March 31 (that’s right, the day before April Fools Day) was World Backup Day. To honor World Backup Day, I thought online backup services deserved some examination. Three business people I know have experienced significant computer outages/damage just recently. None had current backups on which to rely. That spurred me to write about the dangers of storing your business data in such a way where a single point of failure can cripple your business.

For sole business owners or small businesses without a formal IT department, the hazards of not securing backups are even more risky. Imagine that your PC contracts a nasty virus, or the PC hard drive stops running – could you continue to operate your business?

Small businesses can take advantage of two trends affecting the tech world – faster broadband connections (both wired & wireless) and the availability of dirt-cheap computer storage. Combined, these trends make continuous online backup products affordable for the smallest of businesses. As well, the products currently available require little to no technical abilities – if you can click a few buttons on a website, you can be protected.

Here are some different options for online storage – I don’t rate or recommend any particular services. In most cases you can try the services free on a trial basis.

· Carbonite
· Crashplan
· Backblaze
· Mozy
· Norton Online Backup

To see a recent, thorough comparison of these and more you should read PC Magazine’s recent article Disaster-Proof Your Data with Online Backup.

Extra Tip:
Consider storing business files on a cloud-based file sharing system. Dropbox, Google Docs, Box.net, Office 365 are just a few among many ways to store files away from your PC, tablet or smartphone. This is especially important for rapidly changing files – the more you update a file, the more vulnerable you are to crashes/viruses if the file is only stored on your PC.

Disclaimer for company employees – Check your company’s IT security policies first before doing anything. Independent business owners obviously can make a determination based on their own judgment.

Does anyone have any stories about online backup?

Greetings from Point Breeze Credit Union!

We are very happy to be part of OFBPA and are excited about the opportunity to network with new businesses. Point Breeze Credit Union serves members, and businesses, located within 20 miles of our branches. If you work, worship or volunteer within 20 miles of Hunt Valley, Golden Ring or Bel Air, you are eligible to join!

At PBCU, we offer corporate partnership opportunities for businesses in our 20 mile radius and welcome you to partner with us to offer membership as part of your benefits for employees. Financial wellness is just as important as physical wellness and we have many ways to assist you staff in reaching financial wellness goals. We currently serve large and small companies like Ball Steel Tin, McCormick & Company, Proctor & Gamble, Squires Restaurant, Gray & Sons and many more. Please visit our website for a full listing of business partners.

As a business partner, you can take advantage of seminars on topics like budgeting, understanding credit and IRA's: what are they and what kind is right for me? PBCU will also come to you for employee information sessions where we can open accounts, accept loan payments, answer questions and more. A quarterly newsletter is also sent that can be printed and posted or emailed to staff. It highlights special promotions, scholarship information, events and more.

Whether your company is large or small, there is much to gain from partnering with a credit union. If you would like more information or to set up a meeting to discuss the opportunity, please contact Holly Klarman at 410-771-3850 x247 or via email at hklarman@pointbreezecu.com. I look forward to meeting at an upcoming meeting!

Exhibitors are welcome, there are a maximum of fifty exhibitor tables available. To register, simply visit http://expo21236.eventbrite.com/ and follow the registration process. Exhibitor registration runs through March 31, and the cost is $150.

Included in the Exhibitor fee are the following:

Free listing on the OFBPA website, free vendor list available the day of the event, attendee contact information, 6’ banquet table covered with black linen and two chairs, Free Continental Breakfast during set up time (8am -9am), Free Wi-fi available, Free gift bag for all vendors, Vendors-only door prize drawing.

Exhibitors will also benefit from promotion of the event via local publications including I95 Business Magazine, East County Times, patch.com, Pennysaver and others. Additionally, email and social media marketing will reach thousands of potential area attendees.

The expo is free for attendees, all are welcome. Attendee registration is available by visiting http://expo21236.eventbrite.com/ and completing the attendee registration. All readers are encouraged to share the event with area businesses and co-workers.

