More training

July 10, 2014,


Bible Verse from Daily Devotional:

¹ My God, whom I praise,
    do not remain silent,
² for people who are wicked and deceitful
    have opened their mouths against me;
    they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
³ With words of hatred they surround me;
    they attack me without cause.
⁴ In return for my friendship they accuse me,
    but I am a man of prayer.
⁵ They repay me evil for good,
    and hatred for my friendship.

⁶ Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
    and may his prayers condemn him.
⁸ May his days be few;
    may another take his place of leadership.
⁹ May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow.
¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars;
    may they be driven^[a] from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
¹² May no one extend kindness to him
    or take pity on his fatherless children.
¹³ May his descendants be cut off,
    their names blotted out from the next generation.

More Training:

 

Today was my second day with my trainer in Valdsota, everything went pretty smooth.  Day 1, we were in Hahira and di two installs. I was allowed to do all the outside work, my trainer stayed with me on day 1 to help me with stuff. I put the "Dish" together and installed it. Day 1 both of our installs were at places where Dish had been previously installed. 

Both of those dishes were installed using Western Arc Satellites, this area now uses almost all Eastern Arc Satellites, so we had to change these out and point and peek the new dish. I am at this point only allowed to install up to the Ground Block, and my trainer is allowing me to do that. I think I am improving at least somewhat with each install.  I do forget a few things but the more I do it the more comfortable I feel and I think I will get much better at it.

Each day after the work is done, I meet with the trainer and the FSM and we talk about how the day went, what I can do to improve and what they can do to help me improve. In 2 days I  (with the help of my trainer) have built and set up 4 Dishes, Installed them on actually 4 different types of mounts and point and peaked them.

The QAS guy came by today at our first job and was asking about a lot of different stuff, then he checked the wiring and the signals on the Dish and said that I was doing great, that he had not seen that high of signal strength across the board on that particular satellite group before, he seemed very impressed. The trainer really helped me and form what I hear he is still helping previous students. He gets calls all the time asking him about stuff and he always does help them.

The trainers also seemed very impressed when I made a suggestion that worked out great for both us and the client. It saved a lot of time and crawling under the house, and actually looked really good while staying well within regulations.  The QAS guy was even out there taking pictures.

At this point I am really enjoying the training. I have 2 days left this week. Friday and Saturday. This week has been almost 100% OJT (on the job training).  I drive to all the  customers homes, I introduce us and verify what the customer has ordered, then the trainer and I go out and do a site survey. We look for good places to locate the dish, then check for line of site with the inclinometer. Once that is done I put together a Dish and install it, then point and peak it and run a scan on it. I use a small meter called a super buddy to check the signal.

If you know me you know I do try to be organized and try to keep whatever tools I might need safe and well within reach. I am having a minor problem with some of the small tools like drill bits and sockets. At Marrietta they have these small "tool tubes" that they use to keep that stuff in, but I did not get one at Valdosta so I stopped at Home Depot and picked up some small zippered tool bags, which I will use to keep some of these small tools organized.

Week 3 will start Monday the 14th and go through Friday the 18th in Marietta, which will be about 60% video and 40% hands on if it works like week 1 did.

Week 4 starts the 23rd and is back in Valdosta, since I am currently only allowed to install up to the ground block, I assume that during this week I will have been sufficiently trained to do entire installations from start to finish.  Hope I am right, because the next week I go out on my own, though I really can call for help any time I need it, so it is not like I am totally alone.

Bike Shop:

Nick nor myself were in the Bike Shop today, but if you needed stuff you could just go to the bookstore and pay for it at their register.  Until further notice there will be no one manning the Bike Shop on Thursday, however Nick mentioned that he would be in on Saturdays. We used to be closed on Saturday, I am hoping someone being there on Saturday may be a great thing for us.

If all works out Nick said he would not mind doing some clinics like how to change a tire, how to adjust a derailleur etc. and those will likely be done Saturdays. I think people would like that really well and it may help bring in business to the shop.

The Shop now has it's own phone number 229-891-3010. You can still call my cell at 229-921-0072 but when I am on the clock for Dish, I will not be able to answer so you will have to leave a message and I will return the call as soon as I can.

