A number of local business people, government officials and candidates are discussing alternative energy as one pathway to Toledo’s much-needed economic salvation. While many companies are actively making their names in this field, one of our local corporate giants is greatly distinguishing itself.
This week, Owens Corning CEO Mike Thaman traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend The Center for American Progress Action Fund’s “National Clean Energy Project.” Thaman joined a few dozen business leaders in a roundtable discussion to look into ways of  utilizing more clean energy in the United States and lessening America’s reliance on foreign oil.
“Homes and commercial buildings consume 40 percent of our nation’s energy and 74 percent of all electricity consumed,” Thaman said. “There are 80 million underinsulated homes in the United States. Any comprehensive energy policy must include energy efficiency and improved insulation in existing and new homes and buildings.”
With participants such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Kennedy Jr. and T. Boone Pickens at the event, Thaman had access to key leaders in environmental planning.
Kudos to Thaman and Owens Corning for leading this effort and stepping up to keep Toledo part of the conversation.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

Anyone who has ever had a conversation with the opposite sex knows that men and women speak different languages. There is little value in trying to figure out why these differences exist. The key is to develop the ability to understand the meaning behind the words we speak and the words we hear from others.
It has taken seven years of marriage and reading John Gray’s book, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus,” to learn how to speak “woman.” Now, I can proudly translate my wife’s statement, “I am cold,” into its true meaning, “Please get me a blanket.”  Prior to learning the Venusian language whenever I heard my wife say, “I am cold,” I was hearing a statement of fact:  “I am cold.” Wise men know that this is not a mere statement; it is a request for action.
As a husband, it is imperative that I develop the methods needed to communicate well with my wife, both in terms of the words that I use, as well as the interpretation of the words that I hear. It would be silly to think that this coequal need to communicate effectively exists in the business world.
In the business world, your customers do not have the time, the need or the patience to try and translate the words that you are using. This means that you need to make sure you are using words, questions and statements that instantly convey the appropriate message, request, or statement of fact. Be direct. There is no room in the business world for ambiguous language.  Those who want to get out in front of the competition need to take a lesson from the page of married life communications and better their communication skills.
Take a look at the big picture. You need travel no further than your closest salesperson to hear examples of wishy-washy language, obscure statements and watered-down questions. Unlike your spouse, however, your prospective customers have nothing to gain by trying to interpret the meaning behind your words. Do yourself a favor and improve the directness you use when formulating your questions.
Before you ask a question, ask yourself, “What do I want?” This will assure a response geared to your own needs.
Do you want to ask them for an appointment? Do you want to ask them for a sale? Then ask yourself if the questions that you are asking are dancing around what you really want to ask.
In a world that runs on clean communication you are doing your customer a disservice when your questions are ambiguous. It is possible to be both direct and polite.
It shows a modicum of professionalism when you are able to realize that getting to the point shows a level of understanding and deference to those with whom you are talking.  The questions that we ask our customers rarely have anything to do with what we really want to ask. We ask questions like, “Did you receive the samples that I sent?” when both our customer and we know that the real question is, “Did you like any of the samples we sent enough to buy our product?”
Or, perhaps you’re trying to ask for an appointment in some convoluted, backward way.  If you use ambiguous, wishy-washy language, you are going to get ambiguous, wishy-washy responses. If you ask the wrong questions, you will always get the wrong answers.
An effective, direct question has two major components — a statement of what you want, and a reason that they should care. Direct? Yes. Effective? You bet.
There is no shame in being direct. You are not being pushy; you are being an effective communicator. Take the guesswork out of your language, and you will discover the ability to provide your customers with the help, answers and solutions that they are looking for.
After all, that is what you are truly selling, isn’t it?

Tom Richard is a Toledo-based sales trainer, gives seminars, runs sales meetings and provides coaching for salespeople. For more information, visit www.TomRichard.com, call him at (419) 441-1005 or e-mail tom@tomrichard.com.