Overlea Fullerton Business and Professional Association (OFBPA) supports business interests in Overlea, Fullerton and surrounding neighborhoods. OFBPA aims to provide networking opportunities for all interested area businesses.

For more information about OFBPA, please visit http://www.ofbpa.com. Press contact - David Foertsch (410) 513-9311 or davidfoertsch@stingraysocial.com. Registration questions should be directed to Donna Bethke (410) 665-6551 or ptavon@comcast.net.

Overlea, MD — February 16, 2012 — Overlea Fullerton Business & Professional Association announced a partnership with Baltimore County’s Eastside Family Emergency Shelter.

“I met with shelter manager, Charmaine Short-Caldwell last week and I know we can help,” said Donna Bethke, OFBPA President. “The need is ongoing and if everyone can just help by donating one item each month it will be greatly appreciated.”

Local Business Leaders Collect Donated Items
OFBPA will define a monthly theme and collect select items at participating area businesses. As well, collections will be made at OFBPA’s monthly general meetings. To make a donation, visit one of the following locations:
· Eastern Savings Bank, 7927 Belair Rd. Baltimore, MD 21236
· Fullerton Self Storage, 7989 Rossville Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21236
· White Springs Townhomes, 7935 Belridge Road, Baltimore, MD 21236
· CCBC Catonsville, 800 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21228-5317
· CCBC Essex Eastside Occupational Training Center, 439 Eastern Av, Essex, MD 21221
· Amica Insurance, 6711 Columbia gateway Drive, Suite 410, Columbia, MD 21046

Largest Emergency Shelter in Baltimore County
The Eastside Family Emergency Center is located at 9100 Franklin Square Drive
Baltimore, MD 21237, just a short walk from Medstar Franklin Square Hospital & CCBC Essex. The shelter accommodates 150 people, and accepts single women, women with children, and intact families. Community Assistance Network, Inc. (CAN) is a Baltimore-based shelter operator, which also runs Baltimore County’s other shelters, the Hannah More Emergency Shelter, and the Men’s Westside Emergency Shelter.

Ways to Help the Eastside Emergency Shelter
OFBPA themes for February & March are listed below:

February 2012 – “Fill a Tote” Month
· 30 gallon tote –any color
· 18 gallon totes- any color
· Bath towel
· Wash cloth
· Shampoo and conditioner (regular size bottle)
· Soap – bar or liquid
· Deodorant for male or female (any brand name);
· Razors for male or female
· Toothpaste
· Toothbrush (child and adult)

Immediate Needs also include:
· Latex gloves – large
· Medium size trash bags
· Adult depends
· Always maxi pads
· Baby wipes

March 2012- “Baby” Month
· Diapers- newborn to Size 5 –NEED SIZES 3, 4 & 5 mostly
· Baby Wipes
· Pull Ups
· Children’s Tylenol- liquid
· Baby Snacks
· Crib Sheets –new or lightly used
· Bibs
· Sippy Cups
· Baby Powder, lotions, oil, diaper rash cream
· Baby towels and wash cloths
· Bay socks and shoes
· Baby Toys- new

Immediate Needs also include:
· Gift Cards from Sam’s Club are welcome.
· Cash for perishables. Checks payable to CAN
· Milk, Juice, Eggs, frozen food, bread, fresh meat- always in demand

Businesses interested in hosting collections at their office/store are asked to contact OFBPA directly.

Overlea Fullerton Business & Professional Association (“OFBPA”) is an organization dedicated to furthering economic development of the U.S. 1 corridor of Belair Road and its environs, and to promote and assist the growth and development of business concerns, including small business concerns, in that area.
For more information:
David Foertsch, (410) 513-9311, davidfoertsch@stingraysocial.com

For more information on Overlea Fullerton Business & Professional Association:
http://www.ofbpa.com/

The OFBPA Board of Directors & Donna Bethke, President 410-665-6551 ptavon@comcast.net

This may be big news for business folks who use daily deal/coupon sites here in the Baltimore area. According to citybizlist Baltimore, Google has launched their Google Offers product in Baltimore as of 10/25/11. Baltimore has numerous entrants in the daily deals space, with established competitors such as Groupon & Living Social battling it out on a daily basis inside of Baltimorean’s inboxes.

