Is our State Broke?... Or is our System Broken?

Is our State Broke?... Or is our System Broken?

A presentation on how South Carolina can inmporive our economic competitiveness and funding for essential public services.

Speaker: Michael Fanning, Ph.D

Executive Director at the Olde English Consortium

When: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - 7:30am

Where: The Summit Club, Columbia, SC

Registration is first come, first serve and limited to 200 participants. Event opens to the general public January 7. Email kyon@columbiachamber.com to register.

This even is hosted by the Midlands Business Leadership Group.

This event is sponsored by the Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Web: www.columbiachamber.com

Cultural Council's Color the Arts Fundraiser and Social Seeks COR Volunteers

The Cultural Council's Color the Arts Fundraiser and Social is seeking help from COR volunteers and members in the following two areas:

1. Aid with Art and Experience Silent Auction: Seeking 12-15 items/packages to auction off. Past items have included restaurant and theatre packages; BMW Driving Experience, golf packages;  tickets to a major concert at Phillips Arena in a corporate box (last year was Crosby Stills Nash and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert); mountain and/or beach condo packages.

2.  Aid with Creation of Two Unique Auction Packages:
         

A. Beer for a Year - Seeking distributor/grocer/retailer to donate 52 six-packs of various craft beers.
         

B. Baker's Dozen of Exceptional Wines - Seeking 13 restaurants or retailers willing to donate a high quality wine no longer commercially available.

The Cultural Council would like to avoid sport-related packages, excluding the suggested golf package.

Please contact Andrew Witt, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, if you believe you can help.

Email: andy@smartarts.info
Phone: (803) 231-3131
Web: www.smartarts.info

Stop the Brain Drain: Marketing and Public Relations Director Job Posting

Job Posting: Marketing and Public Relations Director, NAI Avant (Columbia); NAI Avant (Charleston); and Avant Healthcare

Reports to: The Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or Journalism or Public Relations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• High degree of professionalism, team orientation, and attention to detail
• Must take initiative and be flexible, able to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment
• Good graphic design taste and facilitation skills
• Proficient in technology
• Experience with post production print management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General

• Implement company-wide marketing and public relations plan
• Order all printed materials (stationery, envelopes, business cards, invitations, etc.)
• Customized holiday cards and e-blast graphics
• Select, order, and maintain an adequate supply of company promotional gifts.
• Coordinate design and placement of all print advertising
• Manage the “advertising” line item of the company budget
• Support owners in community activity involvement and client entertainment
• Coordinate graphics with Vice President of Research and the Marketing Assistant(s)
• Join and be an active participant in NAI Global Marketing Council.

Conventions/Meetings/Trade Shows

• Reserve and set up booth/displays (Evaluate new display booth re-design)
• Coordinate booth coverage
• Schedule arrangements for client entertainment
• Reserve rooms for Company Officers.

Company Annual Event

• Reserve venue, caterer, photographer, etc.
• Order invitations and coordinate distribution
• Order employee/broker awards
• Oversee layout and set up
• Coordinate preparation of Company presentation
• Plan a company-wide annual, casual social in addition to quarterly Company “Happy Hour”
• Plan and coordinate an annual company-wide charitable theme and effort for Christmas/Holidays.

Website/Social Media

• Update (“In the News) section on a routine basis
• As needed, maintain up-to-date personnel roster and update accompanying bios
• Periodically review all website designs and content issues
• Institute methods to maximize website search positioning.

Marketing Brochures

• A to Z review of all collaterals for re-write and brand/graphic consistency
• Regularly submit press releases on company activities and personnel news
• Maintain ongoing contact and relationship cultivation with publications to ensure maximum opportunities to submit contributions to news articles
• Maintain quality control for any and all marketing/public relations related materials and efforts.

Communications

• Develop an internal company monthly newsletter
• Develop external client communication plan, newsletter, and direct implementation.

Photography

• Maintain current photo bank of all company projects and key assignments
• Ensure up-to-date personnel photos.

Email resume/cover letter to:

Todd Avant
Chief Executive Officer
NAI Avant, LLC

1901 Main Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201

Email: tavant@naiavant.com
Website: www.naiavant.com

Kick Off the New Year with a Free Visit to the Zoo

Riverbanks Expresses Gratitude for Community Support with Free Fridays
 

Jump start the New Year with a free visit to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Free Fridays for residents of Richland and Lexington counties get underway this Friday, January 7, and continues each Friday through the months of January and February.

Riverbanks is a special purpose district and receives funding each year from the taxpayers of Richland and Lexington counties. To qualify for free admission, Richland and Lexington county residents will be asked to show proof of residency with a valid ID or a copy of their property tax statement. All other visitors will be charged regular admission. There is no limit to the number of Fridays Richland and Lexington county residents can visit during the promotion – they can come one Friday or all eight.

Riverbanks’ winter hours are 9am to 5pm daily. January and February are a great time to visit the Zoo because many of the animals are more active during the cooler winter months. If the weather is chilly, guests can enjoy some indoor animal exhibits including the Birdhouse at Riverbanks, Aquarium Reptile Complex, Gorilla Base Camp and Koala Knockabout.

Web: www.riverbanks.org

12.18.10 | Deep South Tailgate BBQ

What: Traditional Deep South Tailgate BBQ at Upstairs Audio & Video

This Saturday at Upstairs Audio & Video in 5 Points, 746 Harden St at Greene St., we are having the third annual Traditional Deep South Tailgate BBQ, and everyone, the whole city, the midlands, everyone, is welcome! We have around 2000 lbs of food to cook and serve, so there should be just enough for everyone. Food will be served from around noon to 4 or 5 p.m.

