.com) ; (robstack69 at yahoo.com) ; (roxanna at kristinaraes.com) ; (rtheisser at gmail.com) ; rutherford_beard at yahoo.com ; (shadowofsouls at msn.com) ; (shdedodds at yahoo.com) ; (silviatrevino0298 at yahoo.com) ; sjx3 at sbcglobal.net ; (szoet63 at charter.net) ; (thecrave at me.com) ; (tsseiter at bind-tech.com) ; (vendman at aol.com) ; wndmcdnld at yahoo.com ; Bill Younce ( ( ; suncat0 at gmail.com ; (cherileagle at comcast.net) ; (blindman46us at yahoo.com) ; (kevinhopkins_77 at yahoo.com) ; (nmobile73 at me.com) ; (pettyrolando at yahoo.com) ; buildingit2gether at gmail.com ; Terence ( ( ; (kstanczak at yahoo.com) Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:49 Subject: BEP WARNING Hello Everyone, Operators are being removed from their facilities with absolutely no warning or due process. I advise everyone to make sure your businesses are in order and make sure that YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE, ask questions of your PAs if you are not sure! CONTACT YOUR EOC REPRESENTATIVES TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW AND WHY OPERATORS ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE BEP WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OR WARNING.!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bill -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From suncat0 at gmail.com Fri Aug 16 18:32:00 2013 From: suncat0 at gmail.com (Joe Sontag) Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:32:00 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: They're at it again Message-ID: This message has been sent to most of the operators and to the EOC. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Sontag Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 14:27 Subject: They're at it again It appears that a licensed BEP operator is now the temporary operator of record at Ops as well. If this is true, it seems likely that the new licensee has been selected already and that the Bureau will do whatever it takes to make it happen. I won't reveal what I've picked up yet, but I'm willing to know what you can find on your own. If you are interested in Ops and in running it some day, it will pay you to learn the truth. Joe Sontag, who is still off the blogosphere -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From terrydeagle at yahoo.com Thu Aug 29 00:01:15 2013 From: terrydeagle at yahoo.com (Terry D. Eagle) Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:01:15 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] BLIND APPLICANTS NEEDED - BS4BP JOB OPPORTUNITY Message-ID: Notwithstanding the BS4BP's desire to not inform the blind community of available job opportunities within the Michigan agency allegedly serving the vocational rehabilitation training and employment needs of blind persons, the following job opportunity is offered as a service of the NFB of Michigan. STATE OF MICHIGAN Job Opportunities Job #: 6401-13-BSBP-63 Job Title: Departmental Manager 12 Closing Date/Time: Tue. 09/03/13 5:00 PM Eastern Time Salary: $21.41 - $31.30 hourly $1,712.80 - $2,504.00 biweekly Job Type: Permanent Full Time Location: Lansing, Michigan Department: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - LARA | Job Description This posting is for (2) Departmental Manager 12 Vacancies The positions will function as the assistant managers over the Business Assistance & Development Program and will be responsible for directing and managing the work activities of the Business Assistance & Development Program (BADP). The positions will manage the consultation services, development services, educational programs, financial assistance and guidance for small and medium business operated, managed or owned by entrepreneurs, who are legally blind. This positions will also directly supervise operators providing food service delivery to the public at the various food service locations and any related task or service necessary to make those operations successful including attending training programs and other business activities associated with a franchise operation. This person will also have the responsibility of assisting in the marketing of services for the Division and providing excellent customer relations with various stakeholders and associates, including legally blind entrepreneurs in the private sector. These services may include training modules for legally blind individuals operating in the food service industry. The positions will be responsible for helping to guarantee that the franchise agreements for buildings are in total compliance with all requirements to maintain the franchise. Required Education and Experience: Education Possession of a bachelor's degree in any major. Experience Three years of professional experience, including one year equivalent to the experienced (P11) level. Alternate Education and Experience: Additional Requirements and Information: Equivalent combinations of nonprofessional experience, identified by the appointing authority and approved by Civil Service that are represented by subclass codes, will be accepted for classified, professional experience equivalent to the P11 level and above. The nonprofessional experience must be related to departmental programs and services that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Departmental Manager 12 Supplemental Questionnaire *1. DEPTMGR - Do you possess one of the following? A bachelor's degree or higher in any major. If so, please attach a copy of your official college transcripts; OR at least three years of professional experience in the state classified service. Yes Yes No No *2. DEPTMGR1 - Do you possess at least three years of professional experience? Yes Yes No No *Required Question MICHIGAN CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION JOB SPECIFICATION DEPARTMENTAL MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION