Released about six months ago, another major enhancement to the DOS product has been the adding of two "Menu" screens, one for the item list and one for the assembly list. With this release, finding items and assemblies is much easier as now you just "click" your way in. This menu is totally user-definable and "pops up" from the control line at the bottom of the screen.

With over 1,200 Contractors using McCormick DOS product every day, McCormick has made the commitment to continue upgrading it’s DOS products. Lately, with the introduction of the Windows product, it has been harder to get feedback regarding features to add. If there is a feature that you would like to see added, please send a written description to myself and we will consider it for a future release.

See McCormick
In order for McCormick Customers to have the opportunity to see the new WINDOWS line of products, we are now in the process of setting up a series of locations throughout the US and Canada for product review.

McCormick currently has over 5,000 contractors in the US, most who have not had the opportunity to see the strength and power of the WIN products. Rather than have all come to our User Conference or see us at a trade show, we will be setting up a series of three hour demonstration and question/answer programs. As plans develop, we will notify all McCormick Customers in targeted areas as to location and date.

Back to Normal
Last quarters Journal was generated in a small format that we believed most would like however, we were wrong. This Journal as well as all future Journals will be published in the standard 8 1/2 by 11 format. In addition, it will be also posted on McCormick’s Website location at WWW.McCormickSys.Com.

Copper State Classic
The sun is just starting to rise as over 400 racers, officials, course workers, and the curious gather on Nevada’s’s state route 318 for the Spring running of the Copper State Classic. This road race has over 15 classes for timed racing as well as one unlimited class for the people that want to run flat out.

Activities start in Las Vegas on a Thursday, move to Ely (NV) on Friday, and come back to Las Vegas on Sunday.

Featured on ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, various car magazines as well as foreign press, the state of Nevada closes down the highway for the 90 mile running of the race.

For the second race in a row, McCormick’s Mike McKittrick (navigator) and Todd McCormick (driver) has come in first in their class. With a targeted speed of 115 miles per hour with a do not exceed speed of 130 miles per hour, Todd and Mike crossed the finished line within .005 seconds of a perfect finish.

With two wins on their record, it will be interesting to see what they do in September of this year as Todd has just purchased an ZR1 Corvette (with all the goodies) and we are all putting together a plan that hopefully will bring us a "third" first place win.

WIN Version 4.2
Released about three months ahead of schedule, this major release has greatly improved many of the WIN products functions.

Included in this release is:

Work has started on V5.0 which will have major emphasis on increasing the speed of the Windows product as well as other enhancements

Top 300
Just computed from information provided by EN&R, McCormick Systems is providing estimating software to over 47% of the Nations top 300 Electrical Contractors. The other 53% either does not use estimating software, have their own in-house programs or use software from one of the six or more other suppliers of estimating software.

This percentage is up over the past three years. McCormick had 25% of 1994, 32% in 1995, and 47% in 1996.

In addition, the current President as well as last five Presidents of NECA are using McCormick Software.

Conference ‘98
Arrangements are set for McCormick Systems’ Conference ‘98. To be held again at the Sheraton San Marcos in Chandler (Phoenix) Arizona, we will be introducing Version 5.0 of the Windows, Version 9.0 of the DOS as well as have invited many third party suppliers that have products of interest to the electrical industry.

The San Marcos is a destination resort that features 400 rooms, over 22,000 feet of meeting space, lighted tennis courts, and the oldest and one of the longest golf courses in Arizona. Mark April 29 on your calendar now and watch for additional information on this highly informative informational conference. (We do play a little also)

McCormick Web Site
Recently completed and updated weekly, McCormick Systems invites you to spend some time browsing our website. This highly informative site contains information on:

In addition, if you are current on support, you can download the latest releases from the site. Our home page can be reached simply by typing WWW.McCormickSys.Com

Other WIN Products
With the base Windows products basically established, we are now in the process of creating the WIN3000 and WIN 1000 estimating product. The WIN 3000 uses most of the code of the 6000 however, it is much more limited in features. Designed for the small to mid-sized contractor, the WIN3000 features two takeoff windows, labels for takeoff as well as item and assembly specifications. The product is up-gradeable to the WIN 6000 or 8000.

The WIN 1000 is a windows version of our popular DOS product, PC Scale. This small but powerful product allows the estimator to takeoff jobs both as items and assemblies. The break-out of this can then be taken to extension as well as a small bid summary. Designed for the small contractor or to use in the field by the large contractor, this is one program that you need to take a look at.

