Customers: Old or New ... it's fun when you run into them in an unexpected way!

Happy April 27, 2011 to everyone! We hope the weather in your area is pleasant and you are not in harm's way. However, we know that much of the U.S.A. has been a little unseasonal this April.

It has turned out to be a great day today. Four conversations that were outstanding this afternoon ...

• Meet a early customer of my grandfather's,


• Visited with a current customer, who passed on his personal experience with my father that was quite remarkable, as well,


• Had a good visit with a potential new customer, and


• Talked to one of our distributors, who recently made his largest order to date

It started out this afternoon at the bank. Waiting in line, I struck up a conversation with a retiree, who I had never had the pleasure of meeting. We were talking about the weather and how it was impacting the move of the Czeck Museum (part of our local flood recovery). He was a nice gentleman and he asked me for my name. So, I told him my name and it turns out he was an old customer of my grandfather.

Now, my grandfather would have been 110 years old this year. Irv passed away in 1975, so it is not every day I get an opportunity to talk to someone who knew my grandfather as well as this gentleman did.

The gentleman started out by describing the business my grandfather had been a part of prior to starting Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. in March of 1945. Flood recovery has been on the minds of our community in Cedar Rapids for a long time, since June 2008. Our original business location was at A Street and 22Nd Avenue SW, right in the Czech Village district of Cedar Rapids. The gentleman's business was right across where the museum is today. Had Tucker Manufacturing Co. been at that location in 2008, we would have been destroyed. Thankfully, we moved up to higher ground decades ago. However, many businesses and residents of Cedar Rapids weren't has fortunate.

The gentleman talked about the products that we first made at Tucker Manufacturing Co. like it was yesterday. He spoke about the As we stood outside in the parking lot having this conversation, I just thought to myself how small the world really is at times.

Later in the day, the other three conversations occurred. The gentlemen from California passed on the time the story, when he meet my father "Tommy" at his business. Another "small world" moment.

April has been a very interesting month. Often, the grind of the world today gets one down. It's nice to have a day, where one can reflect and rejoice in the fruit of one's labor. And, today I saw it through the eyes of one of my grandfather's customers, one of my father's, as well as one of my own. Further, it was nice to hear from a new prospect looking to purchase their first Tucker® Pole model.

We are preparing to make a price increase in 2011. One of my distributors today stated to obvious. It's time that we raise prices. So, we will be passing on a price increase soon. The gas prices are impacting raw materials prices heavily. Our last price increase was in 2008. Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA. Our products are manufactured right here in the State of Iowa, since 1945. Since 1957, we have focused on the manufacturing of the first commerical waterfed pole system. Originally called the Tucker High-Level Window Washer, it is better known as a Tucker Pole today.

We want to say thank you to our long-term, new, old, future and existing customers. We appreciate your business. Thank you for sharing a part of our long and enjoyable history.

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We want to wish everyone a Good Friday, Happy Earth Day; Safe and Enjoyable Easter weekend

Our offices at Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. are closed for the Easter holiday on Good Friday. We began that tradition many years ago, since it offers a good break between the New Year's and Memorial Day holidays for our staff, as well as celebrate Good Friday with our friends and families.

Friday, April 22 is also Earth Day, so we want to wish you a Happy Earth Day 2011, as well.

We are in the middle of a busy Spring, with producing products, packaging and getting them shipped out from our facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Tucker Pole is manufactured here in the USA, right here in Downtown Cedar Rapids.

We want to thank our Distributors, customers, end users, vendors and friends this Easter season. Our offices and production will resume on normal hours on Monday, April 25Th.

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Have you ever experience e-mail problems communicating with tuckerusa.com?

What percentage of e-mails is spam for your organization? Or, put it another way, how many of your e-mails are good ones, as compared to junk e-mail?

• Over the past four days, 2% of our e-mail have been acceptable, with 98% going to our spam filter


• Talking with our third-party IT representative, on average customers typically average 9% good to spam

If you have experienced issues e-mailing to any of our tuckerusa.com e-mail addresses, we invite you to e-mail us and re-connect. We apologize for the recent troubles that our third-party spam filter has had. We have changed providers and we look forward to a smoother situation in 2011.

Please let us know, if you have any questions?

