Hi everyone, I wanted to remind you that the ISS Legal Learning with Jeffrey Greenberger webinar series kicks off again for 2010 on Tuesday February 9. We have four scheduled topics this year, the upcoming one addresses what you must do to avoid making mistakes in your lien sales and the risks of exposure you face if you make a mistake, based on several recent court decisions. Hopefully, the webinar will help answer some of tnsd’s and other member’s questions.
The official title is: Self-Storage Lien Sales, Do Them Right or Pay the Price. I know clever title right? Let me say this however, every operator can afford an hour this week to look at their lien sale procedures and try to improve them to avoid the risk of a lawsuit, don’t miss this important webinar.
While we are on the subject, if you really want to improve your lien sale procedures and other operational issues, join me at the ISS World Expo in Las Vegas at the end of the month for Legal Learning Live, a 4 hour intensive program with a 5th hour add on for California operators. This is really a great class and I know prior attendees who belong to this Forum endorse the class all the time as a great learning tool.
I have heard some confusion and grumbling about the webinar series this year; I thought it would help if I addressed it right away, unlike a certain car manufacturer. There is a modest $40 charge for the series of 4 webinars this year, of course people liked the webinars for free and think something is wrong, that in this economy we started charging for them.
For those of you who remember way back when no one had heard of a webinar, ISS and I really did the first in the industry, there was a legal conference call and a $25 charge per session to cover the conference call in number, when we moved to the webinar format, to get people to try it, we eliminated the charge with a warning that the charge would be back the next year. 5 years later we have had to bring back a modest charge. None of the money goes to me, the charge doesn’t even cover the cost of the webinar service, it just defrays it somewhat. I am in favor of the charge now that I have seen the 800 number charges that ISS pays each webinar for us to get together, I couldn’t believe the figure the first time I saw it.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Legal Learning program is not a paid advertisement like some webinars, and no company is really excited about sponsoring the series because we never hit a defined target market, the topics are different each time. The costs need to be offset in some way so we compromised and added in the charge, see below.
So that’s the story, $40 gets you in for 4 webinars, you now can listen to them later if you want so you do not have to be on live and it is my understanding you will be able to replay the webinar as often as you want for 90 days after we deliver it. This addresses so many complaints we have heard over the years, so I view it as a compromise. I also believe you can now download the slides, another big complaint in the past. I know no one likes to pay for something they are used to getting for free, but the choice last year was to cancel the series or institute a small charge. I think we made the best decision for the industry. Many of you who have already registered seem to agree.
Ok, long post, have a good weekend and see many of you on Tuesday and I hope to meet many of you in Vegas in a few weeks.

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Jeffrey Greenberger
Katz Greenberger & Norton LLP
105 East Fourth Street, Suite 400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Nothing in this post should be considered to be legal advice, all posts are for informational purposes only. No attorney client relationship should be construed unless a written retainer agreement is executed.

Thank you for the post and the background Jeffrey and also the reminder! Also thank you for what you do to help us all understand the legalities involved in protecting our properties. Your efforts are appreciated!

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

As an alumnus from several of Jeff's webinars, as well as last year's Expo seminar, I can heartily endorse his content and presentation. Money well spent.

I have only two complaints. The first is that the webinars were generally on the second Tuesdays of the month. Since we're a First of Month facility, this would often put them at odds with the traffic flow in my office. Due on the First inevitably means many of your walk in payments are received on or around the Tenth, and so a later date in the month would help in watching them uninterrupted.

The second, is that they go so darned fast...

This was especially the case with the Expo meeting. Funnily enough, Jeff was apologetic about running over the allotted time and being so long winded, but I, for one, was more of the mind of "Can't you stay just a little bit longer so I can keep picking your brain?" In short, my complaints boil down to a feeling of entitlement. Why can't I just keep my own personal Jeffrey Greenberger in my pocket and whip him out, whenever I need him? At my convenience, and for free, of course...

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James A Mathews
Facility Manager
CBD Indoor Mini Storage

JAMiAM: Thanks for the great post. The idea with the new webinar format is that you subscribe and then if you can attend live that’s great and if the date and time is not good for you, you can now listen to the recorded webinar as much as you want, for I think 90 days. Not that this is like those Windows 7 commercials that we made the change just for you, but glad it makes the service a little better for your needs.
The Expo is tough, I could go on all day but there are other places for all of you to be, vendors to see, and money to lose at the tables. I am always around on the tradeshow floor and all I am really doing is hanging around to answer that “last question,” so come find me on the tradeshow floor.
The whole Jeff in your pocket thing can’t help you there, but we offer an annual fixed fee phone support program if that helps.

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Jeffrey Greenberger
Katz Greenberger & Norton LLP
105 East Fourth Street, Suite 400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Nothing in this post should be considered to be legal advice, all posts are for informational purposes only. No attorney client relationship should be construed unless a written retainer agreement is executed.

Okay, let me just say... Great job on the webinar! And yes, you did answer my previous questions. Thanks so much!
Sure, I'd like to have these webinars available at no charge, BUT I can also say that the product is well worth the price paid.

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Melissa Roberts, CSSM
Facilities Director
Dunlap, TN

Hi Jeff,
Forgive me if my just completed navigation of SST missed the answer to this question, and here it is: Even tough I have missed the first webinar, can I still purchase the four event package and still retrieve the first presentation?
Thank you all for making this a terrific resource for those of us who have one interest or another in the self-storage business.
Mike in Reno