NEVADA INVENTORS ASSOCIATION
"Education, Assistance, and
Networking for the Inventor"
To go to the main Page or the news letters and then
the old articles Page, up till Dec. 1999.
Betra Manufacturing
Find out about foundries:
Pattern to machine shop
Sixty years of experience have convinced Mark Thomas of Betra Manufacturing that, in the foundry business, you
have never "seen it all."
Whether the problem is faulty raw materials that have to be returned to the supplier or a computer design that
won't come together, there are always new challenges.
The company occupies two large steel buildings in a neighborhood of similar buildings in Mound House, just east
of the Carson City Lyon County line. The front structure includes the offices as well as a machine shop where the
initial steps of design, prototyping and casting take place..
Office "tower"
The offices are housed in a two-story "tower" in the center, surrounded by machinery for the various
processes that take place there. Thomas' own office on the main level features a desk with two largescreen computer
monitors. At his feet is a prototype under development, while its design shows on one of the screens.
Prototypes are generally made from metal or wood, although other substances such as starch are occasionally used.
His customers are manufacturers a valve maker in Minden, a pump maker in Sparks. The products are generally parts
for other uses, things that are incorporated into something else such as fire-fighting equipment or commercial
antennas.
Melting furnaces
There is more noise and activity in the rear building, and the smell is reminiscent of a coal-burning steam locomotive.
To the right, are gas-fired melting furnaces, a bit larger than a washing machine.
Directly ahead, a man is filling box frames with black sand with just the right clay content for proper holding
power.
On the other side of the building, workmen are pouring molten aluminum as shiny as holiday tinsel into molds of
"no-bake" molds. The shiny 1,300-degree metal quickly develops a matte finish as it begins to cool. In
only a few minutes the new pieces are removed from the sand and gingerly moved to racks for full cooling.
Finishing process
Finishing of the molds varies according to individual need. Generally, they are blasted with steel shot (be-bes
the size of grains of salt) or tumbled with a rock-like synthetic abrasive. Some have color applied either through
powder coating or anodization processes.
At the Nov. 23 meeting, Thomas will fill in NIA members and guests with the basic information they need to understand
the process and ways they might use his company when their inventions are ready for manufacturing.
Calendar
November 23, 2002
Mark Thomas Betra Manufacturing
9 a.m. - noon
Room 101 Washoe Medical Center
December 23, 2002
Regular Meeting 9 a.m. - noon
Room 101 Washoe Medical Center
January 25, 2003
Regular Meeting 9 a.m. - noon
Room 101 Washoe Medical Center
If "nobody wants to give money away," how does fundraising work?
Nobody wants to Give Money Away! is the intriguing title of a book by Robert F. Hartsook, JD, EdD.
His point is that people, especially but not exclusively those with significant means - want to invest their money
in something that makes a difference. Perhaps the greatest key to success in fundraising is not asking for the
"sale," but asking about the potential donor's interests and listening to see if you can learn where
their passion is. Then think of how to demonstrate that NIA's mission is compatible with that passion.
Look at their need
For instance, if a potential donor is passionate about youth and/or education, is there a way to develop a young
inventor's program?
Before going out to ask for money, whether in person or in the form of a written grant proposal, from an individual
or a business, everyone on the fundraising committee must be clear about the organization's mission for the project
to truly succeed.
Best practices
Additional applicable information for NIA's current need is found in a handout from Hartsook Companies, inc. that
summarizes a number of "best practices" in fundraising. (Hartsook is a professional fundraising consulting
company based in Wichita, Kan.) Ideas include:
• When you are building relationships with people you want to ask to give you money, ask open-ended questions and
listen carefully to answers, including what is left unsaid. Don't talk more than 25 percent of the time. • If you
are going through an alphabetical list of potential donors, start at the bottom. Some of these people get less
attention because most solicitations begin at the front of the alphabet.
• Write personal thank-yous to donors.
•A regular newsletter that focuses on fundraising is a good way to keep potential donors updated on the organization
and its needs. This should go to former members, board members, donors and others who express interest in the group.
•Try to include a banker, stockbroker or estateplanning attorney on your fundraising committee.
•Use e-mail to provide regular updates to donors. Maintain some regular communication with them.
"If you Want to uncover some exceptional and unexpected gifts, consider everyone as a prospective donor."
—Bob Hartsool
Editor's note:
Since a portion of the October 2002 meeting centered aroundfundraising for NIA, it seems appropriate to share with
the members some of the information that was available at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) annual
Philanthropy Day Nov. 14.
The Nevada Inventor is a community resource published monthly by the Nevada Inventor's Association. This association
is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. This newsletter's mission is: To further the mission of NIA by educating
and informing members, to promote the organization throughout the broader community of northwestern Nevada, and
to recruit new members.
Bob's Proven Fundraising Principles
1. Nobody wants to give money away, but. . .
2. People will give to change lives for able, if you the better, therefore
3. Demonstrate your organization's impact, and
4. Listen to what your donor is really saying, then
5. Consider everyone a prospect, and
6. Always exceed expectations, because
7. There are no limits to the money avail
8. Stay passionate about your cause, and you. . .
9. Stay focused on the mission.
NOW - Get out of the office and solicit!
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Mailing address: 316 California Ave. #833 Reno NV 89509
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Websites of interest:
Nevada Small Business Development Center
www.nsbdc.org
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
www.uspto.gov
Don Costar
www.doncostar.com
Hartsook Companies, Inc
www.hartsookcompanies.com
Bob Serling
support@LabRants.com
The Nevada Inventors' Association
2002 Officers
President
Dr. Bill Torch 329-4060
Vice President
John Martinson 747-1650
Secretary/ Treasurer
Vince Chemist 677-0123
Sergeant at Arms
Floyd Krebs
Programs
Carol Foldvary Anderson 1 -775-267-5365
NIA Founder
Don Costar 322-9636
Web Master
Vince Chemist 677-0123
Newsletter Editor
Connie Benedict 787-3640 ccbenedict@775.net
Website
www. nevadainvertors.org
Bad Advice from Inventing Experts
This provocative advice is the title of an article by Bob Serling, producer of the ezine, LabRants. The subheads
used in the article follow. For the full article contact Don Costar.
Bad Advice #1: Get your patent immediately
Bad Advice #2: Sell your product yourself, never license it out
Bad Advice #3: License your product only, never sell it yourself
Bad Advice #4: It's difficult to succeed as an inventor/product developer
Bad Advice #5: To make sales or license your product, show your product at inventor's showcases
Our Address is:
Nevada Inventors' Association, Inc.
Post Office Box 11008
RENO NV 89510-1108
NIA November meeting Find out About Foundries Speaker: Mark Thomas Betra Manufacturing Saturday November 23, 2002
Room 101 Washoe Medical Center
To go to the main Page or the news letters and then
the old articles Page, up till Dec. 1999.
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visitor to this page.
"Education, Assistance, and Networking for the Inventor"
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Page done by Vince Chemist.
Created on Jan. 30 2003
Updated on November 29, 2005