Network Upgrades

We are planning several upgrades to our network system, including a new application server, backup system and an update to our virus checking system. In addition, we expect to provide additional storage space on the network, and we will be upgrading to the newest version of Mas200. Installation of these upgrades will begin in mid-April and progress in stages to minimize disruptions. The upgrade of Mas200 will occur sometime in mid-May to allow us to complete our annual audit work.

I will post further announcements as the schedule becomes further defined.

Voice Mail Upgrade

We have made the decision to trade in the old voice mail system for an upgraded system by the same manufacturer. The new system will allow you to receive notification of your voice mails in your outlook inbox. This should be especially helpful to Margaret and Bernadine since they will receive notifications of messages as they arrive on their computer.

There will be training when the new system is installed, and I will make further announcements as I determine when the new equipment will arrive and be installed.

Just a reminder, anyone with an e-mail address here at Mesa can access their e-mail at any time and from any location on the internet. If you would like to be able to access your e-mail from home or while you are traveling, please let me know and I will provide you with an instruction sheet.

Out With the Old - In With The New

I am very pleased to announce that we have hired Bruce Linquist to take over the position of Senior Product Manager for the Medical product line. Bruce returns to the company after heading up the Medical sales group back in 1988 and 1989. Bruce’s first day here at Mesa will be Monday, March 28th, which will give him four days to come up to speed on the last sixteen years in dialysis. Fortunately, he will have four days with the highly motivated Jim Rambo before Jim retires and heads off into the sunrise.

Don’t forget that everyone is invited out to Jackson’s All American Sports Grill at 6th and Kipling from 4 – 7 pm on Friday March 25th to celebrate Jim’s retirement. I believe that Jim will be giving lessons on the proper method for sipping Bourbon. We will miss you Jim!

Congratulations to Jim and Bruce!

Small Cap Value Funds

I just ran on to the following article about small cap value fund returns at the MarketWatch Web Site. If you are like me and have been wondering whether small caps have run their course for a while, this article may change your mind. The table on the second page shows T. Rowe Price's Small Cap Value Fund performance compared to three other funds.

Check it out!

Company Picnic

MESA LABORATORIES, INC.
ANNUAL PICNIC

START MAKING PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL COMPANY PICNIC TO BE HELD ON JULY 23, 2005 AT MORSE PARK LOCATED ON 20TH AVE & CARR ST.
(BETWEEN KIPLING AND WADSWORTH)

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
(DETAILS TO FOLLOW)

Congratulations Mike S.

I am pleased to announce that Mike S. will be moving into the new Customer Service Rep position. This change will take effect on April 5th. Congratulations to Mike on his new responsibilities.

This change leaves an opening for an assembler in the Medical production area. Please see the attached job description for job responsibilities. Anyone wishing to apply for this position or who would like to recommend a qualified candidate should contact me by Tuesday, March 15, 2005.

Book Recommendation

Today almost 85% of us participate in Mesa's 401(k) Plan, and the plan now exceeds over $1,000,000 of assets. As a group, you are on the right path for your financial future, which is why I would like to recommend the following book.

Wealth is the accumulation of assets. That which has been saved and not yet spent. Almost anyone in America can become a millionaire if they wish, since the key to accumulating wealth is not earning a high income. The real key is your ability to save. For those of you under the age of forty especially,I would recommend the book "The Millionaire Next Door." The book does not describe any get rich quick schemes or 50 ways to make money in the market. It simply describes the characteristics of the typical millionaire, and will give you a model that can help you attain your goals.

Do you have a favorite book on personal finance, business or other topics? Pass it along with a short description, and I will add it to the reading list.

Inside Information

As I was driving to work yesterday, I was listening to the Business for Breakfast Show on Radio 1060 AM. During the Stock Talk segment of the show, one among us called the show to discuss Mesa Labs stock performance. To this person's credit, they did identify themselves as an affiliate of the company when asked by the host, which I am sure changed the nature of the conversation. It actually turned into a nice commercial for the company's stock, but it does give me cause to remind everyone that you must be very careful about insider trading rules.

Everyone is subject to the company's insider trading policy, but you are also subject to various securities laws concerning inside information. I don't want to see anyone at Mesa become the next Martha Stewart. Whether it is conversations with radio shows, your personal stock broker, ex-employees or friends if you have not seen information you know about the company in a press release from the company, you should not share it. Over my career, I have seen ex-employees here and at other companies call their friends within the company to get an idea of how things were going at the company. In one case, the ex-employee had taken a job as a stock broker and was in a position to pass that information on to clients (sound like a case you have heard in the news this past year?). In a second case, the information from these casual conversations was showing up on a chat board on the company. As I read other company's message boards on sites such as Yahoo, I will quite often see insiders talking about their own company. Again, I am quite familiar with a case where the folks using the chat board were charged with a felony.

If you are not familiar with these laws, you may want to do some research to become familiar. If you have not read the company's insider trading policy in a long time you might want to reread it once in a while to stay familiar. The best policy, however, is to simply avoid detailed conversations about the company's performance or plans. I would simply hate to see any of us break into jail and take an unexpected all expenses paid vacation.

401(k) Returns The following article was published in the Sunday, March 6, 2005 edition of the Denver Post. While I am not a proponent of following the articles advice on investing your funds at a money market rate it is certainly an option for mitigating your risk during longer periods of poor market performance. More importantly, it highlights why everyone at Mesa should participate in the 401(k) plan, why you should participate to our maximum match level of six percent and why you should try and go beyond the six percent level if you can. The article is fairly short, and I would encourage everyone to read it.