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September, 2010

BBB Reinvents the Reliability Report:

Find out how your business will benefit

Last year alone, consumers looked to the BBB more than 65 million times for help finding trustworthy businesses. Maybe they needed a plumber, an IT specialist or a safe place to find deals online. Whatever type of business they were looking for, they all turned to BBB because they knew they could trust the nearly 4 million Reliability Reports BBB maintains on businesses across North America.

As an Accredited Business, your business report is a testament to your track record for treating customers with respect. The seal on your report shows that you uphold BBB’s Standards for Trust and customers know that you will stand by your word.

While your dedication to ethics and integrity doesn’t change, your business evolves over time to better meet customer needs. For the same reason, BBB has redeveloped our business reports to provide more information to consumers as well as help Accredited Businesses highlight their products and services.

For starters, in the new year, our reports will have a new name: BBB Business Review. The value of accreditation will be given greater note. And Accredited Businesses will be able to upload photos and videos to their review to showcase their services or products. Customers that check out your review will also be able to download any coupons you want to offer, request a quote for service or a map and directions to your business.

You will also have the opportunity to highlight your professional affiliations such as association memberships, special certifications and the like, and to add more information about your business, including your products and services, hours of operation, refund and exchange policy and service areas.

Your BBB Business Review is now an even better way for your business to stand out from the competition online. As we prepare to launch our new and improved reports, feel free to contact the BBB at (800)222-1600 if you have questions about how this will impact your company. As the kick-off time approaches we will be providing more details and information about the reporting transformation so that you may learn about how you can take full advantage of all the new features and promote your good name.

It is an exciting time at the BBB, full of good and positive change. As we wind down our 70th anniversary year we celebrate the continuing cause of the BBB: promoting the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

The Annual Meeting of Accredited Businesses of the Better Business Bureau of Des Moines, Inc., dba: Better Business Bureau serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities, Siouxland Region and the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation, Inc. will be:

November 15, 2010 at 11:45 a.m.

The Embassy Club, 

801 Grand- 40th Floor

Des Moines, IA. 50309

Lunch will be served- $20.00.  Reservations are required. Please call the AB line at 515-243-5027 for additional information or to make a reservation.

All BBB Accredited Businesses are welcome.

President’s Column

Welcome to Fall! What a great time of the year. Here is hoping the change of seasons brings a positive change for the business climate! I want to use my space to highlight several things that are really important going on at the BBB.

First, you should take time to read the article regarding our effort to enhance the BBB Reliability Report. In my time at the BBB, this is one of the best improvements we have made. It is a tangible benefit for our Accredited Businesses – YOU – and gives you a way to positively differentiate yourself from your competition. You will be hearing a lot more about it – and we’ll be inviting you to post photo’s, logo’s, video’s and more. Read about it today and start thinking about how to maximize it in the coming months.

Second, we are completing our first full year with a representative in the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids Corridor. At the September BBB Board meeting, we established the Corridor BBB Community Advisory Council. This group of 11 community leaders is already helping us build a strong local brand. New memberships are increasing. Publicity on the airwaves and newspapers is everywhere. Working with our Cedar Rapids friends has been one of the great professional opportunities of my career. I guess watching them pave the way from the tragic floods of 2008 and rebounding with such optimism has been energizing for me.

Third, as we conclude our 70th Anniversary year, I want you to know that we are committed to continuing some of the “extra” touches implemented this year. In particular, plans for the 2011 Iowa Integrity Awards will continue the high energy presentation and professional program that Madeline Storey and our friends at Flynn/Wright created. I was asked about how businesses can be affiliated with the award. We have limited our sponsorships to six companies – but the board is now seeking sponsorships at levels as low as $500 and as much as $5000. Please contact me at ccoleman@dm. or 515.243.5027 for more information. I promise you, it will be the donations you will be most proud of making all year long!

Fourth, look for the BBB sponsored SHRED IT DAYS in Cedar Rapids and in the Quad Cities this Fall.This is a free benefit of your membership with the BBB – and we promote it up as an educational opportunity for residents in these communities. Thanks to our many volunteers and sponsors, these will be great and fun events.

Lastly, I want you to know that your BBB staff snuck away from the office last week and took the opportunity to join thousands of Iowan’s at Meals for the Heartland. It was remarkable – four days of preparing meals to be sent around the world, resulting in over 4.4 million meals prepared. Our two hours contributed nearly 1,000! We have a super team and I am proud to work along side them.

Have a great month,

- Chris Coleman, President

BBB Alert: Emergency email from friend or foe?