Paying an overdue utility bill, putting food on the table or securing another month’s rent is possible with the right knowledge.
Resources available in the recession-ravaged Northwest Ohio range from unemployment and job-search aid to taking care of basic life necessities of food and shelter.
With its connection to more than 1,300 Toledo and Northwest Ohio organizations and charities, United Way of Greater Toledo said it has a handle on the needs of the area and available resources.
From October through January,  United Way made 63 percent more referrals for food than it did during  the same period a year earlier. For the same time comparison, it made 52 percent more referrals for utility assistance.
Without United Way’s reach, many would still find resources but might miss other opportunities, according to Maricela Alcala, technology resource manager.
“They may not be able to know of all the programs they may qualify for,” Alcala said. “For example, a person may not qualify for rent assistance, but in talking to the person, a United Way representative may be able to suggest a program for food assistance that would free up money for rent.”
United Way of Greater Toledo offers a toll-free 2-1-1 service to call for information on financial and other resources. Cell-phone and pay-phone users should dial 800-650-HELP (4357).
United Way also has a Help for Hard Times guide available at the site www.unitedwaytoledo.org. The 31-page document includes suggestions and hints for dealing with stress, managing reduced finances and assistance for insurance and health care. It also includes telephone numbers for assistance and charity programs in Erie, Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties.
Often, the private sector offers assistance in a variety of ways, too.
“We understand that times are tough,” said Toledo Edison spokesman Mark Durbin. “If customers are having difficulty paying their bills, call us immediately.”
Durbin pointed to several state and company programs to ensure people maintain their electric and utility services when money is tight.
For example, HEAP — Home Energy Assistance Program — is a federally funded, state-administered program that provides grants to residents from October through April to prevent service from being disconnected or to restore it.
“We highly recommend that people call as soon as possible if they think they might need assistance because there isn’t an infinite amount of funding in the program,” Durbin said.
Columbia Gas of Ohio also offers assistance plans for its customers.
To gauge qualification for the HEAP grant, call 800-282-0880. Other programs include the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which helps those who qualify — households with income levels at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level — to pay past-due balances on utility bills.
There’s also a Winter Reconnect Program where, through April 15, customers make only a one-time $175 payment regardless of the amount owed to maintain service.
Brian Rome is Family Emergency Services program director for the Toledo Diocese’s Catholic Charities. Rome said his program is designed for those facing eviction or foreclosure and provides financial help up to $500 for Lucas County residents. To learn more about the program, call  (419) 244-6711.

Help at a Glance
United Way of Greater Toledo: 2-1-1, or 800-650-HELP (4357)
Lucas County Job & Family Services: (419) 213-8999
Ohio Department of Job & Family Services: 877-852-0010
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency: 800-638-3995
Catholic Charities’ Family Emergency Services: (419) 244-6711
Toledo Edison: 800-447-3333
Home Energy Assistance Program: 800-282-0880
Salvation Army (assistance to pay utility bills): (419) 241-3549

Many high school athletes competing for spots on their tennis teams no longer need to worry about not making the squad thanks to the No-Cut Initiative, a program encouraging coaches to keep every player who shows up with a racket.
The initiative officially began under the United States Tennis Association (USTA) based in White Plains, N.Y., which according to a release, has drawn more than 2,400 coaches across the country to sign on.
In the Toledo area, however, the practice has been more common due to a lower interest in the sport.
Libbey High School girls coach Thom West explained that his team hosts exhibition matches following play, allowing younger kids to gain experience and improve their skills. The longer players remain in the program during their careers, the better their opportunity to vie for spots on the roster.
“In any given season, I’ll have probably between seven and 10 kids who are match-ready,” West said. “And they generally compete to play, sometimes on a weekly basis, sometimes not quite that often, depending on the quality of the kids.”
A member of USTA and South Toledo Tennis Association, West helps efforts to spur interest in the sport. Although graduation causes a rollover effect, he noted a growing interest by area youth to become involved in tennis programs. Girls high school tennis takes place from August to October, but other programs continue throughout the year.
Ottawa Hills High School Athletic Director Tim Erickson also cited higher turnout and anticipates nearly 20 players to show for practice beginning March 9. Unfortunately, despite a no-cut policy, the field sometimes drops, with fewer players challenging for a limited number of singles and doubles positions available.
“There’s been some years that we’ve only had 12 or 13 kids come, but others, nearly 20,” Erickson said. “Usually what happens is sometimes kids when they see who’s coming out, they will elect not to play because there are only so many spots between the JV and the varsity that are typically going to play.”
For more information, visit www.USTA.com/no-cut.