Sincerely,

Robin Tucker for Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Robin Tucker has been appointed to City's Charter Review Commission

The City of Cedar Rapids at the recent regular City Council meeting on April 12, 2011, during the the consent agenda [PDF], appointed 13 members to serve on the Cedar Rapids Charter Review Commission. Section 7.02 of the Home Rule Charter [PDF] calls for a Charter Review Commission in the year 2011 and every ten years thereafter.

The Resolution appointed Paul Pate (co-chair), Kay Halloran (co-chair), Nancy Bruner, LaNisha Cassell, Monica Challenger, James Craig, Patricia (Tricia) Miller, Mary Nelson, Fatima Smejkal, Scott Overland, Robin Tucker, Nancy Welsh and Carleton Whiting (terms effective through 08/15/11) to the Charter Review Commission. Many of the Commissioners were taken from applications.

Background: The City’s Home Rule Charter Section 7.02 requires that a Charter Review Commission be established in 2011. The commission shall review the existing charter and may recommend any charter amendments that it deems appropriate to the council. Mayor Corbett along with all Council members each chose one individual and four at-large individuals to serve on the Charter Review Commission. The group’s final report should be submitted by 08/15/11. Recommendations by the charter can either be approved by the Council or submitted for voter approval. Ballots are printed in September for the November election and therefore recommendations from the Charter Review Commission must be submitted by August.

In 2004-05, the local Home Rule Charter Commission was formed, as 15 member commission to recommend to the voters an alternative form of goverment to the the current Commission form of government, at the time. In May 2005, the Home Rule Charter was constructed and presented to Mayor Paul Pate and the City Council. In June of 2005, by a vote of 69% support, the City of Cedar Rapids voted to move to Home Rule. The City had been under the old Commission form of government from 1908 to 2005. Cedar Rapids was one of the last cities above 100,000 still using the Commission form.

Today, the City of Cedar Rapids operates under the Home Rule Charter form of government as prescribed by Chapter 372 of the Code of Iowa. As section 4.01 as the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Code of Ordinances points out: The Home Rule Charter ("the charter") is set forth in this code as an unnumbered chapter. The Home Rule Charter [PDF] draws from the popular Iowa form of government: the Council-Manger form, along with some of the traditions of local government in Cedar Rapids, such as "citizen participation" in boards and commissions, which was a popular part of our commission form of government.

Robin Tucker served together on the Home Rule Charter Commission in 2004-05, along with Nancy Bruner. Ms. Bruner served as one of the co-chairs, while Mr. Tucker served as drafting chair on that previous commission. I look forward to the opportunity to serve with Nancy again, along with the other members who have been appointed the Commission.

The two co-chairs of the recently appointed Charter Review Commission are the most recent outgoing mayors for the City of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Pate was the last Mayor under the previous form of government, while Ms. Hollarn was the first Mayor elected under our Home Rule form of government. The other nine members of the Commission appear to represent a cross section of our community. Commission work is schedule to begin on May 5, 2011 and the Mayor and Council have instructed the Commission that they have until August 15, 2011 to compete the work of the Commission.

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We welcome the Second Quarter and April 2011!

It has been a long Winter for many in North America. The signs of Spring are beginning to be seen, though the people in the Northeast section of the USA are not likely laughing on April Fools Day.

• Opening day of Major League Baseball has transpired


• We are now on Daylight Savings Time


• The Vernal Equinox has taken place


• School children are wearing shorts


• Spring sports have begun


• People are heading outside to do exterior work or for recreation

With Spring arriving, people are going to begin to head outside to reach, wash and clean. But, remember, to look up and check for wires, before beginning any cleaning project or any outside activity that could lead to danger. Whether you are in the City or out in Rural Areas, electric line safety is required. You may be working or playing, but Safety First is always smart.

Health and safety should always be on every one's mind, whether working inside or out. With the weather improving, many people will begin working with window washers and water fed poles outside. Remember, DANGER - DO NOT use near nor allow contact with electric wires. NO UTILICE dondequiera cerca, ni permita el contacto con Alambres Electricos - PELIGRO.

Survey the work area, look up and avoid power lines

STAY AWAY FROM THE DANGER ZONE and Stay Alive

Stay Away From All Overhead Power Lines!

Be Smart, Look Up, and Stay Away from all overhead power lines. Good advice, whether you are working on a farm, living in the city and when you are working with window cleaning equipment, including products like the Tucker® Pole Window Washers and Exterior Maintenance Systems.

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