Have a great day

Jerry 'The Bicycle Nut" Goodwin
BMG Cycles Plus
1612 1st Ave. SE
Moultrie, GA 31768







 

Truck Break in and other news

July 8, 2014

Bible Verse from Daily Devotional

33 He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 36 there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. 37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; 38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. 39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; 40 he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. 41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. 42 The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. 43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.   

Truck Broken into:

I headed off to the bike shop yesterday morning and when I got in then truck to drive out there noticed there was a big hole in the dash where the ashtray used to be. I used my ashtray to throw loose change into. I haven't smoked for many years and do not allow others to smoke in my truck.

There was probably 3.00 or less in the ashtray and some magnet things that Jason and Kevin play with now and then. A bag of the magnets were also in the glove compartment, so they can still play with them. I looked around the neighborhood to see if the ashtray may have been thrown away after the money was removed but did not see it anywhere.

My neighbor across the street had his car also broken into and some change stolen, both of us had left our driver door unlocked.

 

Tomorrow 7-9-14 will be my first day of "hands on" training for Dish. Wed thru Sat. I will be working with a trainer in Valdosta Georgia actually going on calls with an experienced Technician.

 

Monday the 14th I will be taking a 4 hour drive to Marietta, Georgia for Week 3, and the second week of classroom instruction, along with a written assessment. Nick is operating the bike shop when I am gone and so far he has done a great job.

 

If you get to Moultrie do check out the shop and do stop and meet Nick. After the end of training I will only be at the shop 2 days a week, right now that looks like it will be Monday and Tuesday, but that could change.

 

If all works out I should be done with "training" on the 26th and get my territory and van on the 30th. I am looking forward to that, but right now am doing my best to learn as much as I can from the training.

 

 

 

 

Hope everyone reading this has a wonderful day

 

Jerry "The Bicycle Nut" Goodwin

BMG Cycles Plus

1612 1st  Ave SE

Moultrie, GA 31768

229 891-3010

 

 

Bike Shop and Personal News

July 6, 2014

Bible Verse from Devotional:

¹⁷ Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
¹⁸ They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
²¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
²² Let them sacrifice thank offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.

²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the Lord,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea^[b] were hushed.
³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
³² Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

 

Bike Shop and Personal News:

 

In my last Blog I asked everyone to Pray for their Pastor and ours. I think today we seen the results of those prayers. He seemed to be much more comfortable on stage and presented n excellent sermon regarding Truth and Grace. Hopefully your pastor was equally touched by your prayers.

 

As many of you know I have taken a position with Dish Network as a remote Installer. I will be working this week Wednesday through Saturday probably 10-12 hour days. This means that I will not be around the Bike Shop on those days.

 

Nick (the new bike shop manager/mechanic) will be operating the store each day except Thursday. Neither Nick nor myself will be there Thursdays, however you can still purchase tubes, accessories and in stock bicycles, leave a bike off for repair, or pick up a repaired bike, just pay for anything at the Book Store Register.

 

At this point that looks like it will stay that way for some time too come. Nick and I will often both be there Monday and Tuesday, and Nick will be there other days with the exception of Thursday.  The phone number now to call is 229-891-3010 and will not be answered right now if  Nick or myself is not in the shop. You can also call my cell phone at 229-92-0072 and leave a message, I will return your call as soon as I can which may be later that day or I may leave the message for Nick to call you back the next day.

 

Training seems to be going quite well for the new job. I expect to work Wednesday through Saturday then head back up to Marietta Sunday. Class will start Monday at noon in Marietta, and this week we will be going the full 5 days, returning Friday from Marietta. Should probably arrive in Moultrie around supper time Friday.

 

Nice Giant Cypress - Come by the store and check it out asking 300.00 OBO

Consignment Bike

 

Really Nice Electra Townie 3 peed with basket asking 350.00 OBO ( Consignment Bike) We have a "motivated" seller, so don't be afraid to make an offer

 

Internet Marketing

 

The Internet Marketing portion of the business has been put on the back burner for now because of issues with my schedule. Hopefully I will also be able to update some of the computer equipment at the store so it is easier to use and update the websites.