This scam has been publicized on TV and several variations have been recently circulated. Also known as the grandparents scam, the foremost feature of the scam is a friend or family member who sends an email about a financial dilemma they are facing while travelling. The common thread of these scams is the request for funds to be wired immediately to the traveler so that they may extricate themselves from the problem. Frighteningly, the email below was actually signed by a good friend of the recipient. Sharing personal information through social networking or other searchable sites could provide the source. The awkward wording is another red flag.

How are you? Hope all is well with you and I pray this email finds you in good health. I am sorry that I didn’t tell you about me leaving for a conference here in London but it was spur of the moment. I really hate to ask you but I need a favor from you because I was mugged at the park of the hotel where I stayed. All cash, credit card and cell phones were stolen off me but luckily for me I still have my passport with me. I've been to the Embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all. My flight leaves in a few hours from now but I'm having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let me leave until I settle the bills.

I will appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with. I'll pay you back as soon as I return. Kindly let me know if you can be of help so that I can send you the details to use when sending this money to me. Thank you for your concern and help. You know I wouldn’t contact you like this if it wasn’t an emergency. Write back right away, I’m really scared.

Ad Reviews

Advertising Review promotes truth in advertising to enhance consumer confidence in businesses that advertise. Following are cases that represent recent advertising review matters your BBB pursued. Challenges made by the BBB, using the BBB Code of Advertising, result from information given by consumers, competitors and through the BBB’s own monitoring efforts. The fact that a particular business responds to a BBB challenge is a compliment to their willingness to cooperate with the BBB’s self-regulatory process and not to be taken as an admission of impropriety on any advertiser’s part.

|B & B Drain Tech, Milan, IL |Todd’s Mudjacking Service, Inc., East Moline, IL |

|Challenge: “#1 In The #2 Business” |Challenge: “The QCA’s #1 Provider of Concrete Repair & Basement Waterproofing” |

|Response: Company agreed to modify future advertising. |Response: Company agreed to modify future advertising. |

|BBB Integrity Awards: |

|Do you know a company to nominate? |

| |

|The movies have The Oscars, music has The Grammys and TV has The Emmy’s. The Better Business Bureau has The Integrity Awards! The BBB award season will soon be|

|upon us. Start thinking about the company that you think is deserving of this special honor. Nominations are now being taken for presentation at the |

|luncheon in April. |

| |

|The Integrity Awards were established to recognize companies and organizations whose business practices and related activities in the community exemplify the |

|BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust. To nominate a company, please complete the information below and mail, email or fax it to the BBB. All companies|

|nominated will be required to complete a formal application. Nomination deadline is December 14, 2010. You may nominate your own company. |

| |

|Company:____________________________________________________ |

|Address:______________City:_______________St:_________Zip:______ |

|Phone:(__)__________________Owner/Mgr./Principal(s):______________ |

|Nominated by:____________________ Phone:(__)____________________ |

|I suggest that the above company be considered for the Integrity Award because (be specific): |

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|New Members | The Masters Group |

| |Financial Planning Consultants |

|AMES |BETTENDORF |

|Triplett Companies |American Exteriors |

|Real Estate |Windows - Installation & Service |

|ANKENY |CALAMUS |

|Hintz Family Dentistry |Choice Plumbing Heating & AC |

|Dentists |Plumbing Contractors |

|Jespersen Construction |L K Gasper Health Insurance |

|Construction & Remodeling Services |Insurance - Health |

|Prevailing Resources |CAMANCHE |

|Wind Energy Systems |Maylum Tool & Grind |

|CEDAR RAPIDS |Grinding - Precision & Production |

|Abbie's Animal Clinic |DONAHUE |

|Veterinarians |Scott County Lawn |

|Class Act Professional DJ Service |Lawn Maintenance |

|Disc Jockeys |ELMA |

|Classic Concrete Raising |E & E Welding |

|Mud Jacking Contractors |Welding |

|Fairway Auto Care |FOREST CITY |

|Auto Repair & Service |North Iowa Plumbing, Heating and Electric |

|First Kiss Weddings |Plumbing Contractors |

|Videographers |W C Hansen Hardware |

|Klein Chem Dry |Hardware - Retail |

|Carpet & Rug Cleaners |FORT DODGE |

|Red Carpet Bridal |Advanced Heating & Air Conditioning |

|Bridal Shops |Heating & Air Conditioning |

|VOIP Care |Fort Dodge Pool & Spa Supply |

|Computer Software Publishers & Developers |Swimming Pool Contractors, Dealers, Design |

