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Veterans Day Remembered

Joe Marconi

By Joe Marconi
in AutoShopOwner Announcements

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Gonzo Grand Master

Gonzo

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My wife has something she does for our veterans that needs to be mentioned.

She works with an organization called. Quilts of Valor... or QOV for short.

 

QOV was started by a house wife from San Diego. She wanted to do something for the injured soldiers coming home to her area of the country. The concept became a national organization. QOV now has chapters all over the country. Here in Oklahoma my wife is in charge of their local branch.

 

Here's how this works.

You're on duty, in the war zone... you're hit by a road side bomb. You're rushed to a military hospital where your put back together. Before you leave you're given a quilt as a gift from these little old ladies (and men) from somewhere in the United States. It's not important what part of the country the quilt comes from, it's not important who made it. It's yours... it's something from home... it's something that lets you know... WE CARE.

 

From a lot of the doctors and nurses we get cards and letters from the guys and gals that recieved quilts. They tell us the very first thing that every soldier does when they get their quilt... they smell it... I guess it reminds them of home... or the fact it doesn't smell like a hospital.

 

It's a great way to show how valuable and how much we care about their efforts. I'm a supporter of QOV. If you want more info... read up on it here at my wifes website. http://www.persimmonquilts.com/QuiltsofValor.html they do except donations... shipping is a big cost. (Check around and see if there is a chapter in your area) We have quilts come to our house from all over the world (Korea, Japan, Australia, and from all over the USA). My wife will quilt them on her machine and then package them. Most of the quilts the ladies put together are sent to a hospital in Germany. Everything from the postage, thread, material, and time is all donated.

On some weekends there are 10/20 ladies at my house sewing, packaging, and quilting. It's something... I think they are all special. Especially my wife.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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