The Philippines
McCormick recently installed its estimating software in four Philippine electrical contractor companies. Three do mainly high rise buildings (40+- floors) and average about 500 electricians each. The fourth, in addition to high rise work, does heavy industrial and transmission and distribution work.

Even with the falling Peso, the economy is very good. In Quezon City, just looking one direction, you will see over eight high rise buildings under construction and if you look the other way you will see another six. Makati and Manila is just the same. Government and business are feeling very strong about the economy as well as the future of the Philippines. Before you jump on a plane and go over to find a job, consider this. Most electrical contractors pay their electricians an average of P25.00 (Pesos) per hour. A McDonalds cheeseburger costs P32.00 each. Payday normally is on Saturday and the men are paid in cash. Many workers live in the building and in the case of a high rise, it would not be unusual for a worker to construct temporary walls on a floor and live (in some cases with wife and family) in the building until it is completed. Armed guards are everywhere, including construction sites and inside contractor’s offices.

Mechanical Contractors
McCormick Systems has always believed that you can’t be everything to everybody and has purposely focused primarily on the needs of the electrical contractor. We have been approached many times to market our software to the mechanical industry and have declined.

Based on these beliefs but still realizing the need for the mechanical contractor, we have recently reached an agreement with Courtney Stearns to put together the data base and market to that industry.

Courtney has had a long relationship with McCormick that goes back over ten years. Handling all McCormick estimating sales in the Western Washington area as well as marketing Forefront accounting software, Courtney knows and believes in the construction industry.

Presently with three people working on the data base, Courtney has targeted an October introduction.

Class Schedule
The schedule for training for the last of this year as well as for next year is as follows.

October, ‘97
DOS, October 8
WIN, November 5
November ‘97
WIN, November 19
December ‘97
DOS, December 10
WIN, December 17
January ‘98
WIN, January 28
February ‘98
DOS, February 18
WIN, February 25
March ‘98
WIN, March 25
April ‘98
DOS April 27
WIN, April 27
May ‘98
WIN, May 27
June ‘98
DOS, June 17
WIN, June 24
July ‘98
WIN, July 29
August ‘98
DOS, August 19
WIN, August 26
September ‘98
WIN, September 30
October, ‘98
DOS, October 7
WIN, October 28
November ‘98
WIN, November 18
December ‘98
DOS, December 9
WIN, December 16

The above dates are tentative and additional classes will be added based on demand. Check with the Arizona office for availability.

In addition, McCormick is offering in house training and in house customizing of both specifications and reports. We presently have two persons that know both the McCormick product as well as estimating. In addition, we have additional people that in addition to estimating, can set up virtually any specification or report that you might need. These people are available to come into your office and work with you. Again, call the Arizona office for more information.

Upcoming Events
McCormick will be demonstrating their estimating software at the following conference/trade shows.

IEC, St Louis MO
Sept. 25-26 1997

NECA, Miami FL
Oct. 26, 27, 28 1997

Electric West, Las Vegas NV
Feb 9, 10, 11 1998

McCormick Conference ‘98
Arizona, April 29

Electric East, New York City, NY
May 27, 28, 29 1998

Great Investment
I know that many are looking for investment opportunities and this may be the one for you.

I am considering starting a cat farm in Mexico. I plan to start rather small, with about one million cats. Each cat will average about twelve kittens per year and the pelts can be sold for .20 cents for white ones and up to .40 for black ones. This will give me 12 million pelts per year which will be sold for an average price of .30 cents each. My gross revenue will be about three million per year which will average out to ten thousand each day, not counting Sundays and Holidays.

Now, a good Mexican "cat man" can skin about 50 cats per day at a daily wage of $3.50 and it will take 663 cat skinners The net profit will be $8,200 per day.

The cats would be fed on rats which multiply four times as fast as cats. I intend to start a rat farm adjacent to our cat farm. If I start with a million, I would have four rats per day for each cat. The rats would be fed the carcasses of the cats that I skin. This will give each rat a quarter of a cat. You can easily see that this is a clean operation and completely self supporting. The cats will eat the rats and the rats will eat the cats and I get the skins.

Eventually, it is hoped to cross some snakes with the cats as snakes skin themselves twice a year and if this capability could be bred into the cats, I could save a considerable amount of labor costs.

If you are interested in this great investment opportunity, please reply at your earliest convenience with your name and a certified check.