We have a few other bikes, stop in and check them out.

 

Want a motor for your bike, we can put one on for you, not a problem.

Complete engine and install starts at 300.00.

 

 

 

Have a Great Day

 

Jerry "The Bicycle Nut' Goodwin



BMG Cycles Plus

1612 1st Avenue SE

Moultrie, GA 31768

229-891-3010

 

 

 

 

 

Bike Shop and some personal news

July 5, 2014
Bible Verse from Daily Devotional

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Personal and Bike Shop News

It has been over a week since I blogged, and it has been a really busy week. June 29th I left the house about 5:30 to drive to Marietta Georgia. I would get to the hotel about 9:30 PM and meet my roommate. I had met him in Valdosta for a few seconds when I did my last interview with Daniel.

Monday morning I wanted to get in a workout, and I did sort of. The big problem is the Hotel's fitness center is 2 treadmills, 1 stepper and 1 recumbent stationary bike, and I really wanted to do some resistance training, but anything is better than nothing so I spent about 10 minutes on each machine, then went to breakfast.

The hotel furnishes a Free Continental Breakfast, which actually is pretty good. They have biscuits and gravy each day, plenty of Apple and Orange Juice, House blend coffee and Decaf. Cereal, eggs, milk bagels, muffins, bacon and sausage and a pancake machine, so everyone is able to find something to fill up on.

On Monday morning Bobby ( my roommate) and I drove over to the training center. Training started promptly at 10 Am and I think it ended about 6 PM. The trainer really knows his stuff, he has been in the industry for many years and is very professional. We got our tools, PPE, uniforms etc. and set through a bunch of training videos and got to do a little hands on training.

Lunch was at a Blimpies' right down the street. The company furnishes each of us 36.00 on a debit card for our food while we are in training. Each day the card starts out with 36.00 and is cleared each night, then reloaded the next day.

Bobby said he was in the mood for steak and shrimp so we asked the very nice young lady at the front desk about where we could find that and she told us the Marietta Diner and gave me directions. We missed the turn and ended up at Fuddruckers. Had Buffalo Burgers and then went to Schlotkys for desert.  When we had took 75 south coming back from the training center there was what appeared to be an accident on 75 North so we did not want to get back on 75 North and the young lady at Schlotzkys told us how to get back to the hotel without going on 75, which was helpful.

Tuesday morning we started class at 0730, more videos, and more videos, but also a lot of hands on training, we built satellite dishes and we did some other stuff, it was a vey full day and we again got back to the hotel close to 1830. Bobby had a friend near there and he went to meet her, I went to Cracker Barrel, they give you quite a bit of food for the money and it is acceptable quality, about what I have found in every Cracker Barrel where I have eaten. Service there is pretty slow, so glad I was not in a hurry.

Wednesday 0730 back in class, more videos, and a lot more hands on, building dishes, doing installs, and even learning the correct ways to go up and down ladders and carry ladders, it was a really a busy day but a very good learning experience. Got off even a little later than the days before but not that much. Bobby and I drove to Applebees where Bobby and his friend had went the night before, he had gotten his steak and shrimp finally.

Our week of training was cut short one day due to the 4th of July Holiday. We still had to get all the training  that a class would get in the full 5 days. That can be a 2 edged sword since we were also what I understand is a fairly large class. 11 students as opposed to a normal sized class of 6-8.

After eating at Applebees I still needed to get clothes cleaned, I had one long sleeve uniform shirt clean and one pair of uniform shorts. I really did not want to wear a long sleeve shirt with shorts on Thursday and I also did not want to take a whole lot of dirty clothes back for Ruth to have to wash, so I went to the hotel "laundry" and washed clothes. The washer took about an hour to wash the clothes, I then put them in the dryer and waited another 45 minutes and when I took then out of the dryer many of the clothes were still damp, so I left them lie out over a chair while I got some sleep and the next morning I had enough dry to wear to class. I still ended up bringing Ruth a bunch to dry.

