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