Employees in this job direct the work of subordinates involved in primarily business and administrative activities related to the research, evaluation, planning, development, implementation, and assessment of state programs or services. The work requires knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulations of the professional research and analysis field, and supervisory methods, personnel practices, and related management disciplines. The employee, under general or administrative supervision, works within general methods, procedures, and exercises considerable independent judgment to select appropriate courses of action. There are five classifications in this job. The classification level is determined by the application of the Professional Managerial Position Evaluation System. Position Code Title - Departmental Manager-1 Departmental Manager 12 The employee functions as a first-line professional manager of a professional position in a standard work area or a first-line professional manager of nonprofessional positions in a standard work area. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From suncat0 at gmail.com Thu Aug 29 16:45:40 2013 From: suncat0 at gmail.com (Joe Sontag) Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:45:40 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] how does this impact rs bep? Message-ID: Strange, we were all told by Ed Rodgers at the July 2013 "Commission" meeting that there was no real cause for concern about losing our rest areas to the private sector. ----- Original Message ----- From: "joe harcz Comcast" To: Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:15 Subject: [nfbmi-talk] how does this impact rs bep? > Companies want role in rest stops, bridge projects Comments . Lansing, > Mich . - Michigan has received responses from 31 companies looking to form > public-private > > partnerships involving rest stops, bridge projects and other work. The > state Department of Transportation last month put feelers out on two rest > areas > > proposed for improvements along U.S. 127 in northern Michigan. Most of the > five respondents are looking for advertising and sponsorship opportunities > at > > the rest stops. Other businesses are interested in food service or in > operating and maintaining the rest areas themselves. State officials said > Wednesday > > they also received a dozen letters of interest for bridge work, a dozen > others for freeway lighting projects and two for logging. The state will > evaluate > > the responses and next determine the viability of developing requests for > proposals. The state isn't planning to sell assets but instead strike > long-term > > deals. > > > > > > > > Detroit News > > > > August 29, 2013 > _______________________________________________ > nfbmi-talk mailing list > nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > nfbmi-talk: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/suncat0%40gmail.com From terrydeagle at yahoo.com Fri Aug 30 14:01:02 2013 From: terrydeagle at yahoo.com (Terry D. Eagle) Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:01:02 -0400 Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] how does this impact rs bep? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7D916248BC7446AD88981B92D6E06380@TerryPC> Mr. Rodgers said that because he maintains he has connections within the governor's office and legislature, and he has supernatural powers to stop actions, like the legislation to exempt legislative buildings from BEP. The only natural part is that it fits nicely into the agency nane--just more BS4 blind persons. I wonder if Rodgers has similar connections at the State Ethics Board, the State Bar of Michigan, and the federal courts? -----Original Message----- From: Vendorsmi [mailto:vendorsmi-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joe Sontag Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 12:46 PM To: VENDORSMI List Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] how does this impact rs bep? Strange, we were all told by Ed Rodgers at the July 2013 "Commission" meeting that there was no real cause for concern about losing our rest areas to the private sector. ----- Original Message ----- From: "joe harcz Comcast" To: Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:15 Subject: [nfbmi-talk] how does this impact rs bep? > Companies want role in rest stops, bridge projects Comments . Lansing, > Mich . - Michigan has received responses from 31 companies looking to form > public-private > > partnerships involving rest stops, bridge projects and other work. The > state Department of Transportation last month put feelers out on two rest > areas > > proposed for improvements along U.S. 127 in northern Michigan. Most of the > five respondents are looking for advertising and sponsorship opportunities > at > > the rest stops. Other businesses are interested in food service or in > operating and maintaining the rest areas themselves. State officials said > Wednesday > > they also received a dozen letters of interest for bridge work, a dozen > others for freeway lighting projects and two for logging. The state will > evaluate > > the responses and next determine the viability of developing requests for > proposals. The state isn't planning to sell assets but instead strike > long-term > > deals. > > > > > > > > Detroit News > > > > August 29, 2013 > _______________________________________________ > nfbmi-talk mailing list > nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > nfbmi-talk: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/suncat0%40gmail.com _______________________________________________ Vendorsmi mailing list Vendorsmi at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Vendorsmi: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/vendorsmi_nfbnet.org/terrydeagle%40yahoo.c om