NPCA President’s Message - November 2008 By Arthur Schwartz

Since the last President’s Message was written our country has experienced many firsts. We experienced the first major economic meltdown since the Great Depression. It has been an emotional roller coaster ride for many people. Just as this election was won at the grass roots level, I also believe that our economy will slowly pull itself out of its current state in a similar way.

One of the new programs that NPCA has been testing with a few select businesses in North Park is the NPCA Member Discount Program. The idea behind it was two-fold. We wanted to motivate residents to spend money in North Park, instead of outside of the community. We also wanted to create value for our members by encouraging participating businesses to offer an incentive or discount for our membership. We have tested this out in a couple of businesses with success.

Let me give you an example of how everyone benefits: My wife and I use North Park Cleaners, located at 2928 Lincoln Avenue. They have consistently offered us extraordinary service for many years. Not only do they use environmentally friendly products, but they also provide same-day service at no additional cost. A couple of months ago they joined NPCA and also are participating in the Member Discount Program. Look for the sticker in their window.

Here’s the math: My wife and I together spend approximately $100/month at that cleaners. With our NPCA membership discount, we save $10/month which translates to $120/year. Our household NPCA membership costs $25/year. Just using our member discount at this one merchant brings back a four-fold return on our investment.