When the call for help came, Gabrielle Davis made a difference in the lives of dozens of domestic violence victims. In March, the Toledo native will receive the 25th Sister Ann Joachim Award from Siena Heights University in recognition of her work.

Davis

Davis began working as a UT law professor in 1996. Four years later, Phillip Closius, then dean of the UT College of Law, asked her to expand its clinical offerings for law students.
Davis, unsure of how to make improvements, attended “Take Back the Night,” an event that raises awareness of sexual assault and abuse, and found inspiration.
“I was very moved by the stories people told about the legal system in connection with domestic violence,” she said. “Those stories were mostly negative.
“It made me realize that people turn to the legal system for assistance for these very difficult times, and in many instances, the system wasn’t equipped to help.”
Nine years later, Davis has received national attention for her work with students in the courtroom on domestic violence cases. The Sister Ann Jaochim Award, however, is special to her as it comes from her alma mater.
“Sister Ann was a legendary professor at Siena Heights and she was a lawyer before she became an Adrian Dominican sister and she was also a bit of a pioneering woman,” said Jennifer Hamlin Church, associate vice president for advancement at Siena Heights. “She was the first woman religious to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The award that is given in her name is specifically given in recognition of contributions to the community, the kinds of contributions that show strong leadership, the ability to get things done and the ability to confront issues head on while showing values cherished at Siena Heights.”
Davis’s contributions began with the Domestic Violence Clinic she started at UT. She said the clinic began by asking people who work in domestic violence to identify the need.
Almost unanimously they said they needed help prosecuting domestic violence cases.
The core of the program happens in the classroom and the courts, she said. The students work with court advocates, police, health care providers, children services, adult protective services, Jobs & Family Services and social service providers.
Davis said domestic violence doesn’t end when the courts issues its verdict. The clinic helps the victims get their names changed, a Social Security number, child custody, housing and  divorces — free of charge because they are a teaching clinic and a course designed to teach law students about the courtroom.
“I love it; this is the best job on earth. I like it because I am able to have the best of both worlds: I am a classroom teacher, but I also supervise students in real cases. I have a foot in both doors,” Davis said.
After noticing an increase in domestic violence fatalities, Davis started a domestic violence review team and, with a grant from the Department of Justice, spent 2007 doing research and issued a report, “Shattered Lives.”
Davis said the study found that 80 percent of the people killed were killed at or after the time they left.
“It’s not that they are going back for more; sometimes that’s the only way to stay alive,” Davis said.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UT College of Law Daniel Steinbock said Davis’ work has influenced developments in the field and trained students in the court of law.
“It’s made quite a difference, first of all in the lives of dozens of women and secondly she’s become a regional and national presence in the field,” Steinbock said.
“The bottom line for me is that we have to start figuring out ways to stop this violence before it starts. The legal system can only go so far. We only get cases after they’ve started,” Davis said.
Davis will receive the Sister Ann Joachim Award on March 19 during the Siena Heights Alumni Awards Day ceremony in Rueckert Auditorium in Dominican Hall at 4 p.m.

This is about train travel, European-style. And an epiphany.
And while, in our biased view, trains are a fascinating topic at any time, today’s ruminations were prompted by a series of seemingly disparate events.

A British train steams through the Yorkshire station.