|CENTER POINT |Grell Roofing |

|Pray's Tree Service |Roofing Contractors |

|Tree Service |Spring Valley Construction |

|CENTERVILLE |Roofing Contractors |

|Superior Cable & Data |GARNER |

|Cable Networking |Hancock County Abstract Co |

|CHARITON |Abrasives |

|Healthy Connections |HARTLEY |

|Home Health Services - Skilled |Schierholz Chiropractic & Acupuncture |

|CLIVE |Chiropractors D.C. |

|Schwig Marketing |HIAWATHA |

|Advertising Specialties |Ferguson Enterprises |

|Weissenburger Investments & Financial Planning |Plumbing Fixtures, Parts, Supplies - Wholesale & Mfg |

|Financial Planning Consultants |HORNICK |

|CORALVILLE |Leather & Hawgs |

|Lifeson Movers |Leather Goods - Dealers |

|Movers |IOWA CITY |

|DALLAS CENTER |# 1 Cab |

|K B Electric |Taxicabs |

|Contractors - Electrical |Consensus Change Consulting |

|DAVENPORT |Management Consultants |

|MidAmerican Equipment & Supplies |Frozen Beverages of Iowa |

|Auto Perform, Race & Sport Equipment |Concessionaires |

|DE WITT |JOHNSTON |

|American Fence & Pool |Truly Nails |

|Fence - Sales, Service & Contractors |Nail Salons |

|DES MOINES |KALONA |

|A & B Plumbing |Chris Schlabach Construction |

|Plumbing Contractors |Contractors - General |

|All Iowa Construction Services |KEOKUK |

|Roofing Contractors |Keokuk Auto Credit |

|Delden Garage Doors |Auto Dealers - Used Cars |

|Overhead Garage Doors |KINGSLEY |

|Des Moines Heating & Cooling |Cole Construction |

|Air conditioning & Heating Contractors - Residential |Contractors - General |

|Fessler Carbonic Gas Co |KNOXVILLE |

|Carbonic Gas |Baumgarten Construction |

|Halbrook Electric |Contractors - General |

|Contractors - Electrical |LAMONT |

|Henderson's Highland Park Funeral Home |Bossen Implement |

|Funeral Homes |Toys - Retail |

|Mauro Insurance Agency |LE CLAIRE |

|Insurance Companies |Brian Martin Masonry |

|Veracity Financial Group |Mason Contractors |

|Collection Agencies |Holland Street Interiors |

| |Interior Decorators & Designers |

|Schwenke Pharmacy |RAPIDS CITY |

|Pharmacies |Jesse LeMaster Treemaster |

|Steve Nelson & Son Siding Contractors |Tree Service |

|Siding Contractors |ROCK ISLAND |

|MASON CITY |QC General |

|Iowa Heartland Credit Union |Home Improvements |

|Credit Unions |SHELL ROCK |

|Tobin Custom Builders |Schuldt Auto Body |

|Home Builders |Auto Repair & Service |

|MINBURN |SOUTH ENGLISH |

|Davison Siding & Windows |Searl Network |

|Contractors - General |Computer Consultant |

|MOLINE |SWISHER |

|Twisted Essentials |Plum Creek Trucking |

|Auto Paintless Dent Repair |Trucking - Heavy Hauling |

|MOUNT PLEASANT |THORNTON |

|Auto Right Driving School |Pals Auction Service |

|Auto Driving School |Auctioneers |

|MOVILLE |URBANA |

|Martens Family Construction |Abigail's Simple Solutions |

|Contractors - General |Organizing Services - Household & Business |

|MUSCATINE |URBANDALE |

|Thiekers |Healthy Connections |

|Auto Restoration |Home Health Services - Skilled |

|NASHUA |Results by Kim |

|Cedar Lake EZ Dock |Weight Control Services |

|Docks |WATERLOO |

|Dietz Construction |B & G Builders |

|Home Builders |Contractors - General |

|Welter's Custom Cabinets |Family Management Credit Counselors |

|Cabinet Manufacturer |Credit & Debt Counseling |

|NORTH LIBERTY |T N K Health Food Store |

|Tryon Enterprises |Food Products |

|Financial Planning Consultants |WEBSTER CITY |

|OELWEIN |Tony's Tire Service |

|Todd's Specialized Rigging |Auto Repair & Service |

|Machinery Movers & Erectors |WEST DES MOINES |

|OLIN |McDonald Imaging Solutions |

|Eastern Division Services |Printers - Business Forms |

|Appliances - Installation |WINTERSET |

|OTTUMWA |Hartman Auctioneering |

|R & B Taxi |Auctioneers |

|Taxicabs |Healthy Connections |

| |Home Health Services - Skilled |

|Happy Anniversary |

| |

|The following businesses reaffirmed their dedication and pride in their communities and dedication to fair, honest and good business practices by recently |