From a marketer’s perspective, I’m going to examine Baltimore’s first Google Offer, a $30 for $15 deal at Conkling Street’s Blue Hill Tavern. First, let’s flashback to Google’s failed bid to purchase Groupon. Google was rebuffed in their attempt to purchase Groupon in late 2010, which made the rumors of a Google Offers launch much more interesting. Google Offers launched in January 2011, and has been opening up new cities in a controlled manner since...
click here to read the remainder of the blog entry.

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Google is primarily known for their market-leading search engine product, simply named Google. It’s so popular now, it has become synonymous with the industry it leads. It is the 21st century Kleenex.

What many people, including business owners, don’t realize is that Google provides a powerful application suite named Google Apps. The basic Apps product is free, and combines many of Google’s most popular standalone productivity apps into an tightly-integrated, easy to manage suite that is useful for businesses of many different sizes.

Here’s a link to the Free Google Apps portal, where you can explore the features in greater detail.
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html

Here’s a quick listing of the apps included in the free version:

· Gmail
· Google Calendar
· Google Docs (similar in function to Microsoft Office)
· Google Sites (website creation)
· Google Reader
· Blogger
· Picasa Web Albums
· AdWords

For those businesses requiring a souped-up version of Google Apps, there is a $5 per month/per user upgrade that opens a larger suite of products & features. It operates under the name Google Apps for Business. Here is a comparison chart: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/index.html

I’ve been using the free Google Apps platform now for nearly one year. It serves most of my needs very well, and considering Google’s penchant for innovation & their ability to acquire & integrate new technologies quickly, I see Google Apps as a winner both now and into the future.

Are any of our other readers operating either in part of in full on the Google Apps platform? Would love to hear your impressions. We’ll continue the discussion on OFBPA’s blog, which is also fed to our Facebook fan page.

OFBPA Blog
http://ofbpa.com/b2evolution/blog1.php

OFBPA Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/ofbpa

Dave Foertsch
OFBPA Board
Social Media/PR Chair
davidfoertsch@stingraysocial.com
http://www.stingraysocial.com

Anyone who uses the web knows there are new applications & tools being invented daily (maybe even hourly) for the sole purpose of making our lives more connected and efficient. While this is a noble pursuit, it can be overwhelming to most folks, not knowing where to turn for advice.

Every tech magazine, blog & video program is jam-packed with lists such as –

· “The 50 iPhone apps you need now”
· “32 new social media resources you might have missed this week”
· “10 amazing tech tools to use in your business”

To help you weed out the noise and focus on the most useful tools of the recent past, we’ll highlight one each month. Here is one I’ve been using for two years, and it keeps getting better.

This month’s highlighted tool is Evernote. My advice is, if you don’t already use it, stop reading and go sign up now at http://www.evernote.com/. A basic account is free, which allows you to upload 60Mb per month.

Evernote is a “cloud-based” service that allows you to save & store nearly anything in a digital notebook. Additionally, you can share your notebooks with others with no more than a couple clicks on your PC, tablet or smartphone. Their motto is “Save everything.” See the intro video here: http://www.evernote.com/about/video/#zHom6bgqg9Y|1|1

For anyone who is already an Evernote user, and looking for new ways to make it more functional, check out the Evernote Trunk http://www.evernote.com/about/trunk/. Evernote has evolved into a platform or “eco-system” that many other businesses can use to develop add-ons or complementary products that extend Evernote’s functionality.

That’s it! If you take the leap and begin using Evernote, share your experiences with the group. I'm interested to see the creative ways you use the service. Enjoy!