The Minuteman family is forever growing! Meet the latest additions- Wilbur and his sister, Wilma. Wilbur and Wilma are our two newest limo party buses that add an extra splash of elegance to our fleet. Wilbur is the younger sibling holding up to 12 passengers while Wilma is the bigger sister, holding up to 17. With these two new party buses up and running, Minuteman is more than ready to chauffeur around you and your friends for a night free of worry!

Minuteman Parking has been deemed the premiere parking services company on the West Coast since 1995. We have since decided to expand our horizons beyond valet and self-parking. Our fleet of luxury buses is fully equipped with themed decorations, special guest packages and gift giveaways, and optional beverage services. From corporate events, to games, even trips to Vegas, Minuteman’s special event luxury buses are there to make your occasions even more memorable. Leave the driving and parking hassles to us!

Minuteman is proud to announce that we will be starting services at The Cove, located in Marina Del Rey, CA. The Cove is a 19-story collection of 100+ private residences ranging from one and two-bedroom residences to exquisite 3,500+ square-foot penthouses.  The Cove offers a resort-like lifestyle and the amenities include concierge services, spa, gym, pool, business conference facilities, guest facilities, and a rooftop entertainment area.

Minuteman will provide valet services 24 hours, 7 days a week. This is the third property that Minuteman services in Marina Del Rey, California. We are pleased to add this luxury condominium to our growing list of clients in the West.

When is it is okay to jump start a vehicle and when is it not okay to jump start a vehicle?

·    Minuteman Parking Company has made it a standing policy to never jump start a vehicle. We ask that you contact your Manager or Driveway Ambassador and have them contact AAA for assistance.

What if I can’t get in touch with AAA and I guest say’s it is okay for me to jump start their vehicle?

·    In the rare cases where a Minuteman Parking Company employee must jump start a vehicle, the following is needed:

o   A Clear understanding of how to jump start a vehicle by the DA or Manager offering the assistance. Only a Manager or DA is allowed under these circumstances is authorized to assist a guest.

o   Jumper Cables in good conditions

o   The Guest MUST sign the “Request for Auto Service Waiver” that acknowledges that Minuteman Parking Company is not responsible for any damages that may happen while we are assisting them.

As an employee of Minuteman Parking Company it is not responsibility to assist with Auto Service of any kind. We do not claim to have special expertise to offer auto road services. Our expertise is in valet services, shuttle services and parking management and not auto repair. Employees who do not know how to jump start a vehicle can be seriously injured and do extensive damage to a guest’s vehicle. If you do not get the proper documentation from a guest before you jump start a vehicle, we the company can held liable for injuries or damages to the vehicles involved if something goes wrong.

Use your common sense and Stay Safe!

Things You’ll Need

·         Jumper Cables

·         Rag

·         Flashlight

·         Booster Car

1.       Determine that a dead battery is the reason your car is not starting. If the engine cranks when you turn the key, the problem is not the battery and jump-starting will not help. If the windshield wipers, lights, and heater blower all work, the battery is probably, fine and you may have a bad starter. A jump-start will not help if you have a bad starter. If you hear no sound, at all when you turn the key or if the engine cranks very slowly and the accessories do not work, then you have a dead or low battery and it is time to break out the jumper cables. You will need a flashlight if it is dark outside.

2.       Find someone with a running car that can give yours a jump.

3.       Open the hoods on both cars and determine where the batteries are. Park the booster car (the one that is running) so that the batteries are adjacent.

4.       Turn off the booster car.

5.       Attach the red jumper cable’s end to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Use a rag to wipe the battery clean if you cannot see the Pos or plus (+) sign on the battery. The positive terminal is always slightly larger than the negative one.

6.       Attach the other end of the red cable to the booster battery’s positive terminal.

7.       Attach the black jumper cable’s end to the booster battery’s negative terminal.

8.       Attach the other end of the black jumper cable to a ground on the dead car’s engine; any solid metal part works fine. You may see a small spark when you attach the last end. This is normal.

9.       Turn on the booster car and rev the engine.

10.    Turn on the dead car. If it does not start, you may have a poor connection at any of the four cable ends. Jiggle each cable end and try starting the car again.

11.    Once the car starts, disconnect the cables in reverse order of attachment: negative, negative, positive, positive.