What is the occasion? Simply good friendship.

We do take donations of clothes, toys, working cell phones with chargers (even unactivated, they dial 911), working home items such as vacuums, fans, telephones, etc., building supplies (Home Works uses them to rehabilitate houses for those in need), blankets, linens, cans and boxes of food (Harvest Hope), and anything else in good condition you feel would help someone else. We will find good homes for all of it. Check below for a list of items needed by some groups.

But a donation of anything is NOT a prerequisite for attending. It is all on us, and our delight to see and serve you. Bring the family, friends and coworkers; all are welcome!

All of us hope to see you Saturday.

-----------------------------------------

Things Home Works needs:

Domestic Program Needs

Donated labor is needed for: electrical, plumbing, roofing, flooring, carpentry, masonry, chimney, hvac, etc. However, the greatest need is for tasks that can only be performed by trained, licensed workers such as repairs dealing with air conditioning units, heaters, plumbing and electricity.

Repairing a home costs less than building a new home so funds received are stretched further with Home Works' program. In-kind donations of new or gently used building materials from local businesses are needed to keep the cash amount needed for each home low. Examples include:

Materials • Nails, Screws • White Paint • Roofing Materials • Lumber

Equipment • Power tools • Hand tools • Trailers • Ladders • Garden tools

Food • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Gatorade

Other Items • First-Aid supplies • Gloves • Safety glasses • Scaffolding • Cleaning supplies

International Program Needs

Ongoing items needed include:

• multi-vitamins (to be distributed to pregnant women and children),
• airline miles (the largest expense of the trip is the plane tickets), and
• cash (to purchase building materials and tools after arriving in Peru).

------------------------------------------------------

Things needed by Lyon St. community:

The Lyons Street Community Association is looking your help! We are looking for used computers in working condition for our youth and elderly community. We can use camera phones as well for the community watch groups. Contact willie king at chesspins@yahoo.com or 803-708-5327.

-------------------------------------------------------

Of course, Oliver Gospel, Hannah House (911 cell phones for women), Christ Central, Toys for Tots, Carolina Childrens Home, Habitat for Humanity (including their Resale Store) and many others can use just about anything. Please do not bring big items like furniture and lumber.

12.21.20 | Change for Change Auction and Volunteer Opportunity

What: Change for Change Show and Auction
Earlier this fall, 85 artists received defunct parking meters to transform into pieces of art as part of the city's Climate Protection Action Campaign. Come see the unveiling, show and auction of these one-of-a-kind pieces. WACH Fox will match the proceeds and use all funds to promote sustainability in the Midlands on air.

There are a few ways to show your support:

1. Volunteer! We have four one-hour shifts available, and before/after you work your shift, you get to enjoy the event for FREE! One hours shifts at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 with a final "break down" shift at 8:30 p.m. To volunteer, contact mpbaldauf@columbiasc.net!
2. Attend the event. I know it's Christmas week, but if you're in town, what better way to celebrate and support sustainability?! The price is right - just $10 per person. Purchase tickets online at http://www.midlandsconnect.com/directory/changeforchange/.
3. Get your company to commit to purchasing a meter! It's a piece of art + a conversation piece + a way to support sustainability in the Midlands OR one heck of a stocking stuffer! Just send someone that night with "the ability to purchase and pay."

If you have any questions, please contact the City's Sustainability Facilitator, Mary Pat Baldauf at mpbaldauf@columbiasc.net or 545-2722.

When: December 21, 2010, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: 701 Whaley

12.18.10 | Sistercare Holiday Gift Drive

Sistercare is holding a Christmas gift drive for our shelter residents and clients on Thursday, December 18 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and we are in need of volunteers to greet donors and accept and sort the gifts at the site of the gift drive. A tractor trailer will be set up in the parking lot of a local business for donors to drop off gifts and nonperishable food to fill the trailer rig. We anticipate a good response because WOLO TV has been running a story on the gift drive and WIS TV will air a piece.

PROJECT: Christmas gift drive for battered women served by Sistercare in our three emergency shelters and in our community-based programs.

DATE: Thursday, December 16, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

LOCATION: The parking lot in front of D.W. Headquarters Salon, 2313 Sunset Ct, West Columbia, 29169. The parking lot is on Sunset Blvd (Rte 378), across from Grecian Gardens Restaurant, and close to the Sunset Blvd exit of I-26 near Lexington Medical Center.

COORDINATOR: Denise Williams, owner of D.W. Headquarters Salon, 794.0005

GIFT IDEAS:

1. Bathrobes of all sizes for women and children

2. Bedroom slippers of all sizes for women and children

3. Pots/pans sets

4. Nonperishable food

5. Financial donations

6. Sets of dishes

7. Educational toys for children of all ages

8. Board games (Scrabble, Scrabble Jr., Monopoly Jr., Clue Jr., Apples to Apples, Are you Smarter than a 5th grader, etc.)

9. Children’s pajamas of all sizes

10. Footballs, basketballs, baseball bat and ball set

11. Dolls for multiple ethnicities

12. Clothes for babies and toddlers

13. Jewelry (necklaces, earrings, bracelets)

14. Watches

15. Jogging suits of all sizes for women

16. Towels and hand cloths

17. Bed linens of all sizes

18. Sweaters of all sizes for women and children

19. Small household appliances

20. Varieties of DVDs and CDs

Sistercare greatly appreciates the assistance of volunteers to manage the donated gifts and greet donors during our gift drive. We hope to make the Sistercare Christmas gift drive a complete success.