Thursday Morning class again started at 0730 and we did a bunch of stuff, mostly hands on and a few more videos on driving the van, various company policies etc. It was a pretty full day but we were able to leave about 2:00 PM and I got back to Moultrie at about 6:PM. Funny on the way back just about 20 miles south of Perry. One of  my bike shop customers called saying he was having trouble with a chainsaw and wanting me to take a look at it. I told him to leave it at the store and I would take a look at it when I got back. I did get to check it and get his problem taken care of after I ate supper with the family.

Friday and Saturday the Bike Shop and the Book store were both closed. Both will reopen Monday July 7 at 10 AM. I spent those days with the family, Friday night we went to Albany to watch the fireworks. Saturday we all went swimming in the backyard pool, dug a bunch of junk out from under the house and just enjoyed the day.  If everything works out as planned we will go to church in the morning, possibly have a little picnic tomorrow afternoon and maybe get a bike ride in. After the last week, just need a couple days of R & R.

Monday and Tuesday I expect to be in the bike shop quite a bit. then Wednesday I am heading to Valdosta Georgia to work with a trainer on the van. I will be working with someone that has done this for years and is trained to train others, I am so looking forward to this aspect of training.  My understanding is that each week builds on the past week, so the trainer will be working with me to improve my skills and efficiency at many of the things we learned in class, like pointing and peaking, using the inclinometer, and doing installs.

Nick will be at the Bike shop everyday except Thursday.  I will be in Valdosta Thursday, so you can still get tubes, bikes and anything in stock, but you will not be able to speak to one of the mechanics on Thursday. That will likely be from now on, as Nick goes to the VA each Thursday, I will be working most Thursdays from now on.

Don't forget that the shop has  new phone number 229-891-3010 which rings directly into the shop. At this point there is no message machine or voice mail attached to that line, but I will hopefully get that done soon.  If  Nick or I are there we will answer that number, If there is no answer then we are very likely not there. Of course there is the possibility that we were not able to get to the phone, but if you let it ring maybe 6 or 7 times and we don't answer then we are probably not there. If you have an "emergency" you can call me on my personal cell phone at 229-921-0072. You should leave a message there if I don't answer because when I am in training I am not able to answer the phone until after I sign out or when I am off the clock.

Special Request;

Last Sunday morning our preacher who is a person that I respect very much. I would do absolutely anything that ZI possibly could for this man. He just about had a complete breakdown when he tried to preach. It has been a rough few weeks for him and for the church as a whole. Each week for the past few weeks there had been some very special events especially some weddings, and each week there had also been funerals, 4 year old dying of Cancer, a member of the church that had been a mainstay in many church functions also passed away, 3 deaths in less than 3 weeks that he had the dubious honor of  doing the funeral.

I thought to myself that our preacher really right now needs us to pray for him. I want to ask everyone that is reading this to pray for your preacher. I can't imagine the stress most preachers are under. I don't think many people can.

When I returned from my training my wife showed me an article in the paper, a 14 year old young man from the church we attend had committed suicide and our preacher would be doing the funeral services, so really 4 deaths in 4 weeks and 2 of them children. I don't know about others but I do know that would be a very difficult emotional problem for me. I think anyone with even the slightest amount of compassion would have a great deal of emotional strife having to officiate 4 funerals in a month especially when 2 of these are children, and one is a dear friend.

So please pray for your pastor and ours, I know there are plenty of other pastors that need our prayers also, and that most people never really think about praying for their pastor.

Marketing:

I have not given up on marketing or setting up the sporting goods website or any of that stuff. I have really put everything like that on the back burner so I can concentrate 100% of my efforts on the new position. Tonight I started recopying the notes I got from the last week over to a word document. I was trying so hard to keep up that there are a number of places where I can't even read my own writing, so I am often have to go back to the printed material we were given to make sense of the notes.

I hope to have everything copied over to the word document before I go to Valdosta on Wednesday.
If all works out as planned I should have a really nice well organized space inside my 10X16 portable building for the supplies I will need as a remote installer FSS1 for the company before I get my van. which should be somewhere close to August 1st.

Everyone Please do pray for your Pastor

Have a great day

Jerry "The Bicycle Nut" Goodwin
BMG Cycles Plus
1612 1st Ave. SE
Moultrie, GA 31768
229-891-3010