12.    Keep the engine running on the jumped car for at least 20 minutes or longer so the alternator has sufficient time to recharge your battery.

http://www.ehow.com/video_112636_start-car-with.html

Minuteman Parking Company was proud to be the Crystal Sponsor of the Seattle Marriott Golf Classic last week in Seattle, WA. The golf tournament was held at Bear Creek Country Club and raised money to support Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care program.

Since 1907 Seattle Children’s has been caring for children from the Pacific Northwest and around the Nation.  The funds raised from the Marriott Charity Golf Classic will be directed to Uncompensated Care at Children’s, which will ensure that no child is ever turned away due to their family’s inability to pay.  All of the donations support a healthier future for Seattle Children’s increasing number of patients. Each year, Children’s treats over 190,000 children, many of whose families cannot afford the cost of their medical care.  This year, the hospital expects to provide over $100 million in uncompensated care for those in need.

The day-long golf event was a huge success that ended with a dinner buffet and silent auction. Minuteman would like to thank all of the golfers who played in this year’s tournament. The team at Minuteman is fully committed to philanthropy and our Marriott partners in the Northwest.

We are proud to announce that Minuteman Parking has been selected to provide valet services at Antelope Valley Hospital, located in Lancaster, CA.  The 420-bed hospital was established in 1955. Below are the hospital’s mission, vision, and values, which have played an integral role in the hospital’s continued growth and expansion over the last 50 years:

Mission
Our mission at Antelope Valley Healthcare District is to provide quality service with care, compassion and respect.

Vision
Our vision for Antelope Valley Healthcare District is to deliver excellent service with the most qualified people and the latest in technology.

Values
We will pursue excellence, embrace change with innovation, promote partnerships with clients while providing value and service to the community.

Complimentary valet services for hospital patients and visitors will be provided daily. Antelope Valley Hospital is the 12th hospital in Southern California that Minuteman Parking Company is servicing. We look forward to making Antelope Valley a part of the Minuteman family.

As we go into our summer months many of our employees will be working out in the elements and battling temperatures that are 80 degrees or higher. When you are working in temperatures that are above 80 degrees and humidity, concerns of your health arises.  So as the temperature goes up, your chances of having either heat exhaustion or heat stroke goes up. Minuteman Parking Company would like to remind all of our employees to use extra caution when the temperature goes above 80 degrees. We also want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and whenever possible you are standing in the shade and not in the direct sun.

Here are some warning signs if you are starting to have heat exhaustion. If you start to have any of these symptoms please notify your Manager or Driveway Ambassador immediately.

·         Headaches

·         Dizziness

·         Weakness

·         Light headedness

·         Confusion

·         Upset Stomach

·         Vomiting

·         Fainting

·         Pale or Clammy Skin

Here are some warning signs if you are starting to have a heat stroke. If you start to have any of these symptoms please call 911 immediately.

·         You stop sweating

·         Seizures or Fits

·         Unconsciousness

So over the next couple of months, we need all Minuteman Parking Employees to look after each other and we want everyone to stay hydrated. 

Stay cool and stay safe this summer.

We are delighted to announce that Hotel Oceana Santa Monica is our newest hotel property. Years ago, 849 Ocean Avenue was a respectable apartment complex where Stan Laurel (of Laurel & Hardy) once lived. Yet its location, and the lively neighborhood in which it stood, begged for innovation. Visionaries took control and converted the structure into the Oceana Santa Monica, a luxury boutique hotel catering to those who command the privacy and comforts of a home away from home environment. In 2007, the hotel reopened after a $16 million renovation to offer the ambience of a private beach club, as airy as the shores it overlooks.

Valet and bell service will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hotel Oceana will join our growing list of clients in Southern California. Minuteman also provides services at neighboring properties, which are located close by in Santa Monica, CA.

By Dan Curtin

This year, we have explored various ways to help our people stretch their hard earned dollars. To that end we are offering three programs that help associates to conveniently do just that.