|renewing as an Accredited Business of the BBB. The BBB appreciates their generous and vital support. |

| 50+ Years |Packaging Distribution Services |

|Wells Fargo Financial |Professional Muffler |

|25 - 49 Years |R Jones Collision Repair |

|Aluminum Seamless Gutter Service |Russell’s Trophies & Engraving |

|Anderson Erickson Dairy |Taylor Industries |

|Drake Garage |The Graham Group |

|Easter Seal Society of Iowa |Winkler Roofing |

|Griggs Music | |

|10 – 24 Years |Iowa Storage Trailer |

|Adam’s Funeral Home |James A Dempsey DDS |

|All Drive Transmissions |John Alden Window |

|Barton Solvents |Jon Hunziker Construction |

|Beckwith Commercial Roofing |Juls Design |

|Central Scott Telephone |Kelly Construction of Davenport |

|Chuck & Larry’s Transmissions |Ketels Contract Training |

|Courtyard by Marriott |Lane and Associates |

|Earl Miller Construction |Luesebrink Construction |

|Food With Flair |Marketing Systems Unlimited |

|Gremler Financial Group |Mattress Outlet |

|H & R Block |Midwest Community Title |

|Hans Body Shop & Used Cars |Nu Trend Accessibility Systems |

|Hawkeye Auto Body |Old Reliable Roofing |

|Iowa Bath Systems |Perfection Concrete |

|K L J B-TV FOX 18 |Professional Choice Dental lab |

|Kaplan Higher Education |Proshield Fire Protection |

|Loktronics |Quantum Construction |

|Mail House |R K Dixon |

|Midwest Reconstruction |R Prescott & Sons Plbg & Htg & AC |

|Myo-Tech Denture Center |Real Estate Advantage |

|Nipp’s Machine Shop |Revival Animal Health |

|Northwestern Mutual Financial Network |Rud-Chain |

|Novelty Machine & Supply |Schwab Construction & Home Services |

|Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning |Seamless Exterior |

|Screenbuilders |Seamless Pros |

|Silent Rivers |Servpro of Ottumwa Oskaloosa Fairfield And Washington |

|Some Assembly Required |Showplace Kitchens |

|Todd’s Mudjacking Service |Silverwings Productions |

|United Services of Des Moines |Sparklewash of the River Valley |

|Upper Rock Island County Landfill |Stichter Construction |

|Waste Management of Iowa |Streetrod Productions |

|Wells Fargo Home Mortgage |T S Construction |

|Woodard Hearing Aid Center |The BrickKicker Home Inspection |

|5 – 9 Years |Two Rivers Insurance Services |

|A-1 Tree Service |Visser Brothers Plumbing & Heating |

|Adio Chiropractic Clinic |Wells Fargo Card Services |

|Advantage Homes |Westside Parts & Service Center |

|Affordable Quality Roofing Gutters & Siding |1 – 4 Years |

|Anderson Heating & Cooling |A King’s Throne |

|Ankeny Auto Body |A Perfect Pair |

|Arnold’s Body Shop |AAA Lawn Care |

|Automatic Door Group |Ace of Spades Jack of All Trades |

|B2E Direct Marketing |Acheson Auto Body West |

|Bakeris Roofing & Construction |Action Garage Builders |

|Bauder Pharmacy |Advance Construction |

|Beaverdale Gutter |Advanced Mechanical Geothermal |

|Beyond Bath |Advertising Specialties |

|Big Dog Construction |Americauto Financing |

|Binder Electric |Ames Auto Body |

|Brittain & Son Concrete Construction |Amy Allen Photography |

|C & C Smokers Outlet |Arensdorf Excavating & Trucking |

|Comprehensive Rehab |Aric Jay Eckhardt MD SC |

|Consumer safety Technology |B & K Landscaping and Lawn Service |

|Culpitt Roofing & Metal Fabricating |Babe’s Termite & Pest Control |

|Dean Driscoll Construction |Bankers Leasing |

|Ever-Green Landscape Nursery & Supply |Bella Salon & Spa |

|Exira Plumbing Heating & Electrical |Ben Buenzow State Farm Agency |

|Flack’s Roofing & Seal Coating |Benchmark Construction |

|Hammond-Wetmore Drilling |Bender-Reynolds Agency |

|Heartland Animal Hospital |Better Basement Technologies |

|Hudson Mallaney Shindler & Anderson |Bill’s Painting |

|Iowa PC Services |Bovard Studio |

|(1 – 4 Years Continued) |John Evers Agency |

|Bridge City Truck Repair |Johnson’s ATA Black Belt Academy |

|Bruce’s New & Used Furniture |Johnstone Supply |

|Buckshot Exteriors |Joseph L Bates DDS |