Like the fact that “Slumdog Millionaire” won an Oscar for Best Picture in the Feb. 22 award ceremony. Having actually been to this movie (the only one we saw all year, in fact!), we know that the triumphal Bollywood finale takes place in a railway station in Mumbai.
We also know that its enthusiastic director, Danny Boyle, another Oscar recipient, directed the 1996 movie “Trainspotting,” which has teenagers collecting railway engine numbers at major British railheads like Clapham Junction and Crewe.
Spotting trains and collecting engine numbers was indeed an immensely popular hobby in Britain back in the 1950s and ‘60s, along with cigarette cards and stamps and such, and while we never personally stood on drafty railway platforms waiting for trains to chug through, the subject does have relevance here because in about three weeks we’ll be on a train stopping at Crewe on our way between Glasgow and London.
But no, we won’t be collecting train numbers.
Rather, we’ll probably be remembering how, a long time ago, we came to be seduced by the railway.
The year was 1983. Or maybe 1984. And we had decided, for journalistic purposes, to deviate from our usual two-week driving tour around Europe, staying at inns, bashing relentlessly across France or Germany en route to Spain, meandering the castles of the Rhine and the Danube.
Instead, that year we planned our trip by rail using Eurail passes, a Thomas Cook’s European Timetable, small carry-on bags and focusing on a few base cities.
Frankly, we didn’t hold out much hope for the idea, recalling the rather slow, smelly and even smoky trains of our respective youths. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. And whatever the outcome, it would certainly make for good copy, especially if the results were as disastrous as we expected.
As it turned out, they weren’t. Au contraire, we loved every single minute of our trip. Rode effortlessly and comfortably between cities. Were able to relax. Eat. Read. Nap. Watch scenery. All from the comfort of our own carriage. And then make connections, however tight, to the remotest of outposts, via other meticulously coordinated trains, trams, buses or boats.
Also, we had absolutely no responsibilities. No worries about traffic jams. Or racing drivers. No fretting about bad weather. Or trucks up our tailpipes. Or finding parking places. Or paying for high-priced fuel. Or locating a hotel in the confusing maze of a major metropolis. And best of all, we didn’t fight. About anything. Maps. Directions. Driving techniques. Nothing. And we reached our destinations still good friends, fresh and ready to explore.
It was indeed an epiphany.
Since then, we’ve taken hundreds more rail journeys to every corner of the continent and beyond. And the initial seduction has continued as we’ve seen the steady improvement and expansion of the European rail system. From the gentrification of its railway stations. The upgrading of equipment. The development of high-speed rail, 200 mph and more. And the boring of tunnels under oceans (The Chunnel) and through tall mountains.
We’ve seen modern technology such as the Internet, video players, built-in board games and swivel chairs come to ever more comfy carriages, and watched as increasing speed, smoother tracks, reliable timetables and a proliferation of rail passes make train travel a real bargain even in the face of fierce competition from budget airlines.
Sure, there are occasional problems. Like strikes. And mechanical failures. And some rather grotty trains are still being used on suburban commuter routes. But overall, and especially in Western Europe, the system works seamlessly from Scotland to Sicily, as millions of train miles are ticked off every day with speed, comfort and style.
We can only hope that one day efficient, frequent and regular train travel will come to this part of the world. Some references to highspeed rail in the recent stimulus package seem to offer hope. In the meantime, however, we’ll just have to go elsewhere for our rail fix.e

E-mail travel columnists Roger Holliday and Claudia Fischer at RogerHolliday@wcnet.org.

KeyBank honored for customer service
BusinessWeek has named KeyBank one of its top 25 Customer Service Champs for 2009 in its March 2 issue.
Ranked 11th in the survey, KeyBank joins a group of companies, including Amazon.com, Lexus, Apple, Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Nordstrom.  Key is the only bank on the list.
“We’re delighted to receive this award from BusinessWeek,” said KeyCorp CEO Henry L. Meyer III, “because it says that our continual efforts to strengthen customer service are paying off.  We were rated on customer feedback about multiple aspects of our bank, including perceptions of our employees.  I’m proud of everyone at Key for their part in contributing to our success.”

Fifth Third offering help for homebuyers
Fifth Third Bank will sponsor workshops for first-time homebuyers and those facing the possibility of foreclosure.
March 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. foreclosure prevention with Adelante, The Latino Resource Center, South Library, 1736 Broadway St.