1. We are currently offering Minuteman associates the “Citi at Work” program from one of the largest banks in the nation, Citibank NA.  “Citi at Work” is an exclusive website banking program for Minuteman associates that provides account access, direct deposit, discounts on fees, preferred interest rates, information and financial solutions online to help associates save time and money in their financial life. The goal of the Citi at Work program is to provide:

• Financial Education - to help associates gain a firm grasp on his or her financial situation
• Savings and Discounts for associates’ banking needs - a checking account with no monthly service fees and free checks and ATM card; free online bill pay, a worldwide ATM network and 24/7 customer support:

• Preferred interest rates on selected products, including checking accounts.
• Preferred mortgage pricing that gives associates $500 towards closing costs.
• Preferred pricing for home equity lines of credit and Checking Plus^® (variable rate) overdraft protection and Priority processing on first mortgage and home equity applications.
• Discounts on online outgoing wire transfers, foreign currency transactions and safe deposit box.
• An exclusive 24/7 toll-free customer service number.

• • • Free assistance from Citi^® Identity Theft Solutions if associates are ever a victim of ID theft.
    • Low cost transfers of money internationally.

Citibank also will reimburse the fees other banks may charge our associates for using their ATMs—the first six per statement period—by crediting their Citigold checking account up to $5.00 per transaction on the employee’s next monthly statement.

2. In January, Minuteman introduced the “Working Advantage” program.  All associates have exclusive access to the Working Advantage discount network which allows associates to save up to 60% on ticketed events and online shopping. Through Working Advantage, associates can save on:

Movie Tickets, Theme Parks, Sporting Events, Hotels and Travel, Health and Fitness, Museums and City Passes, Live Theatre (Broadway type shows), Merchant Gift Certificates, an Online Shopping Mall at name brand online stores like Best Buy, Old navy, Petco, Kohl’s and Nike…and more!

To subscribe, associates may access the Working Advantage website by going to www.workingadvantage.com on the web.  When opening an individual account associates will need the Minuteman Parking ID which associates can get by calling HR. The HR department can also send any associate a flyer by email. It is free to join and there is no obligation to buy anything.

3. The third program we have introduced recently is the “2011 Employee Referral Bonus” program which will earn current associates $50 to $100 in gift cards for successful employee referrals who stay employed up to 180 days with the company. We want to encourage our great associates to refer great applicants we can put to work, providing exceptional service to our clients. The conditions and rules for this program are available from any member of management or the HR department.

We hope that these programs will in some small way help to ease the financial burdens we are all facing in these difficult times. Every little bit helps!

I am sure everyone has seen the “Click it or Ticket” signs as you drive along the freeways or city streets. This is a reminder to all drivers that it is against the law to not wear a seat belt. Many valets do not think about putting on their seat belt before parking a vehicle.  Their focus is on how quickly they can park a vehicle or how quickly they can retrieve a vehicle for a guest. Since the state requires that we incorporate wearing a seat belt while driving a vehicle, it is therefore required of you to wear a seat belt while working for Minuteman Parking.

Although seat belt usage has gone up an average of 88% nationally, unfortunately many commercial drivers, younger drivers, and those driving under the influence are still not wearing their seat belts.  Seat belt usage has saved over 75,000 lives in motor vehicle accidents over the past couple of years. Working in our industry, it is imperative that we follow the rules and regulations of the road to safeguard our lives and those around us.  Wearing a seat belt may seem insignificant, but when it comes down to saving your life nothing should be taken for granted.  

What would happen to you if you were in an accident at one of your locations and you do not have your seat belt on? You may get seriously injured or fined by the State for not wearing your seat belt and cause our worker’s compensation premiums to rise for the whole company due to you not following the rules of safety.

Your safety should always come first while you are working.  Taking an extra minute to put on a seat belt before you move a guest’s vehicle is time well spent. That extra minute can mean the difference between leaving work unharmed or getting seriously injured on the job. 

Here are some pointers for wearing your seat belt while you are at work:

1.       The seat belt lap portion should be worn low and snug across the hips

2.       The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be snug across the chest and away from the neck and   face.

3.       The shoulder portion should never be worn behind the back or under the arm.

Minuteman is proud to announce that we will be starting valet services at the new Mr. C Hotel, located in Beverly Hills, CA. We are thrilled to welcome this fine hotel to the Minuteman family.

Giuseppe Cipriani, also known as Mr. C, started his first business in Venice, Italy.  The concept of his first venture, Harry’s Bar, was to treat all clients like royalty. True service has prevailed throughout the years and now, four generations later, Mr. C’s is a world renowned hospitality brand that is recognized worldwide. The Mr. C Hotel in Beverly Hills will feature an exquisite restaurant that is sure to be the new talk of the town.

Minuteman will see you at Mr. C’s later this Spring! Ciao!