|Burdorf Parrott and Associates |Kale Funeral Home |

|C & D Construction |Kale Heating & Air Conditioning |

|C & J Construction |Kendall’s Roofing |

|Canoe Hardwood Flooring |King Construction |

|Carpet Pro Cleaning & Restoration |Kirby Water Conditioning |

|Central Iowa Pool & Spa |LADCO |

|Champion Window Company of Des Moines |Lorey Company |

|Cirks Financial Services |Lucks Construction |

|Classic Home remodeling |M D Holmes Trucking |

|Classon Accounting |Majestic Truck Services |

|Comco |Marion Mixers |

|Complete Off Road |Mc Clintock Insurance |

|Corridor Coffee |Meridian Manufacturing Group |

|Corwin Reichter & Company PC |Merit Resources |

|Country Creations |Midwest Mudjacking Service |

|Countryside Travel |Midwest Office Automations |

|Cummins Central Power |Mike Moreno Remodeling |

|Curt’s Collision Center |Mike’s Home Improvement |

|Custom Electrical Services |Miller Towing & Recovery |

|Cylosoft |Montgomery St John Insurance Agency |

|D & L Metal Recycling |Motor Kars II |

|D Gosch Auto Body |Mount Wrecker Service |

|Dakota Country Kennels |Mr Snappy Electric |

|Dance Vision |NCMIC Finance |

|Deanna Orwig All Risk Crop Insurance Agency |NCMIC Group |

|Denny’s Auto |NCMIC Insurance Company |

|Dental Associates PC |NCMIC Insurance Services |

|Direct Payment Systems |Neumann Brothers |

|Dry Seal Construction |Newton Manufacturing |

|Energy Doctor of Iowa |Norm Rozendaal Tiling |

|Family Pet Veterinary Center |Off Campus Auto Repair |

|Family Tree Care |One Source Event Productions |

|Farrell Electric |Osage Auto Body |

|Fisher Body & Paint |Pioneer Capital Financial Services |

|Five Star Roofing |Plato’s Closet |

|Flushed Away Plumbing |Premier Automotive Service Center |

|Gannon Roofing Supply |Premier Media Solutions |

|Gene’s Flooring America |Premier Property Improvement Services |

|Glass Heritage |Pro Diesel |

|Golden Hammer Collision Center |Pro Tree Trim & Removal |

|Goodwin Foundation Repair |Professional House Doctors |

|Goslar Construction |Professional Solutions Insurance |

|GRP & Associates |Professional Solutions Insurance Services |

|Halfhill Insurance Services |Prudential Partner Realty |

|Hardin County Collision Repair |Puroclean Disaster Restoration Services |

|Harrison Truck Centers |Quad City Bank & Trust |

|Hawkeye Life Insurance Group |Quality Air Heating & Cooling |

|Home Pest Care |Randy Flodeen Tree Care |

|Horizon Moving & Storage |Relay Staffing Solutions |

|Hot Heels |RM Plumbing & Construction |

|Howl-A-Day Inn |Roberts Construction |

|I E R Computer |Ruhd Electric Service |

|Infinity Financial Group |RWD LC |

|Iowa Direct Equipment & Appraisal |S.E. Iowa Diesel Service |

|Iowa Fire Control |Schiebout Window & Door |

|Jed’s Construction |Schlarbaum Auto Body |

|Jeff’s Lawn Care |Schlenker Construction |

|Jefferson County Equipment |Scot’s Supply |

|Jet’s Meat Processing | |

|Securitas Security SVC USA |T & T Home Care |

|Seelah Kennel & Training Center |Tailz ‘Er Waggin’ Bakery |

|Sincerely Yours Interiors |Taste To Go & Catering |

|Skyline Exhibits Central Iowa | |

|Spilman Auto Parts |The Cellar Door – Stable on the Alley |

|Stille Pierce & Pertzborn | |

THE BBB AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR

Your BBB set up shop for l0 days in August at the Iowa State Fair. We gave away lots of suckers and magnets with the BBB logo, website and phone. Our visibility at the fair increases the value of the BBB to all Accredited Businesses. We visited with thousands of people. This year, with our remote data access, we were able to help more people then ever when they made inquiry about specific companies and making buying decisions. We even talked to a woman who had just made a purchase in another part of the Varied Industries Building then walked over to check and make sure she had made a good buy from a reliable company!

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