• March 10, 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. homebuyer workshop with Organized Neighbors Yielding Excellence Community Development Corporation at the Mott Library, 1085 Dorr St.
• March 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., foreclosure prevention with Consumer Credit Counseling Service at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 915 N. Reynolds Road.
• March 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. homebuyer workshop with Ottawa Community Development Corporation at Monroe Street Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St.
• There will also be workshops scheduled in April and May.

Basic-need providers are about to get a boost.
The Toledo Community Foundation’s Safety Net Grantmaking Program will kick off March 2. The program will accept applications from nonprofit groups providing food, clothing and shelter to the community. Applicants will be matched with a grant from funds raised by the foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo.
“We looked at the current economic condition of our community and we deemed that there is a greater need in our community than before for basic needs and a basic safety net,” Keith Burwell, president of the foundation, said.
Joanne Olnhausen, the Foundation’s communications officer, said the foundation and United Way have each designated $100,000 for the fund. With that money, the Foundation will match 50 cents to every dollar (up to $2,000 per individual donation) donated by the community.
“We told the community, ‘We are going to respond to this need, and if you want to respond, we will match your money,’” Burwell said.
Olnhausen said it wants to get the donations out to the community as soon as they come in.
“We want to make the money and get it out,” she said. The fund is temporary and aims to help nonprofit groups’ needs at a time when less government funds and donations are coming in.
Nonprofit, charitable organizations that have a tax-exempt status can send applications to the foundation beginning March 2. The foundation’s staff and board of trustees will review the applications and they intend to accept them through 2009, Olnhausen said.
The foundation will look at the organization’s ability to serve the basic needs of the community with priority given to nonprofits that can offer direct and immediate assistance.
“We are actually looking at organizations that are providing those basic needs,” Burwell said. “While we say food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs, we are trying to keep that as broad as possible to help as many as possible.
“We know we are going to help the community, and for those who have the ability to help, we are asking them to join us.”

On the web: Visit www.toledocf.org and click on links for more information.

Have you ever tasted a white wine that made your mouth water and your lips pucker, maybe even making your eyes water? Surprise you? Did that seem wrong? What about a red wine that did the same? If so, it’s time to stop being freaked out by it and start embracing it! Every wine geek goes ga-ga for just these types of wine. Surprisingly, it’s not just to have wine street cred, like say, being a fan of David Lynch (I can’t seem to find any redeeming qualities in his freak-show films). These wines have a very important place in the world, particularly when it comes to food and wine pairings.

Acidity, for our purposes, exists in 3 forms in wine. Citric acid, you should know, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, all have citric acid. The second, we don’t think of as acidity, Tannins, which are the grip you get from big red wines like Cabernet. It can come from the fruit, where it gives a sensation of velvet, or oak where it is bitter like a Popsicle stick, or a combination of the 2. Tannins or Tannic acid exist mostly in red wines and are technically an acid, but when experts refer to acids, this is not usually included. The third acid is Tartaric, which is like irony in that it is difficult to describe, but I know it when I see it. It is prevalent in most white wines that have a mineral quality, and is best described as having a certain spiciness or liveliness. It may even seem spritzy without actually have any effervescence. You will find this in wines form the Loire Valley, France or most significantly from good German Rieslings. In fact, they are so abundant in German Rieslings that they often crystallize either in the bottom of the bottle or on the bottom of the cork. They will look like salt crystals and many people mistake these for a flaw in the wine, when in fact it’s just the opposite, it’s a sign of high quality and a well structured and developed wine.

