| We have seen an increase in Snowbirds from | | | | moving and staying all year in the Southern |
| Northern States into Southern States. It is truly | | | | States which increases needs of those consumers |
| phenomenal the difference between now and a | | | | for service businesses.This will include gas, food, |
| few years ago. I attribute this to the mobile | | | | services, and even taxes. The tax base to |
| nature of our society, me included and the use of | | | | employ the workers and the government |
| modern technology, such as cell phones, GPS | | | | dwindles as less goods are bought by the |
| devices, and Internet availability in many places to | | | | consumers who are in different states half the |
| hook up to and now for the first time we are | | | | year and many choosing to stay all year. |
| seeing a proliferation of services in major markets | | | | Especially those in IL, where it is hot and muggy in |
| such as LA, Seattle, San Francisco, Silicon Valley | | | | the summer and ass freezing cold in the Winter. |
| and Phoenix of Ricochet, Inc. the first main | | | | As taxes increase on sales of goods and property |
| system which came on the scene. Soon as in a | | | | taxes increase to cover needs of local |
| few months we will be seeing Internet Direct the | | | | governments those governments will need to be |
| GM Hughes system similar to the Direct TV idea | | | | looking at hiring part time half year help and |
| for motor homes that you can point at the | | | | trading with sister cities in other states of the |
| satellite anytime, anywhere providing clear skies | | | | same size, same policies and same equipment in |
| and no obstructions, such as buildings, mountains, | | | | operations. If government does not do this |
| bridges or trees. These systems will be rolled out | | | | correctly soon then they will become inefficient |
| for use in the Trucking Industry and over the | | | | and need to disappear. For instance a small city, |
| road independent drivers and also to RV | | | | which cannot handle its duties should return to |
| whizzes.All these tools will increase the number of | | | | County control. Those Counties, who cannot |
| snowbirds migrating and smart businesses will be | | | | handle their duties for animal control, sewer, |
| taking advantage of this location and customer | | | | sheriffs, etc, need to be gobbled by larger |
| variation to help with not only profit but also | | | | counties or the state. Redundancies in |
| skilled labor. Several areas in AZ, CA, NM, and TX | | | | government are costing too much money to |
| as well as GA and FL have areas, which cater to | | | | consumers, and thus effecting quality of life.If the |
| these snow birds and often cannot handle the | | | | populations move around, then so too should |
| volume of people every year. We have witnessed | | | | government resources to cater to the needs of |
| Fed Ex increase route drivers to handle the | | | | those tax payers who are paying into the |
| volume in many cities and even rent additional | | | | system, where ever they are. Businesses must |
| units and then in summer work these drivers | | | | cater to the customers and government should |
| doing other type of work until traffic picks up | | | | cater to the people. Businesses should be |
| again for Christmas. Let us look at this scenario. | | | | watching all demographic shifts in population |
| People live half-year one place and Half year | | | | temporary or otherwise; trendy or cataclysmic. |
| somewhere else. The customer base also moves | | | | Business should respond to the needs of the |
| half and half.have talked to franchisees of large | | | | consumer without hesitation and without excuse. |
| companies and small business owners a like who | | | | It should have already been done, but if it has not |
| say; I cannot wait until the busy season again. | | | | then now is better than never. We must be a |
| What kind of statement is that? The busy season | | | | metamorphic for the customer, so should any |
| is every season if done correctly. And why pick a | | | | business person who cares to prosper in now or |
| location to run your business if every location is | | | | in the future.Government should be no different in |
| more suited? Snow Birds are needing activities to | | | | its mission to provide welfare, health and allow |
| keep them busy and increase in fuel costs to | | | | each American to pursue their American Dream, |
| travel to the new winter time area to live | | | | whatever that dream might be. As for the |
| increase along with energy costs and food costs | | | | government the ends are justified as long as the |
| (remember even though we supposedly have no | | | | mission is truly fulfilled. To find the answer to this |
| inflation, everything we buy will go up due to fuel | | | | question stop any citizen on the street and ask |
| costs). People in States like OR, ID, WA, MT,WY, | | | | them what they think and what they are |
| ND, SD, IA, IL, WI, OH, NY, MA, NH, RI, CT, VT, | | | | concerned about, after all those are your |
| ME, MI, and provinces like Quebec, Ontario, | | | | customers.If you tell the customer what they |
| Manitoba, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan have been | | | | want in your business, they will only buy it until |
| traveling to other parts of USA for years and the | | | | they find out what they really want. Advertising, |
| numbers are also increasing. Even though we are | | | | PR, and all the help you can muster from the |
| in a an interesting weather period and the | | | | media cannot work forever. Although it is said |
| weather has been relatively nice in WA, OR, ID, | | | | that perception is reality; think to yourself, is it |
| MT, WY snow birds is on the increase. Well they | | | | reality? NO, perception is perception; that is a |
| predict another 2% in 2005 and 2% more in 2006 | | | | reality. But reality is truth and that only changes |
| and we just came from a 3% increase in | | | | with the relativity of the situation and the |
| 2003-2004. So we now see 2+2+3=7 and that is | | | | proximate of one dimensional time and their |
| 7% in only three years. Now in the future as fuels | | | | desires at the moment of payment in the case of |
| to heat increase and jobs decrease all those | | | | a consumer. What does all that mean? It is simple, |
| people will migrate South again choosing to stay. | | | | it means that the customer will buy what they |
| Also we have had an increase in Hispanic over the | | | | want when they want for the reasons they want |
| border crossing from the South into states such | | | | and if they later feel they have been tricked they |
| as IL, NJ, GA, FL, TX, AZ, CA, NM, NV. As many | | | | will stop buying and be angry and not return if |
| as 600,000 permanent new residence per year. | | | | they can get a better substitute elsewhere. A |
| You would think that this labor would be sufficient | | | | government who is not reasonable and responsive |
| to handle the increase in the snowbird traffic, but | | | | to her clientele will find those customers and |
| it is not. Also as the population of Northern States | | | | consumers unwilling to support her in heart, body |
| increases those residence are interested in | | | | and soul. |