Wines with high acidity are a function of 3 factors. First, is the variety of grape. Sauvignon Blanc & Riesling are inherently more acidic than Chardonnay. Second is climate. Generally speaking the cooler the climate is, the higher the acidity is.  Third, is the mineral content of the soil. The 2nd and 3rd rules can trump the first. I have often had California (or Ohio) Rieslings with no acidity and I’ve also had Chablis (Chardonnay from Burgundy) that would clean dentures. Whenever a rare and difficult to duplicate set of factors contribute to a wine’s character, the result is usually something very special. Rarity aside, what place do these wines have? Americans are not accustomed to anything with acidity aside from Tomato Sauce and Lemonheads. As one of my favorite German producers likes to say, “Americans are weaned on Coca Cola and Ketchup, it takes practice to appreciate acidity in wines”. This is true, we don’t usually expect that rush of acidity, which surprises our palates, and our palates don’t like surprises.   But these wines wake up our appetites, they make us salivate, which prepares us to eat. It will also pair beautifully with many foods. High Acid goes great with high fat. Want to make a butter or cream sauce less rich? High acid white is the way to go. They are also great for pairing with soft young cheeses, especially goat cheese. Great Whites with High Acid to look for include Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc form Loire, and one of my all time favs), Rueda (Spain), Pouilly Fume, Loire Chenin Blancs, Mosel and Rheingau Rieslings (The acids act as a counterpunch to the sweetness of these wines), Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc from Alsace, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (a little too stylized for me but a crowd pleaser), and of course Chablis.

Acid driven reds are a whole different ballgame. Most reds with acidity (think of the sour of cherries, or berries), can be manipulated to be less acidic and more fruity. The more acid, typically, the longer you can age these wines. Reds with acidity of note?  How about Red Burgundy (which is Pinot Noir), Riojas, Barolos and Barabarescos, Beaujolais, and many of the best Syrahs, Grenaches, Tempranillos, Sangioveses and Pinot Noirs around the world. Whereas acidity in white wine often tastes like citrus. The acidity in reds can run the gamut with a huge diversity of fruit flavors. Most of the truly collectible reds are acid driven, but very few are viewed as everyday wines by Americans. We tend to like our reds fruity and straightforward. As we develop our palates, we begin to appreciate acidity even more, and in fact tend to gravitate towards wines with these characteristics.

While not everyone there may know your name, there’s sure to be plenty of “Cheers!” toasts March 6 at the Erie Street Market.
The third annual Glass City Beer Fest serves as a fundraiser for both the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation and The Arc of Lucas County. The event is making a name for itself as the place to be for beer drinkers demanding a wider variety of suds.
Breweries scheduled to have their brewers or staff members at the Beer Fest include Barrelhouse, Bell’s, Granite City, Goose Island, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Dogfish Head, Maumee Bay, New Holland, Boston Beer Company, Two Brothers, Warbird and Stone Brewing. In addition, a number of beer distributors will be at the event to talk about the nearly 100 brands from about 30 breweries ready to be sampled.
“We actually have a waiting list for next year, so that if a brewery drops out, we have a list of brewers wanting to participate,” said Carla Wells, executive director of the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation. “The interest is definitely there from the brewers. … The brewers are always excited to come back to this event. I take that as a really good sign of the future of the event. These brewers get asked to do these types of events on a very regular basis, so they’re starting to get more selective as far as which ones they attend.”
To help soak up the suds, food from Shorty’s and The Original Gino’s Pizza will be available for purchase. Live entertainment will be provided by 56 Daze.
Advance tickets for the event, which runs from 5 to 11 p.m., are $25 and available by calling (419) 724-BREW or at The Andersons. Tickets at the door are $30 ($20 for military members, police and firefighters). The cost includes 12
3-ounce pours, with additional pours being $5 for six.
“We’re really appreciative of the support of the community, both from sponsors and those that come out to the event to support two local charities,” Wells said. “All of the money stays in Northwest Ohio and helps families that are truly in need in our own community.”
The Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation addresses the needs of individuals and families impacted by bleeding disorders within a 22-county area.
The organization provides family networking activities, trips to camp for both youths and adults, a family crisis fund and educational programs and workshops.
The Arc of Lucas County is a nonprofit association made up of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, as well as their families, friends, interested citizens and professionals in the disability field.
The agency provides support and education for families affected by developmental disabilities and advocates for human rights, personal dignity and community participation of individuals with such disabilities.

On the web: Visit www.glasscitybeerfest.com and click on links for more information.